Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1893-12-29
THE TUBE OF uUJmJnY BROWN
n K. u. APPLETON:


Richardson picked up the soft little
cylinder and looked at ii again.
''Wllat did you call IT. hc asked.
Mummy brown replied Knowlton,
taking ii brush from between his lips to
speak. and touching the canvas before
him with it.
Brown it undoubtedly is" remarked
his friend, ''but where does the mummy
come in?"
sin the tube, my boy" returned the
painter, half closing his eyes and putting
his head on one side to observe the effect
OF his last stroke: ''because it is made
of pdlverized Egyptian mummics, and
ii is one of the best colors we have"
Richardson put the tube back upon
In. much Uttered studio table, and
whistlcd softly.
Well. said he. ''you may count me
out il ever become Il painter, when it
comes TO usin. dead mems bodies to
make pictures with. I'D be afraid they
would come back again.
Nonsense" said Knowlton. laughing;
'they are entirely too dead for anything
oi that sort, you may he sure, and If
they are sensitive TO feelings. they never
show ii. Observe how l am using this
tube, for instance. upon this French
mans coat; do you suppose any we'll
meaning Egyptian would like to have
himself clothing foreigner in any euch
mmnncr, ii hc knew it!''
No, I suppose not. The
colcrns is rich. too," remarked Rich
ardson, thrustin. his nands deep into his
pockets and surveying his friends work
with the eye of an uneducated critic,
Though the same can't be said of the
models, Judging from appearances. And
added, suddenly. you've maoe that tall
fellow u very good likeness Of YOU! Did
you know it,
knowlton shrugged his shoulders.
81 hnd al idea his lace was something
like nine" he answered; "but us that
is common trick of ours. have not
given 1t - second thought. What am
striving for isa good picture, not por-
traits, and must realize something
from it, too. BY heavens, Richardson,
it has come to be case of dire necessity,
and that's all there is to it,
Rent not paidl' asked his friend.
''Vhat's too bad-Ive been there myself,
aud then it lisa very uncomfortable thing
to have hanging over one. As long us
ono can climb up and down the water
pipe, and thus avoid meeting the land
lady ON the stairs. life is made endura-
bic, but with you. suppose"
''Therc isn't water-pipc within
twenty feet of my window. no, must
sell, or get out, so-the mummy brown
again, if you pleasew
Richardson handed the paint to him
ouce more, somewhat gingcrly. "I
can't help feeling I'm dealing with a
piece Of dead body" he said, coloring
at Kncwlton's pitying look; land I
should think you would do the same,
believing, as you say you do, in trans
migration and INSTRUMENTATION, and all that
sort of stuff. Suppose, for instance, that
you were painting this picture with a
piece of your own fathers body when he
vas an Egyptian, ten thousand years
ago!"
"Or, better still, returned Knowlton,
squeezing q fresh supply of the paint
out upon his palette, "my own old-time
body, say!n As he spoke he touched
the paint with the tip Of one finger, and
q shivcr, at the same time, passed ovel
him, leaving him strangely pale and
shaken.
Eyes, but-hcllo. what's wrong?' ex
claimed Richardson, noticing the chang.
in his friends face.
..Nothing-1 don't know touch o
vertigo, that's ALL" returned the painter
confusedly; "I--what were you say
s.Only that If your supposition wer.
NO. the contact of the two bodies-th,
new and the old-would make itself fol
in the new.'
.sYess" said Knowlton, smiling agai.
and returning to his work; s'but / d,
not believe in transmigration to that ex
tent. my dear fellow. There 10 Q line
YOU know, that even we fanatics have Il
draw, and rather imagine It q some