Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 194, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 August 1912 — Page 2

The PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

ROSE SEELYE-MILLER

uiutfiour o/° THE • MYSTERY •OP • THE • YELLOW ROOM* and TME • PERFUME -OF THE LADY- IN• SLACK--11l Li s tr<3 tion» £>y 'Af-G-ITo fc &» er* Copyright /g// Ay T/ie 3 o&As -Merr/7/ Company

SYNOPSIS. Consternation Is caused on the last night that the Opera is managed by Debienne and Pollgny because of the appearance of a ghost, said to have been In evidence on several previous occasions. Christine Daae, a member of the opera company, is called upon to fill a very Important part and scores a great success. Count de Chagny and his brother Raoul , are among those who applaud the ■tnger. Raoul tries to see Christine in the dressing room, but is unable to do so ancT later discovers that some one is making love to her. She emerges alone, and Upon entering the room he finds it empty. While the farewell ceremony for the retiring managers is going on, the Opera —Ghost appears and informs the new managers that Box No. 5 is reserved for him. Box No. 6 is sold with disastrous results. The managers receive a letter from the Opera Ghost calling attention totheer~Tor. Christine Daae writes Raoul that •he has gone to visit the grave of her father. He goes also, and in the night follows her to the church. Wonderful violin music is heard. Raoul visits a graveyard. Raoul is found next morning almost frozen. Moncharmln and Richard Investigate Box No. 5 and decide to see the performance of “Faust" from front •eats of that box. Carlotta, who sings the leading part in “Faust,” is warned to give the part to Christine. Carlotta. refusing, loses her voice in the middle of a song and the main chandelier crashes down, killing a woman and wounding Raoul Dearches for Christine, who has disappeared. He sees her at last, but does not speak, and later a note is received from her making an appointment for a masked ball. Raoul meets Christine at the ball. He sees a person in the disguise of Red Death. He hears her conversing with some one whom she calls Erik. Raoul visits Christine and tells her he knows the name of the unseen man whom she csills the Angel of Music. Christine and Raoul become secretly engaged prior to a polar expedition that Raoul is to make. Christine relates a strange adventure with the unseen Erik and promises to run away with Raoul. Raoul announces his intention of marrying Christine, which displeases Philippe. In the midst of a performance the stage is enveloped in darkness and Christine disappears. No trace of her is found. Moncharmln and Richard behave strangely.

CHAPTER XV. (Continued^ Hideous thoughts flashed through Raoul’s congested brain. Of course, Erik must have discovered their secret, must have known that Christine had played him false. What a vengeance would be his! And Raoul thought again of the yel--iow stars that had come, the night before, and roamed over his balcony. Why had he not put them out for good? There were some men’s eyes that dilated in the darkness and shone like stars or like cats’ eyes. Certainly Albinos, who seemed to have rabbits’ eyes by day, had cats' eyes at night; everybody knew that! . . . Yes, yes, he had undoubtedly fired at Erik. W’hy had he not killed him? The monster hao fled up the gutter-spout like a cat or a convict who —everybody knew that also — would scale the very skies, with the help of a gutter-spout. ... No doubt Erik was at that time contemplating some decisive step against Raoul, but he had been wounded and had escaped to turn against poor Christine instead. Such were the cruel thoughts that haunted Raoul as he ran to the singer’s dressing-room. "Christine! Christine!" , Bitter tears scorched the boy’s eyelids as he saw scattered over the furniture the clothes which his beautiful bride wad to have worn at the hour of their flight oh, why had she refused to leave earlier? Why had 6he toyed with the threatening catastrophe? Why toyed With the monster’s heart? Why, In a final access of pity, had she insisted on flinging, as a’last sop to that demon’s soul, her divine song: Holy ‘’angel In heaven blessed. My spirit longs with thee to rest! Raoul, his throat filled with sobs, oaths and insults, fumbled awkwardly at the great mirror that had opened one night before his eyes, to let Christine pass to the murky dwelling below. He pushed, pressed, groped about, but the glass apparently obeyed no one but Erik. . . . Perhaps actions were not enough with a glass of the kind? Perhaps he was expected to utter certain words? When he was a little boy, he had heard that there were .things ’Hiat obeyed the spoken word! Suddenly, Raoul remembered somethirg about a gate opening into the Rue Scribe, an underground passage running straight to the Rue Scribe from the lake. . . . Yes, Christine had told him about that. . . And, when he found that the key was np longer in the box, he nevertheless ran to the Rue Scribe, Outside, In the street, he passed his trembling hands over the huge stones, felt for outlets . . . met with Iron bars . . . were those they? ... Or these? ... Or could it be that alr-hole? . . . He plunged his useless eyes through the bars. . . . How dark it was In there! . . . Re listened. . —»• -. All was silence! ... He went round the building . and came to bigger bars, immense gates: . . It wai the entrance to the Cour de Raoul rushed into the doorkeeper’s lodge"I bag ypur pardon, madame, could

