Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-10-31
THE
PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY,
THE
By OSCAR MILpK

How quickly il had all been done! HI
felt strangely calm, and walked over to the
window. opened it and stepped out on tho
balcony. The wind had blown the fog away
and the sky was like a monstrous peacock
tail, starred with myriads Of golden eyes
He looked down and saw the policeman 90
ing his rounds and flashing a bull's-eyt
lantern on the doors of the silent houses
The crimson spot OF a prowling hanson
cleaned AT the corner, and then vanished
A woman IN ragged shawl was creeping
round by tho ratings, staggering as she
went. Now and then she stopped, and
peered back. Once she began 10 sing In a
boarse voice. The policeman strolled over
and said something TO her. Shc stumbled
away, laughing. A bitter blast swept across
the square. The gas-lamps fiickered, and
became blue, and the leaaess trees shook
their black iron branches as IL in pain. He
shivered, and went back, closing the win
dow behind him.
: He passed TO the door, turned the key,
and opened il. He did not even glance at
the murdered man. He felt that tho secret
OF the whole thing was not TO realize the
situation. The friend who had painted the
fatal portrait, the portrait 10 which all his
misery had been due, had gone out OF his
life. That was enough.
Then he remembered the lamp. IL was a
rather curious one Of Moorish workmanship,
made of dull silver inlaid with ar~abesques
of Furnished steel. Perhaps il might be
missed by his servant, and questions would
be asked. He turned back and took il from
the table. How still the man was! How
T. ~.Ssll. - ,..Ls40 Al. 49,, l..I- 1allnlI He
was like a dreadful wax image.
He locked the door behind him, and crept
quietly downstairs. The woodwork creaked
and seemed TO cry out as If in pain. He
stopped several times, and waited. No;
everything was still. II was merely the
sound Of his own footsteps.
When he reached the library, he saw the
bag and coat in the corner. They must be
hidden away somewhere. He unlocked a
secret press that was in the wainscoting,
and put them into it. He could easily burn
them afterward. Then he pulled out his
watch. 1t was twenty minutes TO two.
He sat down, and began 10 think. Every
~year-every month, almost-men were
~strangled in England for what he had done.
There had been a madness Of murder in the
air. Some red star had come too close TO
the earth.
Evidence, What evidence was there
against himi Basil Hallward had left the
house at eleven. No one had seen him come
in again. Most Of the servants were at
Selby Royal. His valet had gone TO bed.
Paris Yes. 1t was to Paris that Basil
had gone, by the midnight train, as he had
intended, With his curious reserved habits,
4. ...o,ll - 18Th. haf.~, ,r,- p,.un.ns,.e
would be aroused. Monthsl Everything
could be destroyed long before then.
a sudden thought struck him. He put
on his fur coat and hat. and went out into
the hall. There he paused, hearing the
slow, heavy tread of the policeman outside
on the pavement, and seeing the fash Of
the lantern reflected in the window. He
waited. holding his breath.
After a few moments he opened the front
door, and slipped out, shutting il very gently
behind him. Then he began ringing the
hell. La about ten minutes his valet APP
peared, half dressed. and looking very
drowsy.
Il am sorry 10 have had to wake you up,
Francis, ~ be said, stepping in: but | had
forgotten my latch-key. What time is it,"
IiNt ullIiuAto laob WV Ehs ~
the man, looking at the clock and yawning.
Five minutes past two. How horribly
late! You must wake me at nine tomorrow.
] have some work 10 do"
"All right, sir"
"Did any one call thisc evening""
Mr.. Hallward, sir. He stayed here till
eleven, and then he went away TO catch his
train"
"Oh! / am sorry ] didn't see him. Did he
leave any m~essages'
mo, sir, except that he would write to
you"
THAT will do, Francis. Don't forget to
call me az nine tomorrow"
mo, sir"
The mar shambled down the passage in
his slippers.
Dorian Gray threw his hat and coat upon
the yellow marble table, and passed into the
library. He walked up and down the room
for a quarter of an hour, biting his lip. and
thinking. Then he took the Blue Book
down from one of the shelves. aud began 70
turn over the leaves. ALAN Campbell. 15a
HEREFORD Street, Mayfair" Yes that was
the mar he wanted.