The stayer. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1896-1903, 1902-02-20
copyright ,s9s. BY Frederick A. Stokes Company,l

above. The room was surmounted by a
skylight, which was wide open, admit.
ting draught of cold mir from the
Inside.
Sturgis set down his lighted candle
and proceeded to examine his sur
roundings. In the middle of the room
stood 4 truck, upon which lay Il long
pine box. \ table and Il chair consti-
tuted the only furniture OF the place.
At one side there was 4 long, low,
lead-lined tank, filled TO the depth of
about TWO feet with a dark viscous
liquid, Near it lay few empty car
boys. In the floor there was what
seemed TO be 4 hot-air register, of large
size and of peculiar construction. The
walls were bare, unbrokcn, save by the
projection of the mouthpiece of a
speaking tube. and by n set of Shelves
filled 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-
tience:
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 a
trance
Sturgis started like man suddenly
awakened from a deep sleep.
"Eh? What? Oh. yes-those conf
denccs. Well, you start in with yours.
am trying to End the dcnoucmcnt of
my story. | feel tina, it is just within
my grasp; and yet l cannot seem to
see it yet. But can listen to you while
! am thinking. Go on
Il have not any story 10 tell" said
Spraguc, somewhat offended at his
friends apparent indifference to what
he had to say.
"Oh. yes. you have" retorted Stur-
gis, with conciliatory smile; you
said You had news to tell Inc. Well. tell
away. ! am listening most respectful
ly, in spite of my apparent absorp-
ton"
What strange fellow you are, Stur-
gis," laughed Sprague, good-naturedly.
"All l wanted to tell you-and you are
the first 10 hear of it's the, to me,
rather important fact that l am eir-
gagged TO be married
You are?' exclaimed Sturgis, with
genuine pleasure. ~ 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"
NO; that seems to have been a 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 l had mentioned it yes
terday morning. Didn't 1? No? Ny
tiancee is Miss Murdock."
At the sound of this name Sturgis
started yisibly, and shadow crossed
his features.
Miss Nurdock?" he echoed.
Yes said Sprague. What is It?
You do not seem pleased"
Then, as a sudden thought struck
him:
II hope / am not treading on your
toes, old fellow" he said, putting his
hand gently upon his frien1s shout
der and trying TO read his thou.nt in
his clear gray eyes. But how absurd,
OF course you cannot be rival for
Miss Murdock's affections, since you
do not even know her"
No" laughed Sturgis, regaining 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"
~ couple of hours ago!" exclaimed
Sprague; why, ! was with her myself
then"
Il know that now, although l was
not aware Of il at the time
What, were you at the Murdocks' at
the same time as l was?" asked
Sprague, surprised.
Il had just come from there when
| met you. | was in Murdock's study
"a n ile Won yyerp-er-husy In the mar
lor."
in Murdock's study? How long
were you there?"
About half an hour, should Judge"