Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 32, Number 345, 26 January 1908 — Page 7

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BROUGIITON BRANDENBURG

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Copyright, 1907, liy Thomas H. HcKce. ' 'P a s,or-v f impotence and opr i terribly interwoven of a man who trlP umphed .- gloriously ovr tremendous odds that his final tragedy seems comparatively trivial. The intense, bewildering sequen'-e of omenta I record, not as a man of scleuee and medicine reporting phenomena before his society, but as a student of humanity. One night last year, in early December, if I recall correctly, I was reading in rny study in the old house in University Place, where I have lived for twentyfive years. It was some lime after midnight, and the quietness of the tomb lay over all that part of the city. I was just in tho act of turning a page when the Filenoe wa broken by a terrible fry, long, shrill, fiRonizeil and ery human, hc.vgh there was a suggestion f.f something horribly bestial in it. It rose harply, then fell, ending in a moan and leaving my heart standing still while the perspiration started from my palms and my brow. Cold horror spread f.lowly throughout, my entire being. There was no niilrVInK the location whence it. tame the low, red brick house directly opposite. I , ran to the window just in time to se by the light, of the street lamp what was apparently the heal and khoulders of a man in the lower window of the house. The head was bald, the face was beardless and terribly contorted, while the arms wer tossing wildly In the air. Just, then from the darkened room behind came some heavy mir.rdle that Ft ruck the head and. crashing on through the glass, fell into the Hreet. Instantly the face v,-w sour; there was only the black hole in the pane. Nothing more was to he beard, nothing more was to be yeea. It was like some period in a dreadful nightmare. For a moment I sat frozen in my place. There was, however, a gr-at stir in the room of Mrs. Keppler, my old housekeeper. Her chamber was directly overhead, and very soon she came clattering excitedly down the stairs. T was endeavoring to reassure hpr wheu the crunch of footsteps sounded on the broken Kla.iH lying in front of the other house and T saw a policeman corning across, bent on making inquiries and attracted by the light in my windows. With the aged housekeeper, clinging tremulously to my ccat-tails, refusing; to be left in the place alene. 1 hurried across the street with the officer. Briefly. 1 told him all I knew of the plac, that it was owned by an old German second-hand furniture dealer, vamed Peter Hahn, who lived In the tenement alone, let out the first floor to lodgers and used the two upper floors for storing such furniture as he could not get into his little sales place. The front door opened at once as the officer turned the knob. Old Peter had slid the bolts and was standing In the dingy hall, shivering In his night clothes, t (riving to shield the flickering flair of a candle 1-om the blast that swept in the opec "Here, what's all this noise about. adei the fflcer sharply. "ch. it should he nothing, hut it is in there." r bispered Peter, pointing to the parlor door. "We i hall see, we shall see." "Listen!" said I. Within there sounded a shrill, petulant, whining voice and a heavy, voluminous one. They were talking In subdued tones, using what seemed to me to be Chinese, certainly Borne Oriental tongue, and they vere engaged in a most bitter and angry debate. "Go ahead and knock," said the officer. Hahn raided, thrice and there was the sharp crackle c f a match inside, then a moment's silence. "Mr. Kelensen! Mr. Kelsenen." "Oh. are 'you" there. Peter? Just a moment," anrvvered the deep voice in velvety tones. A glance down the-hall showed me that the door 1 lore which we stood was the sole means of entrance Id the suite on the floor, except by another door in Ihe rear, which, was effectually blocked, however, by n henp of heavy old furniture in the rear hall piled against it. The lock clicked and 1 he dcor swung wide, revealing a splendid black-bearded man of soma breadth rnd ftature. wrapped around In a long red-tufted dressing-gown with a tapselled cord about his middle. In his hand he bore a book with his fingers marking page and he was peacefully smoking a deep-bowled I'ipe. "Good evening, or rather good morning, gentletuon. Pray ccme in," said he, surveying our party

THE LOCK CLICKED AND keenly but with the utmost good nature. The interior was divided into three rooms, richly i ;rnished, all connected with wide doors. That much 1 could see by the light cf the heavily shaded reading lamp in the front rccm. the one la which we row stood. What is all this row we hear, Mr. Kelensen?" i '.lid the officer. "Surely my troubles with Mr. Sniffkin there have l ot been so tumultuous as to rouse the neighbors ml call in the police " T'-.- bf ni.m indicated a

