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IB 111 1 Mh II
JPltAJTIt MORTIMER, )
Editor and 1'roprietor. c
Vol. IV.
J Published Weekly,
At New Bloomfleld, Tenn'a.
BY
FRANK MORTIMER.
SUBSCRIPTION TEIIMB.
OJV12 DOLLAR PER YEAR!
Tho Greyson Mystery
AND
HOW IT WAS SOLVED.
BY F. D. Xj.
I WILL NOT undertake to describe my
heroine, for I hate such descriptions,
but will simply introduce her by the name
of Theodosia Erricson a very hard namo
says the reader but then I am not respon
sible for that. Ilcr friends for short called
her Dote, and Phil. Meredith who was her
lover, thought that a very appropriate
name.
They both were adopted children of
"Father Greyson," as they called him, and
lived with him at Greyson Hall, a fine old
mansion delightfully located among the
Berkshire hills in the old Bay State.
When Dote camo home from 'the semi
nary "finished," she brought with her a
friend, Ilonoria Wyndham, who soon be
came domesticated at Greyson Hall. Ilono
ria was a singularly beautiful woman, and
one to attract attention anywhere. Her
face was a perfect oval, generously tinged
with the rich blood of a wanner latitude
than ours. The lips were lusciously red ;
dead-black hair dropped in close, clinging
rings about the white brow; dreamy, almond-shaped
eyes looked out from under
neath the fringed lids with a real starry
lustre; the figure was slight, supple and
graceful.
Men generally go rapturously mad over
such a woman her own sex enviously so.
But Phil was true as steel. He had given
his heart to Dote, and was not one to be
turned aside by the 6ight of every fresh
face. Ho was content to admire Ilonoria,
but never thought of loving her. Besides
she had a friend, Arthur Clayton by name
who had taken up his quarters at tho hotel
in the village soon after she became an iu
mate of Greyson Hall. This Arthur Clay
ton seemed to divide his attentions very
nearly equally between Ilonoria and Dote,
and Phil may have thought there was an
understanding of some sort between him
and the first mentioned of the young la
dies. Miss Windham, Dote and Phil were com
ing in from a drive, one day. The door of
Father Greyson's study was ride open, and
he called to them as they passed through
the hall. Going in, they found him in an
easy-chair by the window, a strangely hag
gard and ghastly look upon his face. Dote
uttered a cry of surprise and alarm, and
went straight up to him, holding out both
her hands.
"You are ill, Father Greyson!" she ex
claimed, helplessly. "What is the mat
ter?" "A touch of the old trouble, dear," and
he tried to smile. " I am subject to these
spells, you know. I have always said they
would eventually prove the death of me."
Ilonoria was standing beside Phil. A
stifled sob camo from her lips, and she sud
denly turned away her faco.
" I am so sorry that I was not with you !"
cried Dote. "Has the doctor been sum
moned ? What can I do for you, sir ?' ask
tng both questions in tho same breath.
Father Greyson put out his arm, drawing
cor ciose to turn.
AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY
Dear Dole," ho whispered, stroking her
hair tenderly, "you ought to know the
truth. It is too late to call in mnrlinn.1 skill
This attack is likely to prove fatal, though
I may linger for weeks yet. I wanted to
tell you of this myself ; I thought you would
bear it better."
She uttered a crv of desnair. nli nrrinrr
" 1 b"t
convulsively to his neck, and ejaculating
" Not that 1 O, don't tell me you are
going to die 1"
He tried to soothe her. "Don't irrWn.
Dote," he said presently. "It trouble it.a
to see your tears. Besides, I want you to
attend to what I have to say.
I have been hiding a strange secret from
you. Now answer me one question. You
will forgive me for it, when I am dead, no
maiier wiiat may nave been the nature of
that secret ?"
Ho looked at her in an agony of sus
pense.
"Yes, yes," she sobbed, anxious tore-
assure him.
He then made a sign for Phil to come
nearer.
"Promise me that you will alwavs be
faithful to Dote," ho cried, enecrlv. "That
you will stand by her in every trouble and
affliction that you will teach her to love
ana cherish my memory even in the face of
lacts that may distress and perplex you."
