.TIMES
(tome.
TwIm Every
Week and
thaPrlot
Ha mote
than Twtoe
the Ciroula.
tlon of any
Psper irn
to Only
On Dollar
iTtv.
John B. Sherrill, Editor and Owner.
PUBLISHED .TWICE A WEEK.
$1.00 a Tear, in Advance.
Pobliabadia'
the County.
Volume xxiii.
Concord, N.C.y. November lj. 1905.
Number 37.
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Piligre Ball I
By ANNA KATHARINE GREEN,
Author of "The Mystery ef Af atfcs Weak," "Last Msg's Use," Etc.'
Ceiyrlilt, I9SJ, ly tit Besss-Merrlll Ceasssy
1 Miim) im9xmifi
W. I. WOODHOU81,
President,
a w. awiNK.
MARTIN BOGBtt,
Vioe-Presidont.
. W. H. GIBSOS,
" Teller.
mm mi ma
Concord, H. On Branab a Albemarle, IT. 0.
Capital, t 60,000.00
Surplus and Undivided ProflU 80,000.00
DeptMiU 850,000.00
Total RaaooroM 436,000.00
Our put suncssi. h tndloated above by
figerea, is quite gratifying, and we wish to
aaaureoar friends and ouatomera of our ap
preciation Uiair patronage and cordially
Invito a oontinuanoeof the same. Bbould be
PMMa to serve a lam number of new cus
tomers, holding ourselves ready to servs yon
in any way wnuwi win sounu otniicf.
DIBBOTOB8.
J. W. Cannon, Robert 8. Tonne;, L. J. Foil,
Joe. r. Qoodman, H . J. oorl, J no. a. Snrd, J
aorrow, a, v. Ingram.
DIRECTORY.
The following: lots were disposed
of during the month of September I atory of this great tragedy from my
CHAPTER I,
OR a detective . whose talents
had not been recognized
headquarters I possessed
ambition which, fortunately for
my standing with the lieutenant of the
precinct, bad not yet been expressed
woras. . mougn I bad small reason
for expecting great things of myself,
I had always cherished the hope that
If a big case came my way I should be
found able to do something with It
something more, that Is, than I had
seen accomplished by the police of the
District of Columbia since I had had
the honor of being one of their num
ber. Therefore, when I found myself
plunged, almost wlthoutTmy own voli
tion, Into the Jeffrey-Moore affair, I be
lieved that the opportunity bad come
whereby I might distinguish myself.
It had complications, this Jeffrey-
Moore affair; greater ones than the
public ever knew, keen as the Interest
In it ran both In and out of Washing
ton.
This la why I propose to tell the
by the Concord Real Estate Com
pany, in West Concord
In Block "P"
Safe
wA
Prompt
THE
LllTinUI
Liberal
$100,000
100,000
85,000
860,000
Capital Stock, - .
Stockholders' liability,
Surplus and undivided profits,
Asseti.
Your Business Solicited
4 per eent. Interest paid on tlmeoertMcates
1 M. ODBXL, President.
W. H LILLY, Vice President.
U, H. UUliTKASH. UBSUler.
i. D. OOLTKANB, Asst Cashier.
. at. Haaiuux. Book-keeper.
Y.
DR. J. S. LAFFERTY
Give special attention to diseases of the
Eva and Ear, Sitting Glasses and to
Electric Treatment of Uhronio Diseases.
Cancers and Skin Disease treated by
the A-Hay. umoe room is, in Morns
Building. 'Phone 181a.
lib ol -b!i d City Rs;rij.
By virtue of a power vested In mi by a
certain mortgage deed executed to J. L
Rarward, and duly recorded In toe offloe of
Keglster of Deeds of Cabarrus county. North
Carolina, la book N. IS. paxes 4! and ., I
will on Saturday, the Sth day of December,
Not, at U o'clock M.. sell for cash to the high
est bidder ac me court nonae aoor in uon
eord. North Carolina, the following describ
ed k of land, lffLig- and being in the county
of Cabarrus, State of north Carolina, and
City ol Concord, and bounded as follows.
Adjoining the lands of A. J. Blackwelder.