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huge yellow cat with a gesture and a brilliant smile. The beast was perched high on a desk, his yellow eyes glaring as he furtively endeavored to attend with his paw a cut on the side of his head. "That's too thin, mister, there's been a fight here, maybe murder." replied the officer, pointing to the shattered window-pane. At the words edd Peter shuddered and nearly dropped his candle-stick. The giant laughed heartily. "That is absurd enough to be very funny," said he. "It is, eh? Where is the man who was screaming at that window three minutes ago?" demanded the officer. "Why. my dear man. it was not I. I am a'one here. Old Sniffkin was caterwauling there and I heaved a stone jug at him It went through the windowworse luck." "Where is the other one you was just rowing with this moment ago? Don't lie to me. I heard you from the ball." "Again, my clear sir, I am puzzled. Sniffkin and I have been scolding each other. As you can see, there is but. one means of entrance or exit to this place. No one has been in or out. You may search these rooms if you choose." "And that T will," said the officer. "Dr. Siddons. guard this door while I g" through this place." Really. I must say he made a thorough search in all the closets cf the little kitchen and pantry in the rear, behind the tapestry hangings, under the bed and behind the grand piano and the music-cases in the front room, tapping walls, ceiling and floor with his club for concealed doors. Fully fifteen minutes he spent, Kelensen imperturbed, and I. deeply embarrrassed. chatting on a score of extraneous sutjects, while old Hahn and my housekeeper were exchanging terrified whispers in the hall behind us. I have said positively that I saw that, face at the window, that we heard the two distinct voices in quarrel, and yet withno exits possible save the one that had been constantly under our eyes, there was no living thing in those rooms except Keleuserbend his cat. Baffled, muttering, angry and threatening, the officer desisted and withdrew. Kelensen bade me a most neighborly good-night, saying the absurd incident had served one good purpose, it had made us acquainted, and he hoped to see me within his doors quite soon again. 1 believe 'I asked him, with some ill grace, to visit me. The extraordinarily contradictory events of the hour, with all their terror and mystery when contrasted with Kelensen's perfect composure and good nature, had quite taken me aback. It was with difficulty that I got rid of the policeman. He would have followed me home to talk of the bewildering affair, and even us it was Mrs. Keppler tarried at my door to say: "Doctor, this is dreadful. The lies, the lies that big man told. You should have heard Peter " "And what says Peter? Draw those shades and come tell me." Therefore she began a review of the statements that the panic-stricken old furniture dealer had made. It appeared that his strange lodger's name was Hendrik Kelensen. of Ryndam, a singer, some said a great bass artiste. He had leased the rooms for a long term three months before and was paying double the ordinary rent for the privilege of doing absolutely as he pleased at any and all times and cf being let entirely alone. He had specified that he was to be made the victim of no curiosity on the part of his landlord. The two voices were no new thing to Peter. They were an every day, all day matter. He had heard that dreadful cry but once before and that was In the first mouth at daybreak. Never had he seen any one or anything in the rooms save Sniffkin, the cat, and Kelensen, the basso, but evidences of the existence and life of another being were abundant. He marketed for Kelensen and always bought enough for two, often getting different sorts of food for each, such as fowl for one and steak for the other. He could hear the preparations for the meals and the two voices in talk and laughter, both perfectly distinct and always in this tongue he could not understand. Then after the meal Kelensen would go out. looking magnificent In tho great coat and top-hat he always wore. As soon as the door closed on his heels, Peter would go surreptitiously into the rooms from which Kelensen had just departed alone and would find two chairs at the table, two soiled plates and two sets of eilver and two bottles, one of unknown wine, the other of stout, but no one was there but. Sniffkin. There were abundant clothes in the room, but they were of Kelensen's size only and were obviously for the tole use of one man. Never were there signs of two men having dressed and thrown down discarded clothes. There was one other puzzling thing. Peter had often noticed In the room a sweet, sickly unfamiliar odor for which he could not account. At the mention of this it came sharply to me that I, too, had observed an unusual smell. Now that I thought of it.

THE DOOR SWUNG WIDE I knew that it was the insidious fragrance of opium. When Mrs. Keppler had gone up. I looked out of my window toward the red house that held this dreadful and compelling mvstery. It was now quiet and dark. When I awoke the next morning I heard what I had never heard before, the occasional notes of Kelensen's piano and hia magnificent voice drilling in tone production and rehearsing various operatic roles. Doubtless he had often sung so, but I had never not----- : t ; and went to my window. A glazier

