The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-09-27

Sturgis set down his lighted candle
and proceeded to examine his sur
roundings. In the middle al The room
stood truck upon which lay long
pine box. A table and a chair consti-
tuted the only furniture of the place.
At one side there was long, low.
lead-lined tank, filed to the depth of
about two rect with dark viscous
liquid. Near il lay a few empty car
boys. In the floor there was what
seemed TO be a hot-air register, of large
size and of peculiar construction. The
walls were bare, unbroken. save by the
projection of the mouthpiece of
speaking tube, and by a set of shelves
filed with TASKS, crucibles, alembics
and the other paraphernalia of chem
lists laboratory.
After the reporter had finished re-
connoitering he sat down upon the
long box in deep thought. Sprague OBJ
served him with silent curiosity for
awhile, and then, with growing impa-
! thence:
Il say, old man." he ventured at last
to ask. did you bring me here, armed
to the teeth, to see you go off into
| trance?"
Sturgis started like man suddenly
awakened from a deep sleep.
Eth? What? Oh yes-those conf
dences. Well, you start in with yours.
| am trying to find the denouement of
my story / feel that it is just within
my grasp; and yet | cannot seem to
see it yet. But can listen to you while
| am thinking. Go on"
Il have not any story to tell" said
oprague. somewhat offended at his
friends apparent Indifference to what
he had to say.
"Oh. yes, you have" retorted Stur-
yis, with a conciliatory smile; you
said you had news to tell me. Well, tell
away. | am listening most respectful
y, in spite of my apparent absorb
ton"
'What a strange fellow you are, Stur-
gis," laughed Sprague, good-naturedly.
! All ! wanted to tell you-and you are
the first to hear of it's the, to me,
rather important fact that | am en-
gagged to be married
You are" exclaimed Sturgis, with
genuine pleasure. 81 congratulate you,
old fellow, from the bottom of my
| heart"
| He seized the artists hand and shook
It in his hearty grasp.
ITO the original of the picture you
wanted to show me yesterday" he
asked.
Yes"
| Then she was not betrothed to the
other fellow, after ALP"
mo; that seems to have been mis-
take"
Il am glad of that. very glad" said
the reporter. by the way, you have
not yet told me the young lady's
name"
Il thought ! had mentioned it yes
terday morning. Didn't /? No? Ny
! fiancee is Miss Murdoch"
At the sound of this name Sturgis
started visibly, and a shadow crossed
his features.
Miss Murdock?" he echoed.
Yes said Sprague. What is itf
You do not seem pleased"
| Then, rs a sudden thought struck
! him:
81 hope ! am not treading on your
toes, old fellow" he said, putting his
hand gently upon his friends Shout
| der and trying 10 read his thought iii
| his clear gray eyes. "But how absurd!
| o. corrse you cannot be rival for
Miss Murdock's affections, since you
do not even know her"
No" laughed Sturgis, rcgaining his
composure, Il am not your rival. AS to
the other point, while | can hardly
| claim an acquaintance with the young
lady, | think | saw her not more than
a couple of hours ago"
"A couple of hours ago!" exclaimed
| Sprague; why, | was with her myself
| then"
81 know that now, although l was
not aware of il at the time
what. were you at the Murdocks' at
the same time as ! vase" asked
| Sprague, surprised.
81 had just come from there when
| met you. | was in Murdock's study
while you were-er-busy in the par
| Tor"
I'm Murdock's study? How long
were you there?"
About half an hour, I should Judge"
replied Sturgis, "and perhaps IS min
utes more in the hall. while Murdoch
was engaged"
81 suppose Chatham was still with
him?" unused Spraguc.
Sturgis started at the name.
"Chatham." he CALCULATED; what do
| you know about Chatham"
what, are you interested in Chat
ham?" asked the artist, curiously. II
q 4 .AG !h|,p