A FREAK OF NATURE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7404, 7 March 1903, Page 5 (Supplement)

A FREAK OF NATURE.

OR, THE MYSTERIOUS PRESENCE. "The diamond must have made Egypt's Queen humble." "Good Heaven, it is Dofitor Goldman!'' # exclaimed. Haut'man was grasping the table cloth, half-dragging it from the table. "It was. at Fehrajh, in the summer of 5 7_." Haufman blanched at the date. "I had met Major Putnam and ono Lieutenant Haufman at Bombay." I reached across the table and grasped Hau-Uiau's arm. I, Major Putnam, was sitting with Lieutenant Haufman at a lirivate dining table in a West End restaurant, whilo from an adjoining table, _hut from our view by a curtain, came the voice of Dr Goldman, who was murdered and buried in the summer of 74 at Fehzeh, India. "The diamond would have made Egypt's Queen humble" were the very words he had spoken an hour before we found bis murdered body concealed in the brush behind the bungalow of our Indian host. "Lieutenant Haufman told me of a lost diamond in India," continued the voice; "a stone four hundred and fifty carats fine, the brilliancy of which rivalled that of the 'Pitt.'" For a moment Haufman leaned against «ie table and the beating of his heart mok the plates; then he drew back and held up a warning hand. The voice went ° i was amazed at Haufman's knowledge ■of precious stones-in handling them he seemed conversant with them to Ins very finger tips—and when he spoke of the great size of the lost diamond I did not discredit him, for his knowledge of precious stones gave support to bis views; and in conclusion I agreed to fit out an expedition for the recovery of this lost diamond, Lieutenant Haufman assuring me that he knew the exact spot where the diamond had been lost, and only a lack of funds had kept him from recovering the diamond many months before." "Haufman," I said, in a low, deliberate voice, pointing to the curtain between us and the invisible speaker, Dr Goldman, "if I were to lift that curtain " "No, no, for Heaven's sake, no!" said Haufman, starting up. "If I were to lift that curtain," I repeated, "there would be nothing behind it." Jfel realised the folly of my words the I had uttered them, but they could not be unsaid. My susceptible aud high-strung friend had fallen to the floor. I lifted him up and faced the curtain "between me and the murdered Dr Goldman with the lieutenant in my arms. "So," continued the voice, "taking Major Putnam into the party as a third representative, for he was a brave soldier and there was great danger to be faced, we left Bombay and travelled about one hundred miles north-east to the village of Fehzeh." Haufman was not unconscious, as I had thought, for suddenly he whispered: "He -was dead when we found him in the brush, and when we buried him his body had begun to decompose. If you lift that curtain " "Haufman, you aro unnerved, and we .had better leave this place," I said, realising how deeply my friend was moved. "We remained at Fehzeh three days, then Major Putnam, Haufman, and myself, accompanied by an Indian youth, left the village aud hastened to the ruined temple where the diamond was supposed by Lieutenant Haufman to have been lost. Lost; _jL Ot it had never been lost. It had been and concealed there. I realised this .the moment I came in sight of the ruins." "'Tis false," whispered Haufman— '"false. I had never crossed the ruins before. False as the cheat behind the curtain. Bah, I was a fool to think him the murdered Goldman. A cheat, a fraud, a trickster, who has stolen the secret facts of that journey, and, apprised of my wealth, seeks to defame my character for gain. I will unveil him with my own hands." He started forward to lift the curtain, -.vhen I checked him. "Did you ever tell anyone of our journey to that Indian temple, or its purpose?" I asked. "JNlever," he said, drawing back from the curtain. "Nor did I," I replied, "and Goldman Was* found murdered a few moments after our .return from Fehzeh, making it impossible for anyone to have learned of him the purpose of that journey." "Good heaven," groaned Haufman, with dry lips, "it is Dr Goldman." "Wo had no sooner reached the ruins," continued the inexorable voice, "than a tropical storm broke upon us, almost •peeping us off our feet. Yet, despite the Wiry of the elements, Lieutenant Haufman quietly called the Indian to his side, fastened a rope about his waist, and bade -him descend a narrow excavation beneath the temple and bring therefrom a diamond. "After a few moments had passed the youth returned. Balancing himself on a shattered pillar, he opened his hand. There, in his palm, bare of any wrappings, Jay the splendid jewel. "Then suddenly the diamond glowed like a ball of red fire and, even as we looked, Fa blue vapour arose from the youth's outstretched hand, and it was empty. "I started forward, when a sheet of lightning seemed to fall upon my head, and, ere I could utter an exclamation, the charred and blackened body of the Indian youth fell at my feet. "One bolt of lightning had consumed $he diamond and -a second had blasted the