Phil knelt beside her.
"I promise. May God help me to keen
my oath," he said, solemnly.
Throughout this scene Miss Wyndham
had stood leaning against the wall, verv
white, her lips trembling. She now came
gliding toward the three, and threw herself
on the cushions at Father Grayson's feet
like a person in the very abandonment of
grief.
" Go !" she cried, pushing both Dote and
Phil away. " This is my place. I have
something to say to Father Greyson.
Go 1"
Even the old man seemed surprised, but
she spoke in a tone of such fierce command
that nobody thought of refusing obedience.
uoto laid licr hand in Phil's and the two
went away together.
"I don't understand Ilonoria," whisper
ed Dote, in momentary distrust of her
friend. "What does she mean by such
unaccountable conduct?"
But Phil was equally puzzled. "This
is not the first time Father Greyson has
hinted or some secret that directly concerns
you," ho finally returned. " Perhaps Miss
Wyndham has become possessed of that
secret, and wishes to discuss it with him."
Dote was not wholly convinced of this.
"It may bo," she said, doubtinsrlv.
That was an anxious day for the whole
household. X ather Greyson was subiect to
these sudden attacks, but this seemed more
than usually severe. Ilonoria remained
with him most of the time. Her devotion
to the invalid was sincrular.to sav tho least.
She would not suffer even Dote to take her
place, and seemed jealous of the presence
ot a third person
Phil watched her rather curiously. "She
doet know the secret that distresses Father
Greyson so unaccountably, and for some
purpose ot nor own is averse to having it
revealed," was, the conclusion at which he
arrived.
Contrary to all expectations, Father
oreyson rallied, and was much better the
next morning, appearing to gradually im.
prove throughout the day. Towards even
ing he fell into a quiet slumber, and was
lelt in charge of the nurse ; Dote, Ilonoria
ana run collecting in the back parlor,
where Arthur Clayton soon joined them.
Of course thoy spoke of the sick man,
upon which Mr. Clayton manifested a Bin.
gular interest in the subject.and an extreme
reluctance to sulier it to drop.
" Your adopted father is remited to ha
very wealthy?" he finally said, addressing
iue remaric to run.
" YeB," replied the younsrman. cnH.lv
Miss Wyndham was standing by the
piano, sorting some music. Her back won
towards them but looking in that direction
New Bloomfield, JPa., July
Phil saw that her hands were nervously
unsteady.
" Of course you are informed as to the
amount of his fortune?" persisted Mr.
Clayton,hi8 keen black eyes scanning Phil's
face in a way that made him chafe with in
ward rage.
"No, I am not," he replied shortly.
At that Miss Wyndham faced about.
"I can tell you, Arthur," camo in her
cool, composed tones. " Ho is worth half a
million."
Half a million?" repeated Mr. Clavton
in a raised voice. " That is a lare-e mim of
money a very large sum. I suppose, Mr.
Meredith, it will be divided between vou
and Miss Erricson ? "
The question was exceedingly ill-bred, of
course. Dote heard it, though auite across
the apartment, having just taken up some
delicate piece of embroidery. Tim ri.Oi
color flamed suddenly into her checks.
She arose, throwing aside her work, and i
went straight across the room to the spot
where sat tho man who had put it.
Phil and I do not puzzle our brains
over such questions," she said, coolly and
quietly. " I am sorry that you should have
suffered the matter to perplex you, Mr.
Clayton."
He saw that she was incensed, and justly
so. He raised his hands deprecatingly.
"I crave your pardon, Miss Erricson."
" Grant it, Dote," put in Ilonoria, smil
ingly. "You and Arthur must not quar
rel over a few ill-timed words of which he
heartily repents, I am sure."
They were her guests, and .Dote could
not cherish resentment against cither.
Once afterwards, though, she heard Arthur
Clayton mutter to himself
"Half a million of money. Why, it
would be a king's ransom."
" It is singular that he should bo so
deeply interested in Father Greyson's af
fairs," she thought.
She endeavored to play tho agreeable
hostess none the less. .But it was a real
relief when Mr. Clayton arose to take his
departure.
