Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-05-09


ab,olnte conndsnce IN the PSfhian.
though be knew nothing about him.
His emotlon when speaking Of the
monster" struck him as sincere;
and, n 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. ~ u
Let COL" said voice.
And he dropped into the arms OF
the Persian,l who told him to lie down
nat closed the trap-door above him
and crouched down beside MIN. kacui
tried to ask question. but the Per
SLAMS hand was on, his mouth and
he heard q voice which he recog-
nized as that OF the commissary OF
police.
Raoul ana the Persian were com
pleteIy hidden behind a wooden par
tition. Near them, a small staircase
led to a little room In which the COM
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 landing
OF the little staircase; the two othera
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.
"SiIence!" whispered the Persian.
He too had seen the bodies and ne
gave one word in explanation:
"He!"
The commissary's voice was now
heard more distinctly. He was ask
ing for information about the system
of lighting, which the stagemanager
supplied The commissary therefore
must be in the organ" or It's imme-
date 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.a 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 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-
ecuted. MaucIair stayed in this box
during all the performances.
But now Mauclair was not In his
box and his assistants not In their
places.
"Mauclair! Mauclair!"
The stage-manager's voice echoed
through the cellars. But Mauclair
did not reply.
have said that door opened on
little staircase that led to the second
cellar. The commissary pushed 1t,
but it resisted.
II say" he said to the stage-man-
ager, Il can't open this door; y 1t
always 90 difiicult?"
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"
TITS the first time. II So" said the
stage-manager.
Then some one has given him
narcotic. That is quite possible"
Mifroid went down few steps and
said:
Look"
BY the light Of a little red lantern,
at the foot OF the stairs. they saw
two other bodies. The stage-manager
recognized Mauclair's assistants.
Mifroid went down and listened to
their breathing
'"rhey are sound asleep" he said.
'sVery 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 q funny
idea to kidnaD q performer ON the
stage! Send for the doctor
OF the theater, please" And Mifroid
repeated. Curious, decidedly curious
business!"