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

began to think that he was in the early
stages of delirium.
''Ince, II saw him.
"Saw whom
"Ruthyent"
"Ruthven ?"
"On the stage. Great heaven
lie put his hands before his face; he
tTembled like a leaf. The case seemed
clear enough
Come, Farncombe, think YOU would
be better at home"
He looked at me, his face as white as
this sheet OF paper.
You think so? Perhaps | had. Per-
haps the strain has been too great. But /
must be pretty bad, because l could have
sworn ! saw him"
"Ot course you saw him"
"Of course saw him?"
l never saw such look of astonishment
upon persons lace before.
Where's the mystery? If you have
been IN front you must have seen him.
Ruthven is breaking the record. l never
saw such acting.
Farncombe had stood up. rising to his
feet as II automatically. Now he sank
back again as if ! had struck him blow.
1T was his ghost
His ghost?"
AhNNs ANhAANbAl Z u6dQ
Dead? You've got hold of that non
sensical story which is going the rounds"
He looked at me in silence for a second
or two. Then ne put his hand into an H.
ner pocket OF his coat. He took out
pocketbook. From the pocketbook he
took folded paper. This he handed me.
1 opened IT, Ii purported 10 be the medi-
cal certificate of Philip Ruthven's death!
"faTnCOmbe! What-What IS this ?'
The doctors certificate"
Some one has been fooling you. The
man is as much alive as l am"
'Ince Pr arncombe arose. He came
close to me. He almost whispered II my
ear-"I saw MIN die"
"Iou-saw him die?"
81 saw him die. At Pittenween, yes
terday evening, at q o'clock"
BUTTS impossible"
"Ince, listen TO me. The other dav,
when you told me that Ruthven was re-
hearsing, / couldn't understand it. But
supposed that il was all right, until. a day
or two ago, had a letter from Mrs. Ruth
ven asking for the loan of q sovereign.
She said that Ruthven was at death
door. and that they were absolutely pen
nj ess. posted straight away 10 Pitten-
ween. 1 found things were as she said.
"
doctor, and / were present. Directly AZ
terward | got the doctor TO give me a GER
tidcate. Mrs. Ruthven was anxious that
he should be brought to kensal Green,
where his little girl lies buried And |
thought that if l had the medical certifi-
cate in nv pocket / could manage whip
among you fellows for the funds; and,
later on, we might get up a benefit. lnce,
where's that brandy"
He helped himself to another glass. |
felt that l myself should be none the
worse Tor one. but l did not say so.
80 today came back again | knew
this was your first night As | was com
ing along l wondered how You would
manage. | wondered also why YOU told
ms that cock-and bull story about Ruth
ven rehearsing. Because, as Mrs. Ruth
ven informed me, and IS ] could zee ioT
myself. he had never been out OF bed since
the day / saw him last. Ii was late when
l reached town. | thought l would come
and see how you were getting on. drove
straight here When got inside the first
person | saw upon the stage was-Philip
RuthvenW
He paused. He gave little gasp.
also was almost reduced to Rasping-point
Il caught his eye. lie caught mine.
lie gave me such a iook :"
Farncombe covered his face. He shud-
deTed. There was an interval of silence.
! Then | spoke.
"But. Farncombe, he has been rehears-
ing ali the time"
You don't mean it?"
"He has"
"Then It was his ghost"
But apart from any other considera-
ton, how can that be, when you say that
the man was actually aiiye?'
Heaven knows ] don't"
"ie Is at this moment on no stage"
Let mo get away Let me 90 home
Ince, | wouldn't meet him Tor a thousand
pounds If you had only seen him die"
He hurried away. ] hurried alter him
| As we were going the curtain fell. AS it
/ fell there rose hurricane OF applause,
which seemed to shake the building. Peo-
! pie came hurrying to and from the stage.
| In a moment we were In the center OF an
excited crowd
They're calling him." | said.
Calling him Philip Ruthven! Ince,
| Philip Ruthven lies dead in II little room
which looks out upon the sea. Unjust
! be-all be some hideous dream"
1 Just then Trotter came up.
"Is that you. EarncOmbe? Did YOU
ever hear such a tumult2 There never
was such acting No one 10 ia it tonight
| but he.
"But whom I"
! "Ruthven ~
"Ruthven! Trotter;" Farncombe
clutched at Trotter's arm-"it's Ruthven's
/ ghost"
"Farncombew
at is swear it is! Ruthven's dead!
| / saw him die :"
Trotter stared; well he might
"When?"
| Last nightW
Trotter leaned against the wall. lie APP
peared to need its support to help him
stand.
"'My prophetic soul my unclep Ince
/ told you lie was dead / knew he was
/ / dreamed it. dreamed that saw him
! lying dead, and / saw that the clock was
! Just OF q"
Yes" said Farncombe, "the clock wac
Just on {"
Great Jupiter! And I've been acting
with ghost"
Several others Joined Ms
"A ghost2" said Gordon. Whats
that%
Trotter turned 10 him.
We've been acting with a ghost-the
ghost OF Ruthven."
You're joking"
"Ruthven's dead, He died last night
ate. farncombe saw him die.
The crowd fell back Ruthven was
standing within ward OF us. The tumnli