Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1908-12-31

very we'll. and he Knew by just what
play of lights, what common chemical
lliumlnatfonS they gave to the lockers
on the sinister illusion of the decom-
position OF a corpse in its narrow home.
rms 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 NeuillN. The proprietor of the ca
baret had explained it to him. He had
been curious and very keen about it,
and so he followed the crowd into this
ilttie nan to look once more at the
image of man in the coffin. He knew
we'll to what purpose he could put it.
The place was full. Men and women
were standing about. The black walls
made the narrow place look still
smaller. Occasional bizarre pleasant
tries were heard and nervous laughs
rang out. Why is it that. no matter
how skeptical people may be, the idea,
the proximity. the appearance OF decth
give them an impression of unea A.
ness. singular sensation which is
often displayed in nervous laughs or
sepulchral drollerics?
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
1t at his ease. In the shadows which
lurked about them the young mans
face seemed like white spot The Of
ficer's sharp eyes never left it for a
moment.
The manager now asked if some one
would try the experiment. This was to
step into the open cofiin--that box, az
he said from which your friends,
Your neighbors. can see YOU dema-
tcrialize and return to nothingness."
Come, my friends" he continued, in
his ironical tones. this is IA fine thing
f,.in
You deliquesce. Are there any married
people here? 1t 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 Your
wife dccompose? Sacrifice yourselves,
] beg of YOU. Come. come up here.
Death awaits Sou.
They laughed. but here and there a
laugh sounded strident or historical
The laugh did not ring true. but had
the sound of cracked crystal No one
stirred. This parody of death affected
even these hardened spectators.
oh. wen, my friends there is II ca
daver belonging To the establishment
which We can use. 1t is Il pity. You
may readily understand that we do not
take the dead for companions"
AS no one among the spectators
would enter the coffin the manager.
supernumcraries of the cabaret to en-
ter. From an open door the tigurant
glided across the stage and entered the
COFFIN standing upright. The manager
wrapped him about with Il 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 will
soon see him pay for that laugh Rome
rit ct mourut.' as Bassuet said"
Some of the audience shouted APP
plause to this quotation from famous
author. Bernardet did not listen. He
was studying from corner of his eye
his neighbours face. The man gaZed
with sort of fascination at this fan
tastic performance which was talking
place before him. He frowned, he bit
his lips; his eyes We're almost Zero
cious in expression. The tigurant in
the coffin continued to laugh.
lCont,nued Next Week.l