you tell me where to find a gate or door, made of bars, irofi bars, opening Into the Rue Scribe . . .' and leading to the lake? . . . You know the lake I mean? . . . Yes, the underground lake . - . —under the opera." “Yes, sir, 1 know there Is a lake under the opera, but I don’t know which door leads to It. I have never been there!” "And the Rue Scribe, madame, the Rue Scribe? Have you never been to the Rue~ Scrlbe ?" « - The woman laughed, screamed with laughter! Raoul darted away, roaring with anger, ran up-stalrs, four stairs at a time, down-stairs, rushed through the whole of the business side of the opera-house, found himself once more in the light of the stage. He stopped, with his heart thumping In his chest: suppose Christine Daae had been found? He saw a group of men and asked: “1 beg your pardon, gentlemen. Could you tell me where Christine Daae is?” And somebody laughed. At the same moment the stage buzzed with a new sound and, amid a crowd of men In evening-dress, all talking and gesticulating together, appeared a man who Beemed very calm and displayed a pleasant face, all pink and chubby-cheeked, crowned with curly hair and lit up by a pair of wonderfully serene blue eyes. Mercier, the acting-manager, called the Vlcomte de Chagny’s attention to him and said: “This is the gentleman to whom you

should put your question, monster. Let me Introduce M. Mlfrold. the commissary of police.” “Ah, M. le Vlcomte de Cbagny! Delighted to meet you. e onsleur,” said the commissary. “Would you mind coming with me? . . . And now where are the managers? . . . Where are the managers? . . .** Mercier did not answer, and Remy, the secretary, volunteered the Information that the managers were locked up in their office and that they knew nothing as yet of what had happened. “You don’t f&ean to say so! Let us go up to the office!” And M. Mifroid. followed by an everincreasing crowd, turned toward the business side of the building. Mer-, cier took advantage of the confusion to slip a key into-Gabriel’s hand: “This Is all going very badly," he vwhispered. “You had better let Mother Giry out." And Gabriel moved away. They soon came to the managers’ door. Mercier stormed In vain: the door remained closed. commanded M. rather anxioui vpice. At last the door was opened. Ail rushed Into the office, on the commissary’s heels.

Raoul was the last to enter. As he was about to follow the rest into the room, a hand was laid on his shoulder and he heard these words spoken in his ear: “Erik's secrets' concern no one but himself!” He turned around, with a stifled exclamation. The that was laid on his shoulder was. now placed on the Ups of a person with an ebony Akin, with eyes of jade and with an astrakhan cap on his bead: the Persian! The stranger kept up the gesture that recommended discretion and then, at the moment when the astonished viscount was about to ask the reason of his mysterious intervention, bowed and disappeared. CHAPTER XVI. Mme. Glry’s Astounding Revelations As to Her Personal Relations With the Opera Ghost. Before following the' commissary Into the manager’s office I must describe certain extraordinary occurrences that took place In'that office which Remy and Mercler had vainly tried to enter and Into which MM. Richard and Moncharmln had locked themselves with an object which the reader does not yet know, but which It Is my duty, as an historian, to reveal without further postponement. I have had occasion to say that the managers’ mood had undergone a disagreeable change for some time past and- to~~convey the fact that this change was due not only to the fall of the chandelier on the famous night of the gala performance. The reader must know that the ghost had calmly been paid his first twenty thousand francs. Ob, there had been wailing and gnashing of teeth, Indeed! And yet the thing had happened as simple as could be. One morning, the managers found on their table an envelope addressed to “Monsieur O. G. (private)” and accompanied by a note from O. G. himself : The time has come to carry out the clause In the memorandum-book. Please put twenty notes of a thousand francs each Into this envelope, seal It with your own seal and hand It to Mme. Giry, who will do what Is necessary. The managers did not hesitate; without wasting time In asking how these confounded communications came to be delivered In an office which they were careful to keep locked, they seized this opportunity of laying hands on the mysterious blackmailer. And, after telling the whole story, under the promise of se-

