The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-14

fellow like you should sit there asking q
poor old cripple TO hand him a drink"
To keep up appearances young Mildon
had gone TO the cupboard and helped him
self to some beer. Then he had resumed
his seat. 10 wait for his uncle to move
could be- of course, but a question of time,
and the stakes be had already risked were
too terrible to allow of any Impotence.
Leaving personal interests aside. he had
strIven to divert and interest the old gen
tleman in local gossip and political debate.
and was fiatteriDg himself that he was
ailaying his uncle's irritation IN the most
satisfactory manner, when he had been
suddenly c0nfounded by brisk peremp-
tory ringing of the street door-bell. His
uncle had at once vaguely wondered who
it was likely to be- coming at that particu-
lar hour. when he was seldom disturbed
The nephew had wondered, far less vague
ly. what course he had better pursue. since
he knew too we'll that there was no living
person below TO attend TO the bell. VI
course. he expected a repetition of the
ringing. There had been sound In the
first as if the person producing 1t would
not brook long delay. nor readily give M.
In his desperation, young MildOn caught
at his uncle's wonder who il could be. and
reiterated it. Then he made feint of lis-
teDing. and remarked that as the house
keeper did not seem on duty. he w0nld 60
and attend to the door himself. Accord
iDgly he had rushed away, past the two
cOrpses in the hall. and had opened the door
warily. that the caller should not catch
glimpse of the horrible sight within. he
the moment to get quit of the malaprepos
guest. To his astOnishment. nobody stood
the doorstep. Probably this some
what shook even his iron nerve, for instead
ofretiring again, with the,suticient expan
tion of a runaway ring. he had stepped out
upon the street to rec0nn0iter, not how
ever. forgetful to draw the door behind
him fairly close. Then 1t had unaccOunt-
A l. n
terly defeated in his nefarious objects had
besn the only course left him. IL had. at
least, given him an opportunity to consider
his position and assume the part OF an In
norent witness.
Once fairly at bay, under the energetic
promptitude of Talford. he dropped his
mask forever. And his subsequent passage
TO execution was very short and straight.
There 10 much TO reflect on In such q
story. Did the door bell ring only IN young
Mildon's guilty imagination, and was bis
idea vivid enough. according to some mod
ern theories, to impress his uncles mind
with . similar idea3 A sudden draught
will often close door left slightly ajar.
There is nothing unnatural or even un-
usual In that. Some will be inclined totally
to dismiss our telepathic suggestion and to
fall back on the simpler one of a mere run
away ring. Admit this, and wo have at
once. In it's time and circumstance. mar
velous coincidence with the needs of the
occasion.
And then we have to admit another CO.
incidence on the slamming of the door.
Neither that nor the ringing OF the bell
were in the least remarkable In themselves
They were the NEST commonplace occur
rences. All their wonder lies In the part
they played In this tragedy.
Does not the multiplication Of coinci-
dences tend to suggest the existence OF
law not fully manifest A whole philoso-
ply may underlay the answer to the Ques-
ton, who rang the bell2"
The ArgOsy.