The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-04-11
'Master VENUS" be resumed, II have

asked, after moments pause.
eyes SIR"
what is the price Of it ~
II do not sell my sketches. 1t is desig
for picture"
"Ah = said he, and lifting the paper wit
islong, yellow fingers, he took an eye -glas
from his waistcoat pocket, and began 3
study it attentively. The silence was 8
great that | heard distinctly the plaintiv
hnzzlng OF fly caught in o spiders web
"And what will be the dimensions Of th
picture, Master Veniusy" be said at lengtl
+; without looking at me.
Three feet by four"
"And the price ~
FIFTY ducats."
. Van Spreckdal laid the sketch down upoI
the table, and drawing FROM his pocket
= long purse Of green silk, began to slip tn
rings along. "Fifty ducats," be said, ant
co lnting them out, "here they are"
He rose, saluted me, and departed. whil,
| sat stupehed- listening to the clink Of BIZ
ivory headed cane upon the staircase.
When had recovered from my stUpefac
tlon, sat down TO finish my sketch. A few
strokes Of the pencil, and il would be finish.
ed. But these few strokes were out Of nv
power. The Inspiration was over. Tue
mysterious murderer would not disengag
himself from the conVolutions Of my brain
! tried again and again. | forced myself to
draw; but the results were a. dlscordant as
a figure Of Raphael in . Dutch ion oi
Teniers.
At this moment, Rapp, according to his
praise-worthy custom, opened the door with.
cut knocking. His eye fell upon the pile Of
ducats, aud he shrieked:
'Ah, ali I | have caught you, monsieur
painter You pretended you had no
money - and he extended his crooked fin-
gers with that nervous trembling which the
sight Of gold always produces in q miser.
\ The remembrance Of all the insults | had
suffered from him exaspeI ated me. With q
single bound, | seized him, and thrusting
him ovtr the threshold, hattened his nose
with the door. The old usurer shreked
I "My money thief robber my money -
till every lodger 10 the house ran out, asking,
"What is the matterY'
| opened the door quickly, and with sin
gle stroke Of the foot sent Master Rapp roll.
ing down the staircase. "That is the mat
ter I said. aud closing nv door, double
locked Il, while The shouts Of laughter from
The neighbors saluted the old mlser, on his
progress down stairs
This adventure had inspirited me, cod
resumed my work with some prospect Of sue
cess but an unaccustomed noise soon in
terrupted my labors 1t was the click Of
arms, and the tramp Of men ascending the
staircase. A cold chill ran over me. Can
have broken the rascsl's neck, and are they
coming to seize me There was knock at
my door, and rough voice said
"In the name Of the law, open ~
thought Of escaping by the window, over
the roofs; but vertigo seized me at mere
glance at the dizzy height.
Again the summons came: "Opeu, or we
will break down the door ~
turned the key, and saw the chief of
police.
81 arrest you % be said, and made sign
to two men, who seized me by the collar,
while the others rummaged my garret.
sMareh III was the next order, and | de-
sceuded the staircase, supported under eacl.
arm, like consumptlye in his third stage Of
illness.
They put me into hackney coach. |
asked what I bad done, but they only ex-
changed significant smiles Soon . deep
shadow enveloped Is we had entered the
prison The lailor shut me up 10 a cell as
tranqnlly as if be had been putting 9 pair
of stockings in drawer, thinking ali the
time or something else looked around nv
cell 1t had been newly whitewashed, and
there was nothing upon the walls but rude
sketch of a gibbet, drawn by my predeces-
sor The light came from an aperture nine
or ten feet from the floor, and the furniture
consisted OF heap Of straw. | sat down
upon the straw, with my hands around my
knees, and gave myself up 10 despair.
had killed Rapp. He had denounced me be-
1 fore dying | should be hung as his mur-
derer started up, coughing, as if the
hempen cravat already pressed my throat.
Again the jaIlor appeared, and ordered me
\ to follow him. He conducted me through
\ long galleries to the s1mbre ball, with
/ benches arranged in Semi-crcle, opposite
which, on an elevated seat, were two per-
\ sons, with their backs to the light, and faces
I 10 si adow; but as enc of them turned to bis
companion, recognized the aqulline profile
I of Van Spree dsl. Beneath them, at low
table, was seated a clerk, tickling the tip of
\ his ear With the feather oil his quill
"Christian VENUS" said Van Sprecxdal,
where did YOU get this sketch ?" showing
me nv nocturnal work, ol which they
| had taken possession at the Tins of nv
arrest.
II am the author OF it
There was a long silence. The clerk took
down my answer; and as | listened 10 the
scratching OF his pen, wondered what that
\ had to do with the kick | had given to
Rapp.
"Yeu are the author Of IT. ~ said Van
| Spr eckdal; "where did GU get tie subject,''
at is fancy sketch"
"You have not copied the details any
whereS"
mo, sir; have imagined them all.'
"And this woman,' pursued the Judge,
"vho is murdered on the edge Of the well;
nave you imagined her also !"
Undoubtedly"
\ "You have never seen her ~
"Never."
Van Spreckdal rose, as il indignant, then
seating himself, he appeared to consult his
colleague in low voice. Suddenly he said
to the jailor:
"rake the prisoner to the carriage. We
are going to the Metzersuasse."
was placed in the carriage with two po-
lcemen. One Of tlem, on the way, offered
pinch Of snuff to his comrade. l extends
ed nv fingers mechanically to the box. lie
drew it quickly back. The blood mounted
INTO nv face, aud turned away my head Il
conceal my emotion.
eff you look out OF the Windows" said
the man Of tue snuff box, we shall be obligeC
to put manacles on you"
When the carriage stopped, one Of then
alighted while the other held me by the col
lar; then, seeing his comrade ready to re
ceve me, he pushed me out Tudely. w,
entered narrow alley, with broken irregu
lar pavement. A yellowish moisture stoot
op the walls, exhaling fetid odor. walk
, ed in darkness, with two men behind me
Farther on appeared the light Of the interio
court.
As J advanced, feeling Of terror tool
possession Of me, like the unnatural horro
Of the nightmare. recoiled instinctiyely
'Go on r. cried one Of the policemen b