R a. Rlack welder and others, and bounded
as follows : Known as lot No. It In tbe sale of
Wm. A Smiths property, beginning at a
take on street where It la crossed bv another
street end runs RUwia eolea and M links to
a corner of H. A. Blackwelder'e. Uence a 56
w t polos to Blaukwelder's corner, a stake
thenoe s 4 e 18 poles and 1 links to tlie
tract., tnenoe witn oe screes n so w s poles
the beginning, containing one-half acre,
more or lees This, however, la not to oun
vey the life estate which said William Over
man deeded to alien White, the same being
for about one-half of said lot, and ae est out
In deed to said Biles White In Book 60, Dae
aw, but It shall convey all the Interest which
aid Wm. Overman has In the reversion of
said part deeded to said Bllen w hue- Also,
see deed In Book No. SO, page 487. Sold to
satlfr the provisions In said mortgage deed.
. J. It HARWARD, Trustee. Mortgagee.
Adams, ArnBeld. Jerome Mannas, Attys.
Tbls the :h day of November, 1W6
Sale of Store House and Lot.
By virtue of a power vested In me by s oer
taln asortgsge deed executed to T. O. Haneas
by J. C Walter end wife. Haggle Walter, tbe
same being duly assigned to me on the tnd
day of January, MM, which la duly recorded
Inibooffleeof the keeleter of Ueeds of Ca
barrus County, fcortc Carolina, In book Num
ber 16, pages 4M and W. 1 will on Monday,
the llto da; of Decembrr.M, at 1J o'clock M.
ell for cash, to the highest bidder, at the
court bout door In Concord, North Carolina,
the following de-crlbed lot of land, lying and
being in the county of Cabarrus, Mate of
North Carolina, oily of Conoord, bounded aa
follows, to-wlt:
. Beginning at an Inn Make on Salisbury
.oad, 11. C Purr's corner, and runs thenoe N.
6 B loo feet to an Iron stake; thence 8 8U-E
t feet to an Iron stake; thenoe 8 tt W NOteM
to aa Imp stake on the Salisbury road;
thence M raid road W X) W fact to the
beginning, containing 2900 square feet, and
being tbe lot wblcb W. L. Hobereon and wlte
veyed to w. P. Shealy on the Slrd day of
July, I Hut, and conveyed to J. C. Walter by w.
P. Shealron thetlstdtyof Heptember, 1M6,
as shown In nook No. fiO, pages 47S-480 In Heg
latera olflce of Cabarrus county, and being
tbe store bouse and lot which J F. Bunswnow
occnnlee. near Plaber's steclee. ear
Sold to satisfy tbe proVinona of Mid mort
gfgedeed. T D.MHUSS,
Trustee, h-Agagee.
This tbe tth day of Novembor. liaa
Adams, Araoeld. Jerome A Maneas, Attys
Administrator's Notice.
Raving quallned as Administrator, de bonis
nan, C. T. A., of the estate of Dr. John I
Hecderson, decease VI persons owing said
estate are hereby noa&ed that they must
make prompt payment, or so It will be
broogbt- And all persons having claim,
against said estate must present tbem to tbe
undersigned, duly authenticated, on or be
fore the sots day of October. Ittd, or this no
tice will be pleaded In bar of their renovery
JOHN U SMITH. Admlotttratnr.
SeBonlsBoa.O.T.A.
Oes.lT.rn.
ByU T- HartssU, Attoraey-at-Law.
own standpoint, even If In so doing
risk the charge of attempting to ex
ploit my own connection with this cele
brated case. In Its course I encounter
ed ss manv disanDolntments aa trl-
Ii,W, M. Corzine; No. 1 2, 1 nmphs and brought ont of the affair
Corzine; No. l J, J. A. Can-1 heart as sore as it waa satisfied, for
am a lover or women ana
But I am keeping you from the atory
itself.
I was at tbe station house the night
Uncle David came In. He waa always
No.
W. M
non; ino, 19, I. A. Cannon; No. 24
M. O. Harris; No. 2, Miss Mamie
Pharr; No. 30, W. G. Kirk; No
31, W. P. Harris; No. 32, M. O.
Harris; Nq. 33, M. O. Harris.
In Block "M"
JNO. IO. J. IS. Sherrill; No. 15,
Mrs. John M. Craven; No. 16, 1
Mrs. John M. Craven.
In Block "N"
jno. 1, ti. 1. woodhouse; No, 3,
W.K. Johnson; No. 4, John M.
Cook; No. 5, H. I. Woodhouse.
In Block "L" -
No. t5,J. F. Hurley.
In Block "I"
No. 1, H. I. Woodhouge, No. 7,
H. 1. Woodhouse; No. 15, Presby
terian church; No. 10, fresbytenan
Church; No. 18, 11. 1. Woodhouse
No. 19, D.J. Bost& Co.
In Block "H"
JNo. 13, liaptist church; No. 14,
Baptist church: No. 24, G. A. Mis-
enheimer.
