Mexico Missouri message., 1914-06-18
BOOK ~.
A Specter at the Feast
CHAPTER I.
VIVA, the Boy Contained.

I
Jessie Wizards visit to Rudolph
Van Vechten partook more OF the ma
ture Of 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 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.
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 laudatory re-
sponses put the finishing touch to Ru-
| dolph's impatience 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 noiseiessly 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. faltered. stopped
and sat down
Four men, clad in overalls and jum-
pers, entered. carefully bearing among
them a large oblong box. They halted
and upheld it with patent effort while
Mr.. Van Vechten arose and. In his I'M
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-
markable and. fitting way -
And much more to the same effect.
Then space was cleared In the
center OF the long table. 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 1t did the enc
OF human endeavor, was not an In
spiriting center-piece. nor was 1t In
harmony with the temper Of the eve
ming; but after much jocose specula
ton respecting its likely contents, a
the hosts command servants appear
ed with screw-drivers. and. amid al
expectant hush, the lid was removed
The disclosure, coming as 1t did int,
| the very heart of the company's goo,
? humor, was realized only resultantly
] for the box did not belle what it sug
> gested. It really contained a coffin
i one distinguished by its elegant cream
J colored silk-plush covering and pur
e rose-gold ornamentation. The lonl
q extension handles were of the sam
: metal. as was also the name-plate
Upon this latter was a single engrave
$ line:
: THE TIME LOCK-"
e With the injection into the banque
s OF an element 80 sensational an
|. startling, Rudolph Van Vechten's d.
# sire to depart vanished; he was nc
unaffected by the excitement ths
! stirred the rest OF the company. Blu
q presently he observed that the inc
b dent conveyed a special meaning I
h certain OF those present-particular
d. to his uncle.
Is Was the whole thing a huge pra,
teal joker
le The Man Of Iron pointed out this
IS N II was, It must have been an e,
r pensive one for the perpetrator The
e. came the suggestion OF an intern,
ID machine, and once more a hush fe
upon the gathering.
re These men. however, were not lac
st Ing in courage. Very cautiously Ii
ne casket was removed from the box, Ii
a box was taken away, and the form,
th was given the place OF honor. whel
1t reposed like beautiful but una
st tractiye epergne.
In the silence that accompanied tn
ke operation a distinct ticking SCUM
e. emanating from the casket. was plat
M ly audible. and the diners, some
IN them overturning chairs In the
haste. recoiled to the walls. whe
ed they stood staring in horror at tn
n! unwelcome prefguration of the gray
=" At this moment quiet voice WI
In heard to say:
Carefully. gentlemen; slight j
ed might prove disastrous"
all The company turned 10 behold
of man Of impressive appearance.