The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1908-10-01
The Death Head


~~-~~~~-o~-~~-~
II WAS bought BY Mortimer Dayen
al sale beld In a rambling old oountr,
house somewhere wilhln twenty mile
OF London. and be was nrst attracse'
10 il By liz horribly repulsive appear
ance.
l aliude 70 the mummined head OF I
chinaman Ia a sealed glass case
shrunken and brown in appearances. ans
vita she lips. as is usual. stitched 70
gefher
Not very formidable 20 far. and 4
was not until you noticed the eyes thai
yon realized bow extremely sinister Al
aspect they gave 10 the whole face
Deeply sunken Hith half-close1 lids
they gave one ever the chilling impress
sion that the sight still iurked within
them. and more where you would about
the room their stealthy gaze would Col
low.
Mortimer DaTent was q strange man.
and strange thlngs had a fascination
for him. therefore BE- carried bis treas.
ure home and placed il amongst the
almost unique collection Of eurios be
had gathered upon hls travels abroad.
And that same day there came an old
and valued friend 70 sce him. He ar
rived rather early In the evening. 20
ma parent alone IN bis study. with
a pipe between his teeth. gioating over
his latest purchase. A. tho visitor was
announced. he rose quickly. and moving
the case aside. came forward with out.
STRETCHED hand.
-My dear Crosby he exciained. -she
very man wanted 70 So ST. down ss
once sat liwhs up. I've gos something
10 zSse~ yos-
ssssh1nx 10Th. Crosby drew up a chair
and rubbed bis hands IN pleased anfici.
patton.
What's the treasure this timer be-
inqulsed with interest 4 thought yon'd
Enf everything worth having IN that
collection % yours. What IA III An.
Other bronseT'
Dnvenf shook hls bead. lie was COO.
ceailnx the case With bis sleeve.
~wrons. old fellow. Guess again =
"A crysiali A rare plece Of china
A blscs.leiter book = Then seeing that
Davrnt sfill shook bis head: = give
Il up. show Il so me. whatever Il IA.
and put an end to my suspense
Its the mummlfcd bead OF a Chi. |
namau = said Davens.
Hia friends facr fell ia that ALP
be exclaimed. why. you bought a head
bot - very long ago. I thought you
bad discovered something out OF the
,rfinary-
well. this Is out Of the ordinary
replied Davent. and. moving his arm.
10 drew the case forward until Il stood
'xacfiy beneath the rays Of the big
'haded lamp above them. Have the
goodness to examine that face care
'uily :"
Crosby. beading forward. complied
Then he drew back and. sitting upright
,nve a low whistle OF surprise.
-Jove. mani You are right he CON.
nentcd. This IL out OF the ordinary.
hose eyes. II they were fully opened.
ronid be simply dIabollcni The fellow
aus, have been az cunning as old Nick
lmself. I'm hanged n the brute isn't
InfchIng US all the timef"
There you arei That's Just 1T"
ried Dayent cxcitedly. The very
hing that struck me The whole even.
" I've sat IN this room, and the beg.
ar's never once taken his eyes OF me-
minute ago could have sworn he
ms grinning at me-"
Crosby sprang to his feet
Look here" he exclaimed. "I'm go
e to fetch old Hammond. We must
V II be notices anything strange.
e's lived IN China nearly all his life.
ID n there should be anything super.
stural about the thing he's the man to
ID Il out. Are you gamer
by all MEANS" assonfed Davcnt.
insulting his watch. AT this time
N ought to catch him. and. for good ,
'ss' sake, don't be long. This thing Is !
'ttlng on my nerves"
When Hammond entered. without |
rowing In tho least why he had been
tched. the two men watched him Z
emily. He greeted Davent IN his usual
IIct manner. and then his eye fell
ION the glass case still standing upon e
e table. >
"HaIloi" he exclaimed. Something 4
W. and advancing closer be carefully r
justed bis plnc-nez. n
Neither Davent nor Crosby were r
lie prepared for tho strange scene n
at followed Hammond had but taken a
. glance at the CHASTITY head when he r.
ddenly uttered loud and terrible
, and flung no his arms. Z.