Читать книгу The Mystery Lady - Robert William Chambers - Страница 5

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In the crowd in which the boy was standing a friendly neighbour drawled gratuitous information to the effect that the house,—the contents of which were being sold preparatory to demolition,—was “one of the oldest houses in Charleston, Suh.”

Also the boy learned that here Governor Eden of evil fame, and of North Carolina, died of fright several hundred years previously.

“What frightened him?” the boy inquired.

He was informed that Governor Eden had been in secret partnership with Stede Bonnet, the pirate; and that when Bonnet was finally caught the guilty Royal Governor, in terror of Bonnet’s confession, fled to Charleston and died of sheer fright in this very house.

“The coward!” commented the boy, who had never known a guilty fear.

The auctioneer, in his soft, pleasant, Southern voice, continued to describe the contents of this ancient house as it was sold under the hammer, lot by lot.

A small but heavy leather box, garnished with strap hinges and nails of copper, was offered.

According to the auctioneer it bulged family papers; he urged it as a fine speculation for any collector of antique documents.

As there appeared to be no such collectors present, the boy bid a dollar. A negro wanted the box for some unknown purpose and bid a dollar and a quarter.

At two dollars the boy got the box.

Why he bought it he did not quite understand,—except that like all boys he was interested in pirates; and the mention of Stede Bonnet revived the deathless appetite.

“Send it to me at the St. Charles Hotel,” he said carelessly, and paid for the cartage also.

Then, having had enough of romantic antiquity, he started for reality and the nearest movie.