davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1908-08-30
Girl Taken to Hospital.

You were just in time. gentlemen.
My compliments TO you" said King
when his bonds we're removed. Then
with a cry he dropped on his knees
at the side of the still inanimate Miss
Watrous, seized her hand. and covered
X with his kisses. Then, overwrought
by the terrible ordeal. he fell into
passionate flood Of weeping. Ny sym
pathy for him returned. EEe had both
courage while the danger lasted and
feeling when il was past
No time was lost In getting Mss
Watrous 10 & hospital for, though
Clarke pronounced her in no danger.
he feared a reaction when she re-
gained consciousness. The fanatic,
now apathetic. was bundled into a
patrol wagon with the inspector and
ZlngarO as guards. Clarke, King. and
myself We're seated in another, and
between cur knees the girl was made
as comfortable as possible on a
stretcher. When the wagon started.
reused 5y the jolting. she opened her
eyes and gazed around at US Ia as
tonishment through the hale light
afforded by two police lanterns King
bent down and kissing her. whispered:
why did you come. darling2 You
The Washington times., 1908-08-30
GREAT

Of the wire. and when I want you I
viii call"
Mine was the hardest task. The
hours dragged into the night without
a word from Clarke. About half past
ten, however, a telegram came:
Meet US soon as possible at Cen
trail station. armed CLARKE"
When I reached police headquarters
/ found Clarke IN the squad room en-
gagged in a rapid FIRE conversation with
a small. beady-eyed man Of swarthy
mien. Clarke, who was enveiopel
from head to foot IN a Chesterfield
coat. nodded 10 me and then resumed
the conversation. which was carried
on In a tongue with which l was to-
tally unfamiliar, although ] am able
to distinguish. If not 20 understand.
nearly ali the languages Of cosmopol-
itan Chicago.
'Ah. Inspector shippe, are you
reaay2" Clarke turned 20 the inspect
or who had just entered the room.
"Zinsaro. hero, thinks he can lead up
to the place We should start at onc4
20 arrive on time"
Our course took us deep into tha.
The Washington times., 1908-08-30
Related to aLittle Father.D

StepIaH0vitCh IS of noble birth the
moss noble in Russia, beng related 10
no less d parsonage than the Little
Father himself. Early ia life, 81 1
have heard my father tell, he became
infected with the dangerous baciu VI
black magic, wnica sJill 1ourisnes 10
a large extent IL southern Russia -
the ruling principles of ths black ART
are greed for power ana wealth., lust
Tor revenge, 1t was bat a step to mini
!ism. SlephaHoYitch gathered together
= formidable ban0. Like the masicials
% Old they called themselves The
Brothers OF the LsfJ HAND Path and
they were bound b. tAe most terrible
Caths 10 encompass b. any MEANS
natural or supernatural. the end Of
existing authority.
-NIuihsm has used the dagger and
tie bomb but stephan HUvilcn sdae0 10
these lle pCIsOus OF tie BOrgias and
tLe capacIJy Tor leadership when NJ
hGlsm mas lacked.
Ny Llther had IuiLi9u invested IN
tie MINIS o. southern ltussIa. lie y as
also deeply Interested AS ii student Ia
any yLhIug which slyoreI Of the occult
Hearing r1mors u 81 5eculIar sect Ia
his ueigADOrLOOJ. he IIII Is lIgated quiet
j.. ana Iu the end, parLiy through the
Information OF ITaILUTs 20 the band
and partly through assuming risks lie
penetrated ali lhsir secrets. Then he
dld what was his clear duty ana gave
them up To the government. That "a
The stony.
But how did you fau into his pow
err" querIed Clarke.
After my fathers death We re-
moved to this country. About I've
years ago learned from Russia that
Stephanovitch had escaped and had
come 10 this country. soon after,
began TO receive threatening letters
from him. At first feared aim. but
after ne had called Oh me several
times and As his attitude seemed 10 be
that merely OF z cringing beggar. 1 SET
him down as q harmless. disappointed
fanatic. ! then lost track OF him.
i suppose I inherited from my Ia
ther z love OF Lhs occult as IL has
been my favorite study since youth
When i saw an advertisement il the
paper that a genuine worker OF black
magic. al laid down Ia the Lemegeton,
had located in Chicago, and offered his
services 10 whoever required them,
lost no time ia looking him up. dij
not altogether Ike the locality the
address took nae to, but I've been iE
many Il worse one IL Calcutta looking
up q falzir who was said 70 perform
the mango trick better than any q
his fellows.
Il found a typical magicIan's den
on the top floor OF an otherwise va
cant building Al drsL 7 did not FecOR-
uize Stephanovitch IN the person oG
the magician There were several per
sons IN the room, and ne dismissed
them ia turn and leGt me- until tbs
last Then L saw who IL was. That
Is the last remember very clearly Up
TO the time you gentlemen rescued ma.
I must have been hypnOIize6 or drug
ged, or something. and I suppose !
nave been q prisoner IA thar house
ever since.
The Washington times., 1908-08-30
Then in Came Satan.


