The Mystery of Old Chalkwell Hall.

Golden Bay Argus, Volume IX, Issue 51, 26 May 1904, Page 2

The Mystery of Old Chalkwell Hall.

( Copyright.)

BY HEBEJft G. LOTEN.

PART 1.

A HIGHLY SENSATIONAL STORY OF NINETY YEARS AGO.

CHAPTER I.' . < THE OLD SflIF INN.

A March evening, cold and •boisterous ; the bitter north-east wind seeming to pierce the very marrow of one's bones. What a pleasant eontrast is the flickering light showing through the crimson curtained windows of the Old Ship Inn at Leigh, telling! as it do"es of warmth and comfort. The legend oyer the door "good accommodation for man and beast" is to be taken as literally true.

Fes? houses of entertainment wsre better ordered as to cleanliness and comfort. Its landlord, Sam Bridge, who had been its* proprietor about four years, and his wife were well spoken of and respected far and near. Rumor made out that Sam had formerly been gunroom steward on board a man of war. Sam neither confirmed nor denied the report, invariably stating that he had quite enough to do to mind his own business, adding that it would perhaps be as well if some people he know did the same.

In the large cosy parlor, where a fire crackled and blazed cheerfully, about a do*on persons were sitting, two of whom claim our notice moro particularly than the resjfe. Th*e first is a little weak looking man who has possibly weathered life's storms for sixty years ov more.

He is known to most of the residents of Leigh as little old Billy Risky ; by . trade af barber, but for many years he had officiated as parish clerk. On the same side of the room, a single chair intervening between them, tits ~the recently promo tad supervisor of oxcise, Cornelius Crossingham. His face is the reverse of an agreeable one. A low retreating forehead ; small restless T»ead-li'ko eyes overhung by bushy eyebrows which nearly meet a badly formed nose. Thin cruel lips. A square heavy lower jaw. Features deeply pitted by small pox and the whole crowned by a bris'tily crop of red hair, make the countenance an evil and forbidding one. Ho Is about fifty years of ago, of medium height and very powerfully aaads.. If he possessed ttio qualities of cowrage aSad endurance ho would provo a very dangerous adversary in a hand to hand conflict. Another of the group requires v a passing notice. - Thomas Fitch, owner of a small landed property called "Wakenings," a very dictatpral and consequential personage. The now rector having chosen him for churchwarden, ho never lost an opportunity of descanting on church matters when he could obtain a listener.

On this particular evening Fitch was explaining some sweeping alterations which the rector contemplated making to the interior of tho church.

"Will he interfere with any of the old monuments ? " queried Crosaingham.

"04 course he will If they are in tho way," replied Fitch. "If ho removes them where will he put them, or what tho devil does he intend doing, with them ? " asked the supervisor.

"I really cannot say ; possibly reerect them in another part of the building*."

"Ah, I soe," said Crosslngham, "make liars of them. Look here Fiteh, the first tkne I meet him I'll tell him to let the dead rest and to leave their monuments alpno ; that the old church is right onough as it is, and that tf ho wants to alter anything he'd hotter tackle the Prayer Book, and begin with the Athanosian Creed."

The angry retort which had risen to the lips of tho irate churchwarden remained unspoken, for tne parlor door opened and a stranger entered.

Tho newcomer was a strikingly Handsome man, not more than twenty seven years of age. Tho handsomely fur-trimmed boat cloak, and the gold banded oap which ho wore, plainly indicated that ho belongod to the ryuitlcal-profession. Ho bowed slightly te the assembled company and walked to the tfebie; took the little handbell from off its stand and rang it somewhat noisily. Tho landlord answered tho summons himself.

"Can yon accomodate mo with a bed ? I am owner a*d captain of tho' biig " Queen of tho Waves," which anchored in the Swash eomo few hours ago. I should have landed in one of. my own boats, but the creek looked intricate and as I was ignorant as to the navigation, I landed at Southtad and Hired.a trap and ciivor to bring mo hore." "A "bsdroona, certainly sir, and a ftuitg sitting room as well should you inquire it." * "Eaank you, the one room will be sufficient: uule3S," he added after a pause, "I should have conipany, and tt*t will depend, I auppos*, in- % a" r.xcui meaanre upon tho answers I re-r cti»e to a question or two I am a»w»*n, tj a»k you."

Altar? a peine »he stranger roSUlftfl*!. . . '• : "is Llwa-J. an rfW 'fiahfttte n&fcitfd I*afo*r frero V "

here, and is a hale and hearty woman, very honest and very industrious."

' 'lf you send for her do you think she would come to the inn tonight ? " "I am certain she would, and that as quickly as posslblfe." "Can you give me any infprmation respecting a fisherman named John Frost ? Commonly called Jack Frost."

