The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-01-26
Copyrioht. 1907, By Thomas H. Mckee,

""HIS is a story OF impotence and power
terribly nterwoven-of man who tri-
umphed 50 gloriously over tremen dous
- odds that his final tragedy seems com
raratiyely trivial. The intense bewilder-
ing sequence Of events record not man of sci
and medicine reporting phenomena before his
society, but student of humanity.
One night last year in early December II I recall
correctly. reading in my study in the old house
in University Place where have lived for twenty
five years 1t time after midnight. and the
quietness of the tomb lay all that part of the
city.
| was just in the act Of turning a page when the
silence was broken by a terrible cry, long, shrll
ngonized and very human, thCggh there was a sug
gestion Of something horribly bestia in it. 1t rose
sharply, then fell, ending in and leaving my
heart standing still while the pcrspiration started
from my palms and my brow Cold horror spread
slowly throughout my entire being,
There mining the location whence it
camc-the low, red brick house directly opposite.
to the window just in time to by the light Of
the street lamp what apparently the head and
shoulders of in the lower window Of the house
The head bald the face was beardle8s and
terribly contorted. while the tossing wild
y in the air. Just then from the darkened room be
hind heavy missile that struck the head
and. crashing on through the glass. fell into the
street Instantly the face gone; there only
the black hole in the pane. Nothing was to be
heard nothing to be
1t like period in dreadful nightmare.
For moment | sat frozen in my place. There was.
however, great stir in the room Of Mrs. Keppler,
my old housekeeper. Her chamber directly over
head, and very she Gathering excitedy
down the stairs. cndeavoring to reassure her
when the crunch of footsteps sounded the broken
glass lying in front of the other house and saw
policeman coming across, bent making inquiries
and attracted by the light in my windows.
With the aged housekeeper, clinging TREMENDOUSLY
to my ccatais refusing to be left in the place alone
! hurried across the with the officer. Briefly
told him all knew OF the place, that it was owned
by old German second hand furniture dealer
rarned Peter Hahn who lived in the tenement alone
let the first floor to dodgers and used the two
upper floors for storing such furniture as he could
not get into his little sales place.
The front door opened at the officer turned
the knob. Old Peter had slid the bolts and was stand
ing in the dngy hall shivering In his night clothes
surviving shield the hickerng fam ~ a candle
from the blast that swept In the oper
Here, what's all this noise about 1ded the
Cheer sharply.
"Ach it should be nothing. but it is in there"
whispered Peter, pointing to the parlor door, We
hall see we shall see
"Listen." said /.
Within there sounded shrill, petuIant whining
dice and heavy. volumnous one. They were talk
ing In subdued tones. using what seemed to me to
he Chinese certainly Oriental tongue. and they
were engaged in most bitter and angry debate
Go ahead and knock, said the officer.
Hahn rapped thrice and there was the sharp cracke
of match inside then moments silence
Mr.. Keensen! Mr. Kesenen'
oh. you there, Peter? Just moment, an
severed the deep voice in velvety tones
A glance down the hall showed me that the door
afore which stood was the sole means Of entrance
10 the suite the floor, except by another door in
the rear which effectually blocked, however by
heap Of heavy old furniture in the rear hall piled
against IT,
The lock clicked and the door swung wide, reveal
ing a splendid blacl;-bearded OF some breadth
md stature, wrapped around in a long red-tufted
dressing with tasseled cord about his middle
In his hand he bore book with his fingers marking
page and he was peacefully smoking deep-bowled
pipe
Good evening rather good morning, gentle
men Pray in" said he, surveying party