Tka dalesllve
i Out for Business i
Froa ITow n&til
ITovemter 15th
fnv eiik i niiu mill I
every order for 50 Visitine- T
t caras ana riaxe a
ah WVUUg eWWaaa
at PaneT?
I cmVinssprl with Turn nr T
T a! 1 r r "T
i luicc-icitcx ivionojjram rrorn ,
T Onv of lie1 O rliff',.--t cfnlaa
of slock Dies with two
T packages of envelopes to
T mil roll arvli of nlafA' rk V 1
selected from sample sheet I
400 to 415 and 409 to 424 T
inclusive. Rrmpmhrr thia T
I offer only holds good until
lain,
W. C. CORRELL. 1
w I. MoarooMaai. a i. taaoaowaLt
MOITC0XEEI 4 CROWELL,
Ittoraejs tnd CoDoselors-tt-Lar,
OOHOOBD, n. a
AS oartnera. will nrantlr law In fkhamii.
0atuir ana eujoinine counties, in sne Mnne-
lior end Supreme Courts o f tbe Stste and In
tbe Federal Courts . Offloe In court house.
rartlea a eel ring to lend money can leave It
witn US or Dlare It In Unnmrd Natkina Rank
for us, and we will lend It on good real es
tate security free of charge to the depositor.
We make thorough examination of title to
tanns ottered as security for loans, m
Mortgagee foreclosed without expeaseTo
Eiecntor's Notice.
Raring Qualified aa the K rem tar nf the es
tate of Mouroe Melcbor. deceased, ail nenons
owing aaia estate are tieretiy nnuneo that
mey nun make prompt pavnient, or suit
will be broueht. and all uersoiia havlna
claims against said estate mut present them
to the uoderslim. d, duly authenticated, on
or before the loth day of October, lwa, or
tbta notice will be pleaded In bar of their re-
""ry . as
jv. a. BisiHiKirr, Kxtcntor.
rtctoher loth, 1906.
Montgomery a Ctowell, Attorneys, W
Do yon want a farm or a place in town? I
If so, we think we can find jnst
what yon wautQ See the list of the
propwty we have for sale. Jno. K. Fat-
tsrsoaorOo.
... m
i W rlC riiTWli
C otAgk SrrnpV Tttotea Good.
tnm. roia or anirrttii.
called Uncle David, even by the ur
chins who followed him in the street, so
I am showing him no disrespect, gen
tleman though be la, by giving him
title which as completely characterised
him In those days aa did his moody
ways, his quaint attire and the per
sistence with which be kept at his aide
bis great mastiff Hudge.
I had long since beard of the old
gentleman as one of tbe most Interest-
lng residents of the precinct I bad
even seen him more than once on the
avenue, but I bad never before been
brought face to face with him, and
consequently had much too superficial
a knowledge of bia countenance to de
termine offhand whether the uneasy
light In his small gray eyes was nat
ural to them or simply the result of
present excitement But when be be
gan to talk I detected an unmistakable
tremor in bis tones and decided that he
was In a state of suppressed agitation,
though he appeared to have nothing
more alarming to Impart than the fact
that be had teen a light burning In
some house presumably empty.
It was all so trivial that I gave him
but scant attention till be let a name
fall which caused me to prick up my
ears and even to put In a word. "The
Moors house," be bad said.
"The Moore bouse V I repeated In
amasement "Are you speaking of the
Moore house r
A thousand recollections came with
the name.
"What other fie grumbled, directing
toward me a look as keen as It was im
patient "Do you think that I would
bother myself long about a house I
had no Interest In, or drag Budge from
his warm rug to save soma ungrateful
neighbor from a poeaible burglary T
No, it la my house which some rogue
baa chosen to enter. That la,"
suavely corrected, aa he saw surprise
In every eve, "the house which the law
will give me, If anything ever happens
to that chit of a girl whom my brother
left behind him."
Growling some words at the dog,
who showed a decided inclination to
lie down where he waa, the old mat
made for tbe door and la another mo
ment would have been In the street.
if I had not stepped after him.
"You are a Moore and live in or near
that old bouse?" I asked.
The surprise with wkch he met this
question daunted me a little.
How long have yon been In Waah-
Ington, I should like to ask V waa his
acrid retort
"Oh, some five montha."
His good nature, or what passed for
such in this irascible old man, returned
In an instant and be curtly but not
unkindly remarked:
Ton haven't learned much In that
time." Then, with a nod more cere
monious tbsa many another man's
bow, be added, with sudden dignityt
I am of the elder branch and live In
the cottage fronting the old place. I
am the only resident on the block.