"Yes. he is alive and w»ll and I believe is in the taproom at the present time." "If not bothterfaig you too much," continued the captain, " would you send to Mrs. Baxter and let her know that I have a message for her from her son "Bom, who left Leigh many years ago. He has been a shipmate of mine for a very long time. He would ha>vo come on shore with me but unfortunately sprained his aaele badly just as we came to an anehor. Ho is m-y second officer, a»d wished mo to find and deliver a message from him to his old crony Frost, if he was still livings Please have a fire lighted in the sitting room, and let me know when Mrs. Baxter arrives. Tell Erost not to leave before I have seen him, and in the meantime send me Jm a glass of hot grog."

The conversation between th'e landlord and his guest had been carried on in tones loud enough to reach the ears of the assembled company, Mid, as the captain drew a chair closer to the fire, after removing his cloak he became the cynosure of all eyes. He had scarcely seated MmSelf whon'the little barber asked :

" Hid you say, sir, that Wi&ow Ba-xter's son was aboard your vessel ? "

"Yes, why do you ask J" queried the captain.

"Why do I ask, sir? Bocause it can't be him I Tom Baxter was murdered years ago—when he was a boy not more than thirteen years old. Nobody know for years what had really become of him. Beady, the man he was apprenticed to, said that In Jibing the boat, the boom knocked him overboard ; that he sank at once and never came to ijhe surfetce again."

Encouraged 15y the evident interest with which the captain listened to these extraordinary revelations the little ex-barber continued : "Well, sir, about six years ago there was a tremendous storm, anda portion of the sea-wall round Leigh Marsh was washed away. Sticking out on one side of tho broach which the waves had naadp, was a fish cask with Beady's naaio' carved an ono of tho boards o>f the lid. Inside the cask, with a big hole in tho skull, was the skeleton of Tom Baxter."

"Yes." said tho captain, "and what followed ? "

"There was an feiquesfc hold," continued Billy, "and a verdiot of wilful murder returned against Beady. Tho verdict didn't affect him for he had died about a year before the remains were found. So you see, sir, your second officer musty I>e »omo other Baxter. It Is impossible fchat he c«n bo Molly Baxter's son. Mr. Young, the gentleman who has just entered the room, was foreman of the jury and knows that I am speaking, the truth."

"Your statement is correct, so far as it goes," said Mr. Young, who had heard Billy's closing remarks, "but if you remember I expressed my doubts as to tho remains being these of young Baxter, and pointed out to tho jury that the hair was ima-ny > shades lighter than Baxter's was said to have been. I openly staged my conviction that the skeleton was that of an Albino boy who had been in Beady's servico, and who disappeared in a very mysterious manner."

After a brief silence ho continued

"Had Beady been living I should certainly as a magistrate have issued a warrent for his apprehension, on a charge of having murdered the Albino."

"Well, it's a wonderful piece of business, and I can't believe it's Tom, Molly Baxter's son," said Risky.

"Perhaps It's his ghost Billy, I hoard you saw a couple once in one of the passages of i tho Old Chalkwell Hall." sneered Crosmngham. "I know you say y.ou d»ht believe in such things, but if you had had my experience, you might altor your opinkm, M». Crossingham." Quietly rejokiod the barbpr. "Bah •! It's only old women and a paok of foolo who believo in them." saarled the half-drunken exciseman.

"You forget," said tho.captain, looking Crosskngham s.quarely in tko face, "that it is impossible for you to prove • tha£ ghosts are nothing moro than the creation o'f a disordered imagination. The weight of ovideuco is as mwm in favor of their existence as their non-extetence." "Curse the weight of evidence ; " replied tho snporviaor, "when I see ®ne nlyself I'll believe there are such tilings and not beioro."

"Why ; Bifrly, you have jaova» told us your adventuro in the old hall," said Goring—another 6f the party who had followed the little ex-barr|er with marked abten.tion*-"let ws hear_ it to-night 'for the firs't ttme," and noticing tho clerk's glass was empty, he rang tho beil and. told the v waitor* who anS.wer.Bd the summons to re-, plenlsh i't, and to briijg him a-glass, of nogus at the same time. On tho return of tho tvaiter, Blsby/with a preliminary .cough, cqmmei£c6d. the narrative of his tftlventure as follows : v TrIE BABBER'S STORY.

"1,1 was about four years niter Sajiire -Mason moved into the now Ball; •leaving"' I the old one wninhsfbii-, cd— save by itie ghds'ts that were said to hatint it,—and a little mere than *two months BefOr* the gocrtl gontleowwi liroka his wfefc foxlranglpg, tWat his/ aaoit eame to my shop with a stating

that the squire had a bad hand, and that I was to go to the hall and shave Mm, as he couldn't shave himself."