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By Frances

was at work repairing the shattered pane. The curtains were flung wi ie and I could see entirely through to the back. There were two chairs at the table, two p'ates on it and two separate platters of food, yet the only person within ere Kelensen and the glacier. Sniffkin sat on the window-ledge in the wintry sunshine, grooming his damaged head. Kelensen. wrapped about in his beautiful red robe, was pacing up and down the rooms, paus'ag now and then at the piano to strike a few chords and ail the while singing tremendous basso roles. Often he came to the window, seemingly to look over at my house, and once, catching sight of me. he waved his hand in friendly fashion, turning away at once to go on with his study. The more i thought of it, the mor ii seemed to me that l had heard the name Kendrik Kelensen before. I have kept little track of musics.' matters in late years. I knew Bob Tradlgan to be ond of those things, however foolish as it may eem in a man of his years, and this morning I called him by telephone at the Presbyterian Hospital and sal !: "Tradigan. have you ever heard of an opera singer named Hendrik Kelensen?" "What? Kelensen? Man alive, you do not mean to say you have never heard of the groat Kelensen! Why, the world ha-s never known such a voice. I heard him early in the week in "Aids.' and he sings again on Friday. But why do you ask?" "Oh, I find that, he is my neighbor, and some circumstances which I cannot go into now have caused me to btcome greatly interested in him. Have you ever heard anything concerning him that was out of the ordinary?" "Well, really nothing more than vague gossip. There has always been speculation as to why there were so few roles that he would sing. I have noticed that he seldom or never sits down when singing. Also, he is eccentric in that he keeps entirely to himself, never lunches or dines out and never leaves New York for com "'t work r tours. I know from 1113- personal acquaintance with hfr that Madame Men tona has beer, in love with him for two seasons, yet he never tees her anywhere but cn the stage or about, the opera house, though he writes her the most beautiful letters every day. She. is a dear creature, ens vf the sweetest of women, and he apparently has no ties In the world to prevent his marriage to any one whom he might love. Certainly his old mother, who lives in the little village Cf Ryndam, Holland, would not constitute an obstacle. His story, as I have heard it. is that, when a ia're lad. his mother having been left a widow and ho the only child, ho left home and went to sea. On one cf his voyages somewhere in Australia his letters and remittances ceased Later she heard his ship hid been wrecked and she gave him up for dead. After two years had passed, there came a letter from San Francisco with a good round sum in it and bearing the news that Hermann Gross, the late manager, had heard him tinging one day in a barber shop where he was the cashier, had said that he was naturally a great singer and after a year or two of study could pro into opera. He ha?, been singing three years now, and he and Gross were tho closest of friends till the latter died last year. Madame Mentona has told me of the visit which she paid to the mother in Ryndam in the summer. Frau Kelensen now has a fine house bought from her son's earnings and is very proud and happy, only sh grieves deeply that. Hendrik will never visit her. Since you are interested, Siddons, why not go with me and hear him when next he sings? I think It 13 Friday night." I had a message from Tradlgan later and we went. Madame Mentona was not in the cast that night and Mrs. Tradigan ha. I asked her to Join the party in our box. Of course, Kelensen was almost the sole topic of the conversation. Throughout the evening whenever he was on the stage I was oppressed with a feeling of uncertainty and anxiety which I could not altogether anal)-ze. His singing was superb, his dramatic action wonderfully forceful, and yet it was restrained in some most peculiar way. Just what it was I could not tell. After the opera Mrs. Tradigan, joined by Madame Mentona, sent him a line inviting him to supper with us, but he declined in a most deferential reply. There are two sentences of his note which have stuck in my mind and have left all the deeper impression in view of what I now know: "This would have been one of the pleasures for which I would yield any or ail of the few things in my life which are worth v.-hPe. but I am denied it I go to mine own place, but I leave mv thoughts to attend you. and if you could but read them all I am sure you would forgive me, and reulize my profound gratitude." Every little thing about him was faintly tinged with some element of mystery, and some things which I knew were black with it! What was the riddle the two voices, the two chairs, his exclusiveness, his sadness, his odd mannerism, that terrible face, that awful cry? I reae.hed home that night about one o'clock and was letting myself in quietly after seeing that, the house across the way was still lighted, though the shades were drawn, when something impelled me to look back. Kelensen was just raising the shade. I could see en'irely through the lighted rooms. Filled with curiosity. I left my stoop, and waiked nearer, concealing myself in a deep shadow. He was standing with his hand on the cord of the bhade looking out. when suddenly he seemed smitten with the most terrible convulsions. I got but one Klance, for he contrived to drag down the shade. Again that horrible cry broke forth on the night stillness, sounding along the deserted street and if i 'ruck me with a chill when I first heard it, now tho- effect was trebled. My hair tfngied, my flesh crept on my bones and I shuddered with unexplainable horror. Within, the light was extinguished and a perfect rabble was going on. The voice of Kelensen was very easily distinguished, but not more eo than the frantic, querulous, thin whlue and chntter of the other cf the terrible unknown Thing. They were quarreling violently and Kelensen wa3 uttering commands. The Thing was refusing to obey. Now the awful iwlstec face and tossing arms showed at the window, then I saw Kelensen. and instantjy some mighty power dragged both down ami out of sight behind the Bhade. I darted from my hiding-place and was about to hammer on the door when I stopped to consider. What could have happened! The more I resolved the matter in my mind the more a profound panic took possession of me and, after about ten minutes cf standing there in the light snow, I suddenly rushed madly across the street into my own house, shut and l-olted the door behind me, r.ud. when I went to bed, it was with a pistol lying on a chair tcsid- my I acke after a bnd night Kelensen. as usual, was pacing up and down, singing Hlrhely. stopping now and then at the piano. There was not a sign about him or about the place of the tragic crisis of the night before. This day. after the singer had left the house, taw old Peter Hahn dart into the rooms and look hurriedly about. Fully a half-score of patients were waiting for me, but I left them to their own devices and went over. Old Peter met me in the hall. "See! See!" he exclaimed frantically. "Look for yourself. He has just gone out alone and yet a moment ago two men were in here. One should be here and there is none ach. there is none." In his hand he was holding two unsealed letters, nervously pulling the enclosures from the envelones. One I saw was written In Chinese and from it a New York draft fluttered out and fell to the floor. "What have you there?" I said. "He gives me theee each month. I should mail them and he pays his rent. But he will pay me no more. He should go. I cannot stajid such things."

