The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-03-08

md vest. Below the short sleeves OF
his undershirt rose superb biceps. and
there was something almost contemp-
tuous In the glance he turned on the
lighter and more elegant build of hts
companion
You will find. HetherIngton." he
said rs he sat down I'm front OF his
glass and reached for the cold cream,
that even to the actor Of fourteen
years experience there are times when
the removal of 4 mans makeup is like
tearing the veil from the long dead
past"
Hetherington scowled and laid a de-
termined hand on the doorknob. The
other man. still calming rubbing cold
cream on his fscc. spoke In cool. even
tones:
I'VE are the only actors on this side
Of the house. the orchestra Is making
such a racket that nobody could hear
you IL you yelled. and shall be under
the painful necessity of smashing your
head with a chair II you attempt to
break that lock. Sit down. man. SIT
down. I've been waiting five years for
just this chance. I don't mean to lose
II now."
Hetherington was trembling. though
he made . strong blud at self posses
sion. Was this new roommate drug
fiend, or was IL a case of temporary
mental arrangement? Perhaps Brown
read the thought. for he smiled grimly
and suddenly reached for the large
Turkish towel. Under its vigorous treat
ment cold cream and pigment came or
together. At the same instant he sprang
to his feet. The two men stood face to
face. but only for few seconds. Then
Hetherington. white to the lips. cow
cred against the wall and breathed
heavily.
"Phil Henderson,
Right you are, I thought you'd re-
member-when the cork came of. No;
don't touch that door" This as Heth-
erington made feeble attempt TO rat
tie the doorknob. We're going to talk
this over. Let's sec: IL was five years
ago. wasn't il. that you stole my wife?
Yes. stole; that's the word, She was
happy enough with me till you came.
don't believe she's been as happy with
you. ! don't believe she ever loved
you" The cords in his neck were swol-
len. and the words came thick and
hard. ''It was her professional pride
you appealed To. The prospect Of a
New York opening turned her head and
made her forget how-how-I loved her.
You've had five long years OF happi-
ness that belonged TO me. and-now
you're going TO pay for them"
A look OF piteous appeal came into
Hetherington's eyes. but no word passed
his lips. Brown looked down upon the
crouching. cringing form.
Il shall have TO tell the doorkeeper
you went out through the front of the
house. As for your wife-your wife
and mine-she will not look for you
till morning. and by that time Ill be
safe on the Pacific Mail stramer on my
way to Australia. The world will nev-
| er know. unless she tells. what caused
| your
Hetherington. crouching closer and
| closer to the wall. moaned just once:
| then the man he had wronged was
/ upon him. There was n sudden grip
| on his throat. tighter and tighter The
/ sound OF a woman's voice seemed to
float TO his ear. A dainty feminine
form passed as in n dream before his
fast closing eyes. and then-biackBess.
/ A few minutes later Brown. with the
calmness OF madness. picked up coat
and hat. There under the narrow shelf
on which were scattered makeup ma
terials was stretched that grim and
awful thing. but Brown did not see it.
He turned out the light. locked the door
from the outside and. placing the key
in his pocket. climbed the rickety stair
way and passed out into the night.
San Francisco and the whole Pacific
coast were searched for the murderer
Of the handsome and popular leading
man. and then the mystery OF the Hen
derson- Brown murder gave way to a
more exciting scandal. huge railroad
steal. a few weeks later. however. II
was revived by word from Australia
that n passenger on board the Pacific
Mail steamship Light of Asia had gone
violently insane when two days out
from San Francisco and had jumped
Ioyerboard. The name under which he
had taken passage was Philip Hender.
son. but investigation OF his effects
proved that he was known along the
Pacific coast as Philip Brown. a monol.
ogist. And while the world wondered
and talked afrcsh OF this mystery one
woman knew.