When yon hare lived' hare longer yon,
wTll know why that especial neighbor
hood la not a favorite one with those
who cannot boast of tbe Moore blood.
For the present, let us attribute the
bad name that It holds to malaria.'
And with a significant hitch of his lean
shoulders, which set in undulating mo
tion every fold of the old fashioned
cloak he wore, he started again for the
door
But my curiosity waa by this time
roused to fever heat I knew more
about this house than be gave me cred
it for. No one who had read the pa
pers of late, much lesa a man connect
ed with the police, could belp being
well Informed In all the details of its
remarkable history. What I had fail
ed to know was his close relationship
to the family whose name for the last
two weeks had been In every mouth,
"Walt!" I called out. "You aay that
you live opposite the Moore house.
"You can then tell me
But be had no mind to stop for any
gossip.
"It was all In the papers," he called
back. "Bead them. But first be aura
to find out who baa struck a light In
the house that we all know has not
even a caretaker in it"
- It waa good advice. My duty and
my curiosity both led me to follow tt
Perhaps you have beard of the dis
tinguishing feature of this house. If
so, you do not need my explanations.
But If, for any reason, you are ignorant
of tbe facta which within a very short
time have set a final aeal of horror up
on this old historic dwelling, then you
will be glad to read what has made
and will continue to make the Moore
bouse in Washington one to be pointed
at In daylight and ahunned after dark,
not only by superstitious colored folk,
but by all who are susceptible to the
most ordinary emotions of fear and
dread.
It waa standing when Washington
was a village. It antedates the capltol
and the White House.. Built by a man
of wealth, it bears to this day the Im
press of the large idee a and quiet ele
gance of colonial times; but tbe shad
ow which speedily fell serosa It made
It a marked place even In those early
days. While It has always escaped
the hackneyed epithet of "haunted,"
families that have moved in have aa
quickly moved out giving aa their ex.
cuse that no happiness was to be found
there and that sleep was Impossible
under Its roof. That there was some
reason for this lack of rest within
walls which were not without their
tragic reminiscences all must acknowl
edge. Death had often occurred there.
and while this fact can be stated In
regard to most old houses, It la not
often that one can say, as In this case,
that It was invariably sudden and In
variably of one character.
A lifeless man, lying outstretched on
a certain hearthstone, might be found
once in a house and awaksn no special
comment but when this same discov
ery haa been made twice. If not thrice,
during the history of a single dwelling,
one might surely be pardoned a dis
trust of its seemingly homelike ap
pointments and discern In Its slowly
darkening walla the presence of an
evil which If left to Itself might perish
In the natural decay of the place, but
which. If met and challenged, might
strike again and make another blot on
Its thrice crimsoned hearthstone.
But these are old fables which
should hardly presume . to mention
bad It not been for tbe recent occur
re nee which has recalled them to all
men's minds and given to this long
empty and slowly crumbling building
an Importance which bss spread Its
fame from one end of the country to
the other. I refer to the tragedy at
tending the wedding lately celebrated
there.
Veronica Moore, rich, pretty and will
ful, had long cherished a strange liking
for this frowning old home of her an
cestors and, at the most critical time
In her life, conceived the Idea of prov
ing to herself and to society at large
that no real baa lay upon It save In
the Imagination of the supsisUUons.
So, being about to marry the choice of
her young heart she caused this house
to be opened for the wedding cere-
the holy words were said, a panic had
seised the guests and -emptied the
house ss suddenly and completely aa
though tbe plague had been discovered
there.
This is why I - hastened to follow
Uncle David when he told me that all
waa not right In this house of tragic
memories.
Vaale Bavia
mony with what result you know.
Though tbe occasion was s joyous one
end accompanied by all that could
give cheer to such a function. It had
not escaped the old time shadow. , One
of the guests straying Into the room
of ancient and unhallowed memory
the one room which had not bean
thrown open to the crowd, had been
found within fire minutes of the cere
mony lying on Its dolorous hearths tons
dead, and, though the bride waa spared
knowledge of the dreadful fact tilj
. CHAPTER It .
,TT HOUGH past seventy, , Uncle
1 1 David waa a brisk walker jand
M on this night in particular be
sped along so fast that he was
half way down H street by the time 1
bad turned the corner of New Hamp
shire avenue.
His gaunt but not ungraceful figure,
merged In that of the dog trotting
closely at bis heels, was the only mov
ing object in tbe dreary vista of this
the most desolate block in Washington.
