Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-04-05

nangluSS lSSu6Q SOIL VOlCo COuIuduu- ing the young man to advance. He did so, and knelt directly in front of the mysterious drapery From his close proximity he discovered that the silk was almost transparent, so that the form of woman could be faintly discerned, yet not with sufficient clear ness to enable one to recognize her face.
 What seek you of the Powers of Darkness?" demanded the voice.
 q seek first, most powerful Priest ess, a charm to win the hand of one, Renee d'Outrelaise, friend and com panion of Mademoiselle, whose lovely person desire. Next, the means for a sure and speedy death of a relative whose heir l am. And lastly, crave thy aid to nerve my arm and protect my body in duel I shall shortly fight with foreign soldier"
 Truly, thy wants are many and great. What offering have you to make before the devils shrine?"
 ''Ten thousand livres;" and, as he spoke, he drew from his bosom bag of clinking gold and stretched it forth. A hand protruded itself through the curtains and seized it. There was si- lence for a moment or two, as the priestess examined the contents. All seemed satisfactory, for in a moment the hand reappeared bearing a tiny charm of silk an inch square attached to a fine gold chain.
 Take this," was the command. Gain but a single hair from the head of her whose hand you seek to win, in- close it in this silken bag, and wear it. Within year the girl is yours"
 The Comte de Miron seized the chain eagerly and placed it about his neck, Again the hand appeared from be- hind the curtain. This time it held small phial containing rose-red fluid.
 Drop one drop daily into your rela- droop and weaken, and before this precious liquid is used up he will die, and no leech can save him nor dis tinguish his malady."
 The young man took the poison. A moment later the hand was again be- fore him, this time holding two pieces of thin, strange-lOoking metal about the shape of a pistole.
 Sew these at midnight before the duel, one on your right sleeve to give your sword-arm strength and cunning, the other over against your heart to protect your body"
 So saying, the voice ceased and the bits of metal fell into his outstretched palm. A slight noise at his elbow caused the comte to start and turn in that direction, when be heheld ths same dwarf that had ushered him in- to the room standing with his cloak and hat ready. He quickly donned these, and after being led toward the wall by his deformed guide, a secret door sprang open and an instant later he found himself standing in the Rue de Beauregard. with the rain still fall. Ing In torrents about him.
 
 Through the same storm that broke about the head of the young Comte de Miron, as he went about his nefarious errand. another cloaked figure of man might have been seen hurryine ,to a midnight appointment in another portion of the city. This person, too. feared neither God nor devil. As he passed Notre Dame, he stopped a mo- ment in the shadows, and looked up through the murk at the massive structure in admiration of the inher- ent strength and power that enabled it. inanimate though it was. to fling defiance to the lowering thunder clouds. and stand unshaken before the buffetings of wind and rain.
 It must needs be business of great import that would take a human be- ing out in such storm. Whatever his object, the mans purpose never for a moment wavered as he fought against the sweep of the drenching blast that he encountered while crossing the Pont Notre Dame. Turning and walk ing along the river bank for a short distance, he finally entered a small and obscure cross-street. He proceeded along this, until he was directly in front of a dilapidated building situ- ated in the rear of the Hotel de Vile. Here he stopped and gave peculiar whistle, which could not have been heard for more than 20 paces, because of the uproar of the storm. dark figure. securely muiIled like his own. appeared at his side. as suddenly and mysteriously as though he had come up through the earth. A sign was given and returned, and the heads of the two men approached each other. while their lips moved in some myste- rious interchange of words.
 All seemed well. for the first con- spirator turned. and. opening a narrow door with small key. disappeared, followed by the other. They felt their way along pitch dark passage. Again heard from the leader as they descend- cd flight of stairs into a subterra- mean way. This was soon traversed. end a door was reached. through whose cracks and keyhole light appeared. This opened into room built entirely underground and lighted by a large lamp. A table occupied the center of the floor. and several chairs were scat tered about. A large brazier of lighted charcoal warmed the air and dissipated the moisture of the place. An open ing fin the roof leading to the out side world somewhere gave sufficient ventilation.