Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-03-21
A Grim
Experience
The Way a Tourist Was
Shut Up In a Church
BY HOMER woRTHlNGTON

EUROPE, DONG picture galleries ana
churches | will not assert that this
Is all there is In that elderly country
cipal part of the matter, Lucia and
were one morning visiting Roman
cathedral several hundred years old
looking ut pictures hanging ON the
walls. some of which must have been
painted for the purpose of soaring
away the devil; at GhoStly marble fig
ureS lying on their backs, With their
hands clasped over their breasts
strainiug our eyes in dark chapcls to
size hidcous frescoes, the principal part
Of which had been Clipped of, when
we heard the clock above us strike the
hour Of noon.
At the moment we were looking at
statue, wondering whom it might
represent 4 gentleman rather sin
gular looking person he was-heariug
our remarks, politely told us all about
the marble and OF another much older
and more curious in different part of
the church, Offering to guide lis to ii.
Lucia said she was tired and would
go to our hotel and rest before lunch
con.
| would rather have gone with her,
but the stranger was so urgent
that | should see the curious statue
that consented to remain with him.
! told Lucia | would be with her with
in half an hour, and she left me. Then
l started to another part of the church
with my guide.
He showed me the statue. told me Its
history. beginning back in the twelfth
century and ending in the eighteenth,
when. after having been stolen, buried.
resurrected, lost its nose, one of its
ears and both hands. 1t had been mlrac-
ulously set up in its present position in
the middle OF the night, when the
church was locked, with no one inside.
AS he proceeded | thought | had new
er met n person more Voluble. Why
he took so great an interest in me
could not divine Instead OF listening
to what he said l was taking In his
personal appearance.
He was rather small, wore n little
bell crowned hat, which. of course, in
the cathedral he carried in his hand;
had coarse dark hair standing straight
upon his head and short stubby
beard. His coat was dark blue
cloth. fitting tight ut the waist, with
full flowing skirt. His trousers We're
checkerboard and tight to the skin.
The most remarkable feature in his
face was his eyes. which twinkled like
pair of stars in the heavens.
When he had told me all about the
statue and the archaeological disputes
as to just where 1t had lost its nose
and the other features l thanked him
for his kindness. bid him good morn
ing and was about to leave him when
he said:
There's something far more curious
In this church than this-the bones Of
st. - Il have forgotten the name),
that have come down to us through
800 years. 1t will require but a mo-
ment to see them, and l shall be hap
by to show them to you"
THANK you very much" l said. but
my luncheon hour is at hand. and 1
must rejoin my wife"
II will not detain you Ave minutes"
he replied and looked so anxious that
l should enjoy sight at these old
bones in which he seemed to take such
interest that ! went with him to see
them. Taking me to the forward part
Of the church on one side, he opened
a door that judged to be about Ave
feet high-at any rate. one must bend
to enter it-and told me to step In
side. After you" said. but he stood
holding the door open 80 deferentially
that ] went In. The only light there
was In the place came In at the open
Ing through which / had entered, and
even that was shut off Immediately
In the lock. My companion had re-
manned outside.
1t required q few moments for me
to realize my situation. to become
frightened. TheH turned to the door
and tried 10 find a knob by which to
open It. There was no inside knob
] hammered on the door. but II was
Of iron and made of several plates
so that my thumps were not likely to
be heard listened eagerly for the
door TO be reopened. Perhaps II had
closed Of itself and sprung a bolt. In
this case my guide must find some
one to enable him to open 1t and
might have gone away for that pur
pose.
Then i remembered that starry look
in his eyes. and ! became terror
stricken. Suppose he was insanel II
so he had doubtless shut me up In
dark room. seldom opened, and at
some future time, instead Of the bones
Of saint, my own skeleton would be
found there. felt around the walls
Of my Enclosure and was horror strick
EN- 10 find that It was but about 8 by
feet. could not lie down I'm II.
looked up and could see light-it seem
ed far above neon the four sides Of