He Listened. All Was Silence!

crecy, to Gabriel and Mercier, they put the twenty thousand francs into the envelope and without asking for explanations, handed it to Mme. Giry, who had been reinstated In her functions. The box-keeper displayed no astonishment. 1 need hardly say that she was well watched. She went straight to the ghost’s box and placed the precious envelope on the little shelf attached to the ledge. The twp managers, as well as Gabriel and Mercier, were hidden in such a way that they did not lose sight of the envelope for a second during the performance and even afterward, for, as the envelope had not moved, those who watlhed it did not move either; and Mme. Giry went away while the managers, Gabriel and Mercier were Btill there. At last, they became tired of waiting and opened the 'envelope, after ascertaining that the seals bad not been broken. At first Bight. Richard and Moncharmtn thought that the notes were still there; but soon they perceived that they were not the same. The twenty real notes were gone and bad been replaced by twenty notes of the “Bank of St. Farce!" The managers’ rage and fright were unmistakable. Moncharmin wanted to send for the commissary of police.

but Richard objected. He no doubt had a plan, for he said: “Don’t let us make ourselves ridioulous! All-Paris would laugh at us, O. G. has won the first game; we will win the second." He was thinking of the next month's allowance. Nevertheless, they bad been so absolutely that they were bound to suffer a certain dejection. And. upon my word, it was not difficult to understand. We must not forget that the managers had an idea at the back of their minds, all the time, that this strange incident might be an unpleasant practical joke on the part of their predecessors, and that it would not do to divulge it prematurely. On the other hand, Moncharmln was sometimes troubled with a suspicion of Richard himself, ~ who occasionally took fanciful whims Into his head. And so they were content to await events, while keeping an eye on Mother Giry. Richard would not have her spoken to. ~ , “If she is a confederate,” he said, “the notes are gone long ago. But, In my opinion she is merely an idiot." “She's not the only idiot in this business," said Moncharmln pensively. “Well, who could have thought it?" moaned Richard. “But don’t be afraid . . . next time, I shall have taken my precautions.” The next time fell on the same day that beheld the disappearance of Christine Daae. In the morning a

“Are You Still on Good Terms With the Ghost?"

note from the ghost reminded them that the money was due. It react:' , Do just as you did last time. It went very well. Put the twenty thousand In the. envelope and hand It to our excellent Mme. Giry. And the note was accompanied by the usual envelope. They had only to Insert the notes. This was done about half an hour before the curtain rose on the first act of Faust. Richard showed the envelope to Moncharmin. Then he counted the twenty thousand-franc notes In front of him and put the notes Into the envelope, but without closing it. “And now,” he said, “let’s have Mother Giry in." The old woman was sent for. She entered with a sweeping courtesy. She still wore her black taffeta dress, the color of which was rapidly turning to rust and lilac, to say nothing of the dingy bonnet She seemed in a good temper. She at once salid: “Good evening, gentlemen! It’s for the envelope, 1 suppose?” “Yes, Mme. Giry,” said Richard, most amiably. “For the envelope -7—7- . and something else besides.” “At your service, M. Richard, at your service. And what .Is the something else, please?” “First of all, Mme. Giry, I have a little question to put to you." "By all means, M. Richard; Mme. Giry is here to answer you." “Are you still on good terms with the ghost?” “Couldn’t be better, sir; couldn't be better.” • “Ah, we are delighted. . . . Look here, Mme. Giry,” said Richard, In the tone of making an Important confidence. “We may Just as well tell you, among ourselves . . . you’re no fool!” “Why” sir,” exclaimed the box-keep-er, stopping the pleasant nodding of the black feathers in her dingy bonnet, "I assure you no one has ever doubted that!” 0 “We are quite agreed and we shall soon understand one another. The story of the ghost Is all humbug, tsn't It? . . . Well, still between ourselves. . . 7 It* has lasted long enough.” Mme. Giry looked at the managers as though they were talking Chinese. She walked up to Richard’s table and asked, rather anxiously:

