The Washington herald., 1913-06-22

way, which he took as far as City Hall
Square. On emerging from the sub
way station he started across for the
Dispatch Office as fast as he could walk.
BY the entrance to the City Hall, how
ever, he came to an abrupt halt. From
the open doorway rushed his friend,
Ofhcer Burns, of the City Hall Sta
ton.
The policeman's face was chalky
white; his eyes were staring, his cap
was over one side, he staggered I'M
certainly. As he caught sight of OAR
row he stumbled to the young man
and chung to his neck, muttering in
coherently. People passing in and out
looked at him curiously and smiled.
My Godr gasped Burns. his ewes
rowing. Il says to him, Mike, I don't
wonder you've got cold feet And
there he was, and the Mayor-Heaven
saye-and his secretaryI NV CodP
barrow shook his shoulder.
Here, he said decisively. what are
you talking about? Get yourself to-
gether! Remember you're an officer;
don't lose your nerve this wayt"
At the touch to his pride Burns did
pull himself together somewhat, but
went on under evident strong excite
ment.
81 went in just now to the Mayors
othce minute" said he. "and saw my
friend Mike Mallory. the doorkeeper,
settin in his chair, as usual. 1t was
cold-like, and | went up to him and
says, Mike, no wonder you got cold
feet down here just by way of a Joke;
and when he didn't answer, went up
to him, and he was dead, there in his
chair!'
We'll, you've seen dead men before.
There's no occasion to lose your nerve,
even If you did know him. said Oar
row.
The brutality of the speech had its
intended effect Burns Strengthened.
That's all very we'll" said he more
collectively. Bat the man 1rus fro-eP
FIozen! muttered barrow, and
whistled.
Yes, and what's more, his little dog.
setting by the chair, was froze, too;
so when l stepped back sudden and hit
against him, he tumbled over bang,
like a cast,iron dog! That got my
goatl | ramp
Come with me-" ordered Darrow
decisively.
They entered the building and ran I'D
the single flight of stairs to the second
story room which the Mayor of thar
term had fitted up as a sort of private
ofhce OF his own. A sharp chill hung
IN the Railways; this increased as thew
neared the executives Office. Outside
the door sat the doorkeeper in his arm
chair. Beside him was a dog, in the
attitude of an animal seated on its
launches, but lying on its side, one fore
leg sticking straight out. Darrow
touched the man and stopped over to
peer in his face. The attitude was most
llielike; the color was good. A deadly
chill ran from Darrow's finger tips up
his arm.
He pushed open the door cautiously
and looked in.
"All right, Burns" said he. The
atmosphere has become gaseous again.
We can go In" With which strange
remark he entered the room, followed
closely, but uncertainty by the officer.
The private Office possessed the at
mosphere of cold-storage vault. -Four
men occupied it. At the desk was
seated the Mayor, leaning forward in
an attitude of attention, his triple chin
on one clenched fist, his heavy face
scowling in concentration. Opposite
him lounged two men, one leaning
against the table. the other against the
wall. One had his head raised in argu-
ment, and his mouth open. The other
was watching, an expression of alert
ness on his sharp countenance AT a
typewriter lolled the clerk, his hand
tumbling among some papers.
The group was exceedingly lifelike.
more so, barrow thought, than any
wax figures the Eden Musee had ever
placed for the mystihcation of its coun-
try visitors. Indeed, the only indica-
ton that the men had not merely sus-
pended action on the entrance of the
visitors was fine white rhine frost that
sparkled across the burly countenance
of the mayor. barrow remembered
that, summer and winter, that dignitary
had always perspired!
Burns stood by the door, rooted to
the spot, his jaw dropped, his eye
staring. Darrow quite calmly walked
to the desk. He picked up the ink
stand and gazed curiously at its solidi-
fied contents, touched the nearest man,
gazed curiously at the papers on the
QCSh,
These seem to be frozen, too he
remarked almost sleepily, "and about
time. too. This is a sweet gang to be
getting together on this sort of jobT
Quite calmly he gathered the papers
on the desk and stuffed them into his
pocket. He picked up the desk tele-
phone, giving number. Ouch, this
receivers cold" he remarked to Burns.
Hello, Despatch. Is Hallowell in the
office? Just in? Send him over right
quick, keen jump, City Hall, Mayors
office. No, right now. Tell
him its barrow
He hung up the receiver
Curious phenomenon" he remarked
10 Burns. who still stood rooted to the
spot. You see, their bodies were
almost in equilibrium, and, as
hey were frozen Immediately, that
equilibrium was maintained. And the
,olor. | suppose the blood was con-
yealed in the smaller veins, and did not,
Is in more gradual freezing, recede to
he larger blood vessels. Pm getting
rost bitten myself in here. Let's get
outside"
But Officer Burns heard none of this.
As barrow moved toward the door he
,rossed himself and bolted. barrow
leard his heels Gathering on the cement
If the corridors. He smiled
And now the deluge!' he remarked.
The crowds, terrified, inquisitive,
ceptical, and speculative, gathered. Of
icials swept them out and took pos
sStop uaitOuyet1 aod DarrOw ron-