Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1912-05-10
opera after carefully replacing the

opera after carefully replacing the
stone.
continued to be greatly interested
In the relations between Erik and
Christine Daae, not from any morbid
curiosity, but because of the terrible
thought which obsessed my mind that
Erik was capable Of anything, II he
once discovered that he was not loved
for his own sake, as he imagined. l
continued to wander, very cautiously,
about the opera and soon learned the
truth about the monsters dreary love
affair
He filled Christines mind, through
the terror with which he inspired her.
but the dear child's heart belonged
wholly to the Vicomte Raoul de Chag-
ny. While they played about, like an
innocent engaged couple, on the up
per floors of the opera, to avoid the
monster, they little suspected that
some one was watching over them. I
was prepared to do anything; to kill
the monster, If necessary, and ex-
plain to the police afterward. But
Erik did not show himself; and felt
none the more comfortable for that.
must explain my whole plan. l
thought that the monster, being driven
from his house by jealousy. would
thus enable me to enter it, without
danger, through the passage in the
third cellar. 1t was important, for
everybody's sake, that | should know
exactly what was inside. One day.
tired of waiting for an opportunity.
moved the stone and at once heard
an astounding music: the monster
was working at his Don Juan Tri-
umphant. with every door in his
house wide open. I knew that this
was the work of his life. was care
full not to stir and remained pru-
IDENTIFY in my dark hole.
He stopped playing, for moment.
and began walking about his place,
like a mailman. And he said aloud.
at the top of his voice:
ut must be finished hrstl Quite
finished"
This speech was not calculated to
reassure me and, when the music
recommended, closed the stone very
softly
On the day of the abduction Of
Christine Daae, I did not come to the
theater until rather late In the eve
ming, trembling lest I should hear
bad news. l had spent horrible day.
for, after reading in a morning paper
the announcement of forthcoming
marriage between Christine and the
Vicomte de Chagny, ! wondered
whether, after all, should not do
better and denounce the monster. But
reason returned to me. and l was
persuaded that this action could only
precipitate possible catastrophe.
When my cab set me down before
the opera, I was really almost as
tonished to see it still standing! But
am something of fatalist, like all
good Orientals, and entered ready
for anything.
Christine Daae's abduction in the
Prison Act, which naturally surprised
everybody, found me prepared. I was
quite certain that she had been Jug
gled away by Erik. that prince OF
conjurors. And I thought positively
that this was the end Of Christine
and perhaps of everybody, so much
so that thought of advising all these
people who were staying on at the
theater to make good their escape.
felt, however, that they would be sure
to look upon me as mad and I re-
Trained.
On the other hand. resolved to act
without further delay, as far as
was concerned. The chances were in
nv favor that Erik, at that moment,
was thinking only of his captive. This
was the moment to enter his house.
through the third cellar; and re-
solved to take with me that poor lit.
tie desperate viscount. who. at the
first suggestion. accepted, with an
amount of confidence in myself that
touched me profoundly. had sent
my servant for my pistols. gave one
to the viscount and advised him to
hold himself ready to fire. for, after
all, Erik might be waiting for us be-
hind the wall. We were to 60 by the
Communists road and through the
trap-door.
Seeing my pistols, the little WIS.,
count asked me II we were going to
fight duel. I said:
Eyes: and what a duel!"
But, of course, had no time to ex-
plain anything to him. The little Wis.,
count is brave fellow. but he knew
hardly anything about his adversary:
and It was so much the better. My
great fear was that he was already
somewhere near US, preparing the
Punjab lasso. No one knows better
than he how to throw the Punjab
lasso, for he Is the king Of strangers
even as he is the prince of conjurors.
When he had finished making the lit
tie sultana laugh. at the time OF the
"rosy hours Of Mazenderan," she her
self used to ask him to amuse her
by giving her thrill. 1t was then
that he introduced the sport of the
Punjab lasso.
He had lived In India and acquired
an Incredible skill in the art OF
strangulation. He would make them
lock him into a courtyard to which
they brought warrtor-usually,
man condemned to death-armed with
a long pike and broadsword. Erik
had only his lasso; and 1t was al
ways just when the warrior thought
that he was going to fell Erik with
tremendous blow that we heard the
oil
a turn of the wrist, Erik frightened