The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1898-04-28


'It is the masters signal. He is
awake, " said Kola impressively. Then
the house was as quiet as a tomb. A
train passed on the elevated road near
by. 1t rumbled in faroff way. as if it
were underground.
BE still now and look into the dark
ness ahead of you." said Kola. ''The
master will net present himself to view
nor speak, but he knows Your desires
and will give psychic demonstra-i ion
that will interest you.
When the adept ceased speaking, the
fiutelike note sounded again, and then
profound silence fell. Lampkin heard
some one breathing heavily, but could
not make out who it was. He felt a
hand grasp his own, heard a step on the
carpet and knew that Hendricks had
passed him, going he knew not whittier.
The black robe he wore blended so thor
oughly with the darkness that he had
become part of it.
The doctor heard Miss Benton cry
out softly, ard then lie saw square of
grayish light appear in the ceiling. 1t
grew lighter till it was exactly like a
glimpse of the sky on dark night.
Now and then star could be seen un-
der thin, filmy clouds, which seemed to
be driven along by high wind.
Wonderful, by Jove!' exclaimed
MOntcastle' voice. Il bave"-
Instantly the scene vanished. Only
the most intense darkness remained.
Kola bent toward Montcastle.
1T was because you spoke, kind sir,
he said. IF yOu talk, the master will
retire.
Silence and blackness reigned for five
minutes. Then the flute note sounded,
and the view of the sky returned. For
awhile it w"s as it had been before.
Then one of the stars, which had ap-
peared so indistinct as to be unseen at
times, began to blaze fiercely. Now and
then it would seem to have some sort
Of internal eruption.
Itwould burn red and blue and throw
off bits of fire, which floated downward
and slowly expired One of the sparks,
instead of going out, grew brighter and
brighter as it descended till it took the
form of letter "B" and then melted
away. The next spark formed the let
ter e" and the letters Of fire con-
tinued to form and fall till the word
"BeutOn' had been spelled
THE last letter went oct with 4
fash, giving LamEkln vague VIZ
the large room and the Benton /
about 20 feet IL frcut CT HIN. The u.
instant the room was Totally dark.
remained so,for two CT three minute,
Then tie flUyc note sounded again, al.
q large square Of light appeared ;.t.a:,u
CT them. 1t locked IS if it were half :.
mile from where the spectators sat.
Slowly it began to take the fOrm of the
interior Of "a room. The walls, pictures
and curtains came into view, and then
TIE furniture, 4 desk, q man sitting at It.
Alice Benton stifed scream. 1t was
her father. He sat writing. He leaned
forward and dipped his pen in the ink
stand The spectators saw the movement
r. his hand ovo4 .Lo paper and heard
the scratching ef his pen. He turned his
I head, looked at them and then rose de-
: Iiserately, laid his left hand on his
breast and pointed steadily at them.
His lips moved, but no sound passed
through them. Then DR.. Lampkin heard
some one easping for breath and a
! heavy weight fall to the floor. Instant
! IL the room was dark.
: "A lieht'' cried Ralph Benton's
voice. Turn On the lights! Something
has happened to Mr.. Allen
"What has happened?" asked the
! adept from the darkness.
MIR. Allen has fainted," replied
Ralph. He was not we'll and did not
want to come here anyway. Why don t
you turn On the lights?''
DR.. Lampkin felt some one touch his
! elbow and the warm breath of the &C.
tective on his ear.
"Remain where you are, whispered
Hendricks. BLAST his ugly picturev'
Give US light, say!' cried Ralph
nngrily.
"See, he-your Mr. Allen is waking -
said the adept.
"Waking:" sneered Benton. "Do you
think that's the way he usually retires?'
/ The darkness was lifted slightly.
How it was done Lampkin could not
tell. Montcastle and Ralph could be
seen standing and supporting Allen ,ae.
tween them.
1.-The door is open,'' said Kola
You'd better all go out into. the fresh
air."
Montcastle and Allen were gropiss
toward the door, led by the adept. Sud
denly Ralph, who had not moved, raiset
his voice:
II don't intend to leave till know
what this Internal business means
say, Montcastle, give me matche'
Course the young daredevilp' ex
claimed Hendricks, still near to Lamp
! kin, and the doctor heard him tax
something fl ON his pocket which rat
tied like pieces of metal. "I'll pay hin
for this.
Then the flute note sounded twice.
"The master wants US to retire" sal
Kola.
"Who the devil is the master?'
sneered Ralph "This thing touches m
own family, and / am going to loo
into it. =
.sDon't be q fool, = cautioned Stan