New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-14
DEATH IN THE BOX.
A PSYCHOLOGICAL EXPERIMENT.

went on. Mr.. Hewitt had drawn further and
further into a corner Of the ROOM as II the
subject were little to his liking. Now that all
| the speakers but one had quilted the smoking
room. ne came forward from his corner. In the
hope. possibly. that with this last remaining
individual. who. like himself. had been silent
listener. he might find himself in more con-
genial society.
Dreadful stun those fellows have been talk.
ingr'
Mr. Hewitt was thin and he was tall He
| seemed shorter than he really was, owing to
what might be described as a persistent cringe
| rather than a stoop He had deferental.
almost frightened air His paid face was
lighted by smile which one felt might. in a
| moment change into a stare of terror. He
rubbed his hands together softly. as II suffer-
| ing from a chronic attack Of nerves; he kept
| giving furtive glances round the room.
In reply to Mr.. Howtt's observation the
| stranger nodded his head. There was some
| thing in his gesture. and indeed in the mans
whole appearance. which caused Mr. Hewitt
| to regard him more attentively. The strangers
size was monstrous. BY him the table was
curious-looking box. about eighteen inches
| square. painted In hdeously alternating stripes
Of blue and green and yellow; and although
| II spring. and the smoking-room was
warm. he wore his overcoat and a soft felt
| hat. So far one could judge from his APP
pearance seated he was at least six feet in
| height As to girth. his dimensions were be-
wderng. One could only guess wildly at his
weight. To add to the popularity OF his APP
| pearance he wore huge black beard. which
not only hung over his chest. but grew so high
up his cheeks as almost to conceal his eyes.
Mr.. Hewitt took the chair which was In front
| OF the stranger His eyes were never for
moment still. resting. as they passed. upon the
bearded giant In front OF him. then flashing
! quickly hitler and thither about the room.
| DO you stay in Jersey long?"
NO"
The reply was monosyabc. but. though 1t
| was heard briefly. at the sound Of the
| strangers voice Mr.. Hewitt half rose. grasped
| the arm OF his chair. and gasped. The stranger
seemed surprised.
What's the natter
Mr.. Hewitt dropped back to his seat. He
took out his handkerchief to wipe his forehead.
| His smile. which had changed into a stare OF
terror on its temperance assumed sickly hue.
Nothing. only a curious similarity"
similarity? What do you mean"
Whatever Mr.. Hewitt might mean. every
time the stranger opened his mouth 1t seemed
to give him another shock. II was moment
or two before he rcgaired sufficient control
over himself TO enable him to answer
Your voice reminds Of one which l
used To- hear. It's mere fugitive resem-
blance."
Whose voice does mine remind you of"
a friends"
What was his name"
His name wss-Cookscn.
Mr. Hewitt spoke with a perceptible SIAM
mcr.
"Cookson, | see"
al,
Howit, seemed on sudden to have gone all
limp. He sat In sort OF heap on his chair
He snoothed his hands together. as II with I'M
conscious volition His slckly smile had de-
generated into a fatuous grin. His shfty eyes
kept recurring TO the strangers face In front OF
him. II was the stranger who was the next to
"Dld you hear what those men were talking
about"
Yes"
They were talking Of murders"
Yes"
Il heard rather a curious story OF murder
as came down To Weymouth In the train"
IT'S a sort Of talk do not care for"
NO. Perhaps not. But this was rather
singular tale h ,n was ss aSou, murder which
Mr. Hewitt started.
AT Exeter
The stranger stood UP. As he did so. one
realized how grotesquely unwieldy was his
bulk 1t seemed To be much as he could
do 10 move. The three pockets In the front
OF his overcoat were protected by buttoned
flaps. He undid the buttons As he did So
the flaps began to move. Something peep-
out. Then hdeous things began to creep from
his pockets: efts. nevis. lizards. various crawl
ing creatures. MIR. Howitts eyes ceased To
stray. They were fastened on the crawling
creatures The hldeous things wrigged and
writhed in all directions over the stranger:
The huge man gave himself shake. They all
fell from him on TO the Moor. They lay for
second as II stupened by the fall Then they
began to move to all four quarters OF the room.
Mr. Hewitt drew his legs under his chair,
Pretty creatures aren't they" said the
stranger. II like to carry them about with me
OF them are nasty II they bite"
Mr. Hewitt tucked his long legs still further
under his chair He regarded the creatures
which were wriggng on the floor with a de-
gree OF aversion which 1t was almost painful
to witness. The stranger went on.
About this murder at Exeter which | was
speaking OF. 1t was case Of two solicitors
who occupied offices together In Fore Street
Mr. Hewitt glanced up at the stranger then
back again at the writhing nevis. He rather
gasped than spoke
"Yes-they We're partners. The name OF one
OF them Rolt-Andrew Rolf. BY the way.
like to know with whom ! am a., talking. May
I inquire what your name liz?
This time Mr.. Hewitt was staring at the
stranger with wde-open eyes. momentarily for
getful even OF the creatures which were act
ually crawling beneath his chair He SIAM
mered and he suffered
my name's-Howitt. You'll see It In the
hotel register"
Hewitt? / see. I'm gled have met you.
Mr. Hewitt 1t seemed that this man Andrew
Rolf murdered his partner. a man named
Douglas Coston.
Mr. Hewitt was altogether oblivious OF the
things upon the floor. He clutched at the arms
OF his chair. His voice was shrill
Murdered How do they know he murdered
him."
ut seems they have some shrewd ideas upon
the point. from this
Then the stranger took from an inner pocket
OF his overcoat what proved when he had
unfolded IT. to be a double-crown poster. He
held II up In front OF Mr.. Hewitt. 1t was
headed in large letters. MURDER! fiOo
REWARD"
You see. they are offering fl00 reward for
the apprehension OF this man. Andrew Rolf.
That looks az II some one had suspicious. Here
Is his description: Tall. thin. stoops Has
sandy hair thin on top. parted In the middle.