Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1899-08-25

your being discovered while In a state
Of Inconsistencies, but not dead, and
the treatment they give you then is not
pretty. Many quick poisons are pain
full. very painful, and in any case You
leave your body about after. So untidy
such n want Of neatnessl Every sui
eide Is anxious to wipe himself right
out, to get away from public attention
II he leaves that body ABOUT after, PEG
pie SIT on IL and say that he was tenn
pornrily insane. and one Of the jury is
rude to the coroner. and the coroner is
severe 10 one Of the jury. and the whole
thing gets into the papers and the fam
lily Is disgraced. and everybody feels
that the death was grossly inartistic.
II don't know" said Streuth, 'if
you imagine that by telling me these
things you can deter me from the end
which | have in view. II 80, pray do
rot waste your time and mine any fur
Their"
~ had no such idea" said Mr.
Blake. "All I wish TO do is to give you
a chance of committing suicide in the
best possible way. No pain, no scandal.
no untidy body lying about afterward
A simple, mysterious disappearance,
your W self respect saved, and the
feelings Of your family spared"
"Well." said Streuth, "what is itf'
''Fire, plain FIRE. that Is all. Near
Weybridge there is a certain furnace
which is kept going day and night. Its
heat Is enormous. There are no half
measures about that furnace. The very
moment you go into it you are dead
Half an hour ~aftorward nothing of you
Is left that is recognizable as ever hav-
ing been human. ! will give you direc-
tions and admission card in exchange
for your check for Go so soon as that
check has been cleared.
Streuth pulled FIVE sovoreigns from
his pocket and put them on the table.
81 will take the directions and card
of admission now.
Certainly, said Blake. This lit
tie plan makes your way clear from
Weybridge station. II is six or seven
miles, and you will have to walk it
Cabs al be tracked.
al quite see that. said Streuth.
"For similar reasons yoa must not
inquire your way. You cannot miss it
the plan is on a lagge scale and every
possible landmark is indicated. When
you reach the furnace (Which is sup
posed to be used in connection with
some brick wcrl;s). you will find a deaf
mute as night porter in charge. Hand
him the ticket. ard he will show you
by signs what to do
Streuth took the ticket and plan,
shook hands and went out.
He was u passenger in the last train
to Weybridge that night.
Three days afterward Streuth. with
a smile on his face. called once more on
Mr.. Blake. Mr.. Blake did not seem al
ell surprised to see him.
LET MS speak plainly" said Mr..
Blake. you were afraid OF the fret
~ was, said Streuth.
Everybody is 1t ia the most awful
element. having in it something Of the
supernatural | have sent 175 suicides
to that place and only three handed
their tickets to the night porter.
"And did the three commit suicidef'
MOI 1Hey Culue CUT hBdlu. NOt Ohe
of them has committed suicide or ever
will. You won't, for instance"
"No." said Streuth; common sense
has dawned. After all, he muttered,
"she is not the only girl in the world.
Many Of my clients" said Blake
smilingly. "giye me some little present,
some trifing souvenir on their return.
Streuth put his hand into his waist
coat pocket. AS he fumbled with the
coins he said. Suppose that one Of
those three who did give mp bis ticket
to the porter had committed suicide,
you would have stood a fair chance Of
getting yourself into a mess"
"Not at ALL" said Blake genially
mot at all To prevent the possibility
of accidents there isn't any furnace"
He swept the sovereigns from tn
table into the palm of his hand.
"Most liberal of you. I'm sure. -
} Barry Pain.