TINO A.

Half-ashamed of my intrusion into another man's affairs. I took the letters and runde out that the one was addressed to the venerable Mrs. Ke'.ei:seu iu Ryndam ar.d contained New York exchange for two hundred dollars. The other was in Chinese and k lained New York exchange drawn to "Yung Shai Kin, Canton. China " It happened that, a very ab youiig South Chinese Dr. Tchc Lun Moe by name, was studying at the hospital, and I sent over fo' him at once and gave him the letter to read. He inure liafeiy bevame gre.ttly excited and demanded to know the origin cf it I sai l it had been found by Peter Hahu and inquired what it contained.

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HE HAD FALLEN, DOT "This Is moPt unusual among my people," he said. "The Yungs are a great clan in South China. I am olstantly connected with them and often visit the headquarters hero in Pell street. And odd as it rosy seem. Dr. Siddons, there I have heard of a Yung Kin Wan who is dead, but still aend so much money to his mother in China that Phe Is very wealthy. Here we have one of hia loving letters to her with money in it, and see, it ia-in the phraseology which the dead use to the living and Is signed with, his heavenly name. This is very etraage." "I have another question." I eald. "I know your language and your social ceremoniea are difficult and intricate. Would you say the man who wrote that letter is Chinese?" "Absolutely! Absolutely! None but a Chinese scholar could have written it." More deeply puzzled than ever, after Dr. Tche Lun Moe's departure I took the two letters and saw them eafely on their way. Far in the night sometime ray housekeeper came rapping at rny door. "Get up, doctor get up quick! There is something the matter over at Peter Hahn's." I leaped out of bed and ran to the window. Ths first thing I noticed was that the freBhly-fallen snow had been broken by a tortuous track, as if some huge hog had gone about rooting it up In various directions iu front of the house. Thia I saw at a glance and then perceived in the shadowy doorway a big black heap apparently in the throes of some dreadful spasm. The door was open. The shapelessness of the heap gave me no clue, it had nothing of the appearance of a man, and suddenly it disappeared in the dark hall, thtf door was banged shut, and all was quiet. Tn the morning the first sound that I heard was Kelensen's glorious voice singin? his roles, and when t went to the window he gaily waved his hand to me and smiled A little later in the day Dr. Tche Lun Mce called me on the telephone. "I thought you might like to know." he said, "that I have learned from a cousin some interesting news pertaining to the writer of the letter which you fhowed me. His clan here in New York had a visit from him. He came last night and. after a grand feast and, I fear, too much opium, he disappeared: but they know now that he Is living, and he will certainly be killed for having pretended to be dead. He can't escape." It was Christmas morning, bright and crisp, and the whole city was In sparkling white. I heard the creak of whee's In the snow and, looking out. saw that a carriage bod draw-n up at the dooi of the othe'house. Its top was piled with new luggage of a foreign look with the familiar Holland line label cn it. and as I wstched. Madame Mentona got out sad turned to assist, a crumpled iittl" old woman who carried a heavy biaek stick end was covered to the car-tops in rich furs. Madame Mentona helped her vp the steps and Peter Hahn appeared in answer to their summons. The doors closed behind them. In about five minutes the door was pulled open again. The two women came forth hurriedly. The old creature was wailing and Madame Mentona waa white with rase. They were coming across to my house apparently and I hastened to meet them at the door. "Oh. It is outrageous, outrageous." began Madame Mentona as she came near. "Perfectly dreadful. Dr. Siddons. It was my little surprise for Kelensen. Now he has put her out of h's own house." "Has put who out my dear child?" said I. "His own mother." So it appeared. When I got to the bottom of the affair it wa simply that Madame Mentona and the venerable Mrs. KeVnsen. had conspired tog!br that LOV: Harmer

