The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-04-21
TIE DEATH SPIDER.

There was once on one of the thor
oughfares which grope into the maze
OF lanes and alleys surrounding
Seven Dials, in London, shop as
odd and repulsive as its keeper.
"Beriah Hargon,' painted over the
door. dimly proclaimed through a
coat of CRIME the name by which he
had long been known; but in the
minds of the neighborhood gamins
the nickname ~.Gobelin"' had come
through mist OF superstitious fear
and ignorance. He was as ugly a
man as one could see in all the
metropolis. His face was almost hid
den by gray, bristling beard, shaggy
eyebrows, and the long tangled curls
of his dusty HAL. His greasy and
rudely-mended clothes had been
forced to serve him for quarter OF
his 60 years. Though he shufled
about, supporting his bent form upon
a huge, twisted cane, he held his
head stiff1y erect, and two red-rimmed,
evil eyes glared with fierce watchful-
ness at every one he met.
The goods displayed in the one
dirty-glassed window. and upon the
shelves inside, showed Hargon to be
. naturalist and morbid anatOmist.
There were cases of impaled insects,
numerous skulls, and number of
jars of snakes. as we'll as portions OF
the human frame, preserved in alco-
hol. The cracked bell hanging on a
spiral spring against the door seldom
announced the entrance of anyone1out
Hargon himself, and this fact had
given rise to the belief that the
"'Gobelin' had sold himself to the
devil and needed no customers.
Late one winter night this man
began Hateful task, closed the
shop, and satisfying himself that no
curious one was lurking without, he
carried candle into the back room.
Placing it upon a table, he drew a
broken chair into it's brightest light
and sat down. An expression OF
deadly intention rendered him hid
eous as he pulled toward him black
book and opened it. Upon the right
page was diagram of aimonster spi-
der, which he carefully measured and
examined; then turning to the left
page he read in hatd, gruff voice:
HE who having solemnly compact
ed with the Power, essays to construct
and make live the Death Spider
must construct two. 1t is written,
and let him heed; he must construct
two"
Wrinkles of deep inquiry quilted
his black forehead and meshed his
eyes as he exclaimed:
why twop"
Finding no satisfactory answer in
his own mind. he read on:
He who desireth to create the
Death Spider may call the helper,
who will render assistance, instruc-
ton, and perform all necessary SER
vice. Place the palm over the picture
of the spider, call thrice aloud Girls
skin, and the helper will appear
The gobelin obeyed these instruc-
lions without delay. and instantly
there appeared beside him-not en-
tering through a door or window, but
as if portion of the air had been
solidified and animated-a grotesque
being. who, rubbing his eyes and
yawning, said ill-humoredly:
II am here, but not beholden to
you for waking me. No one has
called me for fifty years, and was in
slumber. What is your wish?"
He was not taller than three feet,
and was dressed in single tight fit
ting garment. much like modern
jersey, which covered his entire
body, and revealed his singular form.
His legs were thin and wlry. and
tapered to little pointed feet, while
his arms we've muscular as those oil
an athlete: but his head, dispropor-
tionately large and face, especially.
were startling. 1t was one of those
smooth, puzzling faces which look
youthful, but which bear an indefin-
able suggestion of age. Around his
mouth and in the wrinkle of his
black eyes were Indications of cum
ming, which flashed into treach
erous leer whenever Hargon's sight
was turned from him.
-4You would make the Death
Spider, .ehp" he said, repeating the
old mans reply What forp"
..Must you know that?" glowered
the gobelin.
Verify, / must"' .retorted the imp,
impudently. leaping to the table
and, with the burst of merriment
boxing his tapered foot against Har
CONS breast. ..H0w am l to work il
know not that?"
Not relishing this liberty, Hargor
moved his chair, and, looking har6
at his visitor, said:
Il will tell you, then
Grissikin caught his bent knee il
his clasped hands. and, turning hit
head sideways, with his tongue
thrust hard into his cheek and his
bright eyes fixed on the old man
was prepared to listen.
lin Kent there is youth, Andrew
Fithington, whom hate to the death
and he must die. His father merci
lessly and iniquitously injured me
ysears Nago, and then consulted the
books of torture for a death to send
upon him that would be fitting re-
venge, but apoplexy snatched him
away before / received the power te
,put the racking death upon him.
Vow the son must not escape my ven.