Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-11-01

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, 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 l leave here"
Sprague started as the reporter
ceased speaking.
"The price of his complicity?" he
claimed, laying his hand upon Sturgis
arm and 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 ii he
dreaded to read in them the answer
to his next question.
"Nho is this 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 craned
in a listening attitude, every muscle
tense like those of a wild animal in
ambush about to spring upon its ap-
preaching prey.
Presently click was heard as
though bolt had been shot from it's
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 a man entered,
quietly smoking a cigar.
'Dr. Murdock!" exclaimed Sprague
with horror.
Murdock, 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, 81 am delighted to see
you. l trust you will make yourselves
perfectly at home for 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, leveling
his revolver at Murdock's head; stand
where you are or | fire."
The reporters shot rang out almost
before he had finished his sentence;
but Murdock, 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 sprang up the stairs
and threw his weight against the
door. But it was doubtless intended
| to withstand great shocks, for it re-
mained unshaken.
Check" came the sound of a mock
| ing voice from the other side of the
| door.
Then, rushing down the stairs
| again, Sturgis shouted to his com
| panion:
Come quick! We must get 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