The Washington herald., 1908-06-14

emerge from behind some pillar, to dew
astate him with that awful mocking
smile
He has consented" answered Elsa
HE was unwilling. but the young man
had much money 70 offer. and he offered
it because he believes that only thus will
the love of the lady at DonOyle be re-
stored to him, and her reason TO her. The
young man who wore the motor mask
that day-the young man who has such a
NICE fresh face-he has been with my
father these two hours"
who is he?" asked Fabian. who Is
the ran who took advantage Of my des-
peration TO buy my soul, as he would
buy motor carr
The rich young man who is going to
marry the lady at the castle" she an
swered. Mr.. Vandraken"'
THE man who is going to marry Lady
Kitty-the man the snake woman came
to claim?"
came the sound OF steps hurrying up
stone stairs, and voice which moaned.
Help helpr came nearer and nearer
Fabian rushed 10 the end Of the hail
from which the voice came, and met Van
draken. gray-faced and terror-stricken.
rushing up the stone stairs which led
downward from the hall.
Good God, It's you," he cried, jump
Ing back from Fabian Dare. What are
you doing here?"
What's the matter?" shouted Fabian,
too thrilled by the horror in the other
mans voice TO pour out on him his pent-
up hatred.
They are killing him!-they are killing
him. he shrieked. And such a DEATH
such a death! He is dying in he'll itneIf!
They tied me in a chair ano --ade me see
it all! The old man with the white beard
sat with a book before him giving direc-
tions, and the other devils Don't let
her come down, She mustn't see it," he
cried, pointing 10 the nun. who had rushed
past them. and was making for the stone
staircase
DO YOU hear2" shouted Fabian Dare TO
Elsa. You mustn't come down, Stay
here til l call you-you can do nothing,
Stay here. and pray" He seized her by
the arm and thrust her back Promise
you won't come down till you are calledi"
Il must go TO him,-I must go TO my
fatheri" walled Elsa
she must not see Il! She must not see
her father as he is" insisted Vandraken.
Do you hear. Elsa?" cried Fabian
Dare. You can do no good! Stay here
and pray"
/ But IL was unnecessary. Elsa caught al
a pillar, leaned against II. and sank 10 the
floor, unconscious. The two men rushed
! down the stone stairs as fast as its cork
screw shape would allow them. then
along a passage dripping with damp. dim
/ ly lighted from some distant room on the
same level.
! 1t was the big subterranean chamber 70
which they came. fitted up like a lab0ra-
/ tory But Fabian Dare saw nothing but
the glass case, with the glass broken. and.
lashed on the metal stool. Abdul Won Tar
senheim, with his fingers in his ears. All
1 Fabian could hear was a faint whir-
ring noise, but from the groans Of the
/ man on the stool. and his broken words
/ he gathered that in some way ne was be-
| ing made TO hear disintegrating discords
/ He looked curiOusly shrunken and chang
ed. but the ghost Of the mocking smile
| still hovered over his face. where Il com
peted with a grin OF terror, compounded
/ with pain. The collar was round his
neck-the collar Fabian had worn himself
Little flashes Of light varying in color
escaped from the broken glass tubes.
/ Fabian rushed up 10 the machine. think
| ing he could release what was left Of the
man who sat on the STOOL but he fell
backward. tingiing with pain and terror
before he had got anywhere near.
THE book,-the book. Get the book.
and throw It to me-" shrieked Won Tar
| senheim-
The men took it with them when they
left.' called back Vandraken.
| YOU must get me OUT ACh, GOtt,
Have you no courage? Get me out. and
VIII do such things no more. I viii give
/ YOU back your moneys-I will give YOU
/ back your souls, I disintegrate in these
! frightful discords Oh, the sounds, the
sounds" He seemed 10 be shrinking be
| fore their eyes. And my soul,-it Is still
alive. I will die with soul, after all,
/ have but dragged IL down TO the earth.
and the pain-I cannot stand it," he
shrieBed. Nerve by nerve. I am torn
! apart. XIII mc,-shoot me-" His face
was hideous with agony.
/ If either Of the men had had a weapon
they would have obeyed; but they had
none.
There is poison" he moaned. pointing
10 a shelf opposite Tablets. in a phill-
4 throw il 10 me- or I will curse you so that
YOU shall die as I am dying! No, no.
/ Will not,-bUt have mercy, and throw
/ me the poison"
! Vandraken rushed 10 the shelf. There
/ were phlals ranged IN row, some con
/ tanning white tablets. some red He
/ picked up a white phial and held it up
so that Won TaTSenheim could see il
! "Fool"' he yelled THAT is but q slim
/ ulant, The red tablets-the poison that
/ kills so swiftly-throw ii 10 me-quick,"
/ Nandraken threw Il 70 the man on the
/ stool, but IL bounded back as though
/ from a solid wall. and shattered on the
/ floor the bright red tablets scattering in
\ all directions.
| Almost at that moment the lights began
/ TO fade. Won Tarsenheim's screams died
/ away TO a doglike whine, the whirring
noies stopped. and what was left Of Won
/ Tarsenheim fell forward against his COL
/ lar and his bonds
To BE CONCLUDED TOMORROW.