Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1914-09-09
BOOK W.
A Specter az the Feast.
CHAPTER /.

WHat kHe BOX contained.
Jessie Wizards visit to Rudolph
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
licitations. he was able to attire him
self in the habiliments of formaIity
and attend the directors meeting, OF
which already he had been notified.
In the gallery OF the diniBg-room--
modelled after Thane Cedric's banquet
ing-hall-an orchestra discoursed syn
copated melody in blissful ignorance
OF 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 lsudatory re-
sponses put the finishing touch to Ru-
dolph's Impotence to be up and away
Midnight approached like the ter
minatlon 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 nan
who was speaking at the time, reallz-
ing that something extraordinary was
impending. paused. faltered. stopped.
and sat down
-Four men. clad in overalls and jun.
pers, entered, carefully bearing among
them large ohlong box. They halted
and upheld Il with patent effort while
Mr.. Van Vechten arose and. In his un.
impasBioned manner. addressed his
guests.
Gentlemen" said ho, 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-
and fitting way ="
And much more to the same effect.
Then 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
Everybody eyed the innovation Gu
bit distrustfully. too.
The box. suggesting as IL did the end
OF human endeavor. was not an in
spiriting centerpiece, nor was II in
harmony with the temper OF the eve.
ming; but after much jocsse specula-
ton respecting its likely contents. at
the hosts command servants appear.
cd with screw-drivers, and. amid an
expectant hush. the lid was removed.
The disclosure, coming as 1t did into
the very heart OF the company's good
humor. was realized only resultantly;
for the box did not belle what IT suR.
gested. It really contained coffin:
one distinguished by It's elegant cream.
colored silk-plush covering and pure
rose.gold ornamentation. The long
extension handles were OF the same
metal. as was also the name-plate
Upon this latter was single engraved
line
"THE TIME LOCK-"
With the injection into the banquet
of an element so sensational and
startling. Rudolph Van vechlen's de-
sire to depart vanished; he was not
unaffected by the excitement that
stirred the rest OF the company But
presently he observed that the Incl,
dent conveyed special meaning to
certain OF those present particularly
to his uncle
Was the whole thing huge prac.
teal joke?
The Man of Iron pointed out that
10 II was, II must have been an ex
pensive one for the perpetrator. Their
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 tht
easket was removed from the box. the
box was taken away, and the former
was given the place of honor. where
1t reposed like beautiful but unat
tractive epergne.
In the silence that accompanied thl,
operation distinct ticking sound
emsnating from the casket. was plain
ly audible. and the diners. some o
them overturning chairs In Their
haste. reeolled to the walls. wher,
they stood staring in horror at thil
unweleome prefiguration OF the grave
At this moment a quiet voice wal
heard 20 say:
Carefully. gentlemea; q slight ia
might prove disastrous"
The company turned to behold I
man OF impressive appearance. H'