The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-12-15
THE THIRTEENTH NAN.
A Sad Story Of the End OF a Sui
eide Club.

A Sad Story OF the End OF a Sui
eide Club.
Arthur Zangwill came home from
his club late one night and sat for
quite awhile by his window. He was
exceedingly grave. but it was not that
he was afraid The effects of twenty
seven years of engrossing study and
the intense experiences enough for q
into his young manhood had been such
upon his morose nature as to produce
an Indifference to life. Death repre-
scented to his feyered Imagination a
refuge sweeter than any of his unhappy
experiences and he suggested 1T to his
friends as the best solution OF tho deep
mysteries of human existence, which
they had been trying so hard to un-
ravel The suggestion was caught up
eagerly and the Suicide club was
formed.
There were but nine at FIRST. Barrie
insisted that the club have member
ship Of thirteen, and added: For
that's unusual. you know. It's so un.
lucky. There's Craft, who / know
would join, and we'll have no trouble
in getting. up the others"
Brantley said Barrie was right and
mentioned his roommate, Cawthorne.
as possible addition. Barrie and
Brantley were sent out to bring in
their friends and shortly came back
with them and another, Lloyd Harper.
WHO had readily embraced the notion:
The thirteenth man was Price Wilkie.
He dropped in to speak to Barrie for
moment and Zangwill detained him to
explain about the latest freak which
had taken the form of a suicide club
Wilkie looked frightened at first, but
Zangwill urged him. He sat down to
listen and finally agreed.
It was not hard to settle the details.
The thirteen students talked it over
and determined that every man should
die at his own convenience within the
next sixty days. That gave him until
November to make all necessary
preparations, such as settling their
debts and writing to their Irelatives.
But not later than that fatal date
would single one of the members live.
They shook hands upon it solernly.
Then, as it was growing very late,
they parted. It was g very solemn
parting and they shook hands again
AS they did so there was silence, each
OF them refectiag that one of the num-
Der might be dead before they met
again.
Zangwill walked home thoughtfully.
He had sickened of life and felt no re-
gret for the solemn compact he had en-
tered into. He had sentenced himself
to death and had no other thought but
that he would comply with its tragic
terms
Before going to bed he wrote letter
to his brother in the west. The letter
was more affectionate than the tone
of his ordinary letters, but there was
no hint of his impending doom. The
letter was longer. toe, and had great
deal to say about the hollowness OF
life. Then he sank upon his bed ard
dropped into dreamless slumber.
Zangwill slept late and when he
looked out the city was already astir.
He drank cup Of coffee as his eye ran
mechanically over the pages of the
morning paper.
Suddenly the hand that held the pa
per began to shake violently, his lips
dropped apart. his eyes stared wildly.
Five minutes later Barrie found him
thrown back in his chair gazing stupid
ly upon the paper. which had fallen to
his knees. He pointed to the paper
unable to speak.
'Have you seenit?' he gasped, finally
''There it is. Wilkes killed himself" "
I've read it," said Barrie, coolly,
"and I've come to see You about if. 1
have telegraphed his father and he,says
we must escort The body home. Brant-
ley's going"
II will CO." said Zangwill.
1t was solemn journey that the
three students began that afternoon.
Scarcely a word was spoken on the
way.
At B Barrie bought an afternoon
paper to beguiie the tedious hours. |
Presently he passed it to Zangwill, his |
finger indicating what he wished him
W ISdd. IL w % q cI1S4 lcuE-lluS QlS.
patch announcing the suicide of Cav
which had occurred few hours
before.
Zangwill sighed "When this is over
my turn will come" he said A big re-
volver in his overcoat pocket gave him |
The others slept little on their
.NT1 n L. 4
the funeral was over; he wished he was |
dead already.
The train rustied into Cloverdaie Just |
at dawn. Zangwiil shook his friends |
,ut of their slumbers and put on his |
1vercoat. Price Wilkie had been mag.
letic young fellow, and many people
we're waiting around the depot. A tall, !
oale-t;nted gentleman stepped forward |
md greeted Zangwiu and the others
Il am Mr.. Wlilsie,n he said, Il pre-
sumo you are his friends" His voice
vas cholSed with grief.
Yes" said 2angwili, my name is
This IS Lester Barrie and
his is Jack Brantley." Mr. Wilkie
hook hands with them
Zangwen glanced carelessly at the
,roup of people few feet away. They
we're not interesting in the least. They
we're mourning at an event which he |
egarded as the best thing possible for
-oung Wilkie. He caught a glimpse
# womans face that caused him to |
tart He caught his breath sharply.
Where had he seen that face before?
His eyes returned to it and there
ested. he was trying tn think where
.e had seen her before. and then he re-