As I neared tbe building I was so im
pressed by tbe surrounding stillness
that I was ready to vow that the shad
ows were denser here than elsewhere
and that the few gas lamps which
flickered at intervals down tbe street
shone with a more feeble ray than in
any ether equal length of street In
Washington.
Meanwhile the shadow of Uncle Da
vid bad vanished from tbe pavement
He bad paused beside a fence which,
hung with vines, surrounded and near
ly hid from aight tbe little cottage be
had mentioned ss the -only bouse on
the block (With the exception of tbe
great Moore place; In other words, his
own home.
As I came abreast of him I heard
him muttering, not to bis dog, as was
his custom, but to .himself. , In fact
the ttog waa not to be aeen, and this
desertion on the part of his, constant
companion seemed to add to bis dis
turbance and affect him beyond all rea
son. I could distinguish these words
among the many he directed toward
the unseen animal:
"You're a knowing one too know
ing! You see that loosened shutter
over the way aa plainly aa I do; but
you're a coward to slink away from It
I don't I face tbe thing, and, what s
more, 1 11 show you yet what I think
of a dog that can't stand his ground
and belp his old master out with some
show of courage. - Creaks, does it?
Well, let it creak. I don't mind its
creaking, glad as I should be to know
whose band Hellol : You've come.
have you?" This to me. I had Just
stepped up to blm.
Yes, I've come. Now, what la the
matter with tbe Moore honse?"
He must bave expected the question,
yet bis answer was a long time com'
lng. His voice, too, sounded strained,
and was pitched quite too high to be
natural. . But be evidently did not ex
pect me to show surprise at bis man
ner.
"Look at that window over there!'
he cried at last "That one with the
slightly open shutter! Watch and you
will see that shutter move. There, It
creaked! Didn't you hear it?"
A growl It was more like a moan-
came from the porch behind us. In
"Indeed r I laughed, sounding my
whistle. Then, soberly enough, for
was more than s little struck by the
oddity of his behavior and thought
him as well worth investigation as tbe
house In which be showed such an In
terest: "You shouldn't let that count
Come and see what's up In the bouse
you are so ready to call yours."
But be only drew farther Into 'the
shade.
"I have no business over there," be
objected. "Veronica and I have never
been on good terms. I was not even
invited to her wedding, though I Hve
within n stone's throw of the door.
No; I have done my duty In calling at
tention to that light and whether If a
tbe bullseye of a burglar perhaps
you don't know that there are rare
treasures on the bookshelves of tbe
great llbrnr or whether It Is the fan
tastic illumination which frightens
fool folks tnd some fool dogs, I'm done
with It s'id done with you, too, for to
night"
As be said this he mounted to his
door and dlssppeared under tbe vines,
banging like a shroud over the front
Tka Neere haeee
Radgs
stantly tbe old gentleman turned and.
with a gesture as fierce aa it waa in
stinctive, shouted out:
Be still there! If you haven't the
courage to face a blowing abutter, keep
your Jaws shut and don't let every
fellow who happens along know what
a fool yon are. I declare," he maun
dered on, half to himself and half to
me, "that dog Is getting old. He can't
be trusted any more. He forsakes bis
master 'Just when" The rest was
lost In bis throat which rattled with
something more than impatient anger.
Meanwhile I had been attentively
scrutinizing tbe bouse thus pointedly
brought to my notice. I bad seen it
many times before, but as it happen
ed, had never stopped to look at It
when tbe huge trees surrounding it
were shrouded In durkness. Tbe black
hollow of Its disused portal looked out
from shadows wbicb acquired some of
their Bouiberness from the tragic mem
ories connected with its empty void.
Its aspect was scarcely reassuring.
Not that superstition lent its terrors
to the lonely scene, but that through
JUe blank panes of window, alternately
appearing and disappearing from view
aa the shutter poiuted out by Uncle
David blew to and fro In the wind, I
or was persufeded that I saw a
beam of light which argued an un
known presensj; within walls which
had so lately been declared unfit for
any man's habitation.
"Yon are right" I now remarked to
the uneasy figure at my side. "Some
one Is prowling through tbe bouse yon
der. Can It possibly be Mrs. Jeffrey
or her husb4ld?"
"At night and with no gas In the
house? Hardly."
Tbe words were natural but the
voice waa not Neither was his man
ner quite suited to tbe occasion. Giv
ing him another sly glance and mark
ing how uneasily he edged away from
me In the darkness, I cried out more
cheerily than he possibly expected:
"iwlll summon another officer, and
we""!hree will Just Blip across and Investigate."
