Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-01


Ascending the fight OF steps, saw a
figure pacing up and down the veranda on
the side opposite to the direction in which
had come, the figure of a woman IN a long
cloak, the HOOD of which was drawn over
her head. She made little rush toward
me when 1 appeared. and then uttered an
exclamation OF disappointment. 1t was
Bertha Glaye, the daughter of my eccentric
patient, and she was evidently expecting q
younger man than myself Happy Otto
Aortonl LIE roi est mort. Vive lie roll
greeted her with nv usual amiability,
and then, as the fRtherly doctor, suggested
that the night air was too chill and damp
for her lungs.
81 am waiting for the return of nv
mother" she said, half defantly, half
timidly
HAS your mother gone out in a night
like this?' asked in great surprise, for
my patient had the greatest fear OF the open
air, and remained in her room with closed
windows for days together.
Mamma has been unusually nervous and
excited all dav. She's unbearable," added
the ialr Bertha, under her breath, and as if
talking to herself.
Ibid she venture out alone?"
"She refused nv company, and she OBJ
jected to the companionship of her maid.
Perhaps she has returned through the door
OF the other side"
''One moment, if you please. Can you
tell me where your mother has gomez"
'f you knew her better, you would not
ask the daughter for condolences of the
mother. A stranger knows more than !, :"
she said bitterly, with frown on her hand
some face.
Zone question further, if you please.
Can you tell me where to find Mr.. Otto
Morton? wish to see him on important
business"
81 have not seen him for the entire even
ing" she answered, in a voice tremulous
with suppressed tears. II wish 1 were
deadV'
With this queer desire on her lips, the
handsome young woman turned from me and
entered the hotel.
was trife disappointed for had de-
pended on Mr.. Morton to aid me. But time
was of Importance, and so. when a certain
Mr.. Bantle fortunately appeared, seized
upon him and told him of NV discovery. It
was too dark to see, but am convinced that
the color faded even from his wine-stained
nose in his horror. He grasped my arm to
save himself from falling, gasped two or
three times, then said, IN a voice that he
tried to make strong:
"It's horribleI'
''1t is human nature, nv friend. When
we do not eat, we are eaten!'
LET us gol Let us CO." he said, ner-
vously, Immediately, to hunt the villain
down and twist his neck"
"Sottly, my friend. The murdered woman
needs our first care. We must have help to
bring her in. Summon some OF your friends,
the most discreet, and hurry up" He re-
tired, and, after an irritating absence, re-
turned, with his breath smelling strongly of
whisky and cheese, and with the informa-
tlon that he had notified a couple of his
friends, and that they would appear in a
minute. This was rushing in the midst of
humanity with a vengeance, for in a mo-
ment, in place of two men, all the available
male guests of the hotel were on the We
randa, and ready to serve under nv orders
Was to play the part of detective at my
age? It would have been laughable had it
not been annoying. The foolsl They were
only animated by gaping curiosity. and
had not sensible idea among them. To
get rid of the superabundance of society,
and with no hope of anything coming of it,
1 requested two of the numbskulls to go in
the direction of the deserted house by tine
pond; to take lanterns with them, if possi-
bic, or torches, and to look out for a man
or a woman, alive or dead. They were to
lock in the old fungus eaten build |
ing, and TO do anything that would
keep them out of my way. If they
discovered anything they were to call |
on me at my house their return, Two |
other idiots 1 sent in another direction, 80
that they might intercept the criminal in |
case he or she, alarmed by the light, took to
the woods. l selected Bantle and another |
man to accompany me, and having uncere- |
moniouslv lifted a shutter from its hinges |
before one of the hotel windows to rest the |
body on, we set out on our melancholy mis-
sion.
Shall I confess that was human enough, |
or base enough, to feel a hunters instinct? |
To kill something! Take these away from |
the incentives of human pleasures or luxu-
rles? As philosopher l was humiliated |
but as a man 1 could not conquer the |
hunters instinct, and I was exhilarated by
the humiliating thought that 1 was initia-
ting hunt that would bring human
being to the gallOws. A murderer who de-
served his or her fate. Goodi But Justice
has no feeling, and was animated by the
craving passion OF our cave-haunting ances-
tors. Bah! Why not suck uncooked mar
row from bones and complete the similarityt to |
barbsrIsm? A philosopher, too! May the
gentle reader pardon me from the height of
his higher moral nature.
1 walked briskly onward, paying but lit
tie attention to the words of the excited
Bantle, who exhaled sighs and the perfume
of whisky in the same breath. At intervals
L /
knew it! Oh, the wretch. Twist their
necks, twist their necksF'
Suddenly he grasped nv arm and pointed
to space with tremulous hand.
Look wonder. DOCTOR"
looked in the indicated direction, and
saw nothing but the wind-dashed water.
'What are you pointing at?''
81 saw a figure on the wharf A tall
figure in long overcoat or capef'
l strained my eyes, but could still see
The earth mist had now vanished
and cold moon was shining in a cold heav-
EN-, flooding water and land with its cold
silver light. Save where the square struct-
ure, the shed for baggage on the outer edge
of the wharf, cast black shadow, every
post, handrail and beam was distinctly yisi-
bic.
81 have good vision, my friend, but see
nothing" ,
"My life on it, saws human being lean /
ing on the rails, and looking down into the {
water, it vanished in the shadow"
"But my friend" retorted, "the gates
are locked, and the wharhnger sleeps in a
little house under the shed. Your excited I
imagination betrays you, or perhaps 1t was
The wharfnger himself t
"Perhaps," he muttered, "the wharfnger ,
,r his wifep' {
"You are excited, my Herr Bantle, let us s
salk ourselves back to the region of common s
sense. Tell me, have you seen Otto Morton I
his EVENING"" {
This evening, no; this afternoon, yes" I
1.-THE fair Bertha seemed disappointed. '
She was evidently waiting for him on the '
Verauda. Do you know where he is?'' {
MAYBE gone to punch Durand's head"