MYSTERIOUS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1010, 28 September 1882, Page 3

MYSTERIOUS.

A mysterious circumstance is reported by the Times to have occurred in a hotel in Christchurch recently, just about the time when it changed hands The liouse was empty, a thorough clear-out ha ving taken place. The landlord, on the first night of the occurrence was the only person sleeping in the house, and he was disturbed about midnight by hearing a man’s heavy footfalls along the passage. They were slow and distinct, and the landlord thought at first that a policeman had found a door open, and was going through the house to see if all was safe. He got up to see who it was, but though he followed the footsteps all over the house, along passages, up and down staircases, and at times appeared almost to come up to them, no person was to be seen. Mystified, the host examined the door* and windows, but as they were all properly fastened, the mystery was only made deeper by the examination. The next night the same footfalls were heard, and the same unavailing chase after them all through the building took place. Thoroughly roused on the third day, the landlord had new locks put on the doors and new fastenings on all the windows, determined to keep out the intruder. By this time his wife, some women servants, and a boots were in the house. Surely thought he, if it was fancy, I wont hear the marching about to-night. But shortly after midnight his wife woke him, saying a man was walking about the hoase, and at the same time the boots was roused by the frightened servants, for th« house not having been yet refurnished, or got into order, no lodgers had been taken in. This time there could be no mistake about it. Both boots and landlord chased the steps, but though they dodged and ran, and at times seemed to be close to them, they saw nothing, nor has the mystery ever been solved. The footsteps have not been heard since the house was refurnished and business resumed.