Then a most astonishing thing hap
pened. / know my heart stopped for
fuH I've seconds. The inspector ac-
knowledged afterWard that though he
expected the denouement he would
have fired had not mis- forehnger been
nerveIess.
Into the room, and before the as
toniShed gaze OF the fanatic. spranE at
q bound as near a perfect incarna-
ton OF the devil as 7 care TO see either
in this world or the next. Clad from
head TO foot in glittering reptilian
scales. MS arms extended into gauzy
wings, his mustache and beard Of
inky black. curling dehantlg. his head
dress uodding. his eyes blazing. he
stood with avenging finger out
stretched before the now cringing old
man. whose scimitar dropped impotent
% his side and who gradually sank
into a crouchlng heap before the awful
glare OF the apparitiC7is eyes.
The tabIeau was complete In my
soul / knew It was Clarke; I knew too
well that blaze Of those eyes. But
how he got there, how he had eZ-
eeuted such a lightning change, and
what il ali meant, l was at loss TO
fathom.
AS the form Of the fanatic settled
to the floor the apparition changed
It's steady pointing to rapid passes.
After a few seconds the old man lay
still. and Mighty trained mentality had
trIumphed over fanaticism. Then
L.ucifer, in mis- own proper person.
came 10 the window and Clarke's
CHEEKY voice called: Come on, men!
Through the windows you can make
it,"
We scrambled into the room. and
had another surprise when saw
Clarke, smooth shaven as usual. clad
an his immaculate Chesterfield and
without a suspicion OF the Satanic or
of opera boufHe. working 70 revive
sdiss Watrous, whose sleep proved NOT
20 be that OF death.
The inspector had slipped the hand
cuffs on the stin inanimate fanatic.
ard Clarke had so far succeeded IN
arousing Miss Watrous that. she
breathed normally. when our atten-
ton was attracted BY q peculiar noise.
AS first I thought IL was rats work
ing in the walls of the ancient strUc-
ture Clarke's sharp eyes, however,
detected two small holes in the wains-
coting about three feet from the floor.
He began feverishly 70 work at the
Joints Of the wainscoating with the
poi1.t Of the scinitar which he had
picked from the floor. Finally he sue
ceeded in prying up board sufficient
ly TO adn,it the fingers of myself and
the inspector. With a quick pull the
boards cane of one after another.
There, arouched In a niche con-
cealed IN the wall, bound so that the
slightest movement was impossible,
gagged, and with his head held by q
rude clamp so that his eyes must look
through the two holes, was Richard
King.
Terrible must have been the wrong,
I thought, 10 merit such a revenge, 70
see his sweetheart cruelty murdered
before his eyes, and then 10 be left TO
die a lingering, torturing death with
the picture IL his brain.
The Washington times., 1908-08-30
The Terrible Sight.

