The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-12-24


sion. uneasy ard slightly intense.
struck Bernardet at once, That white
facA. With its black beard, with It's
giea.siDg eyes. was not to be passed
by with a casual glance. The walter
placed a glass OF brandy before hing
he placed his elbows on the table sGsd
leaned his chin upon his hands. Ho
was evidently not a habitue OF the
place nor q resident OF the quarter.
There was something foreign about his
appearance. HIS glance was steady, as
that OF n who searches the horizon.
locks at running water. contemplates
the sea, asking for some good luck
OF the unknown.
1T would be strange thought Ber-
nardet. III a simple hat and no other
ciew should put us upon the track OF
the man for whom we are searching"
At once, with the ingenuity of a
master of dramatic art, the agent be-
gan to plot and TO put into action what
lawyers, pleading and turning and
twisting a cause this way and that,
call an effect. He waited until the
manager Informed them that they were
about to pass into the cave OF death
n gave them, all an invitation into
the adjoining hall: then, profiting by
the general movement. he approached
the unknown, and, almost shoulder TO
n az ~ OEGAAGM AAANA
through a narrow, dark passage to a
little ROOM, where, on a narrow stage,
stood upright an empty coffin.
IL was a doleful} spectacle which the
Cabaret du Squelette (the wineshop Of
the skeleton) offered to its clientele of
Idle loungers and morbid curiosity
seekers attracted to it's halls by these
exhibitions. Bernardet knew 1t all
very well. and he knew ny just what
play OF lights, what common chemical
Nominations they gave to the lockers
on the sinister Illusion of the decom-
position OF a corpse in It's narrow homo.
This phantasmagoria, to which the
people from the boulevard came in or
der TO be amused, he had seen many
times in the little theaters in the fairs
at Neuilly. The proprietor OF the ca
baret had explained IT to him. He had
been curious and very keen about IL,
and so he followed the crowd into this
Image OF a man in the coffin, He knew
woll to, what purpose he could put IL.
The place was full. Men and women
were standing about, The black walls
made the narrow place ook still
smaller. Occasional bizarre pleasan-
tries were heard and laughs
rang out. Why is 1t that, no matter
how skepticai people may be, the idea,
the proximity, the appearanceAof death
! give them an impression Of uneasi-
ness. a singular sensation which is
often displayed in ryo laughs or
sepulchral drolleries?
Bernardet had not left the side Of
the young man with the gray felt hat.
He could see his face distinctly in the
light Of the little hall, and could study
II at his ease. In the shadows which
lurked about them the young mans
face seemed like a white spot. The Of
flcer's sharp eyes Y left II for a
moment.
The manager now asked if some one
would try the experiment. This was to
step into the open cofin-that box, as
he said-'from which your friends,
your neighbors, can see you dema-
~teriaiize and return to nothingness.''
Come, my friends" he continued, in
his ronical tones, this is a fine thing.
II will permit your best friends to see
| you deliQuesce. Are there any married
people here? II is only a question OF
tasting in advance the pleasures of a
widowhood. Would you like to see
your husband disappear, my sister?
My brother, do you wish TO see your
wife decompose? Sacrifice yourselves,
i beg OF you Come, come up here!
Death awaits youi"
They laughed, but here and there a
laugh sounded strident or hysterical.
The laugh did not ring true, but had
the sound OF cracked crystal. No
stirred. This parody of death affected
| even these hardened spectators.
"Oh, well, my friends, there is a ca
daver belonging to the establishment
which we can use. 1t is a pity. You
may readily understand that we do not
take the dead Cor companions"
As no one among the spectators
would enter the coffin the manager,
with a gesture, ordered one OF the
supernumeraries OF the cabaret to en-
ter. From an open door the fgurant
| glided across the stage and entered the
coffin, standing upright. The manager
wrapped him about with a shroud,
leaving only the pale face of the pre-
tended dead man exposed above this
| Wilderness. The man smiled.
He laughs, messieurs, he laughs
still,' said the manager. You win
soon see him pay for that laugh. Rome
rit ct mourut, as Bassuet said"
Some of the audience shouted APP
plaRse TO this quotation from a famous
author. Bernardet did not listen. He
was studying from a corner OF his eye
his neighbours face. The man gazed
with a sort OF fascination at this fam
tastic performance which was taking
place before him. He frowned; he bit
his lips; his Eyes were almost fero-
cious in expression. The figurant in
the coffin continued TO laugh.
tcontlnued ext Weekl