Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-02-20

terribly interwoven-of a man who tri-
umphed so gloriously over tremendous
odds that his final tragedy seems CON-
p%aratively trivial. The intense, bewilder.
sequence of events I record, not as a man of sci
e and medicine reporting phenomena before his
ETY., but as a student of humanity.
me night last year, in early December, IL l recall
rectly. I was reading in my study in the old house
University Place. where | have lived for twenty.
years. 1t was some time after midnight, and the
etness of the tomb lay over all that part of the
was Just In the act of turning n page when the
nee was broken by a terrible cry, long, shrill,
bnized and very human, though there was a sug-
ton Of something horribly bcstial in it. 1t rose
Rrply, then fell, ending in a moan and leaving my
brt standing still while the perspiration started
m my palms and my brow. Cold horror spread
WHY throughout my entire being.
here was no n1lstakiug the location whence It
ne-the low, rcd brick house directly opposite. |
to the window just in time to see by the light of
street lamp what was apparently the head and
builders OF a man in the lower window of the house.
he head was bald, the face was beardless and
|ribly contortod. while the arms were tossing wild.
In the air. Just then from the darkoned room be.
id came sonlo heavy missile that struck the head
Z, crashing on through the glass, fell into tho
Get. Instantly the face was gone; there was only
black hole in the pane. Nothing more was to be
bird, nothing moro was to be seen.
was like some period In n dreadful nightmare.
|r a moment I sat frozen in my place. There was,
|wever. a great stir in the room Of Mrs. Kcppler.
! old housekcopeg. Her chamber was directly over
hd, and very soon she cam Gathering excitedly
|wn the stairs, I was endeavoring to rcassuro her
ben the crunch Of footsteps sounded on the broken
Rss lying in front Of the other house and l saw a
N ioop,op oroio oc,occ Inv. m r1nIirg inrririac
ID attracted by the light in my windows.
with the aged houseteeper, c~linging TREMENDOUSLY
my c~oat-tails, refusing to be left in the place alone,
hurried across the street with the officer. Briefly,
told him all l knew of the place, that it was owned
an old German secondhand furniture dealer,
Peter Hahn. who lived in the tenement alone,
out the first floor to dodgers and used the two
|per floors for storing such furniture as he could
t get into his little sales place.
front door opened at once as the officer turned
K knob. Old Peter had slid the bolts and was stand
K in the dingy hall, shivering in his night clothes.
irving to shield the Pickering fame Of a candle
pm the blast that swept in the open portal.
Here, what's all this noise about" demanded the
sharply.
.Ach, it should be nothing. but it Is In there
nispered Peter, pointing to the parlor door. I'VE
all see, we shall see"
said /.
Within there sounded a shrill, petulant, whining
ice and a heavy, voluminous one. They were talk
z in subdued tones, using what seemed to me to
Chinese. certainly some Oriental tongue, and they
ere engaged in a most bitter and angry debate.
GO ahead and knock" said the officer.
Hahn raped thrice and there was the sharp crackle
q match inside. then a moments silence.
Mr.. Kelensen! Mr.. Kelsenen."
are you there, Peter? Just q moment" an
cred the deep voice In velvety tones.
A glance down the hall showed me that the door
which we stood was the sole means Of entrance
the suite on the floor, except by another door in
e rear, which was effectually blocked. however, by
heap Of heavy old furniture in the rear hall piled
ainst it.
lock clicked and the door swung wide, reveal
g a splendid black bearded man of some breadth
d stature, wrapped around in a long red-tufted
essing-gown with a tasselled cord about his middle.
his hand he bore a book with his fingers marking
page and he was peacefully smoking a d~eep-bowled
en-. Pray come In" said he, surveying our party