The Irish standard., 1897-06-26
aattered at being in the service o, tho

through the grimy transom over the
door. but no sound came from within.
Hendricks rang again, and when the
changing of the bell had died away
door beneath the stoop opened, a chain
an half clad and with hair dishevelcd
came out amidst a heap of garbage and
ash barrels and glared up at them.
what do We want?" she asked crust
lily.
1--WE have an appointment with a Mr..
Farleigh, who has room here. l think"
Hendricks replied.
IA purity time O. night for it," snarled
the woman. But promised the GIN
tleman to let ye in, an so. if ye'I wait
till come up. I'll open the door,"
In minute she admitted them,
aye was to go up to his room-the top
floor front; ye can't miss it. would
go up ahead o ye, but I'm that stiff
that"
We'll get there all right" Hendricks
interrupted, passing her. 1--WE won't
be long. Would you mind leaving the
door nnlocked?"
Not at all. sir" she replied. The de-
tective thanked her, and went up the
stairs.
The door of the room in the front, on
the top floor, was closed. There was a
transom over it, but no light shone
through. Hendricks knocked and watt
ed. Then he put his hands on the latch.
AS he did so, DR.. Iampkin drew his re-
volver.
Hendricks laughed grimly. "Put it
up" he muttcred. "You won't need
it,"
The door was not fastened. Hen
bricks pushed it open, and as he did so
some strips of cotton batting fell to the
floor from the side and the top. The
room was very dark. The outside blinds
had been closed, and the curtains drawn,
SO that no light came in from the street
below nor from the moon above.
The detective struck a match, and
lighted the gas near the door. The yell
low glare filled the room and revealed
3 gruesome sight. a bed stood in the
rjghthand corner. and on his side, his
face to the windows, lay the body of a
man. A 44-caliber, old-style pistol had
been tied to the back of a chair in such
a way that the muzzle was within three
inches of a dark hole in the mans tenn
pie.
Original ideal" was Hendricks first
observation. He pointed 10 faint limo
of ashes from the chair, across the bare
floor, to the airhole of little stove in
the fireplace.
II can't understand it," said DR..
Lampltin, STOPPING to examine t he ashes
Hendricks opened the door of tho
stove.
II have never seen this method be-
FORE" lie said, rehcctively. 1.-THE line
of ashes was made by fuse running
from the tube of the pistol to u candle
III the stove. See, here arc the remains
OF the wick, and some of the tailow
The fuse was fastened in the end of the
candle; he lit it. closed the door of the
Istovc, to keep the light from disturbing
him, and lay there waiting for it to
burn down to the fuse and thus fire the
pistol. 1t must have been his intention
to have death come upon him while he
was asleep"
"AIy God! what an ideal" exclaimed
DIR. Lampkin. II see. lie calculated
on painless death by hypnotizing him
self to Sleep
Can it be done?" asked Hendricks
Hardly" the doctor replied. II don't
think the creature was ever born who
could. in that way, put himself to sleep
while facing eternity, especially after
committing a crime. His conscience
would not allow it," DR.. Lampkin bent
forward, and made close examination
of the dead mans features. poor fell
'low!" he said. "IIe evidently tried to
sleep. I think he wanted to be found
with smile on his face. But he failed.
Even in death he shows the awful dread
he must have had. There is no doubt
that he mentally suffered. Do you
know what friend of mine is doing?
lie is making study of the features Of
the dead, for the purpose of scientifcal-
.ly proving to people who don't believe
in the immortality of the soul that
there is future life. He says If only
our sight were educated sufficiently we
could read on the faces of dead people
expressions that could not be put there
by mortal neutrality-suspicious. that
are formed just as the awakened soul
Is leaving the body. agree with him
that it is great field for study. lie
lis an artist. and has painted the strong
est picture that have ever seen. 1t is
the living face of man distorted by
the worst of human passions, and by it's
side is the same face, after death, wear
ing the spiritual expression l men,
toned"
II hope" Hendricks remarked, with a
shndder. as he glanced ut the dead
mans features, your friend would not
argue that the horrible expressions on
the faces of some suicides would prove
that-that they have no-chance, you
know"
Not at ALL" replied the doctor. He
says the soul is simply separated from
the body so hastily that there is no time
for it 10 leave its real expression. But
we are certainly en- grucsomc subject.
suppose Farleigh used the cotton bat
ting to close up the chinks in the door.
to deaden the sound of the pistol"
Hendricks nodded, lowered the gas,
and led his friend down to the street.
He hastily explained TO the policeman
what had happened, and told him to
stand guard Mt the place till he could
summon the coroner.
II suppose you are going to notify the
coroner tho fret thipr ,,o,, In nh.