"Th» day was terribly hot, and on account of the heat I delayed starting as long as possible." "I got to the kail about three o'clock in the afternoon, did the business I had to do, and sat chatting, with Mr. Mason for some timo." "I forgot to say that as soon as I Ehd finished the shaving, and the squire had made himself comfortable, he went to the buffet ; placed the decanters and glasses on the table, and rcfag the bell for cold water." "After ribout an hour, and while we were still talking, the rojem became suddenly almost dark." "Looking out of the window to discover tffe cause, I saw that a storm was brewing." "I immediately got ready tto depart, and although the squire begged mo to remain, I Btarted on my homeward journey." "Before I reached the old hall the storm broke. The rain oamo down in torrents ; the peals of thunder were incessant on'd deafening and the hfeaveas seemed to be a sheet of livid flame." "I had nover witnessed anytKing like it before and sincerely hope I may never see or hear the like again."

"I gairiod the old hail at KLst, and sought sholter under tho verandah. Finding it no protection, I entered tho house and sat down in tho main passage or corridor." "The wind now began t'o rise ; shrieking and howlmg through the deserted building, like tho wailing of lost spirits. Tho old plaee rocked to its foundations, and I believed my last hour had come." "There was a Bhort lull, and then a daazling flash of lightning—which lit up tho place so that yon could have seen a pin upon tho floor—at that moment, I saw as plainly ob I see you now, a man dressed in light clothing -standing close to mo, resting m his arms was what appeared to be tho body, cold antl lifeless, of a young and beawtiful girl." "Frightened a's I was, I spoke to tho man. Ho gave me tud answer, tiu.t k>o.ked back angrily, and then glided noiselessly with his burden through the third door ort the left side of the corridor." "Th'o sight of tho ghostly apparition terrified mo. I was bewildered, and rushed out into tho night. How I reached home I know not, A serious attack of brain fever followed, whitth utterly prostrated me for three long and wear,y months." "I have never told any ono aflxmt the phantom of odd ChalkweH Hall. I must, however, have raved about it when dolirious with tho foyer, for tho kicidont became known." "Perhaps if Mr. Crossingham had passed through a similar experience ho would speak less harshly of those who believe tkcro ore such things as ghosts." "It was a startling experiorvee, certairaly,". said Mr. "Xoung, "and would have dismayed any man. As for myself, I fervently hopo I may never have to pass through sueh an ordeal." "It's easily explainod," said the supervisor, "tho . storm frightened him out af his wits, and being pretty full of Mason's brandy ho fancied ho saw the ghosts." "I say, old man," ho continued, "dia tho face remind you of any face you had over seen before ? " "Yes, I had seen a faco liko it before."

"Toll us who It was like," called out several of the company. "I had much rather not do eo," remarked the old clerk. "Don't bo squeamish, Billy," Wl&s tho r.oply, "out with it at one's." "Whom did you faney yoji saw ? " Jeered tl>e excise officer. "I said I saw the spirit ; not that I fancied I saw it," replied Risby, looking full at Crossingham, "and if such a tiling were possible, I Should say tfhe face was yours, for it was as much dike it as two peas Jttr. Crossingiham." A roar of l'aughter from tho company followed this unexpected answer. " You ar,e quite sure the apparition was like Oossingham t " the captain enquired- ■■ "¥es, sir, even the drees it wore reminded me of one I had seen him wear before he became a supervisor." " Ha, ah ! " laughed Crossingham, "your yarn won't go down with me, I've a gao.d mind to camp in the old hall some night and see if I can moot my rloftble." "You're not plucky enough, you can boost and bully, but you ore not gaxiio to face the ghost," replied a vc*!oo. This threat bo exasperated tho exciso officer that ho offered to b.et anyone in the room ton pounds that if he tteituJd got to the hall that night he would consent to bo locked or fastened in tho haunted roam until eight o'clock tho next mornimg. After- a sh®«fc pause tho captain of the b'rig prortuced'a well fillod purse, and taking ten aovoKQigns fro*m it, placed them on tha ten pound note which tho excise man had ostenta-. tiausly laid upon the table. "AM right, but how the devil am I to got thoro to-night ? " said CrQS-, sirighani, "and"""another thing, who'll lock or fassten mo in ? " "I- wiU tell them to tfut my mmv> . In and ck4vo you over In my ddgcart," replied Mr. Young, "and TIL see you are lot o.ut at oigh-t o'clock, sharp, to-morrow morning, that is it the ghosts or his satanic majesty , haven't carried, you off during the I nfcght." [ "Kite! and I will attend to the. I j looking ' in and letting out," sai'd '' Mr. Willingato—another of the com- ! pansr. v 1 "You will want blankets and othpr things y*u kao,w, so make haste sw»d got tirem i>eadj?, and I'.W , go" and see the bay niaro barnessad,' ?

said Goring, rising ib leave. Sam Bridge came in and informed tho captain of the brig that Mis. Baxter had arrived.

