Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-11-27
THE MYSTERY HOUSE.
by William II. Friend.

mir. Secretary" answered the
president.
Il make motion that we sea rch
the Mystery House Friday night"
An in favor Of going Friday night
raiS" their right hands. Why. what's
the matter with you. sam? You are
the only on" that's not raising his
hand
I'm sorry. fellows. bu, don't think
| can go. always have TO get in Il
lot of work on Friday"
ON. good night Don't worry
about the wood. All OF us can com.
To your house Friday evening and
get that in
Iha; being the ease. can't see
any way but to say yes"
All right. fellows. Re sur. and
come down to Sans house tomorrow
ana from there We VIII 20 to the
Mystery House." So 6ayiny Tom
Bro~n. president of the BE Useful
Clubt' closed the Thursday night
meeting OF the club.
AS things usually turn out. they
were all present at Sans house tho
next day and. after working in turn
they soon had the wood box in Mrs
Johcs house running over with wood.
rms done. all Ave members of the
club started down River Street to-
wards the harbor.
Now this Mystery House" az /,
VAS called by all who heard Of II. was
H''uai"d near the seashore. there he.
ing a high wall all around H. ,xc.pt
!"r one large gateway. From this
mouse came many weird sounds
"hlch. ] am almost certain. was ,,i.
mostly TO the waves tapping against
the wall. which ran right TO the
waters edge AT low tide. Thcr. were
ar" rnm"rs that when ola Captain
h"s1 dieh he left "a large amount of
money. They say that his death v,s
due 10 the ghosts that lived I'm tnn
place, but the coroncr's v.rdic, W..
th"t IL was heart trouble Well anv
way 10" was found dead and from
mat day UP until the prcs.n, tim.
u" one dared go near the house nm
less necessary
>" you can readily see the reason
TOT our friends search there both ths
experience and chances Of nndInp The
money. az he left no will
After brisk walk Of abou; t,vcn,y
minutes tn" boys came in sight ar
the oId mansion. The very SIGH, ~
IL i"a"e crceps run over them and a
suspicious slowing down of their
walk. When they heard th.. weird
sounds from down near the wat.,.s
e"sr' george. To explain To his COM
Pah!ohs the reason he was shaking
was because he was cold CT was
ON! about go degrees in the shadcl
Ns they approached the building
theIr magination increased and th.v
could see all kinds OF ghos,ly figure.
SIIdlhs about IN the shadows
"h"n Tom. who was leading. placed
. M. 'o"' on the first step II creaked
ana seemed 10 eroan under his
W'lsht' ana | think am safe in
saEin that every one was ready I'm
run. For Il moment they hesitat.d
b"t rom encouraged them by nro.
ccedinE.
b"I opening one OF the double
""orH ,hey entered large hall
men appeared 10, be about huy
rect long There was a heavy cont
INK of dust on the floor that had nc.
enmulatcd during the long absence OF
human occupant,
'hcc inside. they divided into Two
parties or Two and three each. one
party was to examine the rooms on
'he SIDE of the hall and the other
p"ItF Inc rooms on the opposite side
Ihey round nothing until the first
party consisting Of Dan ana lack
came to the third room on the Ief,
aown the hall. BY the rays OF Dams
i'hshiisht they examined their sur
'o"hdihSs. For awhile they saw
ho'hihs OF interest until door on
the opposite side of the room at
'iactcd Jacks attention. Approach
ihs' he pulled on the knob and the
1oor opened easily. disclosing TO their
disappointment small closet. upon
The floor Of which. Law n quantity of
apparently empty bottles. They were
ABOUT to turn away. when Dams
hiahce Tell upon q bottle sealed at
'he mouth with sealing wax
HOLD On minute. Jack. Lets see
what's in this bottle" said Dan. PICK
ing II up and examining 1t by the
light
Dan soon had the seal OF and the
cork removed. When he turned the
bottle upside down n tightly rolled
piece or brown wrapping paper fell
out. Dan seized it and with eager
hands unrolled IL.
AS sure as you live it's code, !
Jack. Go tell the other fellows TO
come in here and let's take look a,
this thing"
Jack was soon back with the other |
three explorers. and they ali crowded
around Dan looking eagerly ut the |.
age-worn piece OF paper.
ITS Il code all right fellows; but |
we can't figure ii out" Dan stopped |
short and listened. y wierd. mourn
full. sound fioated to their ears.
What do you suppose it isl" whis- |
pered Bill.
NoH KNOW Teplleu Dan. 'But |
listen"
The boys held their breath. and |
with eyes dilated. waited. a few mo-
ments passed. and again the sound |
came to their ears. but IL seemed !
closer. Just then they fancied they |
heard moan.
AS Dan was about to proceed, his |
hashlight went out and at the same |
moment two glowing eyes appeared |
in the doorway. Just then. as Sam
turned to look. he knocked over II |
large bottle. which fell with Il crash. |
They did not wait to investigate !
further. Dan turned and lied call
ing TO the others to run for their
lives. And run they did. tTheir
school won In all track meets that
Year,
Next day five hoys met I'm the club
house in Dams hack yard to discuss
their adventure of the night before. |
Boys, while we are all here we
can try 10 deciphcr this code. My!
All Of you were scared last night
knew what II was all the time
"Ypu see. didn't forget this--don't
you" said Don. holding mp rum
pied piece OF brown paper"
Wasn't scared! ] bet you didn't