"Not ir was his violent rejoinder as
be swung open a gate concealed hi tbe
vines behind him. The Jeffreys would
it my Intrussn if the ever hap-:
of the house. In snotber moment the
rich peal of an organ sounded from
within, followed by tbe prolonged
bowling of Budge, who, either from s
too keen appreciation of his master's
music or in utter disapproval of It no
one, I believe, bas ever been able to
make out which waa accustomed to
add this undesirable accompaniment
to every strain from the old man's
hand. Tbe playing did not cease be
cause of these outrageous discards. On
the contrary, It Increased In fores and
volume, causing Budge's expression of
pain or pleasure to Increase also. Tbe
result can be Imagined. As I listened
to tbe Intolerable bowls of the dog
cutting clean through the exquisite
harmonies of his master I wondered if
tbe shadows cast by the frowning
structure of the great Moore house
were alone to blame for Uncle David's
lack of neighbors.
Meantime Hibbard, who waa the
first to hear my signal, came running
down tbe block. As be joined me tbe
light, or what we chose to call a light
appeared In the window toward which
my attention bad been directed.
"Some one's In tbe Moore house!" I
declared. In as matter of fact tones as
I could command.
Hibbard Is a big fellow, the biggest
fellow on tbe force, and, so far aa my
own experience with blm had gone, as
stolid and Imperturbable as tbe best of
us. But after a quick glance at the
towering walls of the lonely building
he showed decided embarrassment and
seemed in no haste to cross the street
With difficulty I concealed my dis
gust
"Come," I cried, stepping down from
the curb, "let's go over and Investi
gate. The property is valuable, tbe
furnishings are handsome, snd there is
no end of costly books on tbe library
shelves. You have matches and a re
volver?'
He nodded, quietly showing me first
tne one, then tbe other: then, with
sheepish air which he endeavored to
carry off with a laugh, he cried:
Have you use for 'em? If so, I'm
quite willing to part with 'em for
half hour."
I was more than amased at tbls evi
dence of weakness In one I had always
considered as tough and unpenetrable
as Dint rock. Thrusting back tbe hand
with which he had half drawn into
view tbe weapon I bad mentioned.
put on my sternest air and led the way
across the street As I did so, I tossed
back tbe words:
We may come upon a gang. You
do nob wish me to face some half
dozen men alone?"
"You won't find any half dozen men
there," was bis muttered reply. Never,
theless be followed me, though with
less spirit than 1 liked, considering that
my owu manner was in a measure as
sumed and that I was not without
sympathy well, let me say, for a dog
who preferred bowling a dismal ac
companiment to bis master's music to
keeping open watch over a neighbor
hood dominated by the unhallowed
structure I now proposed to enter.
At tbe first touch tbe door yielded.
It was not even latched.
Ho: so" thought I. "This Is no
fool's job; some one is In the house."
I bad provided myself with sn ordl.
nary pocket lantern, and, when I baa
convinced Hibbard that I fully meant
to enter the house and discover for my.
self who bad taken advantage of tbe
popular prejudice against It to make a
secret refuge or rendezvous of its de
cayed old rooms, I iook out this
lantern and held It in readiness.
"We may strike a hornet's nest," I
explained toillbbard, whose feet seem
ed very heavy even for a man of bis
size. "But I'm going In snd so are
you. Only, let me suggest first that
we take off our shoes. We can hide
tbem In these bushes."
"I always catch cold when wajk
barefooted," mumbled my brave com
panion; hmt receiving no reply, he
drew off his shoes and dropped them
beside mine in the clust of stack
bushes which figure so prominently In
the newspaper illustrations that have
lately appeared. Then he took out bis
revolO'. and, cocking It stood watt--big,
while I gave a cautious, push, to,
tbe door.
Darkness! Silence,
Rather bad I confronted a light and
beard some noise, even If It had been
the ominous click to which we are so,
share my feelings, though from an en
tirely different cause.
"Pistols and lanterns are no good
here," he grumbled. "What we nnt
at this blessed mlnnte is a priest with
a sprinkling of holy water; and I for
one"
He was actually sliding off.
With a smothered oath I drew blm
hack.
"Bee he!" I cried, "you're not
babe in arms. Come on or Well,
what now?"
He had clinched my arm and was
pointing to tbe door which was slowly
swaying to behind us.
"Notice that" he whispered. "No
key In the lock! Men use keys, but"
My patience could stand no more.
With a shake I rid myself of his clutch,
muttering:
"mere, go I You re too much of a
fool for me. I'm in for It alone." And
In proof of my determination I turned
the slide of the lantern and flashed the
light through the bouse. .
