The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-02-20

breath. as we saw before us sitting In
the chairs we occupied q few moments
before the images OF ourselves DIR.
Army. who sat beside me. moved I'M
easily as he saw the strange picture
Our doubles were smoking. Their
lips moved but no sound escaped
them.
DIR. Army arose and with steady
step approached the mysterious sec
ond self. But as he approached the
figures became distorted. They as
sumed all sorts OF grotesque attitudes
and presently vanished. leaving the
room again in darkness.
The doctor Immediately struck a
match and lighted the gas Suddenly
he began suuffing the air eagerly.
What's that peculiar smell In here.
Mr. Blayhillp" cried he. live noticed
1t all the evening. but more SO NOW
than ever" Philip thought nothing
about it as 1t was always present more
or less. he said.
Dr. Army moved over to the fire.
place. got down on his hands and
knees and began examining the worn.
glazed brickwork very thoroughly.
There's small open fiue here that
probably runs down to the cellar"
said he. In rather excited tone OF
voice. This is where the smell comes
from. Let US go down and examine
the place"
Philip reluctantly went to Mrs.
Bleckston. the landlady, tall. stout
woman. with a pleasing countenance,
and got the keys to admit US to the
cellar. Her curiosity led her to fol-
low us, and she stood at the head OF
the stairs and watched us We no
ticed the peculiar, pungent odor more
now than ever.
DIR. Army held up the candle and
pointed out wooden enclosure. the
door OF which was locked. Here's
the place. said he. I'VE must ex-
anime it."
Mrs Blenckston said it was nothing
else but a storage room for her hus-
bands chemicals. The doctor, how
ever. insisted that it be examined.
and Mrs. Blenckston after long hunt
found the key. When the lock had
yielded and the door was pushed open
there was such an outward rush OF
foul smelling gas that we all covered
our nostrils.
The doctor stepped inside presently.
could not help admiring him for his
pluck. He never fiinched through
the whole affair. Philip and fol-
lowed after. being sure that every
thing was all right
The enclosure was fitted up in the
nature of a cupboard. There
were numerous walls and bottles on the
shelves. Many OF them had fallen on
the floor and their contents were
spilled There was niche in the
wall near where the heap OF broken
bottles lay. and here DIR. Army dis
covered the flue that ran up to Philips
room.
Gentlemen" he cried. after exam
lining everything. the mystery can
now be explained" Mrs Blenckston.
hearing this came down few steps
further.
What we have seen tonight said
the doctor, was produced by the gas
arising from this chemically impreg-
mated earth. Look sharply and you
will notice the thin. grayish vapor
slowly moving upward. Part Of 1t
finds Its way up this fue to Mr.. Blay-
hills room. and coming in contact
with the air brings to view the i'm
pressions left on the atmosphere. I
have always been Of the opinion that
things coming In contact with the air
leave their impressions on it, and in
this case the gas so singularly formed
acted as u developer and caused the
impressions to assume their original
form.
Dear me-" cried Mrs Blenckston.
"and all this has been the cause OF so
much worry and troublep"
Il presume the doctor continued.
that these bottles were thrown from
their shelves by rats and in falling in
heap on the floor a mixture OF their
contents was made which produced
this peculiar gas"
1t was long time before Philip
could accept the doctors theory, but
since that enclosure was cleaned OF
its chemicals his room has ceased to
be place where the doubles OF its oc-
cupants were won't to congregate.
New York Herald.