Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1912-05-03

Il
His emotion when speaking Of the
monster" struck him as sincere;
and, If the Persian had cherished any
sinister designs against him, he would
not have armed him with his own
hands. Besides, Raoul must reach
Christine at all costs. He therefore
went on his knees also and hung from
the trap with both hands.
Let go!" said a voice.
And he dropped into the arms OF
the Persian, who told him to lie down
fiat, closed the trap-door above him
and crouched down beside him. Raoul
tried to ask q question, but the Per
SLAMS hand was on his mouth and
he heard a voice which he recog-
nized as that OF the commissary of
police.
Raoul and the Persian were COM
pletely hidden behind a wooden par
tition. Near them, small staircase
missary appeared to be walking up
and down, asking questions. The
faint light was just enough to enable
Raoul to distinguish the shape OF
things around him. And he could not
restrain a dull cry: there were three
corpses there.
The first lay on the narrow land1ng
OF the little staircase: the two others
had rolled to the bottom OF the stair.
case Raoul could have touched one
of the two poor wretches by passing
his fingers through the partition.
"Silence!" whispered the Persian.
He too had seen the bodies and he
gave one word in explanation:
"Hew
The commissary's voice was now
heard more distinctly. He was ask
ing for information about the system
Of lighting, which the stage-manager
supplied. The commtssary therefore
must be in the "organ" or Its imme'
diate neighborhood.
Contrary to what one might think.
especially in connection with an op.
era.house. the organ" is not mu-
steal instrument. At that time, cleo
tricity was employed only for very
few scenic effects and for the bells.
The immense building and the stage
itself were still lit by gas; hydrogen
was used to regulate and modify the
lighting of a scene; and this was
done by means of special apparatus
which, because of the multiplicity OF
It's pipes, was known as the organ"
A box beside the prompter's box was
reserved for the chief gas-man, who
from there gave his orders to his as.
sistants and saw that they were ex-
during all the performances.
But now Mauclair was not in his
box and his assistants not In their
places.
"Mauclafr! Mauclair!"
The stage-manager's voice echoed
through the cellars. But Mauclair
did not reply.
have said that door opened on a
little staircase that led to the second
cellar. The commissary pushed it.
but it resisted.
II say" he said to the stage-man-
ager, Il can't open this door; Is 1t
always so difficult"
The stage-manager forced 1t open
with his shoulder. He saw that, at
the same time, he was pushing a hui
man body and he could not keep back
an exclamation. for he recognized
the body at once.
"Mauclair! Poor devil! He is
dead!"
But Mr. Commissary Mifroid. whom
nothing surprised. was STOPPING over
that big body
NO." he said, "he is dead-drunk,
which is not quite the same thing"
Its the first time, If So" said the
stage.manager.
Then some one has given him
narcotic. That is quite possible"
Mifroid went down a few steps and
said:
Look"
BY the light OF little red lantern.
ut the foot OF the stairs. they saw
two other bodies. The stage-manager
recognized Mauc!air's assistants.
Mifroid went down and listened to
their breathing.
'"They are sound asleep" he said.
Every curious business! Some per-
son unknown must have interfered
with the gas-man and his stan {.
and that person unknown was OBJ.
viously working on behalf OF the kid
napper. But what funny
Idea to kidnap a performer on the
stage! Send for the doctor
of the theater please" And Mifroid
repeated, Curious, decidedly curious
business!"
Then he turned to the little room.
addressing the people whom Raoul
and the Persian were unable to see
from where they lay.
what do you say to all this, gen.
tlemen? You are the only ones who
have not given your views. And yet
you must have an opinion OF some
sort"
Thereupon, Raoul and the Persian
saw the startled faces of the Joint
managers appear above the landing
and they heard Moncharmin's excited
voice:
There are things happening here.
EIIZIZNsZf7- sESaI