Year: 1878

AdEOUs W OhAN Al A NEW YORK HOTEL.


In the first place do not believe in
ghosts at all, and amnot nervous wo-
man, afraid Of my own shadow, and
do not give heed to supernatural things.
Therefore I cannot explsin what l am
about to relate. If any one who may
read this can, shall be glad to hear the
1 explanation.


In the latter part Of April 1872, before
sailing for Europe, ! made a stay OF a
few days at the Metropolitan Hotel, in
New York. | was assigned to room 292,
on the second floor. had dined and bad
written a little in the evening. Finally |
left off work and sat down by the fire,
and as I sat there 1 noticed particularly
the disposition of the furniture in tho
room and the room itself. As that has a
direct bearing on my story,f will briefly
describe it.


The room was long and narrow, and,at
the end nearest the main hall had cur
tanned alcove for bed. By making this
alcoye a narrow hall was formed, which
opened into the main hall. There were
two doors to this little hall, one opening
into the outside corridor and the other in
to my room. There were two small
transoms, one over each door, Directly
facing the door was large French win
dow, opening into the street. A little
iron railing passed in front Of it outside.
The fireplace was by She side of the win
dow. Just back Of where I sat, ON the
right side Of the room as you entered,
there were large wardrobe and small
drab reps lounge. On the LEFT side Of the
room was stationary washstand, and
next to that bureau. The gas was Just
over this washstand. A few chairs and
i small marble top table completed the
furniture.


| had been writing, as I said, and to
have sufficient light, had rolled the little
table over close against tho washstand,
and had covered it with manuscripts and
photographs. | had not been reading
anything to give rise to bad dreams, had
eaten a moderate dinner, was in superb
health, and my writing had been com
mon place correspondence.


At about II o'clock | went to bed,
after having carefully locked the two
doors and lowered the gas. I went to
sleep Immediately, after my usual habit,
and slept | do not know how long.
woke up with a start and Il cold feeling Of
terror. / sat up straight in bed. My
room was brilliantly lighted, and I saw
that the marble-top table had been cleared
Of the manuscript, ETC., and had been
drawn over to the side Of the lounge, while
the easy chair in which had been sitting
had been placed opposite the lounge.
Two men were seated there playing cards.


Just sat and looked at them, not
knowing what to do or say. They had
evidently mistaken the room, I thought,
and yet, to save my life, could not havo
spoken or moved, noticed that the
man on the sofa was slender, and appar-
emily in delicate health. He had red
hair and red beard all over his face. He
was dressed in gray clothes. / noticed
that his left hand seemed to be somewhat
misshapcn near the wrist, as lit had been
hurt sometime. His face was marked
with extreme sensibility, and he had
small features.


The other mon was, physically, lis
opposite. lie was very large, of fine
physique, very dark complexion, with
very thick, short black hair, and a long,
dropping blacl; moustache. His eyebrows
were very heavy, and had short, thick
hairs that stood straight out, making
them look like two great caiepilars. -
His checks and chin seemed to have been
newly shaved. yet the beard showed
through the skin witha faint tbluish tinge.
He had little three cornered scar near
the right corner Of his mouth. lie was
dressed in black, and wore an emerald
pin.


Those who know me hest know that
fear is not one Of my eomponens; yet
must confess that | felt sensation very
like il. They were playing euchre, and
soon there arose q dispute. l heard no
words, yet from their angry looks and
/ gestures / saw thai they were quarrelng.
| Suddenly the darker man drew II long
knife and plunged it into the left breast
Of the man on the sofa. lie quivered a
little and then lay still. The other stood
looking at him for Il moment, then took
the deAd mans right hand and clasped it
round the handle Of the knife. Bracing
the elbow against the table; then coolly
gathered up the cards, and, putting them
in bis pocket, took up a black hat and
went out. - -..>


l turned to look at the dead man he,
too, had disappeared, and the room was
dark.


tried to think had had the night.
mare, hid my head underth bedclotnes,
and at last went to sleep again.


On rising in the morning found the
marble table standing. by the lounge, the
armchairbesi II, and all my papers or
the bureau by the window, This made
n great impression on me fora time, but
! Il multiplicity Of occupations obliterated
all remembrance of it. Yet when / went
T to bed that night, it was only to be awak.
ened by the same horror, to see the same
tragedy enacted, and to fnd the table
I misplaced in the morning as before.
The third night took the table over
{ by the window, placed all the articles on
it that it would hold, and left the gas
turned7on fnll bpt it was the same. |