The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-27
THE B0WSTRING
 ODALESQUE
nv Kannett Harrla,

go this was Gaston's studioi"' said Lor- rains Parker, looking euriously about him. That's a sort of coincidence. too. Did you know that I was with him when he dIed7"
 ''why. mo-" replied vann. pausing In t--e act of opening a bottle of Glenllvat. You were? On the steamer? Tell me about it, Lorry. I'm particularly interested because think I knew him as well aS he ever ai- lowed anybody to, and I was the only man he ever unlocked that door to at the last. He was working on that before he vanish ed"
 He pointed to a far corner of the room and then as Parker peered uncertainty into the gloom he turned on an electric light, disclosing a clay statue of a woman Of heroic size lying face downward and with nude limbs eontorted as if in agony. Park CT started to his feet with a cry almost of horror. - s4 s a,ts es-a, ,.r fa q J.
 Tt is a. beastIy morbid thing. Isn't itH' said Yam. Tt used to give me the creeps, but I've got used to it now. He never said what 1t was-'The Bowstring odalisque, should say. That's death, LorTy, and vio- lent death. See those musclesi Isn't f heautiful though? I'm hanged I don't put that into marble when can afford 1t. Posthumous fame isn't much use to man, but Gaston will get 1t when that statue Is exhibited"
 .'Tnrn off the light" said Parker, with
 {. slight shudder. 'T've seen the thing be fore, and I don't like it. Yes. pour 1t full I think can stand 1t. Now, If you'h sf down I'll tell you all I know.
 Tt isn't much and 1t won't take iong. Of course I knew the man by reputation as the sculptor of Proserpine It was bis thing, and 1t certainly made ht-but or course you know all about that had never met him. though. and didn't identify him with the man who had just awoke to find himself famous. I don't think any of the passengers as He seemed to be in about the last stages of consunption--a mere skeleton with big blazing eyes and sunken cheeks. but his energy seemed boundleks. It wasn't so much energy. though, as restlesEness. All day long he paced up and down the deck, and If he ate 1t must have been in his stateroom. I hardly ever saw him, though, that he wasn't striding up and down the deck It was July, you remember. and the sun was so blazing hot that the rest of us were glad to find A shady spot on the windward and keep stlll He wasn't. But one morning I came up and found him squatting by hatehwaV
 modelling.
 He had found or provided lump of pitch and his long, white bony fingers were press- ing. dabbing and pinching 1t into. what oo you imagine? Just that damned thing yoii have over there. and his face was working as ndNu A8 HE AN WY N@fN face of a skeleton devil. moved away. couldn't stand it."
 His mind was running on the unflnished job. you see," explained Vann. I'm thai way myself"
 T should say 1t was running on It," said Parker; he crushed the thing Into a shape less mass the next time I passed. and the next day he had 1t again. modelled perfectly exactly. When he had finished 1t he fiat tened 1t out and started on his everlasting walk He spent his entire time walking and modelling, Yam, and 1t was never any thing eIae but that ghastly woman No, didn't speak to him His manner wasn't encouraging. Besides. I thought then he was crazy.
 'tone afternoon there happened to be couple with their chairs pretty close to- time. The girl seemed to be teasing the fellow about something and he picked q bon-bon from Q box in her lap and tried to push 1t between her lips Have some candy he said, and as she took it and De- gan to munch he continued, That's the only way to stop a woman's mouth
 "Gaston. who Swas passing, stopped sud- denly and turned his ashy face upon them with such an expression that was alarm ed. Then he broke into shrill laugh oh, no, 1t isn't he cried. There are OJh- CT ways. Yes there are other waysT
 'I stepped forward and took him by the arm, but he shook me off and shrieked with hystsrieal laughter. other waysr he cried oh. yes that is not the only way Thea a spasm passed over his face and he fell to the deck insensible.
 we carried him down to his stateroom and laid him i1 his berth. The doctor said it was nervous strain and that he would probably remain in that state of coma for some hours. volunteered to stay with him and to let the doctor know when he re- covered consciousness. which did. He came tos himself, I sholld judge. in some. thing less than an hour and looked at me with eyes in which there was perfect sanity. I asked him how he felt and he made no reply for a moment but seemed to be try- ing to recollect something. Presently he raised himself on his elbow. at which put my hand on his breast to force him back.
 Don't be aiarmgd.' he said, I am Qulte in my right mind I was ill. was I not9 I now. You are the doctor, pre- sune Well, I am going to show you AOme- thing that wiu arouse your professional in-