Smyrna times., 1892-04-13

was sure was the foul fend himself,
who had secured Hal, your father, and
now lurked there for US.
His terror was too real to be ridi-
culed, so just slipped into my coat
and prepared to go to the warehouse.
'Nein nein! Du must NIGHT Du
must NIGHT = he implored and l saw
by the dying candle that he was actu-
ally in tears.
Il persisted, however, and he threw
himself desperately before the door.
His Herculean height lowered above
me, but | more than matched him in
breadth, and easily put him aside.
II passed out and, as l had expected
be followed, bat whether from devo-
tiOn to me or the fear of being left
alone in the shop, who shall saw? You
see, the candle had burned down, and
low, continuous growl in the south
west told me of coming storm.
Our goal was near we were soon
! there. AS pushed opened the door
Johann had neglected to fasten, l felt
his breath on my cheek, his hand on
my shoulder. He was in such a tremOr
that his touch thrilled, as it were, my
entire being, and | still shuddered
after | had shaken myself free.
THE room before US was eighty feet
or more in depth, and appeared gloomy
being lighted but by single window
in front. 1t now yawned as black as
dungeon, as silent as death. We
hesitated at the threshold then
JOhann's quick breath suddenly ceased
and at the same instant beheld huge
eye glaring at US wickedly from a re-
mote corner"
"Sinbad's giant" whispered Clar-
ence.
'POlyphemus," Bessie echoed.
Both nestled closer Uncle Dave
went on:
Il felt queer, there was no denying
1t. But thought |, if, as Tom Camp.
bell says, distance lends enchautment,
then view at close range must clear
up the mystery | advanced.
The the eye moved as though to
meet me half way. | halted involun.
tarily and glanced back. Johann still
stood in the doorway; | could dimly
trace the upper portion of his giant fig
ure thrust through the aperture. He
He was evidently spell-bOund. Turn
ing, grasped my courage with both
hands, so TO speak, and again started
| forward. The eye changed its tactics.
Cleaning Indignantly, 1t began now
to move slowly from side to side; back
and forth, back and forth, like rest
less wild beast in its cage"
Clarence's hand slid into that of his
uncle
! As the space narrowed between us, ,"
the latter continued, ''the eye became
fixed, then gradually sank down,
down, as though its invisible owner
was crOuching to spring. | once more
paused irresolute, raised instinctinctly
a protecting arm, then, ashamed. let it
drop at my side. AS | did so, the ap-
partition shot up with incredible
swlttness. and |, tripping on a loose
plank, measured my length on the
floor, striking as | fell pile of boxes
adjacent, and slightly gashing my
head
81 regained my feet in a moment.
Jo.abn had fled. My courage had
no" risen, and, clutching crOwbar
that chanced to stand within reach.
was ready for anything.
The evil genus confronting me was
no longer an eye; a near view had dis
PEELED that illusion. 1t was too large
TO begin with, aud lacked color. 1t
looked CHASTITY.
Its activity, however, left little
doubt of its being alive. True, the
dread object had not pursued me, had
scarcely veNtured as yet beyond its
lair; but it seemed to be fully aroused,
and glided stealthily this way and
that felt sure it meditated an i'm
mediate attack.
teeth, and swinging alOft my club of
iron, | bore down on the foe.
MY action was the signal for new
freak on its part, more strange, more
appalling, than anything that had vet
transpired. 1t now began revolving
with amazing velocity, round and round,
round and round in evercontracting
circles.
my heart beat like death watch ::
the moisture drenched my brow; but
on, on, | strobe, aud faster, faster it
few.
"The crisis had come, and-whiz
straight at my head struck sayagely
missed, lodged a lurid light shone
about me yell"-
Here great crash drowned Uncle
Dawes voice. The children clung to
him, panicstricken.
whats that?" they cried. Then,
Bessie, reproachfully, "Uncle Dave
did you kick over those library steps?"
Clarence sat up with jerk.
TITS a sell !" he calculated. But the
evil genus, the apparition, the eye
What was il? uncle?"
Punk" Uncle Dave answered.
Punk !"
Punk your father had stumbled
on a rare piece in the woods, and not
finding the wild turkeys, hastened
home to make game of two precious
geese"
And Herr Boltz, did he never come
?" queried essie.
''COme back % he was back in less
than ten minutes, with half the town
on his heels. Poor fellow % added
Uncle Dave, retrOspectively. The
nickname of Punk stuck to him until
'49. when. with many another, he was
carried off by the California fever"
$50 papa was Satan," Clarence
mused."
Look here, my by" objected Uncle
Dave, II didn't say that. Come tC
think of it, though, the theory accounts
for your being so impish."
Clarence sprang from the sofa
righted the steps, and turned up the
lights.
"Come, uncle" he coaxed, "let',
play tiddledy winks."