The Somerset reporter., 1899-05-18

this passage Just read it. "
Streuth took it and read few lines
II can t stand this, he said; 't is too
nauseous
~ thought you would see il in that
light, Mr. Blake replied. People
mostly do when put it to them You
really can t tell what a rivers going to
do to You 1t may give you back at
once, or it may keep you for bit
Even if it gives you back at once you
don I look pretty Here's description
of the face of a man taken out of the
Thames on -
"You needn't go on with that !
have given up the idea of drowning
myself There is still poison a little
prussic acid and the bother is all over.
Excellent, said Mr.. Blake IF you
know the right dose. you die almost
Immediately But you We got an awful
moment If you don't know the right
dose, you have a very bad time You
will be found with your hands violently
clinched. your eyes glistening and your
pupils dilated, and you will shrek just
before your death Unpleasant isn't
it2'
well, said Streuth, there are
other poisons. -
"All are open to objections Chloral
may kill you comfortably or make you
sick Other anasthetics may lead 10
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 yon
leave your body about after. So untidv
such want of neatness! Every sui
eide is anxious to wipe himself right
out, to get away from public attention
If he leaves that body about after. PEG
pie sit on it and say that he was TEN.
porarily insane, and one of the jury is
rude to the coroner. and the coroner is
severe to 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.
Il 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 If so, pray do
not waste your time and mine any fur
Their -
Il had no such idea, said Mr.
Blake. IAN | 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 own self respect saved, and the
feelings of your family spared.
We'll, said Streuth, what is it2
Fire, plain fire that is all Near
Weybridge there is 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 afterward nothing of You
is left that is recognizable as ever hav
ing been human. | will give you drec-
tons and admission card in exchange
for your check for 60 so soon as that
check has been cleared -
Streuth pulled five sovereigns from
bis pocket and put them on the table
Il will take the directions and card
of admission now.
Certainly, said Blake This lit
tie plan makes your way clear from
Weybridge station. 1t is six or seven
miles. and You will have to walk it
Cabs can be tracked.
81 quite see that said Streuth
"For similar reasons you must not
inquire your way. You cannot misc it,
the plan is on large scale and every
possible landmark is indicated When
you reach the furnace (Which is sup
posed to be used in connection with
some brick works.. you will find a deaf
mute as night porter il charge Hand
him the ticket, and he will show you
by signs what to do
Slreuth took the ticket and plan,
shook hands and went ont.
He was passenger in the last train
to Weybridge that night
Three days afterward Streuth, with
smile on his face. called once more on
Mr. Blake MI Blake did not seem at
all surprised to see him.
Let us speak plainly, said Mr.
Blake You were afraid of the fire.?
/ NdS. Stlu OlItulu
Everybody is 1t is 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 suicide?'
mol They came out again. Not one
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, give me some little present,
some trifling 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 up his ticket
to the porter had committed suicide,
you would have stood fair chance of
getting Yourself into 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 the
table into the palm of his hand.
Most liberal of you, I'm sure. -
Barry Pain
The Hotel Portcr's Neat Joke.
In the barber shop connected with
L ! ...I ,l.., .,..,,1