On a board supported by two chairs
lay the body Of q beautiful girl. Clad
in spotless white, the pallor Of her
counterance matched IN paleness her
flowing draperies. She lay on her
back her arms folded across her
breast and her black hair falling in
great waves to the floor. The room
was bare except for two cheap chairs.
The walls were hung with charts bear
ing cabalistio designs.
Was she dead? I glanced at Clarke
and the Inspector. but their eyes, riv-
eted on the scene across the narrow
cou.i, gave no answer. IN the back
ground Zingaro stood silent with fold
ed arms. We dared not speak even
in whispers. but instinctively / knew
it vas Miss Watrous.
Suddenly while We watched a door
opened and a figure stole silently into
the room. IL was that OF an old man.
tan, gaUnt, and with flowing beard aud
hair Of white. His eyes were black
and deep set. lie was clad IN robe
Of black velvet, broidered with gold
The Washington times., 1908-08-30
DETECTIVE.

and adorned with fantastic designs:
triansles, circles, half moons and
other figures which have been for cen
turies the pet property Of the occult.
The figure OF the old man advanced
toward the outstretched form Of the
girl. Then, with a quick motion Of
his hand and while my heart stopped
its beating, he drew from beneath the
folds C his robe a glittering scimitar.
Quick as d flash the Inspector
whipped out his revolver and dropping
on one knee sighted along the barrel:
but restraining movement OF CIarke.s
hand stopped the IRE.
The old man laid the sward gently
across the breast Of the girl, and be-
gan weird invocation. Mumbled in
his beard at first. the words We're lost
TO Us. but as his inhezion rose with
the heat OF his fervor they foaJed
through the broken window / give
the words as Clarke afterWard wrote
them out for me:
Il immediate this victim to thee. y
Lucifer. master and prince Of rebel
lious spirits. / adjure thee to leave
thine abode. in whatsoever quarter OF
the world il may be situated, and
come hither TO communicate with me.
I command ana 1 now eOnjure thee TO
appear without noise and without any
evil smell, 10 respond IN a clear and
ineligible voice. point By point, to an
that / shall ask thee. Venitel Venite!
Submiritlllor Lucifuge. or eternal tor
ment shall oyerwhelm thee. by the
power that is given unto me.
Immediately after the beginning Of
this wild invocation ( missed Clarke.
The inspector still stood guard with
his revolver. ZingarO. with folded
arms, had not changed his position 1
knelt at the window sill, bat Clarke
was nowhere to be seen.
When the fanatic finished he again
lifted and held aloft the cleaning
blade, seeming 10 await some terrible
crisis
The Washington times., 1908-08-30
Sent Three Messages.

Twice 1 was permitted 10 send mes
sages 70 Miss WauOus, but by Steph~
anoviuch's orders they we're limited 70
the seals OF the spirits. I used tWo
which I was pretty sure Mas Watrous
would know, as we had studied black
magic together, but without her fath-
srs knowledge. Besides. she had =
Grimoire and could look them I'D.
About two days ago SteDl .anoviteh
came 10 me and said: You VIII now
send TO the young woman who Is
called Miss Warous the seal of the
dread spirit Glasyalabolas that she
may know that ere the run rises on
the third day from now you viii be
dead. / did so and / remember no
more until aWoke bound. looking into
his eyes which we're peering At me
through the holes Ia tbe wall. The
rest you know.
But how, kIr. Clarke, do you ac-
count for the other message Miss Wa
trous received telling her 70 come 10
me2'
You have cleared that up for me,
Mr.. King. as well as several other
points which bothered me. Stephano-
vitch's sole reason. probably, in per-
mitting you to write was to obtain her
address. so that he might at the prop
er time send her decoy letter But
GO not understand why he should
have delayed his revenge for a month
when he had you IN his power ane
Continued on Ninth Page.l
The Washington times., 1908-08-30
DEFC2fE mr. TM5IEzf/SlfZ2 GEZF O<ZI< y
EHfITZ1C SREflfG II R1REGT TMGARt<ZZZllI
az HI~ mn.

