The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-06-01
Who Rang the Bell !?
tOriginai.1

ana tne new. Inc old had been built
more than half century; the new was
only completed when | went to the
hotel as clerk. The old was decaying
frame, the new of bric.i. We did not
use the old part except when crowded.
Indeed. it was dilapidated structure,
and all its best furniture had been re-
moved
One night when there was something
going on in the town to give us a
crowd-a county fair. believe-a man
and woman came to the house regis
tering as Harvey Benham and wife.
told him that we were full, but when
the man begged me to make room for.
him told him that there were few
rooms vacant in the old part of the
house, but they were poorly furnished
and not very attractive. He seemed
quite willing to take one of them, and
l wrote No. 81 on the register next his
name and sent the couple up in care of
bell boy. Later in the evening a
chambermaid brought a small packet
to me to be placed in the safe, saying
that Mrs. Benham had sent it. tossed
1t in the safe.
The next morning the couple had dis
appeared. How they got out without
being seen could not understand,
but they did. Their departure was not
noticed till 10 O'Clock. when a cham
bermaid knocked to be permitted to fix
up the room and. receiving no answer,
let herself in with pass key. The
bed had not been occupied but all the
water in the room had been used. The
towels had disappeared.
There was no great loss to the hotel,
and we were not especially irritated
over the beat" though | confess I
was somewhat puzzled to account for
1t all. Strangely enough. forgot all
about the package the woman had sent
for safekeeping. till one day found it
in the safe. Opening it, saw that it
contained some $1,000. Then I began
to wonder
Several weeks passed, during which
no one claimed the money. Not caring
to keep ii in the safe. l deposited it in
the bank. Then one evening about
six weeks after it had been left with
me u man came into the house and
stood turning over the leaves of the
register. He paused at the names of
Mr.. and Mrs. Benham aud asked me
where they were from. as no residence
had been given. | told him about the
case and asked him if be knew them
He said that he did not His reason
for asking about them was because
he didn't know that we permitted such
entries. l explained that it was an
oversight The man asked me some
questions about any attempts l might
have made to find the owner of the
stored property. then eisurely turned
and left the house.
Two or three days later who should
come into the hotel but Mr.. Benham.
He looked as If he had been keelhaul-
ed. explaining his appearance by say
ing that he had had fit of sickness.
He was certainly very nervous and
seemed afraid of his shadow. He pre-
sented an order for the money that
had been left with me by his wife.
asked him why they had left as they
had. and he said that his wife was
subject to certain attacks, during
which she must have the attention of
her own doctor She had felt one of
these attacks coming on after mid
night and had begged him to hurry
her away.
While the man was making his ex-
PLANTATION there was ring. | turned
to the annunciator and saw that there
was a call from a room in the old part
Of the house, No. 90. There had not
been a guest in that part since the
Benhams were there, and ! would not
think of putting any one in 80, for
1t was Off by itself. and there was no
furniture in it. That's strange" |
and throwing back the shut
ter. turned to Mr.. Benham. He was
holding on to the counter. white as
ashes, look of terror in his face and
his eyes starting out of their sockets
Il must get air." he gasped and, turn
Ing staggered out to the street.
! was about to follow him when
there was another ring, and. turning,
saw the same number. 90. exposed.
was so astonished that sort of paral-
ysis or indecision came over me for a
few minutes: then. jumping over the
counter. ran after the man. He was
not to be distinguished from others
who were passing
Re-entering the hotel, told front"
to go to 80 and see what the ring
meant. He came back, reporting that |
the room was empty. Resolved to find
out how the bell could have been rung, |
went to the room myself. Opening a
closet. dreadful stencil warned me
that something was wrong l closed the
door and, sent for the police. and they
found the body of Mrs. Benham. She
had been murdered. The body had