The Washington times., 1908-06-21
CHAPTER I.
DEATHS lev and.

sauuteIeu through central Park into
upper Fifth avenue, bound 10 a aer-
tain club, 10 secure, If he coul.. an
interview With Acton Clough uer ew
of John B. Clough, the mu.'i-muaoa-
aire retired railroad presideI and fl
nancier.
Young Ciough had recently come
from Paris to NeM York. and had
at once assumed prominence IN the
artistic and fashionable circles OF So
ciety. tAis strange picture. entitled
The Snake. Do had only few days
before been put Oh exhibition In a
Fltth avenue gallery, and d, once
young Cl0ugh had found himself en-
yeloped in an widening alnas-
pnere OF public curiosity. JlsapprayaI.
and interest that approached Tie point
OF notoriety.
Reproductions Of the fantastic
picture appeared in all the news
papers. A few estheuc critics
SCARED into paeaus of deligL over
what they termed the origl-
HalJy, power, and artistic beauty of
the work but, on the other hand. edi-
t0rial writer's. clergymen. teachers,
ana other guides and Instructors of
The public were unanimous IN CON
demuing the picture and tbe artist
Horrible and morbid. they termed
the canvas. Misguided and misIak-
en. were the miIdesy words of re-
Droach for the artist. And of course.
Ac-Cn Coughs standing in society.
las relationship 20 the multimlln0n-
alrs. and his own personal fads and
p supported with Ais singular
cathes from Paris-added strongly To
Tne interest stirred by his picture, ana
caused all the newspapers TO devote
-JlImns TO him and it,
And just when the nine days won
iar caused 10y the exhibition OF The
Snake. was dying away. a rumOr
coming from some unknown source,
spraug up and rapidly spread that
back of the picture and explaining its
s-u5ularity, was a personal experience
%. the artist
IL was Billy Fosters mission TO try
% set from Acton Clough the real
truth of this TumOT And as he walk
"a along he was thinking Of the
strange picture, and OF the strange
young artist who had painted It. ana
arranging in his mind the methods ne
should use i8 the endeavOT 10 get
CloIgh 10 talk on the subject of what
had inspired him TO set upon canvas
with such perverted genius = work
oil such CHASTITY and oppressive nor
ror.
Lifting his eyes, keenIy sparkling
behind spectacIes, Foster smiled. and
said half aloud. our friend Acton
Is certainly a queer young bird TO be
latched IN the grim nest of gruh OLD
john b CIOugn. yonder."
The reporter was opposite tie great
stone NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ard stern
As d fortress, unosteulat.3u and
simple OF appearance, and as strong
and as stark as its owueT-where tho
old millionaire. John b. CloLgh. lived
his lonely life.
" was then about 9 o'clock, and
or This portion OF the avenue there
was an air OF peace ana rest, as 81
mere the life OF the day was stiil ia
au=yance. however loudly and tuTI-
o-sly it might DO steamins and pulls
us through the other arteries or the
civic body a few motor cars ana
carriages glidsd along Through q
few windows White-cap3ed maids
could be seen 81 work. Otherwise the
scene was sJlu, s0mu0ieHt.
And rheu there was thrown, by fate
through -he agency OF a screaming
maid servant the bomb which vio-
,eutly shattered the peace OF the lord
ly street OF The rich and plunged fl
into excitement, horror, and the gloom
of mystery.
"Oh. my God He's dead-master IS
dead sLrielzeI "a piercing voice from
a window on the second story Of the
Cough mansion. a young woman
servant had thrown up a window and
vas frauucaIIy screaming, her arms
waving Wildly. Help, help me- Pa-.
Heel Oh. f. is murder-murierl"
Following her cries. excited life
stirred in the stately house. The
street door was thrown omen. and TWO
men in livery dashed down the Sregs
and along the street The maid was
uIurIza1 hack from the window hv "a
tan old man. whom Foster. nou rum
ninr I'D The house. knew To he the
byrIar He heard voices screaming
and bswlfne out excited orders as he
raced ND the steps and into the house.
and. without stopping, up TO the sec
0nd door.
As he entered into the room from
which the servant had screamed. he
stopped short, awed by the sight Ac-
cusJomed as he was TO scenes Of
crime and yf0InnrF-fOr he was q re