The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-05

For an explana ton of this unusually
dramatic scene in Tong church we
must go back three days. Philip Dan
tin had striven to keep his rage against
his brother within due bounds, but had
failed. His stuffed specimens in the
subterranean rooms could not console
| him; nor could his live beasts either
| These underground rooms were quite a
remarkable feature of the Great house
They dated from the sixteenth century,
if not earlier. For a hundred years or
more they were disused. Philip, how
ever, persuaded his father to expend
money in making them tolerably hab-
liable. and very suitable for the kind of
museum he had accumulated The
farthcrmost of them was the very
''sanctusn sanctorum'' of his operations.
At its extreme end there was an ancient
doorway of chiseled stone several
inches in thickness and beyond that,
utter darkness and the beginning of
labyrinth which had not been explored
for ages, and was left to itself 1t was
believed to have no issue.
On this third evening before the day
that was to make him happy fellow,
Jack Dantin found his way into his
brothers den to have a chat with him.
For time Philip bore with his high
spirits uncomplainingly though Jacks
praises of Eva were like so many thorns
in INSIDE. Eventually, however, his pa
thence gave way. He uttered an excla-
nation which made his brother start
in surprise.
why. old fellow, what is the mat
ter? You surely don't He stopped.
There was that in Philips face which
told him much.
Yes; you have guessed it," said
Philip with q shrug of the shoulder
1T is rather hard; but the less said
about it the better. Twenty years
hence, it will not matter straw"
Jack was silent He sympathized
with his brother more than he could
tell in words.
Then it was that, like lightning
flash, the dreadful suggestion rushed
into Philips mind. ''Oh. by the way"
he said casually. II wish you would
oblige me by giving hand to this
skinned thing. l want it ont of my
road for time
Certainly. Phil Where shall we
cart it?" was the reply, as Jack sur
veyed the grewsome body OF fayed al
liga:or. upon which the elder Dautin
had been operating.
Inc passage Is just the place for r.
I'll find the key"
The key was found; the heavy Stone
door was swung open; they carried
their disgusting burden into the dark
corridor; and then Philip, who was
nearest the room, slipped back. banged
the door, and locked il, and had sped
upstairs and into the park in re-
markedly short space OF time. He
threw the key into one of the ponds
and then fell to cengratulating himself
upon his diabolical conduct.
Since then. he had not visited his
museum. The doors were all fast
locked. No one could get access 20
them. II Jack Dantin shouted till his
lungs burst. no one would hear him
1t may be imagined What a wretched
yet fearfully glad time this interval
before the wedding to-day was FOR
Philip Dantin. He professed "a be en-
TREY ignorant Of his brothers where /
aboots. but hinted at having seen him 1
strlding across the country towards 4 1
certain large town whence there was
constant train connection with London 1
The elder Dantin and the servants /
had cEe-X confidence IL Jack rcanoesr