The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-23

man who chanced to be directly before the
door, the boy cried out: "You're DIR.
Bell, amt you? They sent me to find
Doctor"
.I am DR.. Bell" was the reply.
"What's wrong?'
"Mr. Brands dropped Dead" replied
the boy. 81 saw him do It,.
Horror at ths occurrence and pride In
his share of 1t seemed - be contending
In the youths mind. / have observed
the same phenomenon in many persons
OF mature years, including myself. We
think better of ourselves when calamity
taiSes 'us into her confidence. Indeed,
have seen man saved from suicide by
the new interest in himself thlt came
from his chance witnessing of distress
ing catastrophe.
DR.. Bell ran into the brokers' Office,
and i, being conveniently nta' him,
followed close upon his heels. Otherwise
i should not have got in, for policeman
who had entered from the avenue imme-
diately closed the door communicating
with the hotel, and denied admittance TO
all save those who could give a better
reason for desiring 1t than idle curiosity
--as / could net.
A tall young man had just locked the
street door, and was then engaged in
pulling up the shades. Almost the whole
of the front of the Office was glass and
already there were hundred people look
ing in.
There were not more than half dozen
persons in the Office besides these who
have been mentioned. Two Of them were
evidently employees. Another l recog-
nized AZ Harold Brand, nephew of the
broker, and his assistant in the manage
ment of the Office. The others seemed
to be players OF the stock game
The nephew stood beside chair in
which sat Holman Brand in an attitude
so natural that could not believe him to
be dead. His handsome face, framed in
abundant gray hair, showed not trace
OF pain. On the contrary, its expression
was eloquent of happiness. He was as
one trGnsfgured. Ii the bliss of heaven
had been revealed to him i'm the moment
when his soul put off its earthly vesture,
thus and not otherwise should the mortal
part have echoed the rapture Of the spirit.
DR.. Bell had hurried TO the dead man s
side, but after few seconds spent in the
ordinary tests he had stepped back.
When turned to him found him gazing
upon the corpse with an interest equal to
my own, but of different nature. 1t was
a scientific experiment 10 him.
The impressive silence was broken at
last by Harold Brand, who asked If there
was any hope.
"None, whatever" replied the physi-
clan.
"He Is quite beyond recall"
"It was terribly sudden, " said the young
man, with shudder. "Have you any
idea what was the cause?"
81 have a very distinct idea, =" said DIR.
Bell; "but ii will be hard to get legal
proof of it,"
"Great heaven! Do you suspect"
"Poison,n said the doctor, gravely.
"There is every indication of 1t. .
"Impossiblel'' exclaimed Harold Brand.
"You must be mistaken
-. n Itr..l
ANYTHING Just before he was stricken?''
81 remember that he drank a glass Of
water.p
There was the ordinary water-cooler in
a corner OF the Office. DIR. Bell walked
up to 1t, and smelled the glass which
stood beside 1t.
az can detect nothing here" he said.
"However, the glass should be saved for
examination.r
leave 1t there" said the policeman.
"I'll see that II isn't disturbed. ] think
Coroner Robertson will bo here In a few
minutes. He has been notified, and he
lives near"
There was pause, and then at DIR.
Bells request Harold Brand related the
circumstances OF his uncle's death. They
were very simple.
He had been in the Office about an
hour, and had dictated some letters. Then
he had written one. Ii lay sealed before
him on his desk. / glanced at 1t, and
read the address,:
"MARGARET BRAND,
Cornwall, N. Y"
DR.. Bell also glanced at 1t.
"a relative, OF course " he said.
al never heard OF her, - replied Harold.
AT this moment the coroner arrived.
The tall young man whom 1 have men
toned ss having locked the street door
and pulled up the curtain admitted DIR.
great surprise l saw that he was Horace
Preble. ] had not seen his face before.
aud had not recognized his figure In the
single glance which | had cast upon IL.
lie had wonderful gift OF making him
self inconspicuous, as | had previously
remarked.
lie detained the coroner q moment by