The effect was ghostly; but while the
fellow at my side breathed hard, be
did not take advantage of my words
to make bis escape, as I half expected
blm to. Tbe truth Is, I was startled
myself, but I was able to bide the fact
and to whisper back to blm fiercely:
"Hush!"
I had Just beard something.
For a moment we stood breathless.
but as tbe sound was not repeated I
concluded that it was tbe creaking of
that faraway shutter. Certainly there
was nothing moving near us.
Shall we go upstairs?" whispered
Hibbard.
"Not till we bave made sure that all
Is right down here."
A door stood slightly sjar on our
left
Pushing it open, we looked in. A
well furnished parlor was before us.
Here's where tbe wedding took
place," remarked Hibbard, straining
his head over my shoulder.
There were signs of this wedding on
every side. Walls and ceilings bad
been bung with garlands, and these
still clung to tbe mantelpiece and over
and around the various doorways. Tbe
clock occupying tbe center of the man
telpiece alone gave evidence of life. It
had been- wound for tbe wedding and
had not yet run down. Its tick-tick
came faint enough, however, through
tbe darkness, as If It too, bad lost heart
and would soon lapse into the deadly
quiet of Its ghostly surroundings.
It's It's funeral-like," chattered
Hibbard.
He was right; I felt as If I were
shutting tbe lid of a coffin when I final
ly closed tbe door.
Our next steps took us into the rear,
where we found little to detain us, and
then, with a certain dread fully Justi
fied by the event we made for the
door defined by tbe two Corinthian
columns.
It was sjsr like the rest, and, call me
coward or call me fool I have called
Hibbard both, you will remember I
found that it cost me an effort to lay
my hand on Its mahogany panels.
Danger, if danger there was, lurked
here, and while I had never known
myself to quail before any ordinary
antagonist I, like others of my kind,
have no especial fondness for unseen
and mysterious perils.
Hibbard, who up to this point bad
followed me almost too closely, now
accorded me all the room that was nec
essary, it was with a sense of enter
ing alone upon the scene tbat I finally
thrust wide tbe door and crossed the
threshold of this redoubtable room
where, but two short weeks before, a
fresh victim bad been added to the
list of those who had by some unheard
of, unlmaglnablo means found their
death within its recesses.
My .first glance showed me little save
the ponderous outlines of an old set
tle, which jutted from the corner of
the fireplace half way out Into the
room. As it was seemingly from this
seat that tbe men, who at various
times had been found lying here, had
fallen to their doom, a thrill passed
over me as I noted its unwieldy bulk
and tbe deep shadow it threw on the
ancient and dishonored hearthstone,
To escape the ghastly memories It
evoked and also to satisfy myself that
the room was really as empty as it
seemed, I took another step forward.
This caused the light from the lantern
I carried to spread beyond tbe point
on wblcb It had hitherto been so ef
fectively concentrated, but the result
ence of the old tragedies with which!
my mind waa necessarily full, that Ij
paused, balked In my advance and well
nigh uncertain whether I looked upon
a real thing or on some strange and
terrible fantasy of my aroused lmagtaj
nation.
A form lay before me, outstretched;
on that portion of the floor which had)
hitherto been hidden from me by thej
half open door a woaan formj
which even In that first casual loolcj
Impressed Itself upoii me aa one oft
aerial delicacy and extreme refine
ment; and this form lay ss only thai
dead lie; the deadl And I had beenJ
looking at the hearthstone for Just
waa to emphasize rather than detract
from the extreme desolation of tbe
great room. Tbe settle was s fixture,
as I afterward found, and was almost
the only article of furniture to be seen
on the wide expanse of uncarpeted
floor. There was s table or two In hid
ing somewhere smld the shadows at
the other end from where t stood, and
possibly some kind of stool orttiettee,
but tbe general Impression made uflbn
me waa that of a completely disman
tled place given over to moth and rust
The elegance of the heavily stuccoed
ceiling, admitted to be one of the finest
t pectin ens of Its kind In Washington,
as well ss the richness of the carvings
ornamenting the mantel of Italian
marble rising- above the
hearthstone, only served to make more
vtdent the extreme neglect into which
the rest of the room had sunk. Being
anything but anxious to subject nij-9elf
further to its unhappy influence and
quite convinced that the- place was In
deed as empty as It looked, I turned to
leave w
n my eyee fell unon some-
thlna? SS BUmMnl a n.l ov
wl eectjstomd, . RUe4 teamed jo '. jary. aeen as It waa under the lnilu-
such a picture! No, not Just such a
picture, for this woman lay face upper-j
most and, on the floor beside her was
blood j
A hand had plucked my sleeve. It
was Hlbbard's. Startled by my lm-j
mobility and silence, he bad stepped In!
with quaking members, expecting hej
hardly knew what But no sooner did
bis eyes fall on tbe prostrate form
which held me spellbound than an un
foreseen change took place in him.
