The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-14

apartment and the door was cioseu. ~
was intensely dark and the air was hot
and sitting. They breathed with diff
Guilty. Wharton opened little window
in the side OF the car, and the fresh air,
rushing in, seemed delicious. Hiigerd
stepped toward him, reaching out MS
hand to avoid stumbling. 1t touched an
article that caused him TO start back
with an exclamation of terror. II was
the face of man, and 1t was cold and
clammy.
"For Heavens sake, Wharton, strike q
light and tell me what you We got smut
up in this internal crematory." Hilgerd
heard him laugh softly as he llghteu the
lamp on the little shelf -,
"Don't be frightened, Paul, i VIII
acknowledge IL is little peculiar, but II
Is all in the play, as you VIII soon ols-
cover" Hilgerd was looking toward the
window. There In chair, bending over
his hands crossed upon his chest sat the
man who had so startled him. His face
could not be seen, but the attitude IN
dicated great pain.
"What is this man imprisoned fort"
asked Hilgerd, with much concern. us
he sick? 1t seems to me he needs some
fresh air badly" lie glanced at his
friend. He was leaning against the wall
shaking with merriment. Hilgerd looked
annoyed, but waited in silence. Finally
Wharton said:
"That is Bentley; didn't you recognize
him?''
"Bentley; who in the world is he9"
"He's the messenger we saw as we
came IN"
There was curtained window In front
of the partition. This Hilgerd threw
aside and looked out. There was the
same man at his desk that he saw on en-
Iering. He looked again at the figure In
the closet, aud now saw strong resem-
blance. Wharton eyed him in silent
enjoyment.
''Is this one of your practical jokes?"
asked Hilgerd; "if so, l."
"No, Paul; we are very much in earnest.
To be more accurate, this is Bentley
the man up. His hands lay limp in his
lap, but his head was set with an un-
natural stiffness. The eyes stared straight,
with fixed look, the face CHASTITY
yellow, with an artificial flush on each
cheek. Hilgerd looked hard at the i'm
movable features, and then the light
beagn to dawn.
"1t's one on me, Phil" he said. "But
may i ask whether this dime museum,
wax-figure business has anything to do
with the case in nand?' -
sit has everything to do with it, and II
will be clear to you shortly" he looked
| at his watch. "Not much time 10 lose,"
he continued. He blew out the light,
| fumbled moment In the dark, and then
/ stepped out with the lifeless double OF
Bentley dangling I'm grotesque fashion
| from his arms. He laid the figure on
the floor beside the table. The big safe
| stood at the opposite side OF the car
From ii the messenger took several pack
ages and sacks and placed them with
Others on the table. The former he took
| into the closet.
Wharton and the superintendent picked
| up the wax figure and placed 1t in the
| chair lately occupied by It's living model,
| oil m
tion for writing. They then placed pen
In the stiff fingers and spread some paper
out on the desk. They fastened some
wires around its waist, carried them down
through staples in the floor and thence
to the little room, where they wrapped
the ends around projection. In another
part of the car laid long bundle which
they unwrapped, disclosing a figure
similar to the first. They placed II In the
chair belonging to the guard, put book
in its hands, bent down its head and
laid rusty.looking weapon across its
The effect was lifelikes and the resem-
blance perfect. There were the mes
senger and the guard in every particular
1t would have deceived anyone. 1T
most time we were whistling for the
crossing, isn't 1t, Wade?" Wharton
asked.
Hilgerd felt that something unusual
was about to occur; possibly a tragedy,
and he could but wonder at the uncon
cerned, business-like manner of the men.
Presently there came to them above the
incessant rumtle OF the train the long
mournful cry of the whistle.
"That's Benton said " ade.
The four stood in earnest consulta
tion moment, and then all went int
the little compartment except Wharton
who took a candle off the shelf, Lighted
, il and went TO the south window OF tn
, car, which was next the double track
Here he moved 1t back and forth until
, the panes were half smoked. The large
lamps on each side of the car still burne'
brightly, and from the dark space wher
Hilgerd stood everything was distinctly
, visible. Wharton stopped moment 10
: a final look, then joined the Others.
"The candle was an afterthought," n
said. "It will render our tableaux
, little indistinct, and we want ever
, advantage on our side"
He closed the door and the dark mes
was intense. Hilgerd was wrought up Z
the highest tension, and he jumped whe
, a hand touched his arm.
swatch the side of the car next tn
g stove, said his frieRds voice. Hilger
looked through the curtain. Nothin
r had been changed. There sat the nut
/ figures as still as death. He gazed in
4 tently at the part of the car indicated
Q Nothing met his eve but the plain
y fascinated, and until his eyes burne
from the strain. He was about to tur
Y away and rest them upon something els
:. when his whole attention was suddenl
d riveted TO a single spot.
u About half foot from the floor and
n little to the left of the stove there az
peared white gleam, as though from
Q brilliant stone. Gradually il grew larger
A scintillating in the rays OF the two lamp'
}. Now il il the size of silver cop, an
@ shines like FURNISHED steel. His eSes ar
y fixed upon it in helpless awe, and h
breathes heavily like one in a spell
!. What possible relation can that insinua
d ing CLEAN have to those uncanny figure
Y that seem SO oblivious to all, and VIII
should IL have caused all these careful
d mysterious preparations?
( He rubs his eyes and looks again. Th
v spot Is gone and the white boards Civ
e forth no sign. lie glances at the silen
4 dummies and then at the lamps whit
J, flicker back at him brightly. What
g that blush haze hovering in the air, no
4 giving the red flames ghastly color
Q Suddenly, he Is conscious OF sickenin
penetrating odor. Without warning !
- l. ,,i,LIy abolad Hfa brain reel