whose seals he employs Here they
are according TO the Grand Grim
ORE " and Clarke took a large vol
ume from the shelf.
The first is the seal Of Agares. His
office IS to bring back runaways This
seal says TO Miss Watrous, who must
be quite learned young woman to
carry on a correspondence in this
fashion. I will soon be back The
second is the seal OF Saleos. he pro-
notes love between the sexes. This,
evidently. is a simple love message.
But the third has a darker import. and
/ do not wonder il terrified her II
is the seal OF the dread spirit Glasy-
alabolas. who appears in the form OF
a dog winged like griffin, who incites
to bloodshed and is the animating
spirit Of murder. King evidently fears
violence"
But can't we do something TO save
him?" I cried.
"Ah, that's the question. These
theories of mine. which astonish you.
are simple beside the task of finding
in this great city a man or band of
men whose training for generations
has been in the arts Of secrecy"
why did you warn DR.. Watrous to
keep his daughter at homer
Because 1 am not sure but that
these messages were sent under com
pulsion and that the purpose is to en-
tiCe her to come TO him.
Here Clarke gave a start, paled
slightly. and seemed to be listening
iHtently. Ny long companionship with
him told me that his sensitive brain
had recorded an impression from with
out and that he awaited crisis. Just
then the telephone bell tangled on
the silence. Clarke sprang to the re-
ceiveT and knew the message he was
hearing was Of great Importance.
No! No! Not the police for her
sake. Your daughters lost If you do.
Yes. yes. Clarke continued. ..ru
do all in my power Stay at home and
console your wife and leave it all 10
me. I'm sure I'm on the right track.
Yes. Good-by."
Clarke hung up the receiver and
turned to me.
What do you think. Sexton? Wa
trous daughter is missing: gone when
he got home. "
Gomez
Yes. and note on her dresser
says: Do not follow me. I go TO find
Richard Now, Sexton, am going
to take the trail Keep within reach
The Washington times., 1908-08-30
diagram

Clarke snatched up the card and
studied It ntenty while an express
sion Of absolute amazemeut spread
over his dark counteuance.
''Ah. Mr.. Clarke. it tells you some
thing"
Perhaps, but go on with the story.
You say your daughter has received
other letters"
She has" answered the doctor,
reaching into hts cavernous pocket
Here is one which l Judge from the
postmark arrived two days subsuquent
10 the first"
BY the way. the addresses OF these
letters" interrupted Clarke. The
hand IS evidently disguised, but does
Il resemble that OF kiuE?"
Il have never seen his writing
Wait a minute" suggested. I
have an application for membership
in the club upon which he joined as a
reference. III get it,"
] took the paper from my desk and
handed it to Clarke, wl4o compared the
writing carefully. [ could see a re-
semblance. and he pronounced them
by the same hand
Clarke then took from the .nveIope
q card similar Ia the FIRST, but hearing
the following diaurar7-
The Washington times., 1908-08-30

