Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-30


Marquis Lamier, on the banks OF
OF the Caloosahatchee River, in
Southern Florida, will be no more
Ruthless hands will tear down the his
toric. picturesque old mansion and build
beneath the moss hunk oak trees a mod
ern hotel. The tropical scenery, which
once reflected the soft glow of the candle,
will blaze with thousands of electric lights.
The woods, which once echoed the signs
of beautiful unhappy young French
girl. will resound with music and laughter.
For fifty years Castle Lamier has been
on the market the for sale" sign has
hung almost constantly on the stone pillar
Of the gateway. Many persons have pur-
chased the castle, but after remaining
one night beneath its roof each one has
been glad to sell at any price. One of the
many purchasers was Richard Martin
Smith, who, having amassed q fortune in
the gold fields OF Alaska, went to South
ern Florida TO buy home where he could
bask In the tropical sunshine and forget
the years OF hard labor he had endured in
the frigid North. Many beautiful mansions
were offered for sale to this man of mill
Ions, but none suited him so well as the
beautiful Castle LAmier. Many persons
told Mr. Smith OF the ghostly stories OF
the haunted castle, but this man, after
years OF work In the gold fields, knew not
the meaning OF nerves nor the fear OF
ghosts. The grewsome reputation OF. his
future home appealed to Mr. Smiths idea
Of the fitness OF things. for after all cas-
tie Without ghost" is not complete SO
he bargain was made. the deeds were
signed. Mr. Smith remodelled and refur-
nished the castle in a costly and magnifl-
cent style; electric lights flooded the dark
corners OF the large rooms and corridors;
then when all was complete he brought MS
family from the North and took possess
sion.
The NEXT morning the Smiths. with heavy
eyes and white, frightened faces. left the
castle never TO return. The man from
Alaska told the same story others hao
told before him, told OF how the sthiness
of the night was disturbed by the uncork-
ing of bottles ana the chlnk OF poasI
chips then would come from beneath the
doors flashes OF light carried by unseen
hands. the sound Of hurried FOOTBALLS IN
the corridors, a scream, then Slrhsn
voice pleading in frightened tones. q man
reply with a brutal oath, fonoweo oy an
older woman's high pitched scoldLng treble.
another scream, then the thud OIL oooy
falling down the stairs, moan ana
dr,n drip from the stairs to the hardwood
floor of. the hall beneath, then the tramp
Of unshod feet passing ana repasslhs,
whispers and drunken laughter IoIiowed
INV angry voices In dispute and the loud
hreathing OF struggling bodies, oaths and
curses. the sound Of heavy oiow on the
had. A crash of glass, fall-ahd so y
oontinued till morning. But wnai seemed
more horrible than the ghosuy SOUNDS al
night was the fact that even IN .ne proao
light of day no one could ascend the stairs
without turning aside at the third step. as
n 10 avoid walking on some OBJECT lying
there on the day OF their arrival MT.
Smiths family called his attention 10 TINS
fact He laughed at the idea' ssaIteo up
the stairs In a sceptical frame OF MIND
and finished, as the others had done. oy
turning aside al the third step.
DEPARTURE FOR ALASKA.
After the departure from Florida Of the
man from Alaska the Castle Lamier Was
sold for a small sum 10 John Philips
real estate man. Wishing to dispose OF
the property with pront to himself, Mr..
Phillips published in the leading papers OF
the State a denial of the ghost story, and
to prove that the rumore ali arose frvm
superstition and imagination Mr.. Phillips
declared that he. with his little daughter
Mary, a child OF four years OF age. would
stay for n week In Castle LAmier. lie ar
rived With the child on Friday. January
"a bringing with him twelve prominent
men from different parts OF the State
Two of she twelve men were representa-
lives OF the chureh-one q minister. the
other Catholic priest.
Gentlemen" said Mr. PHILIPPE. when
they were all seated In the hall II wish
10 give you proof OF the aosurdity of the
story OF the haunted stairway. My little
daughter here Is too young TO understand
about ghosts. or spooks. can give you
no better proof than to send this child to
the top OF the stairs" Mr.. Phillips then
babe the little girl bring 10 him the box OF
candy which he had placed on the table in
the upper hallway. The child danced away
TO fetch the desired sweets. Eagerly the
twelve men watched the tiny girl as her
little hand grasped the banister rail- Her
falterng feet climbed to the third step
She hesitated moment, loosened her hand
from the rail- then moved deliberately
close to the wall on the inner side OF the
stairway. She climbed two steps higher;
then coming 20 the banister side once
more she again sought the support OF the
rail
The twelve men looked at Mr.. Phinips
He stood with pale face. watching his lit
tie daughter.
Il must confess. gentleman" ne said
that this seems strange. almost uncanny
bat me child has no doubt been Influenced
mentally. We have all concentrated our
minds On that third step. and she has un-
eeassioosly received Ia suggestion from