The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-10-16

with a sheet. He approached as murderer TO
n scaffold. With tremulous hand he lifted the
light fabric and swooned away.
He must have lain there considerable time,
for the sun was shining in from the south, aud
the funeral party had evidently left the Gem
ctery when he revived. His nerves had re-
gained their wonted composure, and rising he
again lifted the sheet and gazed at the corpse
of Mrs. Strykor. IL was much cmaciated, dis
torted, and the rats had nibbed the extremitfcs
and nose. 1t could not hurt him. but how did
il come there. The corpse knew we'll rs he.
Tho most reasonable hypothesis he could
frame was that the mechanical part Of his or
ganism-certainly not his consciousness
gone during the night TO the house of the de-
ceased, found the coffin, and successfully re-
moved the body without disturbing any one or
attracting attention. lie was the more led to
this opinion from certain "reminiscences of his
boyish days, wherein he had performed the part
of a somuambulst very creditably. The most
successful burglary on record, he concluded
But, them they surely would have discovered
the difference in weight, ifthey had not opened
the coffin. His thievish counterpart must have
substituted weight.
10 now occurred to him that no had GER
tainly placed the lantern with the rest Of the
implements on the night of the consultation,
and his ghostly self on the previous night must
have carried it below. But whyP Ghosts of
lhhI SOrJ are not accustomed TO carry llbnb5J
they have no uso for them.
He examined the lantern, which he knew
was full of oil, and found it nearly empty and
the wick burned short. This was mex plcable.
Yet" he argued, There are no degrees of
strangencss in this business; it is all of lump,
and | may as well accept the situation"
lie took a gill Of Cognac. moved the table
into the middle of the room, and proceeded to
dissect the body.
He cxcavated the brain and placed it in alcO-
hOl, to prevent decomposition, that he might ex-
anime il at leisure. Next, he laid open the
chest; found heart filled with blood and the lin
ing membrane stained with il: blood was dark,
uncoagulated and sirupy. He put it in a bowl,
and examined the lungs. which he found highly
congested. and the trachael mucus membrane
quite reddish in appearance.
it was now nearly o'clock, his dinner hour,
and carefully locking his office door to prevent
surprise, he went 10 his boarding.place He
ate but little and was on the point of returning
to the office when lady called. Sho
closely vailed. but was recognized as the lady
with black eyes with whom he had exchanged
a few harmless Chances.
She spoke hurriedly: "Dr. Manning, there
is an alarming story going about the village
that you have stolen the body of Mrs. Stryker,
and that you dissecting il in your office.
DIR. Briggan has stated that he believes this to
be the fact. and paper is being circulated ask
ing the people to meet in the public square.
l thought it but justice, Sir, that you should
know of it."
He thanked her fervently and hurried TO his
Office, deeply apprehensive of danger. lie be-
gan to believe that the notions OF tho witch
craft period were true That he had been be-
witched since his arrival in L.. aud that DIR.
Briggan was his evil genius, forcing him TO
destruction. He saw crowd Of people about
the Court House. Near his office he met Mum
u.,l n inn
they had been inspecting the premises.
Entering, DR. Manning locked the door and
assembled to the den. Whnt should he do
Any attempt TO conceal or put away the body
at this time was ont OF the question. IN half
an hour he felt assured his office would be sur
rounded and forced If he did not open IL, by
an infatuated mob led on by Briggan aud Mum.
lie mad been brought up roligously. Scientific
objections to prayer did not enter his mind. lie
uttered no word. but If earnest, heartfelt de-
sire for aid is prayer. he made powerful one
His eye fell on the bowl OF blood he had
cmptied from the heart. 1t had not coagulated.
but had remained sirnpy. Why should that
be?' he quefied A thought struck him. lie
leaped 10 the lower floor in an instant, and
opened medical book
A glance at passage in the book sent a thrill
through his veins Wondering at his own
stupidity he shot up the ladder like an arrow,
seized seal pei and laid open the stomach Of the
corpse. lie found the mucus membrane dark
brown, In spots, deep crimson and tough 6brin-
Gus elots here and there over the surface.
lie found evidence of fatty degeneration Of
liver and kidneys. His suspicious ripened into
an almost certain conviction. lie placed the
entire contents OF the stomach In "a clean vessel,
aud scizing his microscope, hastoned 20 exam
Inc the blood IL WAS still unclotted. The
instrument showed that the corpusclcs were in
Il state Of dis.nGegraton. lie was intensely
excited but uuacc0untably steady. Drawing
out a small portion of the fluid contents OF the
stomach into clean test.tnbe, he placed some
dilute sulphuric acid aud zinc ia flask and
undertook examination by Mafsh's test.
Luckily he had previously tested the materials.
Familiar with the process, having gone through
with IL often in the laboratory, never did no
try with such rigid care ar now. His feelings,
wrought up to the highest tension, were con
centrated on the experiment Give me time"
he thought. land will vindicate myself"
Nearly hour had passed siuce he began
the dissection. aud no sigus Of the mob yet lie
lighted the hydrogen. No signs Of the mob
yet 1t would soon be dark. Should he not
iiee and escape In the darknessr He poured
the liquid into the flask.
But no there they comet He realized that
great many people were approaching. Their
voices rose vehement aud wild on his ear
They have surrounded tho buildugl They
are trying the Office door II eyes were Fixed
on Il blush white flame ascending from tho
glass.
stone crashed through the window and
struck the body Of the corpse. A disgusting
smell of garlic porceptible in the room,