The daily morning Alaskan., 1902-07-22
THE KNOCK
 AT THE DOOR

The pesslmst was sitting alone n hls chamber. A cold yellow moon looked in upon him from across the dark roofs Of the city outlined in som Der silhouette against the star lit sky. A slcllly smile hoyored over his pale vlsage. and his lips were set as In the suppression of an inward curse. Ills hands lay folded pcnsivcly across his thin legs, and he looked out over the shadowy housctops with dull suggcs tion Of hatred In his bloodshot eyes.
 Suddenly there came a low tapping at the door behind him. He arose with a muttcrcd curse ut thus having his thoughts interrupted and approached the door lazily.
 What do you wantY' he demanded In sharp voice.
 But there was no reply. He opened the door cautiously, and only a cold gust of midnight air entered the dark apartmcnt. He glanced out Into the silent hallway and saw again the same familiar darkness that he had seen when he entered hts room. Confused startled ho drew hls hand thoughtful ly across his brow, then closed tht door carefully aud locked lt. A mo. ment later he seated himself In thC chair by the open easement and stared out through the nocturnal shadows It was quite cold. and % few patches of snow were rlcumlnc brightly on many Of the housctops. but the pcssi mist was unconscious of the cold.
 "why do | uyeT" he asked himself And the echo of his own voice came bnck to hls ears from beyond the hall way.
 'sThere Is an object in every llfe,' the voice said to him. eve an have Q mission Co fulfill"
 'Ycs." he answered the voice, with something of a sepulchral tone in his own. "and the object of mine Is Co ascertain the limit of mans endurance the capacity of human beings for pain. Some dny [ win reach thc limit Some day my capacity win be exceeded"
 While he was speaking there came Co his ears the sound of a human voice In Che alley below hls window lt seemed like low groon. ending in a sharp mournful cry. ns of on infant In ,tanuy his gloomy mcdltotlons were dlspercd. and be leaned forward through the window ln the hope of again hearing the strange sound Again the long groan was borne Co him from out Of the darkness, but when he looked down In the direction from which it came he could sec only a deep wall of darkness and midnight shadows. Suddenly:
 God. please help mel"
 It was the voice of child lying at the base Of the building among the half dozen ash barrels in the alleyway. He arose and went down upon the street A moment later be passed down the alley along the row of ash barrels Lylng beside one of these he discover. cd Che cuddllng body Of a child, a baby boy. scarcely more than six years of lre. lt was half frozen. and, judging from the pnchcd face. it had not tasted food for many hours or days. lt was clad only In a dirty cloth of tat. .ers. and the childish lips were parted 'n repeated cry. "God. please help ucw He lifted the child boy In hls long. b0ny arms and bore lt Into thc house and up the long flight of stairs Co his chamber. There be undresscd li and revived lt He procured food and ,ustenancc and placed lt ,cndcrly in bls own soft bed Then be took from hls pocket roll Of grcenhacks and plared it carefully In the ragged pocket 1f the chid's clothes. Why he did so nc wns not able to say. but-lt was nn impulse which he could not resist He said Co himself:
 This Is another of earth's poor crca. ;ures who has been depending on tEc Lord Christ"
 And be resumed his sent by the win dow.
 AAlNN aN MN NaAA AAANAN AAN ANN tAANA AAAN mysterious knock at tht door. thric, lc arose and looked out Into the hall way and thrice returned again Co his seat. bcwildcrcd md mystlncd thrice had tho midnight air entered in a cold gust through the chamber door. and thrice be had answered the low tap ping to discover only the midnight durkness But ut Inst his head fell for. ward on hls breast and he slept soft. ly: then. when hls breathing had be- come heavier and harder. the door, which be had securely locked, opened slowly. and the white visagc of grin hing skull looked In upon him. A mo ment later the gleaming, phosphorcs cent skeleton entered the dark cham ber and moved nimbly to his side. It placed lts bony hand over the sleep Ing mans lips and held lt there until Che heavy breathing became inaudiblc When the last short breath had escap cd the slumberer's lips. it sprang back. ward with a silent bound md passed out through the open door.
 The cold hand of death had complct cd its work.
 Tn the morning the child awoke and found the dead body Of It's benefactoI