The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-04-19


sad news this about Ruthven."
looked at him.
TO what news are Won referring?"
Il hear he 10 at deaths door,"
Where did you hear that?'
The fellows were talking about il at
the club. They talk about getting him
something from the fund. 1t appears that
he Is actually in want. Seems hard lines
inst when he was going to GET his chance.
BY the way, who are you going to put in
his placer"
al don't know il you are aware that Mr..
Ruihven is al this moment in town."
I'm town? Why, | just heard Farm
combs saying that only the day before
yesterday me left Ruthven dying ct Pit
tsnWeen. II seems that Farncombe was
golfin0 at 81. Andrews and Stanley found
out by accident that Rutnyeu was close at
hand. He went over and saw him"
NV information Is later than Mr. Farm
combe's. just left MIR. Ruthven At the
stage door 20 the theater. He has been
attending rehearsal.
Attending rehearsal Then Farncombe
must have been piling il on"
81 have heard of stranger things. Good
day."
left Maidment standing on the pave
ment. l had not advanced another two
hundred yards toward Fleet-st. when
almost ran into Ferncombe.
Halo, Ince. you're the very man L
wanted TO see. | cay. couldn't you spare
a biz for Ruthven? It's wanted badly
enough. l know his going under just
now Is hard upon you, but it's harder on
him. His vile is in a dreadful state. and
there isn't enough to pay the funeral"
i took good long look at Mr.. Farm.
lie has the reputation OF being a truthful
man-that is, as men 90. l myself have
certainly no reason 10 suppose that he is
an habitual liar.
Il don't think that "A funeral will DE re-
quired-at least. Just yet"
My dear fellow, he's doomed. The
doctor told me-what, for the matter of
that, | could see for myself-that at the
most, it's only question of dave perhaps
only of hours. 1t is quite possible that
he's dead already"
Possible. but not probable. think
not"
Why? Have you had news"
"S.ight news"
From his wife?"
NO; from Ruthven himself"
you don't mean to say he has written
to you? Why. when l saw him the day
before yesterday, ne nadn strength
enough to raise his hand, far less to hold a
pen"
"He has now; or, at least. few minutes
ago he had"
"A lew minutes ago! What are you
driving att"
At the facts Which are, that have
just attended rehearsal with him. and that
l have just parted with him at the stage
door Of the theater."
"lnce. you're joking"
Nothing Is further from my thoughts"
DO you mean to tell me that Ruthven
Philip Ru.hven-is actually in town ?"
Unless he has Just taken train again
for Scotland. Which is hardly likely
since he Is to rehearse again tomorrow"
FarncOmbe stood stiil in the middle of
the pavement. He thrust mis- hands into
his trousers pockets. lie knit his brows
Ills dsmeanor must have stuck the passen-
gers in the Strand as strange. "Ince
there's a mystery somewhere give you
my word OF honor that 1 saw Philip Ruth
ven The day before yesterday at FIFTEEN
ween. he was lying in bed. His wife
was CRYING ~ his side. He could not
speak he could not move. vt least every
attempt at movement brought OH sufloca-
ton. He could only look. Such q look
If ever | saw the near presence OF death
upon a mans face l saw it then on his"