Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-10-07
TIE MAN WHO VANISHED.
by FERGUS HUME.
CHAPTER XIV-CoNrINuEp.

CHAPTER XIV-CoNTINUED
Eyes; on charge OF numbering
Mr.. Lancaster.
'And II / give you a check for TWO
hundred pounds you will help mo to
escape?"
IN do my best" replied Dentham
evasively.
Il must have time to think over
it" said Adrian calmly. You can
go away and leave me for time"
Don't try to escape cried Dem
than. moving toward the door.
"cause you won't I'll keep a watch
outside"
Il may escape yet in spite OF you.
'Oh. will you" scoffed Dentham.
Il daresay you're a juggler amt you?
Perhaps you can get through the key
hole. but all your iuggles won't get
you out OF this mess unless you pay
me we'll and with this parting shot
Dentham took his departure and
closed the door after him.
Left alone in the dirty ill-lighted
little room Adrian walked up and
down. bordering over the situation.
He saw plainly he was in Dentham's
power. and if he refused to accede to
his demand he would be at once ar
rested tried-in the perscu OF DIR.
Roversmire for the murder OF Adrian
Lancaster. and as the proofs were so
strong against him ultimately
hanged. But it was not this prospect
that made him shAdder; no. 1t was
something far more terrible. for he
knew that his own body. being to all
intents and purposes dead. would be
duly buried and then-O God. how
terrible!-when he was hanged as
DR. Roversmire his soul would have
TO go back TO find its original body
and find t.-where?-in the darkness
OF the coffin. He would be lying
under the earth a living man. and
would die by that most terrible of all
Standardization.
Like flash OF light a solution OF
the problem broke on his bewildered
brain. The old man whose personal
fly he had assumed had told him that
if the body of DR.. Roversmire died by
accident or suicide the soul would
have to go back TO its own body.
Well he would do so-he would kil>
himself in the body OF DIR. Roversmire
and wake as from trance in the
body of Adrian Lancaster
Thinking that such a contingency
might occur-althcugh it had come
sooner than he expected-Adrian had
provided himself with a phial Of
deadly poison. distilled from some
rare Eastern herb. which he had found
in the medicine chest OF DR.. Rovers.
mlre. He always carried it about
with him. and now producing 1t from
his pocket held it up toward the
light 1t contained a dark. ruby.
colored liquid. which he knew was
swift to kill as he had found full
description OF its effects in the diary
OF the old Indian fakir.
this moment the door was pushed
roughly open and Dentham made his
appearance in staggering triumph.
We'll he said rubbing his lean
hands together have you made up
your mindp"
Yes. / have" answered Adrian.
holding the phial closely in his hand.
Il have made up my mind not to give
a scoundrel like you one penny"
Then I'll have you arrested "
yelled Dentham. furious at seeing his
chance OF making money fade away.
you will not arrest me-" replied
his master with a strange smile. for
1 will be far beyond the reach OF your
malice. Bring in your detectives as
soon a. you like for they will only
find a dead body"
Dentham. seeing his intention.
darted forward to stop him. with a
cry OF anger but Adrian was too
quick for him and raising the phial
to his lips drank the contenua
The valet recoiled as he did So for
an awful change passed over the face
of his master-the thin hands plucked
wildly at the gray beard. and with a
choking cry DR.. Roversmire fell down
on the floor-dead.
And the clock struck nine. gs