The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1908-05-29
Who Rang the Bell !?
[OriginaI.l

yEH -
When was quite a young man
was clerk of "A hotel In a western town.
The house was Of two parts the old
and the new. The old had been built
more than half a century; the new was
only completed when | went to the
hotel rs clerk. The old was decaying
frame. the new of brick. We did not
use the old part except when crowded.
Indeed 1t was a 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
crowd-a county fair. | beiieve-a man
and woman came to the house regis
tering as Harvey Renhain 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
I wrote No. 81 on the register next his
name and sent the couple up in care OF
bell boy. Later In the evening
chambermaid brought a small packet
to me to be placed In the safe. saying
that Mrs. Benham had sent 1t. tossed
It in the safe.
The next morning the couple had dis
appeared. How they got out without
being seen I could not understand.
but they did. Their departure was not
noticed till 10 O'Clock. when cham
bermaid knocked to be permitted to fix
up the room and. receiving no answer,
let herself in with a pass key. The
bed had not been occupied. but all the
water IN the room had been used. The
towels had disappeared &c.,.
There was no great loss to the hotel.
and We were not especially irritated
over the beat" though confess
was somewhat puzzled to account for
Il all. Strangely enough. forgot all
about the package the woman had sent
for safekeepinE Nh one day found II
In the safe. Opening II. saw that It
contained some $1,000. Then began
to wsnder.
Several weeks passed. during which
!. no one claimed the money. Not caring
70 keep II In the safe. deposited II In
. the bank. Then one evening about
: six weeks after Il had been left with
: me u man came into the house and
stood turning over the leaves Of the
J register. He paused Mt the names of
Mr.. and Mrs. Benham and asked me
= where they were from. as no residence
had been given. told him about the
+ case aud asked him II be knew them.
He said that he did nos. His reason
, for asking about them was because
i he didn't know that We permitted such
entries. explained that it Was an
/ oversight. The man asked me some
! questions about any attempts | might
have made TO find the owner Of the
stored property. then leisurely turned
and left the house.
Two or three days later who should
come into the hotel but Mr. Benham
He looked as II he had been keelhaul
!, ed. explaining his appearance by say
ing that he had had iii Of sickness
lie was certainly very nervous and
seemed afraid Of his shadow. He pre-
scented an order for the money that
had been left with me by his wife
=, 1 asked him why they had lef. as thes
= 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 a ring. turned
: to the annunciator and saw that there
was a call from a room In the old par
J., ~ the house. No. 90 There had not
n been a guest In that part since the
Benhams were there. and ! would mol
=, think Of putting any one 10 20. fol
a. | u WIS vi ht HSttLs anu NHttt was III
furniture In Il. That's strange"
,, remarked and. throwing back the shut
-; ter. turned TO Mr. Benham lie was
, holding Oh 10 the counter. white as
ashes. Il look Of terror IN his face aud
= his eyes starting out Of their sockets
II must get air." he gasped and. turn
ing. staggered out to the street.
4 was about 10 follow him whcf
there was another ring and. turning
.; saw the same number. 30. exposed.
IN was so astonished that y sort Of paral
ysis or INDIGESTION came over me for 4
a few minutes: then. jumping over tht
o. counter. | ran after the man. lie was
not 10 be distinguished from other
who were passing.
Reentering the hotel. told front
TO 90 TO 30 and see what the rims
IA meant. He came hack. reporting tina
70 the room was empty. Resolved to fint
4 out how the bell could have been rung
: went TO the room myself. Opening {
/, closet. a dreadful stencil warned m,
"a that something was wrong. iclosed th'
door and sent for the police. and the!
4, found the body Of AIRS. Benbam. Sh'