The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1907-09-13

smooth, like my own. There it lay,
pressed up close against me, solid as stone,
and yet utterly invisible.
Just then Hammond entered my room
at the head of the household. As soon as
he beheld my face-which suppose, must
have been an awful sight to look at-he
fastened forward, crying, "Great heavens,
Harry, what has happened p
Hammond Hammond p | cried,
'.come here. Oh, this is awful. | have
been attacked in bed by something or other,
which | have hold of; but can see it =
Hammond, doubtless struck by the
horror expressed in my countenance, made
one or two steps forward with an anxious
yet puzzled expression. A very audible
litter burst from the remainder Of my
visitors
This suppressed laughter made me
curious.
Hammond Hammond = [ cried
again despairingly. ''come to me. | can
hold the Thing but short while longer
1t is oyerpowering me- Help me help
ME
Harry" whispered Hammond, ap-
preaching ME. ''you have bee smoking too
much opium.
Il swear to you, Hammond, that this
is no vision | answered, in the same low
tone. Don you see how it shakes my
whole frame with it struggles? Ii you
don believe me, convince yourself. Feel
it, touch it.
Hammond advanced, and laid his hand
on the spot indicated. A wild cry OF
horror burst from him. He had felt 1t !!
In moment he had discovered some
where in my room long piece Of cord,
and was the next instant winding 1t and
knotting it about the body of the unseen
bein. that clasped in my arms.
'Harry,' he said in a hoarse voice
for though he preserved his presence of
mind, he was deeply asitated Harry,
it : safe now; you may let go if you are
tired. The Thing can't move
| was utterly exhausted, and | gladly
loosened my hold Hammond stood hold
ing the ends of the cord that bound the
Invisible, twisted around his hand, while
before him, self-supporting, as it were,
was rope laced and interlaced, and
stretching tightly around vacant space.
The confusion among the guests of the
house who beheld the pantomime Of bind.
ing this struggling Something-who beheld
me almost sinking from physical exhaustion
when my task of jailer was over-the con-
fusion and terror that took possession of
the bystanders when they saw all this was
beyond description, The weaker ones fled
from the apartment. The few who re-
manned could not be induced to approach.
Still they doubted. 1 gave a sign to
Hammond, and both of us-conquering
our fearful repugnance to touch the invis-
ible creature lifted it from the ground,
menacled as it was, and took it to my bed.
Its weight was about that of a boy OF
fourteen.
NOW. my friends, - said, as Hammond
and myself held this creature suspended
over the bed, II can give you self evident
proof that here is solid, ponderable body,
which, nevertheless, you cannot see. BE
good enough to watch the bed attentively. 4"
At a signal Hammond and l let the
creature fall. There was dull sound, as
of a heavy body alighting on a soft
mass. The bed creaked. A deep i'm
preston marked itself distinctly on the
pillow, and on the bed itself The crowd
who witnessed this gave low cry, and
rushed from the room. Hammond and
were alone with our mystery.
We remained silent for some time, list
ening to the low, irregular breathing of
the creature on the bed, and watching the
rustic of the bedclothes as it impotently
struggled to free itself from confinement.
We watched together smoking many pipes,
all night long by the bedside of the I'M
earthly being that tossed and painted until
it was apparently wearied out. Then we
learned by the low, regular breathing, that
it slept
The next morning the house was all
astir. We had to answer a thousand
Questions as to our extraordinary prisoner,
for not one person except ourselves could
be induced to set foot in the apartment.
The creature was awake. This was
evidenced by the convulsive manner in
which the bedclothes were moving in its
efforts to escape. There was something
truly terrible in beholding, as it were, these
struggles for liberty which yet were in
visible.
Hammond and myself had racked our
brains during the long night to discover
some means by which we might realize the
shape and general appearance of the ENG
ma. As well as we could make out, by
passing our hands over the creature form,
its outlines and lineaments were human.
There was mouth, round, smooth head
without hair, a nose, which, however, was
little elevated above the cheeks, and its
hands and feet felt like those of boy.
A happy thought struck me. We
would take a cast of it in plaster. This
would give us the solid figure, and satisfy
all our wishes. But how to do it? The
movements of the creature would disturb
the setting of the plastic covering, and
distort the mold. Another thought: Why
not give it chloroform? 1t had respiratory
organs-that was evident by its breathing.
Once reduced to a state of insensibility,
we could do with it what we would.
A doctor was sent for, and after he had
recovered from amazement he administered
chloroform. In three minutes afterward
We could remove the fetters, and modeler
was engaged in covering the invisible form
with the moist clay. In Eve minutes more
he had a mold, and before evening rough
facsimile of the mystery.
It was shaped like a distorted,
uncouth, and horrible, but still man. 1t
was small, not over four feet and some
inches in height, and its limbs revealed
muscular development that was unparal-
leled. Its face surpassed in hideousness
anything had ever seen. Gustavus Dore
u. 4 4.