The Washington herald., 1913-08-03

some time before morning removed
from the frame Turner'S great pic
ture?"
Bridge stood up and walked back
and forth slowly. evading the inter-
ested gaze of the other. He seemed
strangely perturbed- Poe Followed
his every movement, and was on his
guard lest the little artist give way
to violence on finding that his secret
had been surprised.
sit down, Mr.. Bridge" requested
Poe. II want to talk to you min
ute. believe In the short time have
been studying you that you are not
bad man. that your motive in substi-
,tuting the picture which at present
hangs in the Turner Gallery is not the
enc which would generally be accepted
Iif II were known that you hid In the
museum last night. picked door like
La common thief. and made light.
ming change OF canvases-"
| Instead of sitting down. the little
artist came to an abrupt stop before
Poe and looked at him with wide,
lpained eyes.
you guessed my story. then. How
"Wen, said Christopher Poe.
thoughtfully. looking into the others
eyes, Il had a good look at you this
morning: before that / had examined
1.-THE two rooms where you worked last
night, and had formed a sort OF a
theory that the man who went TO
the trouble of doing this thing
secretly had some motive beside gain:
You see, I knew before I saw you that
you were an absent minded, tempera-
mental fellow, from the very fact that
you left your diminishing glass hold
ing up the lid OF the casket in which
you hid TO avoid the usual search OF
the attendant before locking up. A
practiced thief would have done diff
iferently; besides. a professional would
not have been carrying a diminishing
glass.
Then when I had a look at you I
knew that you couldn't do anything
criminal You don't come up to the
specifications Of criminology. Your eyes
are too honest. you have gentle,
philosophic dreamer's look"
As he spoke the artists eyes became
dim with tears: he reached out long
slender hand faiteringly toward Poe
How did you guess it, he cried
You see. knew Spoods." said Poe.
when the Metropolitan bought that
picture FIVE years ago I was in great
doubt as TO its being genuine. but did
not have time to investigate the thing
thoroughly. All that I found out was
that you were making copies OF master
} pieces for Spoods at that time. did not
believe that you or any ordinary painter
was equal to the task Of reproducing a
Turner But you did IL. and I want to
congratulate you on deceiving the whole
art public for the five years that your
copy OF Turner has hung in the Metro
politan and has beef passed upon by
competent critics as very wonderful
work Of art"
Z Bridge sat as though he were supplied
at having his secret surprised. How
long have you known that the picture
hanging in the Metropolitan Is not the
original?'
Il have Just found out this minute"
exclaimed the detective. This is a very
unusual case. I am glad TO find. Mr..
Bridge. that you ever managed to pro-
cure the original Turner which you sub
stituted for your imitation last Might?
II must have cost you great deal OF
money"
1T did" answered the artist "But
II was we'll worth it. My professional
pride. although fattered. by having my
feeble attempt accepted as the work OF a
ma ster, would not let me continue the
deceit. Spoods paid me 500 for that
picture and he got about $4,000 for II
from the Metropolitan. At that time
actually needed the money, and since
then have lived and worked TO scrape
nal
You see the original has always been
in the possession of an old lady living
right here in New York with whom
became acquainted with through Spoods.
None but he knew of the original and
} she being very eccentric did not wish
anybody to know that she had it. But
she allowed me, under the guise Of an
arr student, TO reproduce II for Spoods.
tin,ta n rfa rro
! with her and finally she agreed TO sell
me the original for 10000. / painted
portraits did magazine illustrating, and
actually went without food to buy II
back Only last week I managed to Set
it. and last night I replaced II in the
museum where IL belongs.
And your copy which has hung so long
in the Metropolitan" asked Poe. Where
is that" What are YOU going TO do
with it,"
''Oh, / shall burn It up. I don't suppose
have more than five or six years of
life left and I will spend that time maxi
, ing enough money to pay on what
still owe this woman for the original
Turner
Then you haven't entirely paid for
The Morning Mist'?" asked Poe.
mo, / have 5000 still to pay. But II
is worth it." A misty, far away look in
the old artists eyes aroused Poe.
He extended his hand, saying. "Will
you sell me that copy you made? l
would just as lief have that as the origi-
nal. Come. what's your price,"
"Oh. 1 wouldn't sell it! I would only
be continuing the work of deception
which decided to stop forever five long
years ago." he said, with a tremble in
! his voice.
"I'n give you $4,000 for It" said
Christopher Poe. taking a neat little
check book from his pocket and holding
his fountain pen ready for the artists
acceptance.
But it isn't worth it," cried the old
artist TREMENDOUSLY.
| Possibly not. but your struggle should
be recognized. With the $1,000 you can
pay the last installment on the original
and have left enough to go abroad for a
year or two to study. Possibly now that
your ideals are reformed you will be
able to do some great original work for
yourself"
Christopher Poe filled out the check and
placed II in the protesting hand Of the
artist. Bridge silently stepped to a corn,
er of the room and drew out a canvas.
his copy OF the Turner. and gave 1t to
Poe without a word.
The banker-detective. with a smile OF
satisfaction on his lips, clasped the
artists hand firmly and made his way
through the dim hall down the stairs
THE END.
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