doctor. -As you see by the post
mark, it came three days ago She
has not been out OF her room since.
She weeps all the time She Is on
the verge Of nervous prostration, yet
she refuses to allow a doctor to be
called and flies into "a rage when we
speak to her. I fear, Mr. Clarke, that
unless you are able to aid Us, we shall
have to place the poor girl in an asy-
lum."
No. no. doctor; you must take no
rash steps with her. Simply let her
alone, but watch her carefully and by
no means let her go out OF the house
unattended"
My heavens, MIR. Clarke. is she in
danger? What is the meaning Of It
alp"
She is in no danger in her own
home Don't let her go out. I wish
you would leave me all these cards
that / may study them at my leisure.
Until l have done so / do not care to
pass an opinion on the case. Say
nothing about the matter to anyone,
especially 10 your daughter. Now.
doctor, YOU will pardon me If / ask
you TO let me get 20 work immedi-
ately and after my own methods"
Dr. Watrous left, and from where 1
sat ! could see him jerking his way in
the direction of the car line. still
twisting his fingers and cracking his
E0ny joints.
a most remarkable case, Sexton.
The most remarkable case ever have
met. n.used Clarke. Il trust il will
prove an example of the value of
varied reading in the detection OF
crime What would these pot hooks
mean 10 a central station detective?
II is surprising tile professor does not
see T. 1t shows that his training has
been along one li9e and is superficial
in others. Did YOU ever hear of the
Brothers OF the Left Hand Path? No
Then you are IN the class with the
central detective and the professor, as
far as this case is concerned"
Here I was forced 10 break my rule
and ask Clarke directly what it all
meant
1t means. he replied. that we have
fallen upon unmistakabIe evidence
that the art of black magic Is prac-
uced still in this most enlightened age
and country. I have heard rumors of
il here in Chicago, and this accounts
for my surprise on seeing these sym
bois which are very ancient
These symbols indicate that we are
The Washington times., 1908-08-30
Startling Mind Reading.


Most assuredly." answered Clarke
You have come to tell me Of some
rather extraordinary occurrences
which have taken place in your fam
ily recently. Am I not right?"
Rather extraordinary. Most ex-
traordinaTy, 1 should say 1 assure
you. sir. I have been at my wits end
am totally untitled for work and my
magnus opus on the Hebrew roots is
being sadly neglected Ny poor wife.
too. is IN a wretched state OF mind. I
hope, Mr. Clarke. that you will bring
your talents 10 bear on our trouble
and lead US 10 the light"
Il can form my conclusions more
accurately, perhaps, If you Will set
out in detail your trouble. O, yes, you
may speak with perfect freedom be-
fore Mr.. Sexton. He is my invaluable
assistant in most Of my cases.
During the following recital Dr.
Watrous' thin hands alternately in
twined and nervously clasped the arms
of his chair.
You doubtless have heard rumors
OF the disappearance Of Richard King
and that he was engaged to he mar
--NN- ~ AatI Ah US lihEA -kb-uitCH WHO Is
OR only child" he began.
Clarke nodded in assent
Wei. his strange action in drop
ping out OF sight only a month be-
fore the wedding day naturally would
he enough To upset US had 1t not
been followed by events even more
tnexplIcable. Ny daughter Is a young
woman Of considerable erudition. 1
have been able 10 guide her studies,
which 1 am Elad TO say have taken
the direction of languages. Mr.. King
is also man OF considerable learn
ing, but his knowledge was acqsired.
fear, through travel rather than by
serious effort and application.
As the wedding day approached
and his absence was continued, my
daughters perturbation naturally in
creased; but she comes OF a proud
stock. and was able % conceal her
anxiety under the L.ask Of indiner-
ence. Upon the wedding uas, now
ever, ana after IL had become ueces-
sary for Us 10 make some excuse for
The postpouement OF the ceremonies,
she was in a piIable state Of dis
tress.
During the morning Of the wedding
day the postman brought. among 9TH
er mail. a letter addressed TO my
daughter in 2 hand with which / vas
unfamiliar. She took il eagerly. and
went TO her room to read il. In a
few minutes she came down a changed
pc e-son- She was as gay and light
hearted as a girl OF fifteen She
evaded our inquiries, however, ana
would give no reason for the remark
able change.
The lext day my wife. while per
forming some household duties in my
daughters room. found the letter
which she had received. We both
feel that it is not strictly honorable
TO take advantage Of evidence thus
acquired. but in the light OF sUbse-
Quent events / believe that my daugh-
ter's happiness is at stake, and with
cut her knowledge 1 have taken the
letter and similar ones which she has
received, from the hiding place where
she keeps them. and will show them
TO you in their proper order.
Here is the first You see. the
envelope contains nothing except a
card upon which are crudeIy drawn
some strange bieroglyphics. the na-
ture of which is q mystery I am IN
hopes you may be abl' to explain"
DR.. Watrous took tli5 card from the
envelope and laid 1t before us we
saw there was upon it the following
diagram:
The Washington times., 1908-08-30

