Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-06-20
/ Alive or Dead?'|
The Strange Disappearance OF
{ Gerald Rathbone

BY GUY rHoRNE.

Proctor tucked a towel round hi
clients neck, rubbed some sweet
smelling cream all over his face, ant
turned a switch in the side of the
pedestal.
Immediately an electric motor be
gan to purr inside like great cat
and the masseur brought the machine
in his right hand, which looked no
unlike a telephone receiver, dowr
upon the skin Of the subjects face.
!. What was happening was just this
| A little yulcanic hammer at the enc
OF the machine was vibrating some
six thousand times minute, anc
pounding and kneading the flesh sc
swiftly and silently that Charliewoo(
felt nothing more than faint thrill as
the hammer was guided skillfully over
the pouches beneath the eyes, anC
beat out the flabhiness from the
/ cheeks.
After some five minutes Proctor
switched off the motor and began tc
screw a larger and differently-shapeG
vulcanite instrument to the end of the
hand apparatus.
Mr.. Charliewood lay back in a mo
ment Of intense physical ease. By
means Of the electrodes the recruiting
| force had vibrated gently through the
nerves, new animation had come into
| the blood and tissues of the tired
face, and already that sensation OF
youthful buoyancy which is the surest
indication Of good health was return,
ing to the dissipated mask.
Now, then, SIR" said Proctor, give
screwed on saddle-shaped electrode
and I'll go up and down the spine, if
you please. Kindly stand up"
Once more the motor hunmed, and
Mr.. Charliewood felt an Understandable
thrill OF pleasure as the operator. ap-
piled straight and angular strokes
of the apidly-vibrating instrument up
and down his broad back, infringing
upon the central nerve system Of the
body and filing him with vigor
"By Jove, Proctor" he said, when
the operation was over at last and the
man was brushing his hair and spray
ing bay rum upon his face, "by Jove,
this one of the best things I've ever
struck! In the old days one had to
have small bottle Of Pol Roger about
half-past eleven IL one had been sit
ting up late at cards the night before.
Beastly bad for the liver it was! But
I never go out of this room without
feeling absolutely ht"
"Ah, SIR" said Proctor, sits aston
ishing what the treatment can do, and
it's astonishing what a lot Of gentle
mon come to me every day at all
hours. My appointment book is simp-
ly filled, sir-flled! And no gentle
man need be afraid now of doing ex-
actly as he likes, till what hour he
likes, as long as he is prepared TO
come to me to put him right in the
morning."
After making an appointment for
two days ahead, Mr.. Charliewood
passed out into the ante room once
more. During the time while he had
been massaged another client had en-
tered and was waiting there. lounging
upon sofa and smoking a cigarette.
He was a tall, youngish looking man
of about the same height and build as
Charliewood, light in complexion and
with curly yellow hair. He looked up
lanauidly as Proctor helped Charlie
wood into his fur coat. The first ar
rival hardly noticed him, but babe the
masseur a good day and went out
jauntily into Bond street with nod
and a smile for the pretty girl who sat
behind the counter of the shop.
1t was different person who walk
ed down Bond street toward Piccadil-
ly, Mr.. Charliewood who looked
younger in some indefinite way, who
walked with sprightliness, and over
whose lips played a slight and salts
fed smile.
It was not far down Bond street
now more bright and animated than
ever to Mr.. Charliewood's club in st.
James street, small but we'll known
establishment which had the reputa-
ton Of being more select than it really
was.
Swinging his neatly rolled umbrella
and humming q tune to himself under
his breath, he ran up the steps and
entered. "A porter helped him off
with his overcoat, and he turned into
the smoking room to look at the let
ters which the porter had handed him,
and to get himself in a right frame OF
mind for the important function. OF
lunch.
In a minute or two, with a sherry
and bitters by his side and Parascho
cigarette between his lips, he seemed
the personificatio Of correctness,
good humor and mild enjoyment.
Very little was known about Eus.
tace Charliewood outside his social
life. He lived In chambers in Jarmyn
street. but few people were ever in.
vited there. and It was obvious that
he must use what was actually his
home as very little mora than a place
In which to sleep and take breakfast
He was Of good family, there was no
doubt about that, being member Of
the Norfolk Charliewoods, and sec
ond son Of old Sir Miles arliewood
Of Kings Lynn. Some people said
that Eustace Charliewood was not re,
ceived by his family, that there had
been some quarrel many years before
.E -