“What do you mean? I don’t understand.” “Oh, you understand Quite weU. In any case, you've got to understand. . . . And, first of all, tell usl his name.” “Whose name?”. “The name of the man whose accomplice you are. Mme. Giry!” “I am the ghvst’s accomplice? 1? . . . His accomplice In what, pray?” "You do all he wants.” “Oh! He’s not very troublesome, you know." “And does he still tip you?” “I mustn’t complain.” “How much does he give you for bringing him that envelope?" •Ten francs." “You poor thing! That’s not much, is it?” "Why?" “I’ll tell you that presently, Mme. Giry. Just now we should like to know for what extraordinary reason you have given yourself body and soul to this gh05t....... - . . Mme. Glry’s friendship and devotion are not to be bought foi* five francs or ten francs.” •That’s true enough. . . , And 1 can tell you the reason, sir. There’s no disgrace about it. ... on the contrary.” “We’re quite sure of that, Mme. Giry!” ----- “Well, it’s like this . . . only the ghost doesn’t like me to talk about his business.”

“Indeed?” sneered Richard. “But this is a matter that concerns myself alone. . . . Well, It was In Box Five one evening, I found a letter addressed to myself, a sort of note written In red ink. I needn’t read the letter to you, sir; I know it by heart, and I shall never forget it If I live to be a hundred!” And Mme. Giry, drawing herself up, recited the letter with touching eloquence: Madam: 1826. MUe. Menetrter, leader of the ballet, became Marquise de Cussy. 1832. Mile. Marie Tagltoni, a dancer, be-' came Comtesse Gilbert des Volslna. 1846. La fiota, a dancer, married a brother of the Klng'of Spain. 1847. Lola Montes, a dancer, became the morganatic wife of King Louis of Bavaria and was created Countess of Landsfeld. 1848. Mile. Marla, ji dancer, became Baronne d’Hemevllle. 1870. Theresa Hessier, a dancer, married Dom Fernando, brother to the King of Portugal. Richard and Moncharmin listened to the old woman, who, as Bhe proceeded with the enumeration of these glorious nuptials, swelled out, took courage and, at last, in a voice bursting with pride, flung oat the last sentence of the prophetic letter: 1885. Meg Giry, Empress! Exhausted by this supreme effort, the box-keeper fell into a chair, saying: “Gentlemen, the letter was signed, ‘Opera Ghost.’ I bad heard much of the ghost, but only half believed In him. From the day he declared that my little Meg, the flesh of my flesh, the fruit of my womb, would be empress, I believed in him altogether." CTO BE CONTINUED.)

Tactful Request.

Dobblelgb was a confirmed borrower, and, what was worse, he seldom returned the borrowed, articles. He bad held on to Whibleyfs umbrella, for instance, for nearly a year. “And I’m blest if I know how 1 am ever going to get it back.” said Wblbley. “Easy,” said Hlckeniooper. “Call a messenger and send Dobblelgb this note." 4pd he scribbled off the following: “Dear Dobbleigh: If you can spare It I’d like to borrow umbrella of mine for a couple of days. Can you oblige me?" —Harper’s Weekly.

