Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-08-17
TheEvening Story
Oldershaw
Castle
By JOHN TURNLEE

While examining an old manuscript
of my great-grnndfather bearing the
date OF 1873 l came across the follow
ing record of an incident that occurred
to him while travelling on the island of
Jamaica. II WAS written in my pro-
genitor's hand and in the old fashioned
spelling and with numerous capitals
1t ran thus:
was riding along on horseback to-
ward st. Pedro. Not far from me was
ridge on which was built very curl
GUS looking house. There was a tow
er among the other parts, from which
Judged one. might view the whole
country roundabout. While | was
wondering who might live in such
strange looking place saw mounted
negro galloping toward me. When he
came up to me he refined in his horse
and said to me:
My marster. Mr.. Oldershaw, invites
20 to dine with him at his castle on
the ridge. to stay the night and as
much longer as 20 will"
| had experienced so much hospital |
ity thus far in Jamaica that | was not
~ much surprised at this strange In
vitation as would have been under |
other circumstances. ! thought that |
would accept it and go into st. Pedro
in the morning. rode on. bidding the
negro ride beside me and asking him
questions about Mr.. Oldershaw and his
castle. / WAS Informed that he was an
Englshman who had come out to ia
| naica few years before had bought
tract OF land and built upon it what
he called Oldershaw castle. He was
| the only white person in It. the rest
being his negro slaves.
found Mr. Oldershaw at the ell
| trance OF his abode ready to greet me.
! He bore the stamp of an English gen
| tlernan. with much more Uf friendliness
! in his manner than the average Eng
lishman would have shown stranger.
He told me that he lived lonely life
and from the tower OF his castle
watched with telescope for travellers
and on seeing one invariably sent
slave with an invitation.
Never would suspicion of the man
have entered my head had ! not known
that jamaica at that time was the
dumping ground for the black sheep
Of English families. So ii ct once oc-
Cured to me that Mr. Oldershaw. be-
Ing an English gentleman. uiiSht have
been sent to Jamaica by his family to
Get him ont of the way
We dned sumptuousiy. nartaking Of
the luscious fruits of the country and
drinking the choicest Of wines. My
host pressed the bottle upon me. but |
noticed did not drink much himself
We were served by the negro who had
Lorne my invitation. lie never spoke,
Obeying his masters slightest look, go.
ing and coming noiselessly. Indeed.
there was something in this stiffness
pervading the place that gave me
desire TO get ont OF it. Then. too,
there was something about my hosts
hospitable manner which gave me the
idea that it was not genuine.
Ny host and smoked some delicious
cigars after dinner that he told me- he
had Just received from Havana. When
bedtime came ! was shown to room
beautifully fitted up With every con
venience AID was left to myself. But
something | could not account fol-
J warned me that | was in danger.
ira veled. like every one else In thai
country, armed. ] had not the face Il
take my arms to my room, but hac
a cane with q sword In ii. and this
. caught up as i went upstairs.
BY this time ] was In terror. tries
to poohpooh my fright and called NY
: self fool for conjuring up imaginary
dangers. But l could not get myself
into that bed Instead l lay down OF
a lounge An hour passed and l go
5 no sleep. Another followed with thu
same result. In that hot climate bed
room doors are not closed. l though
U | heard noise On the stairway with
out | had noticed curtains on all tn
windows. and, slipping to one Of then
I, and catching up my sword cane az
passed, / put myself behind a curtain
= Some one stole into the room. hear
footsteps near the bed, then a SCUM
like a sword piunging through a mat
y tress.
4 man drew a lantern from unde
his cloak and held the light over tn
bed He was Oldershaw. l knew b
this time that he had intended to mui
der me. and my only chance was {
kill him before he recovered from hi
surprise at finding the bed empty
Drawing my sword. | left my hidin
\ place and made lunge. running tn
! blade clear through his left side. Fl
: yank down with gronn and was still
But one idea absorbed me-to get OF
OF the place with my life. descende
the staircase hurriedly. but softly. IN
dripping blade in my hand. Opening
door at the foot of the stairs, stoo
at the entrance OF lighted room
e. which were half dozen blacks al
gr parently waiting for something. The
n, ~ looked at me in astonishment