What had unnerved me, restored him
to full self possession. Death In this
shape was familiar to him. He had no!
fear of blood. He did not show eur-j
prise at encountering It but only atj
the effect it appeared to produce on mej
"Shotl" was bia laconic comment ss
he bent over the prostrate body. "Shod
through the heart! She must have
died before she felL" -
Shot!
That was a new experience for this,
room. No wound had ever before dis
figured those who had fallen here, norj
had any of the previous victims beeni
found lying on any other spot than -the
one over which that huge settle kept
guard. Aa these thoughts crossed myj
mina i insnncuveiy giancea again Up
ward the fireplace for what X almost
refused to believe lay' outstretched at
my feet When nothing more ap-j
peared there than that old seat of sin
ister memory, I experienced a thrill'
which poorly prepared me tor the cry
which I now beard raised by Hibbard.1
Look here! What do yon make of i
this?"
He was pointing to what upon closen
Inspection, proved to be a atrip oft
white satin ribbon running from oneJ
of the delicate wrists of the girl before
us to the handle of a pistol which had'
fallen not far away from bar aide, "I
looks as If the pistol was attached to.
her. That Is something new In myJ
experience. What do yon think IN
meant?"
Alas, there was but one thing ill
could mean. The shot to wrJch ithsrj
had succumbed had been delivered by
herself. Tbls fair and delicate creaturoJ
was a suicide.
But suicide in this place! -Howoould
we account for tbat? Had the story
of this room's 111 acquired fame acted
hypnotically on her, or had she strmvi
bled upon the open door In front aniU
been glad of any refuge where her
misery might find a solitary termlna
tlon? Closely scanning her upturned!
face, I sought an answer to this quee-.
tlon, and while thus seeking received'
a fresh shock which I did not hesitate,
to communicate to my now none too,
sensitive companion. - ,
'Look at these features," I cried. "I
seem to know them. Do you?"
He growled out a dissent but stoop
ed at my bidding and gave the pitiful
young face a prolonged stare. When
be looked np again it waa with a
zled contraction of his eyebre
i ve certainly seen K-weft-ffhere.1
he hesitatingly admitted, edging alowwj
ly away toward the door. "Perhaps In,
we papers, isn't one like"-
"Llkel" I Interrupted. "It Is Veroni
ca Moore herself, the owner of this
house and she who was married here!
two weeks since to Mr. Jeffrey, Evi
dently her reason waa unseated by the.
tragedy which threw so deeg a gloom
V V Wa HVt VV m.mj. j 4
(To be continued.)
WIS?!9ML MBPS
DR. H. C. HERRING. DENTIST,
Is now over the store of the White-Morrison-Flowe
Company.
OOISOO&D. XT. O.
Dr. W. C
Surgeon
Houston
Dentist,
oonooRD, . c
Is prepared to do all kinds of dental work in
the most approved manner.
Office over Johnson's Drug Store.
Residence 'Phone 11. Offloa 'Phone is.
.. T. HARTSELL.
Attornej-at-Lii,
COI7COKD, STOMTH OASOZOWA.
Promnt attention aiven sa all hnalnu.
Office In Morris building, opposlto the court
house.
DRS. LILLY & WALKER.
offer their professional services to the clel
aens of Concord and surrounding country.
Calls promptly attended day or night.
Henry B. Adams.
Thoe. J. Jerome.
Frank Armdeld.
Tola D. Manees.
llizif Jero&e, imfisli I Him,
Attorneys and Counsellors tt Lti,
CONCORD, n. c
Practtne In all the State and IT. 8. Conrts.
Prompt attention given to collections and
general law pracUce. Persona Interested In
the settlement of estates, administrators,
executors, and guardians are especially In
vited to call on us, as we represent one of the
largest boudlng companies In America; In
fart we will a-o anv kind of a bond oheaper
than any one else.
Parties deal ring to lend monev ean leave
It with us or deposit it in Concord National
Bank, and we will lend It on approved secu
rity free of charge to the lender.
Continued and painstaking attention will
be given, at a reasonable price, to all lega
business.
o alee In new atoms Building opposite
ix beautiful building lots on East De
pot street at a bargain. Jno. K. Pat-
teison & Co.