Abilene weekly reflector., 1912-06-27

ancredulous, commonplace, superficial
sort Of person Il write as think,
with q mind utterly unprepared to re-
Eaure took down the daroga's deposi'
lions and proceeded to treat him a. Q
/, madman.
Despairing of ever obtaining hear.
ing, the Persian sat down to write.
A the police did not want his evi-
dence, perhaps the press would be
glad Of It; and he had just written
the last line Of the narrative ! have
quoted in the preceding chapters,
when Darius announced the visit OF
stranger who refused his name, who
would not show his face and declared
simply that he did not intend to leave
the place until he had spoken to the
daroga.
The Persian at once felt who his
singular visitor was and ordered him
TO be- shown in. The daroga was
right It was the ghost, It was ErikI
He looked extremely weak and
leaned against the wall, as though he
were afraid OF falling. Taking on his
hat, he revealed a forehead white as
wax. The rest of the horrible face
was hidden by the mask.
The Persian rose to his feet as Erik
entered.
Murderer of Count Philippe, what
have you done with his brother and
Christine Daae?"
Erik staggered under this direct at
tack, kept silent for a moment,
dragged himself to chair and heaved
q deep sigh. Then, speaking in short
phrases and gasping for breath be-
EWeen the words:
"Daroga, don't talk TO me :.
about Count Philippe. He
was dead by the time :.
4 left my house he was dead
when the siren sang.
/. It was an accident
sad very sad
-. accident. He fell very awk-
Wardly :. but simply and nat
wrally into the lake! -"
'You Me!" shouted the Persian.
Erik bowed his head and said:
Il have not come here to
SAlk about Count Philippe but
% tell you that am going
Where are Raoul de Chagny and
Christine Daae?"
II am going to die. :"
~Raoul de chagny and Christine
Daae?"
''Of love daroga i
4 am dying Of love. Il
That is how It IL. loved her
70! And love her still y
Maroga -. and / am dying OF
AOve for her, tell you! |
II you knew how beautiful she
was when she let me kiss
Aer alive. 1t was the
Mrst time, daroga, the first
-. time ever kissed woman.
Yes, alive. ~ kissed
her alive and she looked as
beautiful as II she had been dead!"
The Persian shook Erik by the arm.
''Will you tell me II she is alive or
Asad9"
why do you shake me like thatY'
asked Erik, making an effort to speak
more connectedly. Il tell you that /
nm going to die. Yes, kissed
Aer alive :"
~And now she is dead?"
Il tell you kissed her just like
shat, on her forehead and
nhe did not draw back her forehead
4roEn my lipsi Oh. she is a
good grill :. AS to, her being
dead, don't think so; but 1t has moth.
ang to do with me. No, no,
she is not dead! And no one shall
touch a hair of her head! She Is a
good. honest girl, and she saved your
l1lfe, daroga, at moment when |
would not have given twopence for
your Persian skin. As q matter OF
aact, nobody bothered about you. Why
Were you there with that little chapY
You would have died as well az hel
MY word. how she entreated me Tor
Aar little chap! But I told her that.
- she had turned the scorpion, she
nad. through that very fact, and Of
aAaf own free Will become engaged 70
1nS and that me ala not need to have
ewo men spgsgsd to hsr. which vas
true enough.
"As Tor you. you did not exist. YOU
AAd ceased 20 exist. / tell you. and
goa were eoing to die With tha btheFi
!. Oniv, marx ne. earosh. shan
yDu we're eelllne mo he dSyfI..-se
cause o. the nakeFs Ca|flatines nsss.
40 NE With hnf h0atlffF,f kira ..s,ls