The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-09-10
BOOK w..
A SpeCter at the Feast.
What the Box Contained.
p |.

"CSoic NllLdIu > WISH 10 HuuOlpn
Van Vechten partook more of the ma
ture of a visitation-as of some heal
ing shrine's patron saint; for by Sat
urday night he had so far recovered
that, at his uncle's repeated urgent so
iicitations, he was able to attire him
self in the habiliments of formality
and attend the directors meeting, OF
which already he had been notified.
In the gallery OF the dining-room-
modelled after Thane Cedric's banquet
lng-hall-an orchestra d~iscoursed syn-
copated melody in blissful ignorance
or anachronism. The president of
the Continental Union Banking and
Trust company and the head Of the At
las Safe company occupied seats of
honor, and their long ~laudatory re-
sponses put the finishing touch to Ru-
dolph's Impotence to be up and away.
Midnight approached like the ter
mination of a sentry's winter vigil,
and as he determined to slip from his
seat near the long tables foot and
find his hat and top-coat, there came
a diversion that stayed him. BY con
trast, any interruption to the oratory
was interesting.
The butler noiselessly approached
the head of the table and held a whis-
pered colloquy with the host. After a
minute or two the Man of Iron nodded,
the butler stole away, and the man
who was speaking at the time, realiz-
ing that something extraordinary was
impending, paused. faitered, stopped,
and sat down
Four men, clad in overalls and jun.
pers, entered, carefully bearing among
them a large oblong box. They halted
and upheld it with patent effort while
Mr.. Van Vechten arose and, IL his un-
impassioned manner, addressed his
guests.
Gentlemen" said he, some of our
friends have not forgotten the occa.
sion we are assembled here tonight to
celebrate. We have here. am as.
sured, something that will commemo-
rate this happy event in a most re-
smarkable and fitting way :"
And much more to the same effect.
Then a space was cleared in the
center of the long table, a few of the
diners were disturbed, and the box
was deposited thereon. The porters
withdrew.
Everybody eyed the innovation Gu
riously-and a bit distrustfully. too.
The box, suggesting as it did the end
OF human endeavor, was not an in
spiriting center-piece, nor was il in
harmony with the temper of the eve
ming; but after much jocose ~specula-
ton respecting its likely contents, at
the hosts command servants appear
ed with screw-drivers. and, amid an
expectant hush. the lid was removed.
The disclosure, coming as it did into
the very heart Of the company's good
humor, was realized only resultantly;
for the box did not belle what it sug.
gested. 1t really contained a coffin:
one distinguished by its elegant cream.
colored silk plush covering and pure
rose-gold ornamentation. The long
extension handles were CT the same
metal. as was also the name-plate.
Upon this latter was a single engraved
line:
"THE TIME LOCK-"
With the injection into the banquet
OF an element so sensational and
startling. Rudolph Van Vechten's de-
sire TO depart vanished: he al not
unaffected by the excitement that
stirred the rest of the company. But
presently he observed that the Incl
dent conveyed a special meaning to
certain of those present-particularly
to HIS uncle.
Was the whole thing a huge prac-
teal joke?
The Man OF Iron pointed out that
IL 1t was, 1t must have been an e.
pensive n for the perpetrator. Then
came the suggestion Of an Internal
machine. and once more a hush fell
upon the gathering,
These men, however, were not lack.
ing in courage. Very cautiously the
casket was removed from the box, the
box was taken away. and the former
was given the place of honor. where
it reposed like a beautiful but unat.
tractive epergne.
In the silence that accompanied this
operation a distinct ticking sound,
emanating from the casket. was plain
ly audible. and the diners. some of
them %overturning chairs in their
haste. recoiled to the walls. where
they stood staring in horror at this
unwelcome prefguration of the grave.
At this moment a quiet voice was
heard to say:
Carefully. gentlemen; a slight jar
might prove disastrous"
! The company turned to behold a
man Of impressive appearance He