Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1892-09-22
approaching me, "you- have been
smoking too much opium"

st~fH@SSSANAS N~S5 y
smoking too much opium"
aI swear to you, Hammond, Chat
this is no vision," I answered, in
the same low tone. "Don't you
see how it sh axes my whole frame
with its struggles? If you don't
believe me convince yourself, Feel
it-touch it.'
Hammond advanced and laid
his hand in the spot L indicated !.
A wild cry of horror burst from
him He had felt it'll
In moment he had discovered
somewhere in my room a long
piece of cord, and was the next
instant winding it and knotting it
it about the body of the unseen
being that I clasped in my arms.
"Harry," be said, i'll a hoarse
agitated voice, for, though he
preserved his presence of mind, he
was deeply moved, Harry; it's all
safe now. You may let go, old
fellow, if you're tired. The Thing
cant move"
1 was utterly exhausted, and l
gladly loosed my hold.
Hammond stood holding the
ends of the cord that bound the
Invisible, twisted round his hand,
while before him, self-support1ng,
as it were, he beheld rope laced
and interlaced, and stretching
tightly around a vacant space. l
never saw a man look SO thoroughly
stricken with awe. Nevertheless
his face expressed all the courage
and determination which I knew
him to possess. His lips, al
though white, were set firmly, and
one could perceive at a glance
that, although stricken with fear,
he was not daunted.
The confusion that ensued
among the guests of the house,
who were witnesses of this
extraordinary scene between Ham
mond and mysetf-who beheld
the paatomime of binding this
struggling something-who be-
held me almost sinking from ply
sical exhaustion when my task of
jailer was over-the confusion and
terror that took possession of the
bystanders, when they saw all
this, was beyond description.
Many 81 the weaker ones fed from
the apartment. The few who.
remained behind clustered near
the door, and could not be induced
to approach Hammond and his
Charge. Still incredulity broke
out though their terror, They had
not the courage to satisfy them
selves, and yet they doubted. Itwas
in vain that I begged of some of
the men to come near and con-
vince themselves by touch, of the
existence of a living being in that
room which waa inv .sible. They
were incredulous, but did not dare
to undeceive themselves. How
could solid, living, breathing
body be invisible2 They asked.
My reply was this. I gave q sign
to Hammond, and both of. us
conquering our fearful repugnance
to touching the invisible creature
lifted it from the ground, man.
acled as it was, and took it to my
bed. It's weight was about that of
a boy of fourteen.
"Now, my FRIEND" 1 said, as
Hammond and myself held the
creature suspended over the bed,
"I can given you self-evident
proof that here is solid, pondera-
BILE body which, nevertheless, you
cannot see. Be good enough to
watch the surface of the bed
attentively."
I was astonished at my own
courage in treating this strange
event SO calmly; but I had recov-
cred from my first terror, and felt
a sort of scientific pride in the
affair which dominated every
other feeling.
The eyes of the bystanders were
Immediately fixed on my bed.
At given signal Hammond and I
let the creature fall. There was
the dull sound of a heavy body
alighting on soft mass. The
timbers of the bed creaked. A
deep impression marked itself
distinctly on the pillow, and on
the bed itself. The crowd who wit
messed this gave a sort of low,
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