The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1900-08-24

so. You are sitting upon one of these
bodies now"
Sprague started to his feet; and
following the direction in which Stur-
gis was pointing with his open knife
he vaguely discerned, through the
opening which the reporter had whit
tied, a small surface of what had
once been the features of a human
being.
After gazing for some minutes in
horror-stricken silence at the distort-
ed face, the artist asked in a low
voice:
How did Chatham meet his death ??
81 don't know yet" answered Stur-
gis. gravely; "this man is no ordinary
criminal. His work is clean and
leaves no blood-stains and no disorder
to tell of its accomplishment He
takes life with his own hands only
when he is forced to do so; but, when
he does, his method is mastery. 1t
was easier to make away with Chat
ham than to pay him the price agreed
upon for his completely in the Knick-
erbocker bank embezzlement; and SO
his life was taken. 1 hope to discover
how before 1 leave here"
Sprague started as the reporter
ceased speaking.
"The price of his complicity?" he
claimed, laying his hand upon Sturgis
arm aid looking earnestly into his
eyes.
YES" replied the reporter. steadi-
ly meeting his friends gaze, "his
daughters hand
Sprague looked away from the hon
est eyes of the reporter, as if he
dreaded to cad in them the answer
to his next question.
"Who is tits fiend incarnate, who
is willing to traffic in his own flesh
and blood, and with whom murder is
a science?"
The man who is capable of these
crimes. and of any others which
might serve to remove an obstacle
from his way is"
The reporter did not finish his SEN
tence. He suddenly grasped his com
panion by the arm and stood trans
fixed, his eyes dilated, his neck GRAINED
in a listening attitude, every muscle
tense like those of a wild animal in
ambush about to spring upon its APP
preaching prey.
Presently a click was heard as
though bolt had been shot from its
| socket.
Draw your revolver!" Sturgis whis-
pered hoarsely to his companion
"Quick!-Look there!"
At the same time he drew his own
weapon and pointed in the direction
of the door at the head of the stairs
The door opened and man entered
quietly smoking a cigar.
''Dr. Murdock!" exclaimed Sprague
with horror.
Murdoch, still holding the door ajar
eyed the two men for an instant, his
impassive face betraying not the
slightest sign of emotion. Then, tax
ing his cigar from his lips:
''Ah, gentlemen he drawled, in his
ironical way, 4 am delighted to see
you. l trust you will make yourselves
perfectly at home for a few minutes
| shall return directly. You can con-
tinue to work out your little prob
lem in the meantime, Mr.. Sturgis,
With these words he calmly turned
to leave the room.
''Stop!" shouted Sturgis, leveaing
his revolver at Murdocks head; "stand
where you are or l fret"
The reporters shot rang out almost
before he had finished his sentence;
but Murdoch, unscathed passed out
of the room, closing the door behind
him.
Sprague, dazed by the rapidity with
which this scene had been acted stood
rooted to the spot, without having
made any attempt to use the revolver
which he had drawn at Sturgis' bid.
ding.
The reporter spr1ng up the. stairs
and threw his weight against the
door. But it was doubtless intended
to withstand great shocks, for it re-
manned mistaken.
Check" came the sound of mock
ing voice from the otLer side of the
door.
Then. rushing down the stairs
again, Sturgis shouted to hib com
panion:
Come quick! We must geG out OF
here!"
And he led the way through the
subterranean passage toward the eel
lar of the Manhattan Chemical com.
pany.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE DEATH CHAMBER.
Before the men had gone many
steps a grating sound reached theii