The representative., 1901-05-23
Continued.

W 81
Sturgis. after showing the damaged
! knife to his companion, resumed his
whiting upon the cover Of the box
on which the artist was seated.
"Chatham's body has been dissolved
. in that tank within a very short time.
It has entirely disappeared;. this fat
tened bullet alone is left, lead being
one Of the few substances which are
not soluble in the contents of the
tank. Fortunately he overlooked that
fact. Genius has its lapses."
Presently Sprague ventured to say:
III numerous crimes have been COM
mitted here, as you intimate, do not
understand how tt is that suspicion
has never rested ON this house be-
fore"
'The author Of these crimes has
taken every precaution to render the
chance of discovery quite remote. His
dwelling-house on one street, and the
bogus Chemical company on the other,
are in communication through this
underground passage, while appar-
emily having no connection with each
other. Moreover, he is too shrewd to
make frequent use of this dea tn cham
ber. That does we'll enough as last
resort, when he is obliged to commit
the murders with his own hands; but
suspect that this man has other
agents like Chatham. who do the
dirty work for him and then quietly
ship the bodies here for humiliation,
as it was intended should be done
with Arbogast's. All! yes; I thought
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 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?"
II 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 tel! Of it's accomplishment. He
takes life with his own hands only
when he is forced to do SO; but, when
he does, his method is masterly. It
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. hope to discover
how before 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 if he
dreaded to read in them the answer
to his next question.
"Who is this fend incarnate, who
is willing to traffic in his own flesh
and blood, and with whom murder is
a science?"
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
panien by the arm and stood trans
fixed, his eyes dilated, his neck craned
in a listening attitude, every muscle
ambush about to spring upon it's ap-
preaching prey.
Presently a click was heard as
though a bolt had been shot from its
socket.
"Draw your revolver!" sturgis whis-
pered hoarsely to his companion.
Quick! k!-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.
Murdock, still holding the door ajar,
eyed the two men for an instant, his
impassive- face betraying not the
slightest sign Of emotion. Then, taxi
ing his cigar from his lips:
"Ah, gentlemen" he drawled, IN his
ironical way, II am delighted to see