The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-02-11
The NJ stery Of
Room 222


lieve that Friday is not a day singled
out from its six companions for mys
terry, strangeness and disaster. TIL"
number of the room was 222, as easy
to remember as the date, not that |
could ever fail to recall the number
also Every detail of the affair is fixed
in my mind immovably and forever
The hotel / shall call the Grand June
tion Terminus hotel.
| walked into the hall followed by a
porter with my bag. The place seemed
just like usual, the perfection of the
commonplace. the business-like and
the unspiritual.
Have you sroom?" ! asked the
young lady in black, whose yellow hair
shone gaily at the Office window in Tic
electric light.
She glanced at her books and sa'a
impassively: Room 221"
PITY YOU can't make T. all twos,
ventured with timid iocuiarity.
She smiled very slightly with a dis
tant condescension. II Is astonishing
how feminine hotel clerh can make
masculine guest feel small and self
conscious
Name" she demanded
"Victor Hollard"
Fourth floor" she said, writing out
the room ticket and handing It to me.
In another moment was in the ele-
yator.
No POI was the last door int one at
the end of the eastern corridor of the
fourth floor It proved to be a room
with double bed, large, ugly, but
perfectly appointed In all matters of
comfort, in short It was Characteristic
of the hotel retired to bed. AT 3
O'Clock | awoke, not with a start nut
gradually. | know It was exactly 3
O'Clock because the striking of very
noisy church clocl. in the neighbor-
hood was the first thing tha. | heard.
But the clock had not awakened ne.
] felt sure that something else, some
thing far more sinister than 4 church
clock had disturbed my 81 cp
/ listened, Then heard I again
IL was the sound of a groan in ihe
next room.
Someone must be sick" 7 thought
and tried to sleep again 81. could
not sleep, the groans continued AID
grew louder and more terclolc. Al
last jumped out OF bed dnl turre1
on the light. feel easier with the
light turned OH.
That man, whoever he is. Is dyiru'
only a dying man could groan like
that" thought
! put on some clothes and went into
the corridor.
! proceeded TO the door ne", TO my
own and put my ear against tAu panel
The sound of groans was nov mu. h
more distinct.
] admit was frightened 20 called
No answer What's the natter?"
] Inquired. No answer. Are Jou sill,
or are you doing this just to amuse
yourself?' No answer. Then tried
TO open the door but It was locked.
Yes, | said to myself, "hc is either
sick or he has committed murder
and is feeling sorry for it. must get
the night porter"
Now hotel elevators in PATHS are
not in the habit of running a. 3 o'clock
a. IN. and so ] was compelled 10 find
my way through endless corridors AID
down flights Of stairs appatchtly in
Vulnerable. Here aud there an electric
light sought with it's yellow eye to
pierce The gloom At length reached
the hall and remember Lat the
liled floor struck cold into my slip
pered but sockless feet.
There is a man either diving or
very sick in 222," said to tho night
porter, He was reading an evening
paper and was evidently very nom'ort-
able in his easy chair.
rs that so, sir" he replied
Yes | insisted. II think he is
dying. Hadn't you better do come
thing?"
III come upstairs with YOU" he
answered readily, and we began the
ascent At the first floor laud'ng The
night porter stopped and faced ne.
He was a man Of about As ana looked
like the father Of a family.
III you think that he Is dying. sir,
will call the manager, M. Douyqil'
DO, | said.
The manager slept on the first floor
and he soon appeared-a rather .young
man in terra Gotta colored dressing
gown. Arrived In front of room 2s2
we listened intently, but coG'i only
hear faint occasional groan.
He is nearly dead" | said. The
manager called aloud, but there was
no answer, Then he vainly tried TO
open the door The night porter de-
parted and returned with a stout pair
Of steel tongs With these and the
natural ingenuity peculiar to hotel
porters he forced open the door and
we entered loom No. 222.
stout, niddle-aged man lay on the
bed, fully dressed in black On the
ioor near the bed was a silk hat. AS
we approached the great body seemed
10 fntter and then Il lay profoundly
and terribly still The manager put
his hand on the mans head and held
the glass M his watch Ia fha mana