Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-04-02
The Pauper of Park Lane
WILLIAM oUEUx
Copyright William e Queux
Entered at rights reserved
BY WILLIAM LIE QUEUx

What" exclaimed the old bunch
backed mining engineer. That's in
teresting. Tell me more about it. Is
1t like the haunted house in Berkeley
Square about which people used to
talk so much years ago
Il don't think it's ever been alleged
to be haunted" responded Adams.
"Yet there are several weird and
amazing stories told of it, and Of the
grim shadows which overhang it both
night and day."
what stories have you heard?"
asked his companion, taking a cigar
cite from the box. for he had sudden
ly become much interested.
"Well, it is said that the place Is
the most gorgeously furnished of any
house in that select quarter, and that
it is full Of art treasures, old silver,
miniatures and antique furniture, for
old Statham is we'll known collector
and is known to have purchased many
very fine specimens of antiques dur
ing the past few years. They say
that. having furnished the place from
kitchen to garnet in the most costly
manner possible, he sought out the
old love of his earlier days-a woman
who assisted him in the foundation
of his fortune, and invited her to in
spect the house. They went round it
together, and after luncheon he pro-
posed marriage to her. To his cha
grin, she declined the honor Of be-
coming the wife of millionaire"
"She was bit of fool, l should
suppose" remarked the hunchback.
They were fond enough of each
other. She was nearly twenty years
his junior, and though they had been
separated for good many years. he
was still devoted to her. When she
refused to marry him, there was q
scene. And at last she was compelled
to admit the truth-she was the wife
of another. A quarter Of
an hour later she left the
house in tears. and from that moment
the beautiful mansion. with the ex-
ception of two or three rooms, has
been closed He will allow nobody to
pass upstairs, and the place remains
the same as on that day when all his
hopes of happiness were shattered.
But you said there were stories
concerning the house Lyle remarked
between the whiffs of his cigarette.
so there are. Both yesterday and
today I've been making inquiries and
been told many curious things. A
statement, for instance, made to me
is to the effect that one night abou!
a month ago the chauffeur of the
great Lancashire cotton spinner liv
ing few doors away was seated or
the car at two o'clock in the morning
ready to take two of his masters
guests down to their home near Ep
. som. when he noticed Statham's win
, dows all brilliantly lit.
; From the drawing room above tht
sounds Of waltz music-a piano eX
| cellently played This struck thu
) man as curious, we'll knowing the 10
: cal belief that the upper portion o
/, the house was kept vigorously closed
Yet, from all appearances. the oil,
millionaire was that night entertain
ing guests, which was further prove,
i, when a quarter of an hour later TIL
= door opened and old Levi the man
! servant, came forth. AS he did SO.
: four-wheeled cab. which had beer
! waiting opposite. little further VI
: the road, drew across. and a few me
!, ments later both Levi and Stathau
: appeared. struggling with long. nal
: mans aid. was put on top of the We
J. hicle The box much resembled
coffin, and seemed unusually heavy.
So hurried ana excited were tn
{! lnen that they took no notice of tn
a motor car. and the cab next momen
j. drove away, the man no doubt havin
e previously received his orders. TIL
r. Music had ceased, and as soon as tn
cab had departed the lights in tn
windows were eXtinguished and tn
d weird home remained in darkness"
81 Very curious. Looks about q
though there had been some foul pla,
q doesn't it," Lyle suggested
le That's what the chauffeur su
20 poets. I've spoken with him myse
lie and he tells me that the box was S
like a coffin that the whole incidel
e. held him fascinated" Adams sal
Land, of course, this story gettir