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the old lady was to come to New York. Furprise ber i-oii by appearing cn Christmas Day and remain with him until they could find a suitable place to live In which she might spend her tast days m comfort and happinets As soon as Hendrik Kelensen understood th matter he insisted on his irther's returning to Holland by the next pteaturr. and as to her staying in his apartments even for a hort time, he had grown frightfully in.-ensed and had unceremoniously ushered both into the street. That night i 'as dining at my slater's, and th festivities of the Christmas tree were at their brightest when I was called to the telephone. It wu th young Chinese doctor.

TRIUMPHED A3 HE FELL "Dr. Siddons, yon will forgive xo for thl ltr ruption of your pleasures. 1 have UIpbond your bouse and learned wbere you are. I do sot know your interest In Yung Kin Wan, but I learned tonight that death is at his heels and If you can and choose to do so you should warn him without an hour's delay." Making the best eicuse I could to the family I got into my furs and drove rapidly to University Place. Kelensen was doubt! at tho opera, bat I wished to advls Peter Hahn to adult ao eat to the house. Thence I hurried to the opera bouse and met Madame Mentona Just entering. She, too. was In search of Kelensen. His mother was very 111. He was singing this night and as we entered we raw him on the stage. Madame Mentona said be would not be off for some time. Just then we encountered the manager and, after I was Introduced. I said: "I came here to-night to warn Mr. Kelensen of a plot among some Chinese In which he may be Interested. It may be no more than a servants' conspiracy, but he should know of It at once." "Strange. Indeedl I did not know be bad a Chinese servant," answered the manager. "But tbta Is all very queer, for tonight a young Chinese, with laundry bags, was about Kelensen room. I drove htm out of doors. We must wait until the end of this act before we can communicate with him." With an unreasonable impatience. I took my seat with Madame Mentona In the manager's box. As Kelensen advanced for his solo I saw that be ktaggered slightly. With every sign of rigor In his arms, head and fare, hie limbs seemed to be uncontrollably weak, and as he went on Madame Mentona laid her hand on my arm suddenly and exclaimed: "Heavens, Dr. Siddons! He has cut out more than half of it. What can be the matter with him?" Grandly, superbly the chorus fell in behind him. swelling out gloriously In the tremendous harmony. Then suddenly Hendrik Ke!nen seemed to crumple. He crashed down like a log. bat Instantly raleed his head. He was the meet astounded of all. He sst . up and appeared unharmed, save that his legs were" as though paralyzed. Not more than a few notes did he lose, going right on with the finale, and the curtain came down amid a mighty burst of applause which even the thing that had Just happened could not restrain. He had fallen, but triumphed aa he fell. As we picked him up his body twisted aa If he were entirely cut In half at the waist and I felt through the thick padding on his hips another pair of arms pinioned there. We laid him on the floor of his own room and closed the door. He raUed his bead, looked first at me. then at the manager. Perceiving he was alone with us. with fine vigor he ripped open his clothing, undid th metal fastenings of two strong straps and dragged himself a war by bis hands, and appesred before our eye a perfectly strong, healthy man. save that his two legs had been cut off at the hips. Behind he left something that was dead, something that was all legs, save that it had a head and ehoulders the worst hunchback I have ever seen. I turned the head. It showed the face at the window! "This is the work of Gross, the theatrical manager, gentlemen. He found me after I had lost ray legs at sea. He also found poor Tung there, and bribed him to this slavery. Gross made me learn to speak Chinese. He drilled not only me. but Yung In the roles. I must not only be dramatic tinder my vest and ccac but Tung must be an actor, clad to his neck in trousers. After a few years patience It was all easy enough. He could ee out to guide hi feet. Now you know, or can Imagine, all, Hendrik Kelensen. the baeso, dies with hia hired legs and yon may send word to my poor old mother that we will go back to our quiet Httle house in Ryndam together. Tell them oiiti? that the great Hendrik Kelensen Is Osd."

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