The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-06-01

few years ago on the western side OF
the Crescent City" some distance from
Metarie Vile. between the city outskirts
forlorn looking wooden building was
standing at the junction OF two roads.
Since the limits of every city are contin-
ually being extended by the flush"
times so to speak OF the great continuous
immigration. II may be that this section
OF New Orleans. in the present year OF
1904. is a part OF the city itself. as all OUT
skirts OF one decade grow into popuious
centres OF the following. But as to wheth-
er or not within the lapse OF a little over
decade. viz. from the year 1880 at
which time this narrative starts, those
outskirts have developed into -ehorough-
fares, the writer is constrained TO ayow
his ignorance, and the reader probably
does not care TO know
Regarding the wooden building and en-
virons. one could distinguish only after
careful inspection, that faint Impressions
or old pathways overrun with grass and
Eunted weeds. branching from the side
roads TO the rickety and apparently de-
serted one-story structure, flat-roofed
and gray with dirt. half crumbled and
half roughly refitted in the upper part, SO
That few could even guess OF how many
stories the house consisted in former
times. A weather-beatsn sign. projecting
from beneath the sill OF a corner window,
might suggest that this abandoned str,Ic-
ture had presented a far better appear
ance and had been used for a business
purpose in by-gone times
And a still closer inspection would re-
veal. upon one side OF this decaying sign.
which ereaked noisily on its hinges like
a WeAfhar-Van0 N init
Trinakria Road House. while on the re-
verse side was roughly painted a wom-
ans disheveled head, having three legs,
with the rest OF the body missing
Any expert In ancient hierography, her
aldry. or numinnatics could recognize In
this really strange figure the old emblem
OF Sicily. formerly known az Trinakrta,
a name derived from the three promonto-
rtes. Pelorus, Pachyrnus and Liiybaeum
But the very remarkable differences be-
tween the old symbol and that picture is
that two wings ara -nnM added to the !
womans head and this Is probably be-
cause TrinagTia few from the SiciIian
promontories to this country with an Ill
omen. However at that time, not q soul
I'm all that neighborhood had any idea OF
the purpose or utility Of the building. nor |
did anyone know tbs owner of the prop |
erty, which was environed here and |
there With tufts OF moss OF the fern spe- |
oies which grew luxuriantly. 1t was. |
nevertheless. evident that somebody was |
taking care OF the structure. judging from |
certain indications, for the window shut |
ters and the front door were tightly fas-
tened, while the keyhole and~other open
ings wore plugged with rags TO prevent |
prying glances reaching inside.
A side door. which was hardly perceptl- |
bic through the interlociSing branches OF
trees that powered IT, appeared to be the
usual entrance 20 the house. for tho
grass leading to IL was stamped and
worn. This door was heavily and strong
ly made, having plapks diagonaliy boiling
through and through, and locked ana fas-
tened from the outside, with great iron
arms extending across the door and pivot
Ing In a central bolt.
From the romping children Of the vicin-
ty who seldom passed near the place. the
rrinskria received the nickname 'T'hs
Owls Nest" owing 10 the fact that at
dark the soueaking OF bats
and the plaintive sound OF
,ightbirds tended TO fnghten not only
lie little ones but also any casual way
"a rere. In short, everyone knew the
existence Of the "Owrs Nest" and each
'orsidered n a resort for some mysterious
purpose. but mono had any definite idea
% what intent and strange service the
ilace was assigned.
on one Of those chilly nights in summer
which foretell an early fall OF leaves,
he dim outlines OF. men could have beer
lescried here and there through the
-rrsd--bfnck- shadows ur tf1u truss sr1r-
tho owls Nest" They moved
bout suspiclouely glancing warily
round. swiftly and stealthily crossing
he roads at different points. and. at
ength. crept into the house IL could
scarcely be said whether such vanishing
pectres we're human beings or weird
pirtts OF the night for the apparitions
we're all MASKED and many were wrapped