Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-06-06

Iuuuy uOubCg bh 49, "AN
like that in 1T"
yes. it's like the MuBee Grevin.
But, say, Erik there
are mo- tortures in therel What
n fright you gave mel"
why as there 10 NO one
there7'
did you design that roomT It's
very handsome. You're great artist
Erik"
yes, a great artist. in my own
line."'
"But tell me, Erik. why did you call
that room the torturechamberY
"Oh, It's very simple. First OF all,
what did you seer
Il saw. q forest"
"And what is In q forest4"
Trees"
"And what is in tree?"
Birds"
did you see any birds?"
mo. / did not see any birds"
well, what did you see? Think
You saw branches! And what are
the branches?" asked the terrible
voice. There's a gibbet. That ID
why I call my wood the torture cham
Der! You see, it's all a joke.
] never express myself like other peo-
pie. But / am very tired OF it!
I'm sick and tired OF having forest
and torture-chamber in my house
and of living like a mountebank, In
house with a false bottom!
I'm tired Of it! want to have nice,
quiet fiat, with ordinary doors and
windows and a wife inside 1t, IKE
anybody else! A wife whom l could
love and take out on Sundays and
keep amused on weekdays. ~.
Here, shall l show you some card
tricks? That will help US to pass a
few minutes, while waiting for eleven
o'clock tomorrow evening. MY
dear little Christine! Are you
listening to me? Tell me
you love me! No, you don't
love me 81. but no NATTER you
will! ~. Once, you could not
look at my mask because you knew
what was behind. ~. And now
you don't mind looking at 1t and you
forget what is behind! -. One
can get used to everything II
one wishes. Plenty OF young
people who did not care for each
other before marriage have Rdored
each other since! On, / don't know
what l am talking about! But you
would have lots OF fun with me. For
instance, am the greatest yentrito-
Quist that ever lived, am the first
ventTiloquist in the world! 4, A..
You're laughing. 4. Perhaps you
don't believe me? Listen" E
The wretch, who really was the
first ventriloquist in the world, was
only trying to divert, the child's At-
tention from the torture-chamber; hut
1t was stupid scheme, for Christine
thought OF nothing but us! She re-
peatedly besought him, in the gentIest
tones which she could assume:
Put out the light in the little win
dow! Erik, do put out the
light in the little window.
For she saw that this light. which
appeared so suddenly and Of which
the monster had spoken in so threat
ening voice, must mean something
terrible. One thing must have pact
Ned her for q moment; and that was
seeing the two OF us behind the waIl.
In the midst of that respondent light.
alive and well. But she would GER
tainly have felt much easier If the
light had been put out.
Meantime, the other had already be-
gun to play the ventriloQuist. he
said:
Here. raise my mask little.
Oh, only a little! You
see my lips, such lips as / havef
They're not moving! MY
mouth lie closed-such mouth as ]
have-and yet you hear my voice.
Where will you have It? In
your left ear? In your right ear? In
the table? Listen, dear. MS
III the little box on the right Of the
nlantelpiece: what does It say7 Shall
III turn the seoFpiDny And
now, crack What does it say In the
little box on the left? shall l turn
the grasshopperr .. And now.
crackls Here g. Il n the littleg leather
hag, :. .ss What Aeeu e, say. Ham
the little beg Of life and deathii /.
And now, crack! II q "a Carlotta'e
throat, ID Cafiotta's golden throat, In
CarIotta's crystal throat, ss 1 Iivef
What does 1t say? 1t says. It's /.
Mr.. Toad, It's singing! l feel with.
out alarm-co-ack-with its melody
enwind me = co-ack!" And
now, crack II il On chair In the
ghosts box and II says. Madame Car
Iotta Is singing tonight to bring the
chandelier doWnh 49, And now,
crack! Ahal Where Is Erik's voice
now2 Listen. Christine, tarliugl
Listen! Il Is behind the door OF TIE
forture-chamhar! ListenI It'a NV.