The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-08-16

induced 10 approach. Still they
doubted. gave a sign TO Hammond.
and both of us-conQuering our fear
full repugnance 10 touch the invisible
creature-lfted il from the ground,
manacled as IL was, and took IL To
my bed. Its weight was about that OF
boy of fourteen.
Nov, my friends" said, rs Ham,
mond and myself held the creature
suspended over the bed. 81 can give
you self-evident proof that here is
solid. ponderable body, which, never
theless, you cannot see. Be good
enough TO watch the bed attentively."
At signal Hammond and let the
creature fall. There was dull
sound, as OF heavy body alighting
on soft mass. The bed creaked.
A deep impression marked itself dis
tinctly 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.
listening TO the low, irregular breath
ing OF the creature on the bed. and
watching the rustic of the bedclothes
as it impotently struggled TO free it.
self from confinement. We watched
together smoking many pipes, all
night long by the bedside OF the
unearthly being that tossed and pant
ed until 1t was apparently wearied
out. Then We learned by the low,
regular breathing. that 1t slept.
The next morning the house was
all astir. We had To answer thou
sand questions as TO our extraordi-
nary prisoner, for not one person ex-
cept 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 behold
ing, as il were, these struggles for
liberty which yet were invisible.
Hammond and myself had racked
our brains during the long night 10
discover some means by which we
might realize the shape and general
appearance OF the Enigma. AS well
as we could make out, by passing our
.hands over the creatures form, its
outlines and lineaments were human.
There was a mouth, a round, smooth
head without hair, 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 cast of il in plaster
This would give us the solid figure.
and satisfy all our wishes. But how
to do it? The movements of the crea-
ture would disturb the setting OF the
plastic covering, and distort the
mold. Another thought; Why not
give IL chloroform? IL had respira-
tory Organs-that was evident by its
breathing. Once reduced to a state
of insensibiity, we could do with it
what we would.
doctor was sent for, and after
he had recovered from amazement
he administered chloroform In three
minutes afterward we could remove
the letters, and modeler was en-
gagged in covering the invisible form
with the moist clay. In five minutes
more he had a mold, and before even
ing rough fac-simile of the mystery.
1t was shaped like a man-dis-
torted, uncouth. and horrible. but
still a man. 1t was small, not over
four feet and some inches I'm height.
and its limbs revealed muscular
development that was unparalleled.
It's face surpassed in hideousness
anything | had ever seen. Gustavus
Dore never conceived anything so
horrible. 1t was the physiognomy OF
what ! should fancy a ghoul might
be. 1t looked as If it was capable
OF feeding on human flesh
Having satisfied our curiosity. and
bound every one in the house to Sc
crecy, II became "A question what was
TO be done with our Enigma. II was
impossible that we should keep such
a horror in the house; 1t was equally
impossible that such an awful being
should be let loose upon the world.
| confess that | would have gladly
voted for the creatures destruction.
But who would shoulder the respon-
sibility? Who would undertake the
execution OF this horrible semblance
OF human being?
The most singular plrt Of the af-
fair was that we were entirely igno-
rant OF what the creature habitually
fed on. Everything in tie way OF
nutriment that We could Jsink OF
was placed before II. but vas never
touched. II was awful 90 stand by,
day after day, ard see the clothes
toss, and hesI the hard breathing
and know 'Est :. vas dying.
Ten. twelve days. fortnlghmt
passed, and IL still lived. The pulsa-
tions of the heart, however, were
daily growing fainter. and had now
nearly ceased. II was evident that
the creature was dying for want OF
sustenance. While this terrible life
struggle was going on ] felt miser-
able 1 could not sleep. Horrible