When the hall clock was on the stroke of
ten, Phil Meredith went up stairs to the
room occupied by Father Greyson. The
light was out, and not a sound was to bo
heard within. After listening a moment at
the door, he passed on to his own apart
ment, very naturally concluding that the
invalid was still asleep.
A few minutes later some errand took
him down stairs again. There was a light
in the study, and to his surprise and alarm,
as he passed the door a voice sounded from
within that seemed like a low cry of anger
or fear. The conviction flashed suddenly
upon his mind that Father Greyson was
there, and that something dreadful had
happened to him.
Ho opened tho door and went in, when to
his surprise, he thought he saw the figure
of some person passing hastily from tiie op
posite door, while the apartment was filled
with a peculiar odor.
The desk was open and the papers were
scattered around in great disorder. Lying
on the floor where it had apparently been
dropped, by the one who had so hurriedly
left, was a paper which Phil picked up and
put in his pocket-book, thinking it might
furnish a clue to the cause of this singular
visit.
He had no time to follow the retreating
figure, as the condition of tho occupant of
the room was such as to call for his imme
diate attention.
Father Greyson was lying on the floor
apparently perfectly insensible while a sort
of spasm seemed to have possession of his
frame.
Phil loosened his cravat, and summoned
the housekeeper, quietly and expeditiously.
Mrs. Henderson seemed very much alai miwl
at first, but after studying the symptoms of
her patient a moment, she began to snuff
uio air keenly as any bloodhound on the
scent.
"Is there no danger?" asked Phil, whea
NEWSPAPER.
5, lST-Q.
they had placed Father Greyson in a com
fortable position.
"No," shortly. "He only wants a
chance to get over it."
" Get over what?" asked Phil.
"Don't you know?" .looking at him
sharply.
" No."
" Master is under the influence of chloro
form 1"
"Impossible!" he exclaimed. "By
whom was it administered?"
"How can I tell? Himself, perhaps. In
any event, it is fortunate the doso was no
larger."
Phil thought of the cry he had heard.and
the ghost-like form he had seen, but said
nothing. Such a revelation would have but
added to the mystery of the whole affair.
licing assured there was no danger to be
apprehended from what had occurred, and
lecling anxious to be alono where ho could
quietly consider the matter, ho passed out.
leaving Mrs. Henderson in charge.
In the hall he met Ilonoria Wyndham.
She was pale, even to ghastliness, and was
trembling all over like a person under the
influenco of some dreadful fear. She cautrht
his arm in feverish impatience.
" What has occurred ?" she askcd,breath-
lessly. " What is the meaning of such a
commotion at this time of nicht?"
Phil could not answer the question for
tmiiKing oi some one else, who would have
more cause tor alarm than Ilonoria.
"Where is Dote? Has she, too, heard
the unusual bustle?"
"I neither know nor care," impatiently.
" Will you not tell me what has happen
ed V"
Phil merely informed her of the condi
tion in which he had found Father Grey
son, carefully avoiding all allusion to the
mysterious visitor, and kecninrr bank tha
1 n
I act that his insensibility hadbeon caused by
chloroform administered, in all probability,
by somo ghostly intruder. She heard in si
lence, and then hurried into the study
where Father Greyson was lyine.
bote made her appearance on the landing
at almost the same moment. She came run
ning down, quito breathless, ci-vimr out to
- O
know tho cause of so much noise about tho
house.
"Father Greyson is not worse?" she ask
ed, with pale lips.
"No." Phil went on to repeat the same
story he had told to Ilonoria, She seemed
much relieved to learn it was no worse
As she entered the study, Ilonoria came
out, still very pale, and passed swiftly
up stairs.
Phil took refuce in tho library. Ilo
wanted time to pierce this sudden haze of
mystery. It might be vitally important to
more than one that ho should do this
speedily.
Ho sat dawn by an open window, his head
in one palm. Balmy breezes fresh from the
heart of the summer night stole softly in to
tan Ins brow. A maze of doubts beset him
Whose was the spectral form, and why had
its treacherous hand administered that
deadly drug? What, foil purposo had he
frustrated by his opportuno appearance ?
