The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-10-14

trail or smoke TON one VI lue CHILL
neys.
AS l studied the house 1 noticed
strange radiance that seemed to De
diffused from the roof, soft, steady,
golden glow such as might be produced
by a skylight in the ceiling of bril-
liantly lighted room under the roof.
swung myself into the branches OF
q huge oak tree that overhung the nat
roof and was soon creeping on hands
and knees over the tin covering the
edges. Beyond that was an expanse
of sash such as is used in greenhouses
occupying almost the entire roof.
Another freakish New Yorker" !
muttered to myself as hung over the
edge Of the glass roof and peered
down into the lighted space.
Beneath me was large room fur.
nished as IL bedroom and study.
There were a large table heaped with
books and papers. desk and com.
Portable chairs The walls were lined
with bookcases filled with volumes
bound in uniform dark covering.
1t was il workroom. the worArcon of
q student
The student was Dr. Ramerclif. He
was sitting at the desk absorbed in
writing. He had already filed sheet
after sheet of paper. all Of which were
scattered over desk and floor.
Suddenly he leaned back in his chair
and an aGoniZed expression convulsed
his face He reached his hand to-
i.,I r011ofo
into his mouth and dropped back in his
chair. one hand gripping his heart. His
eyes closed and he breathed heavily.
Was his seizure Il heaven sent oppor-
tunity for me:
l slipped back to my tree. gained
the piazza and found entra nee through
l front window. ! pried open the
wooden shutters. smashed the glass
with the butt of my revolver. turned
the catch and raised the sash. AS
entered seemed to be smothered in
folds of heavy drapery. Kicking my
self clear. ! found myself in total dark
ness.
drew out my electric torch and
pressed the button. "Heavens!' shud-
dered as | realized my surroundings.
l appeared to be in mortuary chap
eli, for walls and ceiling We're paneled
in black. the carpet was of thick black
pile. the furniture of dead black luster-
less teakwood. cushions. draperies-
everything in that horrible room was
the same grewsome black.
| opened the black enameled door
and entered black hail. | passed
through black library and a black
dining room. and my nerves were attn
gle with horror.
The kitchen was a cheerful apart
ment compared to the others. for Il
| was slate gray.
Up the black painted stairs l crept.
feeling strange depression stealing
over ME. the unwholesome influence Of
the dreadful honse: through black
door. There | paused.
What would find within this grew
some place where DR.. Ramerclif.
plainly a iunatic. had taken his beau
hful bride. petted daughter of the mil
| liOnaire:
turned the handle and entered a
1
black boud0ir
Stretched on the couch. face down.
ward. her face buried in black sofa pill.
lows. was slender form CARRIED In
black
| Her hair was white as snow.
| turned the light upon her. and \
placed my hand on her arm. ana she
| screamed with terror. ~.
..Go away. she cried. .sOh. So
away. -
Mrs. RamsFeifn. 2 - t--:.iis -
sey Bessie.
/ At the last word she turned ana lift
ed her beautiful white face to- me. 4
face wild with fear Her black eyes
widened. and she gave enc great glad
cry.
"Oh. take me to father" And them
she sank back unconscious.
! did not stand upon my going FROM
that place. gathered the poor little
bride in my arms and carried her down,
| the stairs and out Of that awful house.
| l was able to get team that would
take us to Oakdaie. where ! hired
motorcar and about midnight we drew
up to the HaIsey residence. the white
haired bride with my handkerchief tied
over her lovely locks CARRIED in black.
and ! the young detective with my
| 6rst great case.
| Mr. Halsey was in his library. and
shall never forget his glad face when !
restored his daughter to him.
| l remained long. enough to hear her
story. and then left father and daugh-
ter together. for must journey once
more down to Woodruff and ascertain
If that insane bridegroom had sue
| cumbad to the seizure l had witnessed
from the roof.
He was dead when | reached the
black house. victim of heart dis
ease And, SO persisted brilliant
mind that was destroyed by its own
intensity.
Bessip'S story was pitiable enough.
| Her husband had taken her to the
black house. and as coolly and i'm
personally as he might have watched
the struggles of butterfly impaled on
a pin he studied the effect of color on
the brain. In the dense black atmos-
| phere Of the black house he calmly
watched the slow killing of the beau
tiful girl He had told her of his In
tention. and she had struggled desper-
ately to get a message to her father.
| Once she had escaped and reached the
road. but when she found them In pur-
suit she tossed her letter into the
bushes and allowed herself to be re-
captured. but her message had gone
| forth.
That was ALL Mrs. Ramercli6 re-
covered her health and beauty. and the
secret of her disappearance was never
divulged.
Benjamin Halsey kept his word. He
| rewarded me. He made me the rich
est man in the world, for 1 married
Bessie afterward.