Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-02-02
Copyright, 1907, By Thomas H. Mckee.

- HIS is a story of impotence and power
terribly interwoven-of a man who tri-
umphed goriously over tremendous
odds that his final tragedy
parativey trivial The intense bewilder-
ing sequence of events record not as a man of sci
ence and medicine reporting phenomena before his
society but as a student of humanity.
one night last year in early December II recall
correctly l reading in my study in the old house
in University Place. where I have lived for twenty
five years. 1t was time after midnight and the
ouietness of the tomb lay all that part of the
city.
was just In the act of turning page when the
silence broken by terrible cry long, shrill,
agonized and very human Though there was a sug-
geston of something horribly bestia in 1t. It.
sharply. then fell, ending in and leaving my
heart standing still while the perspration started
from my palms and my brow. Cold horror spread
slowly throughout my entire being.
There no initiating the location whence 1t
came-the low, red brick house directly opposite,
ran to the window just in time to by the light OF
the street lamp what apparently the head and
shoulders of man in the lower window of the house
The head bald, the face beardless and
terribly contorted, while the arms were tossing wild
" in the air. Just then from the darkened be-
hind heavy missile that struck the head
and, crashing through the glass, fell into the
street Instantly the face gone; there was only
the black hole in the pane. Nothing was to be
heard nothing was to be seen.
1t was like some period in dreadful nightmare.
For moment I sat frozen in my place. There was,
however a great stir in the of Mrs .Keppier'
my old housekeeper Her chamber directly over
head and very she Gathering exctedly
down the stairs. l endeavoring to reassure her
the crunch of footsteps sounded on the broken
glass lying in front Of the other house and saw
policeman coming across. bent on making Inquiries
+haI ;ohf in vuuind 0WS
With the aged housekeeper, clinging TREMENDOUSLY
to my coatais refusing to be left in the place alone
hurried across the street with the officer Briefly,
told him all knew of the place, that It was owned
named Peter Hahn who lived in the tenement alone,
let out the first floor to dodgers and used the TWO
upper floors for storing such furniture as ne couio
not get into his little sales place. .
the knob Old Peter had slid the bolts and was stand
ing in the dingy hail. shiverng In his night ciotnes
striving to shield the pickering fame OF candle
from the blast that swept in the open portal
Here s>a this noise about7" demanded the
"Ach it should be nothing, but it is in there. ="
whispered Peter, pointing to the parior door we
shall see, we shall see
Within there sounded shrill, petulant whining
ing in subdued tones. using what seemed to me to
he Chinese certainly Oriental tongue, and they
were engaged inea most bitter and angry debate.
GO ahead and knock said the officer
Hahn raped thrice and there the sharp orankls
Of match inside. then moments silence
mfr Kelensen! Mr.. Kelsenen.
ooh are you there, Peter? Just moment an
swered the deep voice in velvety tones.
glance down the hall showed me that the door
before which we stood the sole means OF entrance
to the suite on the floor except by another door In
the rear which was effectuay blocked, however, by
bean of heavy old furniture in the rear hall piled
against 1t.
THE lock clicked and the door swung wide. reveal
ing splendid baek-bearded man OF some breadth
and stature wrapped around in long redtufted
dressiag-gown with tasssed cord about his middle
In his hand he bore book with his fingers marking
a mage and he was peacefully smoking a deepbowled
pipe. , .,.
men. Pray come in said he. surveying our parry