The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-12-02

mat Is 10 say, HOT quite TWO years.
How long previously to that it had
stood empty no club member could
say. During all the period within their
knowledge it's begrimed facade had
been an eyesore and an object Of exc
Grafton; somber and brooding, it was a
sort of memento mort TO the idlers
behind the big plate glass windows of
the lounging-room, a silent but per-
petua1 rebuke to the folly of their
lives; which attribute had more than
once called forth passionately resent
full TRADE from some member who had
been unlucky at cards, or had con-
sumed too much alcohol the night be-
fore.
Then one afternoon the club was
electrified. Tom Phinney had been
staring unseeingly into the street for
some minutes. 1t struck him all at
once that the windows and the front
door across the way were no longer
boarded, and that all the windows
wore blinds; the red stone steps, how
ever, showed no indication of having
been recently cleaned.
Il say, fellows" he abrutly sang out,
"thirteen-thirteen' occupied!"
There was a concerted movement
toward the clubs window; everybody
present left off whatever he happened
to be doing at the moment and stood
silently gaping at the gloomy front.
Blinds close-drawn," somebody
presently remarked wonder who it
can be?"
What was learned during the word
less, curious inspection was about all
the information respecting Number
1913 that was to be vouchsafed dur
ing the succeeding months. During
that time it was scarcely possible that
any person could have come or gone
within the eighteen hours that are the
liveliest of the twenty-four, without
attracting somebody's attention at the
Powhatan. For as the weeks passed,
and the shades remained down by
day, and the windows dark by night,
curiosity grew apace; the house be-
came more and more a fruitful topic of
speculation; and with it's secret front
constantly staring one in the face, the
least sign of life or activity must have
been noted.
Why should anybody want to main
tain such persistent, unnatural seclu-
sion?
Inquiry at the estates Office build
ing was productive of no enlighten-
ment. Considerable difficulty was ex-
| perienced in gaining access to the
| manager; then he at once denied Num-
Der 1875 occupancy. Whereupon
Tom Phinney felt that the Powhatan's
| committee was not being treated with
| the Difference which it unquestionably
deserved.
See here" he said, humping the
desk under the managers nose; your
| COMPOUNDED house is situated right
across the street from the Powhatan
club
For the first time the managers
eye contained CLEAN of interest He
interrupted.
isn't Mr.. Percy Bonner on your
house committee?" he inquired.
Eyes, he is" returned Tom, not re-
ceding in the least from his determined
| the CLEAN died in the managers eye,
pIOCe0uou.
Our body is select, you must be
aware, and we are proud of the quiet
responsibility of our neighborhood
i There's enough influence in our mem
| bership to run out anything of shady
nature-we won't stand for it, in
short"
The manager acknowledged the JUS
tice of this ultimatum, but merely
said: IF you see or hear anything
wrong, run em out; don't care"
I'VE have a right to know who our
neighbors are" insisted Tom.
Inquire Of Them" said the mana
ger; Il can't tell you"
DO you mean to say you don't
know ?"-incredulously.
Just that. The present tenant new
er applied 10 US at all-have never
seen him, in fact. Occupancy Of the
house was arranged in quite another
manner. Really, gentlemen, that is all
| am at liberty to tell you"
And the Powhatan's committee was
bowed politely out.
It was not for nothing that the
house was called the House OF Mys-
terry.
/ tContinAed TOmorrow)