The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-12-24

struck Bernardet at once. THAT white
facA. with it's black beard, with its
clearing eyes. was not TO be passed
placed a glass of brandy before hinea;;
he placed his elbows ON the table nd
leaned his CHR upon his hands. He
was evidently not a habitue of the
place nor a resident of the quarter.
There was something foreign about his
appearance His glance was steady. as
hat of one who searches the horizon,
looks at running water, contemplates
the sea, asking for some good luck"
of the unknown.
1T would be strange thought Ber-
nardet. "if a simple hat and no other
clew should put us upon the track of
the man for whom We are searching"
At once, with the ingenuity of a
gan to plot and to put into action wha
LAWYERS. pleading and turning and
twisting a cause this way and that,
call an effect. He waited until the
manager informed them that they We're
about to pass into the cave of death
and CAV them all an Invitation into
h adjoining hall; then, profiting by
the general movement, he approached
the unknown. and, almost shoulder to
shoulder, he walke along beside him.
little room. where. on a narrow stage.
stood upright an empty coffin.
1t vas a doleful spectacle which the
Cabaret du Squelette Cthe wineshop of
the skeleton) offered to its clientele of
die loungcrs and morbid curiosity
ecker attracted to it's halls by these
exhibitions. Bernardct knew it all
Very we'll, and he knew ny Just what
play of lights. what omrnon chemical
Examinations they gave to the lockers
on the sinister illusion of the decom-
position OF a corpse in its. marrow. home.
This phantasmagoria, to which the
people from the boulevard came in or
der to be amused, he had seen MANY
ut Neuilly. The proprietor of the ca
barct had explained it to him. He had
been curious and Very keen about it,
and SO he ollowed the crowd into his
little holl TO look once mora at the
Image of a man in the coffin. He knew
well to what purpose he could put it.
The place was full. Men and women
were standing about. The black wallis
made the narrow place look still
smaller. Occasional bizarre pleasant
tries were heard and nervous laughs
ranS out. Why is it that, no matter
how skcptical people may be, the idea,
n proximity. the appearance of death
give them an Impression of uneasi-
ness, a singular sensation which is
often displayed in nervous laughs or
sepulchral drolieries?
Bcrnardet 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 Nall. and could study
it ut his ease. In the shadows which
lurked about them the young mans
face seemed like a white spot. The Of
f!cer'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 coffin-that box, as
he said--'frcm which Your friends,
your %neighbors, can see you dema-
terialize and return to nothingness."
Come. my friends" he continued. in
his %ironical tones. this is a fine thing.
1t will permit your best friends to see
you d%eliquescc. Arc there any married
people here? 1t is only a question of
tasting In advance the pleasures of a
wldowhood. Would you like to see
your husband disappear. my sister?
My brother, do you wish to see your
Wife decomposc? Sacrilce yourselves.
] beg OF YOU. Come, come up here!
They laughed, but here and there a
laugh sounded strident or hysterical.
The laugh did not ring true, but had
the sound of cracked crystal. No one
stirred. This parody of death affected
| ven these hardened spectators.
oh, we'll, my friends. there is a ca
daNer belonging to the establishment
which we a use. 1t is a pity. You
ma readily understand that we do not
take the dead for companions"
$50 -
| WOULD enter the coffin the anage
! with a gesture. ordered one of the
supernumeraries of the cabaret to en-
ter. From an open door the figurant
giided across the stage and entered the
coffin, standing upright. The manager
wrapped him about with a shroud.
leaving, only the pale face of the pre-
tended lead 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
rt ct mourut.' as Bassuet said"
Some of the audience shouted ap-
plause to this quotation from a famous
author. Bernardet did not listen. He
was studying from a corner OF his eye
his neighbor's face. The man gazed
with a sort of fascination at this fan
tastic performance which was taking
place before him. He frowned; he bit
his lips; his eyes were almost fero-
cious in expression. The tigurant in
the coffin continued to laugh.
CONTINUED Next Weekly
Turn About.
j. Barton King. the famous Phila-
dclph;a cricketer, at a dinner, described