youth beyond all likeness to a human being." It was the murdered Dr Goldman speaking, there was no doubt of it now. I turned to Ilaufmaii. He was grasping the chair to keep him from falling. lie paid no attention to me as I went forward and took his arm, but with bent head and straining ear wailed for the words that should come from behind the curtain. "We took up the Indian's body,", continued the voice, "and carried it back to Fehzeh on a litter, veiled from our sight by green boughs dripping with rain. Arrived at the village, Major Putnam explained to the natives that the Indian youth had been struck by the lightning, while, at the same time, I drew Lieutenant Ilaufinan aside into the brush behind the bungalow of our host, an Indian physician, and demanded au explanation as to his peculiar knowledge of the diamond and the place of its concealment." Again I looked at Ilaufmaii. lie was not trembling now, but his whole body was stiff with tension as he bent forward in that intense listening attitude. "As I questioned Lieutenant. Ilaufmaii." continued the voice, "lie grew insolent, then suddenly demanded to know if I thought he had stolen the diamond and concealed it in the ruins of the temple. I bluntly replied that I belived him a thief and a trickster. "Even as I spoke he drew his sword and stabbed me to the heart!" During the latter part of this speech I had stolen towards the curtain so as not to miss a word, but now I suddenly wheeled around on my companion. A terrible light had broken on me. It was Lieutenant Haufman who was last with Dr Goldman before his death. It was Lieutenant Haufman who had fixed the crime of murder upon a native, innocent in every eye but his own. Was it Haufman that had murdered Goldman? A moment, our eyes met, then, falling across the table, Haufman cried out, "For Heaven's sake don't lift that curtain." I turned half-round, clutched the curtain, and drew it aside. The dining room before us was empty. No one had left the apartment, yet to make doubly sure I swept aside the curtains about me, and looked into the open aisle of the restaurant. There was no one there but a waiter. I called him to me and inquired who had just retired from the compartment adjoining my own. He stared, and pointed at the table. Then I saw that the table was set prepared for a guest, and had not been disturbed. I paid the bill and led naufman to my hotel. I had never liked the man, though business had long bound us together. However, I would sec that he had justice. Then arose the question, was Dr Goldman alive? No; had I not helped to bury him with my own hands after decomposition had set in? What, then, was I to make of the voice I had heard, and the speech that could have proceeded only from the lips of the murdered man? There could be no tricks, I well knew, for the knowledge of that journey to Fehzeh and its secret purpose was lodged iv but three memories—the memory of the murdered Dr Goldman, Haiifmau'.s, and mine, and knowing this I saw no escape from the conclusion that the dead had spoken. At about ten o'clock that night sonicone knocked at the door of my room. Haufman started up from the book that he was vainly endeavouring to read, and demanded, "Who is there?" The answer came distinctly: "It is I, Dr Goldman." I believe I never saw such horror as that depicted in the countenance of Lieutenant Haufman at these words. I arose from my chair, and softly leaped to the door. Turning my face from the panels so that my voice would seem to one outside to come from a distance, I also demanded: "Who is there?" "It is I—Dr Goldman." Instantly I turned the handle and opened the door. I was confident my visitor would not escape me. There was no one there, and the hallway was empty. As I stood near the threshold, I distinctly heard someone pass me and enter the room. I wheeled around and filled the doorway with my body to prevent the visitor's egress. Haufman also heard the visitor enter, nd stood in the centre of the room with a painful listening fear in his regard. Slowly the visitor made the circle of the room, following closely the four walls; but he was invisible to our straining eyes —a- horrible presence iv our midst and nothing more. Again he made the circle. We heard his light footfall on the carpet and bis calm breathing. He paused me a second time, and again circled the room. What was his purpose? Could it be that he intended to circle Haufman through the long hours of the night? Good Heaven, would lie hold liaufjnan in that charmed circle until the unfortunate man was dead ot exhaustion or fear? Once again the unseen visitor circled the room, but this time he did not approach me so closely as before. Was it that he was fearful of my presence? I thought for a moment that he was. and my courage began to vise, when suddenly I realised the meaning of the change. Haufman also understood. The murdered Dr Goldman was slowly narrowing the circle and approaching the murderer. When the circle was completed—what then? Would the murdered man stand visible, face to face with Lieutenant Haul-