Above all, what mad project had called
H ather Greyson Irom his couch at that time
or nignty
Twenty minutes went by while these
thoughts passed through his brain. He
hoard no rustling garments, no gliding foot
steps over the grass, and yet he suddenly
became conscious of a white, shapely hand
being stretched out of tho darkness to
wards him, and knew that the same subtle
sickening odor he had detected in tho studv
was being distilled on the air he was then
lnnaung.
His first feoling was one of overpowerin
terror. His heart seemed to stand still, and
all pulsation to stop. Then ho shook off
tho spell and jumped to his feet, crying out
in real norror. Tho liana was quickly
withdrawn, and on looking from the win
dow, ho saw tha same white-robed form he
Terma: IX ADVANCE.
One Dollar per Year.
IVo. 27.
had beheld once before, go clidim? away
through the starless night.
He did not attemnt to follow, thoueh the
smell of chloroform it had left behind was
amply sufficient to convince him that his
mysterious visitant was mortal, like him
solf.and that it had tried to benumb his fac
ulties in tho same way Father Greyson's
had been benumbed. Tho reason for this
as not so clear, however. A common bur
glar would not have resorted to such an ex
pedient while the whole houso was in com
motion. What d id it mean ?
Ho suddenly remembered the scran of
paper he had laid away in Ins pocket-book
It would seem that the ghostly intruder had
attempted to gain possession of that paper,
m the first instance. What was more prob
able than that he had been seen to pick it
from the floor? which would be amply suf
ficient to explain why he had been made
the subject of the second attempt. Of th
contents of the paper he was wholly ignor
ant, however.
His name was presently called from the
hall outside. Hurrying out, he found Mrs.
Henderson looking for him.
"Master is terribly worked ud over some
paper or other that he has lost," she said.
We told him you were the first to find
him, and he thinks you may have seen it.
He is asking for you."
Phil hurried to the study. As he entered,
Father Greyson half raised himself from
the sofa on which he was lying, beckoning
for him to approach.
"Tho paper, Phil," he whispered, ex
citedly. "You have it?"
The question must have been audible in
all parts of the room. Miss Wyndham
came gliding in just in season to hear it,
and seemed to await the answer quite a
eagerly as did Father Greyson himself.
Phil nodded assent. " I thought the pa
per might be of value, and so took care of
it."
The sick man caught it eagerly. "Thank,
you, Phil," he said, looking very much re
lieved. ' What was the causo of this last at
tack?" he asked, curious to learn how
much the old man suspected.
A look of fear crept into Father Grey
son's face. He put his lips close to Phil's
ear.
" I shall tell you the truth, though I have
kept it back from the others, "he said, in an
almost inaudiblo voice. " I could not rest
in my bed up stairs for thinking of a duty
I owe to Dote, one which I have kept put
ting off from timo to time. So I arose and
came down to my study, and straightway
wrote out the secret contained in this pre
cious paper for her to read when I am gone.
These lines were scarcely penned when I
became conscious of another presence in
tho room, and looking about, I saw a tall
white form standing just behind my chair.
Tho next moment a hand a woman's hand
was held out for the paper. I held it all
tho tighter, and cried out, for a sponge wa
suddenly thrust under my nose. Will yo
believe it, Phil, that sponge exhaled chloro
form?" His tone was expressive of dread. Tha
young man thought it best to make no
comments.
" You have not toldDote this?"
"No. She thinks I over-exerted myself,
and became faint. Mrs. Henderson knows,
but I have cautioned her to be silent."
Miss Wyndham had taken a position bf
the window opposite. As Phil turned away, "
she signalled him to approach.
" Mr. Greyson has been making soma
revelations," she said, fixing her eyes curi
ously upon his face. What is it?"
"You are mistaken," Phil answered,
amazed at her inquisitlveness. " There 1m.
nothing to tell."
"Then you have not read that paper of
his, and know nothing of its 'purport ?"
She paused in breathless expectancy, and
seemed singularly relieved when he denied
all knowledge of its contents.
" I have no right to ask so many ques
tions," she resumed, laughing lightly. "But
mother Eve was a very inquisitive woman,
and I have only inherited her failing."
CONCLUDED HEXT WEEK.)