Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-13


sistance from the astonished German. grasped
him by the knees and, pulling his feet from
under him sent him madly sliding down the
stairs Herr Beimer swearing polysyllabio
oath stumbled awkwardly to his feet and set
off up stairs again after his attacker But by
this time Astro at the top of the second
flight He dashed into the square room in
the where he had seen the group of men
1t was empty Beside it, however, was small
hall bed room, and here, in his shirt sleeves.
living in a stupor the cot, lay Lieutenant
Cameron
Astro sprang to the door and locked it ju,t
as the excited German thumped ponderously
the panels Next he threw up the window
and whistled Then, taking the Lieutenant
in his arms he succeeded in carrying him to
the window sill Naleska already the
roof outside, waiting for him
Take his feet said Astro under his breath
and so together they managed to get the Lieu
tenant out the roof and to the window OF
the chamber in No BY this time the
had begun to revive and to protest in
word and action against his removal They
paid no heed to him. however and bundled
him into the room and on the bed. Then
Astro shook him energetically.
Wake up mani" he cried. Wake W
nowl You can. if you try! Here Smell
this He reached for the ammonia and held
it under the lethargic man nostrils
The Lieutenant turned away his head
coughed, blnkcd and partially rose on
Who are YOU" he said gazing at them i'll
surprise
Friends of Miss Mannering's, said Astro
The Lieutenant shook his head, and stared
Whats the matter: he brought out labor
ously.
Il got YOU away from Beimer-afraid ~
trouble-want to help YOU Astro spoke
very distinctly as if to deaf man.
The Lieutenant felt for his coat. found him
self without seemed puzzled, and dropped
back again Imply
"The-drawL' his voice ended in mum
yes the drawer What drawer: Astro
asked eagerly
Find draw The Lieutenant seemed to
II wonder what he means, There's some
thing on his mind No doubt he has hidden
something Astro looked keenly at Valeska
under drawn brows
Cant YOU revive him AGAIN." she asked
No use trying the ammonia vet 1t seems
to have too great reaction and sends him
into deeper sleep Well have to wait till
he to himself for moment naturally
You know what it is now, don't your"
She nodded And | found it out curl
ously, only from the dictionary l looked up
the word assassin, and found that it came
from Hashshdshin or hashish eater Then |
looked up about the Old Man of the Mountain
who used to drug his followers with bhang till
they would commit any crime. and that led
me of course to CdnnabfS Indfed or Indian
hemp. and found out all about the effects OF
hashish.
were innocent enough,-on1y a club to expert
ment with hashsh for with a moderate dose
the sensations are wonderful, and we'll worth
tryng-but there's more in this than that
What is Beimer up to- That's what | want
to know "
Is he really unconscious now" Valeska
asked. watching the PROSTATE form of the
Lieutenant as he lay flushed and breathing
but otherwise inert
Not really. He may be dirnly aware that
we are here but his volition is gone He
won't speak until he rises to the level of voli-
ton again. 1t a sort of double consciousness
a rhythmic process of alternate sinking into
apathy. where he sees visions, and rising into
full consciousness when he can talk for a mo-
ment l wish | knew what dose he had The
intervals are about five minutes | tried
hashish when | was in college but took such
an overdose the last time that | have dreaded
to use it again
THE Lieutenant now began to mutter, as ii
talking in his sleep I'm tottering on
the tops of tail pendulums lovely colCr
In a tunnel now. twisting, turning
violet green orange floating float
ing like spirit tops of tropc trees. -"
Suddenly he gasped and sat up staring hard
at them What did l say What was it
Quick! before l go off againi l was saying
something"