St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-07-28
cred swiftly and cunningly around the

|
room.
''Hist!' he said. to the horror-stricke1
| girl, softly closing the door and turning
the key; and if Jessie had a distinc
thought, in that awful moment, it wa:
OF thankfulness that the winter damp
ness had so warped the door that the
key would not fairly catch in the lock
a bit of repairing thus far overlooked il
tl-e wedding preparations. Don't be
frightened" he said, still in whisper;'
you'll take care of me won't you?"
But the girls great eyes only riveted
themselves in moro hopeless, helpless
terror upon the apparition. Every
muscle seemed paralyzed.
He drew chair to the open CRATE, as
ii the fire were most welcome.
You see," he said, in his quiet, soft
voice, ''if they track me here they may
hang me, and they would be wrong
all wrong. did not intend to kill her,
but she would not hold still.'
At this he laughed blood-curdling
laugh, and the horrid truth burst upon
the girls daZed senses. She was alone
with maniac. All the stories she had
ever read rushed to her memory, and
the only clear idea that she had was
that she must, if possible, humor his
vagaries till help came. She was a pet
ted, spoiled darling, but she had great
strength of will and she now called it
into requisition.
She hurriedly glanced at the clock,
and calculated how long it would be be-
fore her dear ones should arrive. Alas!
it was just eight. What, Oh, what
could she do? Of whom did he speak?
Kill her? Kill whom' Then the mys-
terry of the murdered girl darted into
her mind. Katie had been right, then.
There was truth in a murdered girl
Was this her slayer?
Suddenly, with aconfdential GESTURE
he babe her sit down near him.
'lll tell you all about it," he said.
eff she had only kept still! But she
screamed and tried to run away. can't
stand noise. 1t sets me wild. | must
have this blood-this pure, young, life
giving stream. But she would not lis
ten to me. Poor thing! 1t was too
bad, wasn't it9 Hey? Speak.
Trembling at the sound of her own
voice, the girl commanded herself to
say:
''Yes. Who was she?"
81 don't know he replied, seriously.
''She was beautiful and fresh-almost
as fair as you. | was getting away from
that cursed place. Think of combining
a snan of my learning in mad-house
But that was just it. | had mastered
the new theory, the TRANSMISSION of blood.
They wanted to steal my glory, SO they
locked me in. But outwitted them. |
captured these and ran away"
As he spoke he laughed wildly, and
took from his jacket a black case of
bright, new surgical instruments.
These were what | needed" he con-
tinued, with low chuckle Il could not
attain the goal without these beauties"
Then, caressingly, he went over
hem. Lancet, trocar, bistoury, probe,
mentioning the whole COL
ection, while he passed his fingers af-
ectionately over the small, sharp
blades.
For many years." he went on, II
AVE studied this theory. The only
hing is to find a young, strong, healthy
ubject. found her-I was hiding in
he bushes, she was on the highway
nut she would not listen to me-
''You did not kill her?" the girl
Orced her dry lips to ask.
may, nay; that is an ugly word. I
ad to sacrifice her. | did not kill.
hen the foolish mob came and | fed
ither. But l had bit of bread and
leat. She dropped her basket of lunch
We been hiding in yonder tower"
ointing upward. 81 thought 1 might
nd what | want. And now, my dear,
gu will help me, won't you?" ]
This he said coaxingly.
''Help you? What can doe
''Such a simple thing. Hold very
ill while l draw the rich, red blood
ON your pretty white throat
You would not spoil my throat?' ,
loaded Jessie, in winning tones, with 8
lie courage born of despair. ''Such a ,
cry little throat" clasping her soft I
ngers about it. y :
''But where else can I find the glori- !
IS stream so rich and red?n he argued. :
it'll frown of perplexity. cit must {
} transfused into my own veins, that /,
%, may be young again." 4
''But not the throat! I could not f
NC any more then" q
.'Ah, sol heard you sing. 'Twould i
!, a pity. Well, I'll tell you what 1 a
Ill do. will open a vein in your V
m and take small bit. This will "
,icken the nervous centers. Then Il
mes my greatest, most scientific dis Il
very. Listen closely, for l do not
can to impart the secret to another.
is the TRANSMISSION of brain! Some n
her mans head got on nay shoulders, b
d my brain is all wrong. Now, with o
Jung blood charged in my veins, and c,
ur active brain absorbed into my own F
certain head, | shall find the elixir of n