Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-09-25
THE PLAN TO
n KILL LAON.

was IN tne ACT OF drinking MS mluu
was flashed with an inspiration. He
saw his way clearly. He laid the half
emptied goblet upon the board, and
leaning back in his chair he smiled as
a man will smile in a moment of tri-
umph.
AT last! At,last!
And he began to revel in his scheme.
He looked at it from this side, from
that side and thought of all the con-
tingencles that might arise from the
working Of it out, for this Laon was
surely one of great power.
And as he was thinking he suddenly
raised his eyes, and there, standing be-
fore him, was Laon.
81 have come" said Laon as he look
ed him full in the face, ito tell you to
abandon the plan that entered your
mind as you were drinking the wine"
"What plan" asked the prince. He
was too surprised to feel even fear.
"Your plan to kill me-"
81 kill you For what reasonT
81 will not discuss that" answered
Laon. "All that l will say is that
know the whole details of the plan
the plan you have determined to act
upon. warn you against it."
"Narn me! Warn me! Explain
yourselfw
''You know well that I speak the
truth. And | will not threaten you.
l fear you not, though know that you
have thought out and accomplished the
death of many. Do not look at me so
strangely. What | have spoken is the
truth"
"Then"-
81 merely tell you that If you attempt
my life 1t will be your own that will go,
and after that will come punishment"
Cannot we be-
"No, we cannot be friends. | have
desire neither for your friendship nor
fear for your enmity, powerful and
treacherous though you be. And you
will think it strange that have come,
to speak to you as do. Well, it is
strange, but there is a reason for tia
strong reason"
"What reason?"
"Oh. certain reason. However,
listen. Go your way if you will. but
remember that going your way means
death and terrible punishment. Re
memberW
And Laon was gone.
And the prince wondered. How had
he come so mysteriously? What did it
mean? What was there in this Laon
SO different from the rest? What
strange, clear eyes he had-eyes that
pierced into the soul; aye, eyes that
pierced the soul. Was it man or demon
who read what was passing in the
mind of another when far apart? He
had heard of beings who could feel the
innermost thoughts of others. He had
heard of men who had discovered the
hidden secret that underlay and was
the life of all things-magician who
kept their knowledge from the world.
who mixed not closely with their fell
lows, whose aim was to keep the
knowledge Of their secret close till men
were wiser.
Could II be that this Laon was one of
these men or as one of them?
But he was so young. He was-but
stay, was he so young after all? Did
not his eyes. though brilliant, look old
and full of an all knowledge? Aye, his
eyes looked wise and old, and 1t is the
eyes that tell the age. This Laon was
old.
And then he began to think of him
self. Why did he wish to klll-ever to
kill? What was the thing or the de-
mon that drove him to plan, carefully
done him no harm-those against
whom he bore no malice? Vengeance
had never overtaken him because he
was such power in the land
But why did he feel this desire to
kill? There was nothing malignant in
his look He was neither misshapen of
body nor distorted of limb nor cruel of
feature.
Then why-why did he kill? There
were times when he felt love and
tenderness for all things, times when
he felt
oh. why-why did he obey this
prompting? This question repeated it.
self to him again and again.
And as II TO answer 1t he sprang up
suddenly. His eye had become cold
and threatening. His thoughts had
taken another turn.
He killed--hc killed because of the
sense Of power it brought him. 1t was
fine to carefully plot and plan, TO lie
awake In the dead of night when all
was still and think. think as TO the
killing of the one he had fixed upon.
Yes, he would kill this I.aon. Magic
or no magic, he would kill him. He
would begin the working out of the
plan he had formed at once.
He was reaching up bis hand TO a
small square l5x that lay upon shelf
when he heard a slight noise behind
him.
He looked. and there was Laon again,
but now he was clad In the garb of q
priest of Brahma. His right hand was
raised aioft; his left hand was grasping
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