There is no need to recapitulate their conversation. Naturally the old lady was much excited and wept and laughed alternately. She pleaded so earnestly to be allowed to go on board the brig at once to see her poor Tom, that the captain consented —provided she could find some trustworthy man to take her to the vessel.

"Jack Frost would do it willingly, if he was asked," she affirmed. That worthy readily consented to Ho so.

The captain wrote a note to the commanding officer, which he entrusted to Frost, desiring iiim to deliver it as soon as ho got on board, and tho pair left supremely happy-

Mrs. Baxter and her escort had no ttooner taken their departure, than the captain returned to the question of the ghost of Chalkwell Hall. Crosslngham saw ho had gone too fa* to retract, and put on as jaunty a mamier as possible ; but he would gladly have cried the bet off. The prepar-ationa were soon made—the party took their seats. Goring tcwicliad tire bay more with the whip, and they paused through the main street of Leigh at a rapid pace.

The old hall looked weird and ghostly in tho moonlight. Tho wind southed* dismally as it swept through tho deserted building ; shrieked and whistldd through tho broken windows and high up among tho rafters.

The light from their lantern en r abled the.m to find the room the» sought without' much difficulty. The key was in tho lock, and to their surprise unlocked thtT door easily. Lighting a lamp that they'had brought tfhey saw that tho apartment was in fairly good repair, and that it contained a solitary chair and table.

Thero was a capacious fireplace in which still remained a log which had burnt itself out or been purposely extinguished perhaps years before.

A fire was soon kindled and a sufficency of firing gathered to last tho night ; they then examined tho wainscot for secret panels, and being convinced that the door was only means of ingress or egress they wished him a pleasant night, locked him in, and departed. On their return to the inn one of tho waiters handed Mr. Goring a letter form the captain, which ho road and reread several times, and otter reminding Fitch and Willingalq that the supervisor was to be let out at eight o'clock, and requesting thorn to be punctual, he wished tho company good-night and left the room.

* CHAPTER H. EUGENE BE BURGH

On leaving the parlor Mr. Goring directed his steps to the apartment occupied by the young captain, and tapping- gently, he wtvs invitad In a. cheery voice to "come in.."' -Aa ho entered the room, tho captain roeo from tho comfortable couch he occupied and advanced to meet his visitor with oxtended hand, which tho otho* took and shook heartily. "And you are Eugene de Burgh," ho said, "the son of my old playfellow and companion Gertrude Mason ? " "Tho same," replied the captain. "When I eaw you in the parlor your face reminded me of someone I had seen or known, but I was unable to recall you. Please tell me about your mother, and your«olf. If your mother should require the services of a sincere friend " "Thank you, most sincerely, sir," broke in Eugene, "mother has known much trouble and real sorrow, but she lfisfs borne it bravely and patiently.and is ever looking forward to tho dawning of brighter and nappies times." "Heaven grant tfhat she may not bo disappointed ! " Bjeculated his lis loner. "My father, as you are perhaps awaro, was a captain in the French navy Ho was a man of gofid family, and his mother—like my own-was), an English lady. &he died when father was a mere child, and in tho coiiKse of a year my grandsire married the only daughter of the Comto de Fleury, an impecunious and, spendthrift noEleman. Tho haughty and fiery temper of the lady led to domestic quarrels of frequent occurrence anti sad import. One child, a boy, was the fruit of this unhappy union. Matters went on from bad to worse, and ended in her leaving my* g-randsiro. Taking her child with her, she roturnod to tho shelter of hot- father's roof. All correspondence bat ween her and my grandfather ceased -jintl they never mot again. Aftor tho death of my grandfather, which took place some years later, my father, caused enquiries to bo made respecting life stop brother, arnd ascertained that on the death of his maternal grandfather, ha had succeeded to the title and what was left of a qnco large estate ; also that* ho bore a' very unenviable reputation. At this time we resided near Dieppe. And I now- come to'a point in my narrative that will greatly surprise yon, Mr. Goring." "Indeed ! I shall listen with interest." "One day,*' continued Eugene, "my mother, whb had been to tho town on business brought an English boy of very forlorn appearance home with Hot, he remained with us, and soon became an especial favorite with my parents, my only sister, and myself. That boy was Tom Baxter." "Tom Baxter ! " exclaimed Mr. ©oring. "Yes, Tom Baxter, upon whoso supposed remains the inquest was held, and of whose existence at the present time the lifctlo barber is extremely d.<*ubtfol." (Tp_be OonUnuddi) 885.