The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-25
Christopher CoIbeck's Head.
From Chambers Journal In fol
parts.)

| am quietly. 81 have the business. deServ
| that at least And I have Fernley's deeds
He was your friend. and you thought Il
save him. Let me tell you then that
| Will ruin him N a month That IS the be
| ginning of it"'
Stepping back to the bed. he looked down
| into the eyes which had told him SO much
| He thought TO see anger, rage, and ven
geance in them. and the sight would have
gladdened him. But what he did see caus
ed the malice to fade from his face before
a sudden Weakening look OF doubt and sur
prise.
Christopher Colbeck's eyes spoke anger
indeed, and pain, but these had small place
compared with the light OF triumph ant
exultation which seemed TO ill them. Wha'
did it mean?
But before Heigham could speak or thini
lie saw an awful change pass over the life
less features The interview was ever,
He threw open the door and rushed tC
the sta:r-ral.
Doctor, doctor" ne shouted. Come VI
come up al once,'
There was a sound of footsteps below as
the medical men nastened to the stairs
They were already too late!
progress for more than an hour when John
Fernley walked slowly up the garden path.
He was a little old man, wearing shabby
sreatcoat trimmed with fur. and he car
RED a strong walking-stick 20 aid his steps.
Some of those who noticed him as he enter
ed the grounds wondered what had brought
him, others whispered Of an old mans curl
csity, and one or two of the more charita-
BILE Judged that he intended to secure some
cheap memeuto of his long friendship with
the deceased.
He passed in, glancing vacanIfy at the
lawn. strewn with odds and ends Of fur
niture, and the new curtainless windows
looking so cherries and dark. Some one
directed him to the dining room, where the
sale was then proceeding; but just as ne
reached it a stream of people came out.
and he heard the strident voice Of the
euctioneer:
''The study next, ladies and gentlemen,
the study next. First door on the left"
Taking advantage of his freedom from
the crush, John Fernley turned to the door
on the left and entered the study with the
first of the stream. There ne found
chair in a convenient corner and sat down
to watch the sale
He knew the room we'll enough. Every
article was ticketed and numbered. by
Order of the Executors" as the piacards
had said, but they were all familiar. There
was the heavy oak table, with its raised
desk; he had sat on one side of that on
certain night two years ago, when he had
asked Christopher Colbeck to assist him
out of the mire of foolish speculation
by advancing him $500 on the security of
his house and grounds. That was the
desk which, on the next night, had re-
ceived his cherished title-deeds; the fiat
topped desk, still bearing as ornament that
queer little bronze and that plain birch
paper-rack He remembered those things
so well,
People settled down about him, the usual
assembly of brokers, private buyers, and
curious neighbors. The auctioneer took
his place at the table, and the sale be-
gan. John Fernley did not notice.
1t was in this room that he had paid
his interest, twice, for he had never cared
to go down to the office, where that deep
looking young Heigham smiled and fawn-
ed upon his uncles clients. 1t was here,
too, that he had brought his excuses for
not paying it the third time, and Christie
pher, for old-time's sake, no doubt, had
put them aside with a laugh, and had
asked him to stay for supper. He had
been a lenient creditor, but now hs was
gone-dead a month or more. And that
awning hypocrite had already shown his
teeth in a notice of foreclosure!
The writing-table was sold The book
case followed quickly, and now old Hub
bard. the retired solicitor, was taking a
complete set of the Art Journal almost at
his own price. The dead man had always
IIa haI
paid him a visit. on that last day. in his
bedroom. For some five minutes he had
sat beside the man who was dead, yet
alive, and who gazed at him with such an
intense and painful look. He had tried to
speak TO him, but had failed. overcome
by the pity of 1t. The sight of that awful
and silence had been too much
for him, and he had had to go. Three
or four hours later he had heard of the
end
Hal What was going on now? He sat
forward, leaning upon his stick. The books
had been sold. as well as all the heavier
furniture, and now the smaller lots were
beng put up. The man had grouped two
articles upon the taDle---the queer little
bronze and the plain birch paper-rack.
The last lot, ladies and gentlemen"
cried the aucuonesr blandly. ''the last lot.
A useful paper-rack, and a fine bronze
bead of--of, 10 doubt, some great celeb
rity."
"Celebrity-' echoed a harsh voice In
front. Celebrity, That Is the head Of Mr..
CoTbeck-"
The general whispering ceased for an in
;tant- 1t was old Hubbard who had spo-
ken, and the straugenes of his Interrupt
ION caused a sudden silence. And before
ne auctioneer could proceed the old gentle
nan spoke again He was something of
local authority on art, and lost no OPP
of placing his rather mixed
knowledge at the service of his fellow
men
1t Is head OF Christopher CoTbeck.
-igf1t enough. He Travelled when he was
Toung, and no doubt had this cast made
abroad. IL is a p.ece OF Naples work--the
LIKENESS is as clear as possible
All eyes were imne diately turned TO the
,ronze head. and the likeness gradually
became plain to those who had known the ]
deceased well. The features were those OF |
christopher Colbeck as he might have Look |
d when a young man. beardiess anu fresh !
md free from the lines OF toll and schem- |
~
4 murnlur OF surprise and interest passed /
ound the room. The incident seemed !
o uuvel q new and unsupported phase OF 4
he rlcn mans character.
But the aucuoaeer, seeing an opening. !
vent OF again.
A une paper-rack. ladies' and gentle 1
aen and splsn souvenir for friends |
Z the deceased Sent!eman---s bronze head .
\ Naples work Shall take your b.ds?'
Silence followed the question. and Mr.. I
Hubbard took a triumphant pinch Of SNUFF.
he late Mir Coibeck had not been general
: esteemed except for his business ae-H-
les. and no c1e seemed anxious 20 bid.
let one man. sitting alone in corner. had i
cen reused BY the words. AMI wss now
nm hing with as puIse.