holding even the approxin ate date.
It is needless to say That the
names Of the principals are disguised
and the localities inaccurate. but
otherwise the narrative is a record OF
facts as they came uuGer the OhseT-
walton Of Clarke and myself.
Our introduction TO the mystery was
prosaic. ! mad euticed Clarke into
game OF billiards at the athletic club
one evening. This was something I
vas seldom able to do, although he
played a remarkable game, and was
giving mc two strings in three and
beating me without effort.
We had played our third game when
McIlvane whom I knew but slightly,
entered the room an an excited man
rer and said
Il say. have any Of you follows
seen Richard King ia the last week?"
None OF the crowd which had gath
cred to watch Clarke'5 play was able
to answer in the affirmative.
well he's evidently disappeared. "
continued NcTlvane. He hasn't heen
home for a week. His folks just tele-
phoned to see If he was here. L told
them TO cal up the Press club They
said they hs 4 done so, and he hasn't
been there. And say. here's the funny
part OF il. you fellows may not know
It Yet, but he was TO have been mar
ried next month. The cards were
coming out In about a week"
"Oh. that explains 1T. then" drawled
Shapley OF the rotund face and the
faxen hair Every feilah feels like
taking TO the woods just before he
gets married. Felt the same way my
self FIVE years ago. Haven't quite
got over it yet. Ginks simply gone
and done H."
This brought laugh as Shapleys
absent devotion 10 his family was
pretty well known.
"Vhat sort of a fellow IS King?" I
asked Il don't believe / knew him..
quiet chap" answered Shapley.
Didn't mix much; lived down IN
Kenwood all sorts OF money. Father
IN some sort of mines somewhere in
Russia. Died there and left King and
his sister five millions apiece. Dick
lived over there till he came here TO
college Graduated al Princeton and
then Travelled in India and all such
places as that Got some sort Of
OF thing Studious sort OF a chap:
always sitting around 8 mewhere with
a book. Don't see what ne wanted to
belong 10 this club for
I suppose the police have been
nOtihed?' said Clarke. who had Joined
eur group.
The Washington times., 1908-08-30

risked your life fer mine and il wout6
have been useless but for these men.
Why did you do it?'
al got your message. Dick, dear. and
/ went"
But sent you no word to come.
Here Clarke inte rposed and declared
that in the absence Of a reg llar phys
ician. he advised that Miss BVatrous
should be absolutely quiet. f,he closed
her eyes and the swaying II the ve-
hicle soon threw her into a natural
sleep.
Now, Mr. King" said Clarke, y
think We can talk without disturbing
Miss Watrous. and suggest that you
relieve the redium Of the ride by tell
Ing us who this fanatic is and how
you happen to fan into his power.f
The narrative which follows was
broken By the arrival at the hospital
and continued later At the station.
where We all went TO arrange the
commitment OF the fanatic, bat / give
it unInterruptedly-
There is no doubt. ar Clarke" be-
gan King, that your timely arrival
saved me from torluring death and
Miss WatrOus from perhaps worse. /
do not yet understand VINO you are or
hcT it all happened, but my part OF
the story is soon told. This old man,
Vladimir SJepnanovltch. is my heredf-
tdry enemy. I can scarcely blame him.
when I think thar through my father
his Eve sons ana his daughter are in
Siberia, If they have not already died;
that his vie died on the road AID
that be himself spent fifteen years IN
the prison camps Of SaghaIin island;
that through my father mis- compaR-
ions were scattered and deported. and
one OF the most dangerous plots
against the Gar was tnus frustrated