AT THE ANNUAL MEET

MRB. JONEB PABBBB DOWN THK RECEIVING LINE. And Btrange to Ssy, Thouflh Thor* Was Bome Sameness In th# R*marks, 8h« Votes the Wholo Thing a Bore. The Usher—This is our president, Mrs. Swift, whom I think you hava met before. Mrs. Swift—l should say so, when we have been naxt-door neighbors for eight or nine years! Glad to see you Just the Bame. What a lovely day for our receptloon—lovely! You remember how it rained when we had our annual affair last year? Floods and torrents! Today is so much better. This is our first vice presideat, Mrs. Todhunter. . Mrs. Todhunter—Happy to see you. Delightful dayTlsn’t it? And so many have come out! I hope there will be refreshments enough. Everything seems to be going off so nicely. So glad you could come. Let me present you to our second vice president, whom you know, I am sure. Second Vice President —Considering that we are own cousins, I guess wo do know each other. Awfully glad you could come. May. You said last night that— You really like my gown? It’* sweet of: you to lay so. You don't think it too much for an occasion Ilk* this? No? lam so glad, for I felt.a little worried, and — You know our ex* president, Mrs. Crozier, of course. Mrs. Crozier —Of course! You wero a member of the club all the time I was president. How do you do ? What a lovely day for us! Last year It did rain! It makes it so bad when it rains on our annual affair. How lovely the room looks 1 And how charming th* refreshment tables are! Of course, you know Mrs. Esterham, our treasurer. Mrs. Esterham—o, how do you do? So glad you could come. Were you here last year? Didn’t it rain? So many have spoken about the difference between the weather this year and the weather last year. I Bald last night that I was sure that we would have a good day today, because there was such a nice sunset. Every one seems to be having a good time. Well that Is what we came for. Let me present the chairman of our board of directors, Mrs. Bankum. Mrs. Bankum —0, we have been friends for ages! But lam glad to see you all the same. And on such a beautiful day! So different from last year. You recall how It rained? Aren’t the decorations tasteful? Pink and green make such a pretty combination. Last year we had violet and \vhlte, hut I like pink and white better. I want to present you to Mrs. Hlllobran, who is president of the Progress club over in Springdale. Mrs. Hlllobran —Happy to know yon, Mrs. —-Mrs —I don’t just get the name. Jones? O, I thought It sounded a little like Johnson. There Is so much talking in the room. We have a Mrs. Henry Jones in our club. Is she a relative of yours? No? As you say, Jones is quite a common name. They tell me that It rained terribly last year when you had your annual reception. Well, you certainly can’t complain of the weather this time, for It Is, ideal, simply ideal. So glad to have met you. Mrs. Jones —Thank goodness, that’s over with! If there Is any greater bore than going along a receiving line and being presented to a lot of people you have known all your life, or a lot you haven’t the least wish to know, I don’t know what that bore Is, and never want to. —Puck.

Gold Nugget Punctures Tire.

A puncture in your automobile tire Isn’t always a misfortune. At least Joseph Kneebone doesn’t think so, and he will never kick again when a blowout delays him on the road. The reason for Mr. Kneebone’s philosophy may be explained In the fact that while driving to Grass Valley, Nev., a day or two ago, with the thermometer at 90 degrees, he suddenly heard a report which caused him to lose his temper. Getting down from the seat he looked upon the spectacle of a punctured tire, and proceeded to fix it. During the course of his labors he had occasion to stop near the little stream of water that was close by, and which le Inappropriately named Dry creek. Hla eyes were caught by a sudden glint between the rocks, and stooping over he picked up a gold nugget that proved to be worth S7O. The nugget exactly fitted the cut in the tire, and had caused the puncture.

Giving Her Time.

Mr. and Mrs. Nubbubs were not always on good terms. It was rather a. sore point with Mrs. N. that her hubby seldom took her out, and it rankled. The other evening, however. Nubbubs arrived home very elated and pleased., with himself. “My dear,” he remarked, Tm going to take you to the theater.^ Mrs. N. rose to the occasion and expressed her pleasure suitably. ‘Tea, I’ve got the tickets, and it’a a fine piece.? Next Tuesday week’s the date.” "How splendid!” echoed the lady, "Yes,” he chimed, "and you might begin to get ready at mice!”

Awoke Commercial Instinct.

It la a sad blow to faith In human nature, says the New York Tribune, ta learn that the rewards offered for dfcad flies over In Flushing have Induced the youth of the land to take to breeding the bussing peats to gain wealth'the quicker.