Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-05
: The SIEGE OF THE SEVEN SUITORS
: By MEREDITH NICHOLSON.
e y Rights Reserved


smoking a cigar over an article on Eng
lish politics. and while l read a big log
placidly burned itself to ashes I found
the switch and snapped out the library
lights. When l had gained the second
floor / turned Off the lights in the hall
below, and as l looked down the well to
make sure had turned the right key tho
thfrd-fioor lights suddenly died and was
left in darkness This was the least biz
disconcerting. I was quite sure that the
upper lights had remained burning bright
ly after the darkening OF the lower hall.
so that il was hardly possible that the
one switch had cut of both lights.
Standing by the rail that guarded the
we'll, I peered upward. thinking that some
one above me was manipulating another
switch: but the silence was as complete
as the blackness. I was about TO turn
from the rail to the wall to lind the
switch, but at this moment. as my face
was still lifted I'm the intentness with
which L was listening, something brushed
swift Of movement. As gripped the rail-
felt this touch once. twice. thrice. Then
my hand sought the wall madly, ana
with SO bad al aim that il WAS quite :
minute before l found the switch plate
and snapped all the keys. The stair and
the halls above and below me sprang into
being again. and ] stood blinking stupidiS
upward.
oughly lighted by electricity. I cannot
deny that this incident. following 80
quickly upon the buffers story, ocea
stoned moments acute horripilation. a.
companied by an uncomfortable tremor
of the legs. As already limited. lay 10
claim to great valor. As for ghosts.
am half persuaded Of their existence. ana
after witnessing q presentation OF Han
let always feel that Shakespeare is as
safe guide i'm such matters as the de
structive scientific critics.
There were various plausible eXplana
tons of the failure OF the lights Some
! switch that I did not know Of. perhaps
in the third-fioor hall. might have been
turned; or the power house I'm the village
might have been shifting dynamos.
Either solution OF the riddle was credible.
But the ghostly touch on my face could
not be accounted for so readily Leavinc
| the lights on. i continued to- the third
floor and examined the switch. and sought
in other ways to explain these phe-
nomena- My composure returned more
slowly than care to confess. and think
ghost Of King Georges dead soldier
might be lying In wait for me: but I saw
and heard nothing. The doors of the un-
used chambers on the third floor wers
closed, and I did not feel justified in try
ing them. The servants were housed on
this floor. at the rear OF the house. and
door that cut off their quarters proved
on examination to be tightly locked.
The fourth floor was only a half story.
used for storage purposes. The roof was
gained. recalled, by an iron ladder and
hatchway In q trunk room. l ran
down to my room and found q candle, to
be armed against any further fickleEess
OF the lights and set out for the fourth
floor. had changed my coat. and with
couple Of candles and a box OF matches
| started for the roof. My courage had
risen now. and l was ready for any
further adventure that the nigh might
hold for me. Miss HOLSTER and Cecilia
were both in their rooms. presumably
asleep; the servants doubtless had their
doors barred against ghostly visitors. and
the house was mine to explore az 1
pleased.
I think 1 was humming slightly as I
mounted the stair. which, in keeping with
the general righteousness that character
| lied the furnishing Of the house. was
thickly carpeted even to the fourth noor;
l was slipping my hand along the rail
| and mounting, I dare say. little jeun-
tily as I screwed my courage to an I'M
familiar notch. when suddenly. midway
Of the first half, and just before reached
the turn where the stair broke. the lights
failed again. with startling abruptness.
This was carrying the joke pretty far>>
and instantly I clapped my hand to my
pocket for the box OF safety matches. dug
it out. and then. In my haste. dropped
the lid essential to ignition, and stopped
to find 1t.
The stair had narrowed on this flight.
and as i sought with futile eageraess to
regain the box lid. could have sworn
that some one passed me. still halt
STOPPING, l stretched out my arms and
clasped empty air. and SO suddenly had
thrown myself forward that 1 lost my
balance and rolled downward the spac,
Of half q dozen treads before l recoyerea
myself. 1 was badly scared ana hardy
less angry at havin., missed through ms
own clumsiness the Joy Of graphing with
the ghost Of one Of King Georges SOL
diers; but the matches having been lost
in the pitch darkness OF the stair,
could get my bearings again only by
clinging to the stair rail until I found
the second-hoor switch. 1 should say
that two full minutes had passed be-
tween the loss OF the matches and my
flashing on OF the lamps From top to
bottom the lights shone brightly; but No
one was visible and l heard no sound in
any part OF the house.
CTo he continued tomorrow