man, and condemn him with unsealed lips. lily body grew cold as ice, and 1. seemed to be chained in the doorway lo witness lliis act of retribution devised and executed by—the dead. Slowly the circle narrowed: inch by inch the unseen visitor was approaching Lieutenant Haii-inan. His light footfalls were like the nuillled ticking of a clock that measured out the moments preceding the doom of a man on the scaffold. Then he made the last circle and -stood before Haufman. For a moment, there was uo sound—each had ceased to breathe. Then, slowly and distinctly, from the lips of the unseen visitor, came the words: "I am the spirit of the murdered Dr Goldman. Come with me." Another moment and the blood seemed to bur..! from my very linger tips. I rushed forward to where Uaul'man was standing. His eyes were wide open, staring directly in front of him—at what? I touched his arm. He was dead, and in a moment his body fell lo the floor at my feet. For days and days I lay at the home of a friend, raging of Dr Goldman and Lieutenant. Haufman. The tragedy, coupled with malarial poison I had contracted in India, had induced brain fever, and it was fully a month before I was entirely rational. Then followed a period of convalescence, during which, day and night, waking and ■sleeping, I endeavoured to solve the mystery that had prostrated me, for I could not bring my mind to believe that the dead had spoken. But all was in vain, and I realised that the explanation—if the apalling mystery could be explained—must come from outside of myself. A month after I had quitted the home of my friend, I received a letter bearing the postmark of the English post oilice at Fehzeh. Feverishly breaking the seal. I opened and read the following extraordinary communication : — "Major Putnam— "Dear Sir,—Lieutenant Haufman. who died at your rooms on October I. last, suffered a just death, and that at the hands of one who both is and is not the murdered Dr Goldman. "'Strange,' you may exclaim. Yes, exceedingly strange; but true. "In brief I myself, an entire stranger to you, and no Jess a stranger to I lie unfortunate Dr Goldman, am Dr Goldman who was murdered at this village in the summer of 74; but I am Dr Goldman only between the period that Dr Goldman left Bombay in your company and the company of the treacherous Lieutenant Ilaufmaii up to the moment that Dr'Goldman was murdered by the said Lieutenant Ilaufmaii. "Since aud previous to that time I was and am a legerdemainist and traveller, and in no way related to Dr Goldman, the murdered German savant. "At Fehzeh, India, iv the .summer of 74, I was accidentally shot through the head, and lay at t lu; bungalow of an Indian physician, presumably at the point of death. "As I lay unconscious a Dr Goldman was found murdered and brought to the very house where I was at the time. In the niglit the Indian physician waiting upon me secretly removed a quantity of the brain substance, tissue, and bone from the skull of the murdered Goldman, and grafted the wound in my head with the same. "Under the gifted and skilful hands of my Indian physician this extraordinary operation proved a complete success; but, most wonderful of all, when I had fully recovered I found myself endowed with a memory of events outside my own life; in fact, the memory of events in the life of Dr Goldman between the time he left Bombay and the moment of his death. "It was some time before I could realise the meaning of this abnormal memory; but, when I had grasped its full import, I, out of a passionate desire to punish a guilty man, immediately followed you and Lieutenant. Haufman to London, and, by the art of ventriloquism, threw my voice into the dining compartment adjoining yours in that restaurant where I had frequently seen you two Englishmen dine together. Had you lifted the curtain to the right instead of to the left you would have found me in person.' "I also threw my voice against your door the night Ilaufmaii died, and by the same art of ventriloquism, practised from an adjoining room, seemed to be ill your midst. "A part of the brain of Dr Goldman being grafted to mine, 1 was endowed with so much memory as was seated in that part, although there is the alternate belief that my Indian physician—by some psychic power unknown in the Westdiscovered the life of Dr Goldman between the time he left Bombay and the time of his murder, and hypnotised me with that knowledge, perhaps to use me as an instrument of vengeance against the murderer of the unfortunate doctor. "Alter the test in the restaurant, I knew that Lieutenant Haufman was guilty, and so followed him up to hi. deserved death. "Trusting that this will re-establish your health, and bring you peace of mind, I remain, my dear Major Putnam, the incarnated memory of Dr Goldman—and a- legerdemainist and traveller. "C.8.G." I tore and burned the letter. Then I deeply regretted it. The handwriting might have proved to have been that of the murdered Dr Goldman.