Barbour County index., 1909-04-21

small bare room. Into this place the
light streamed from a window oppo-
site which was so close that its brok-
en- panes might be touched with the
hand. On our knees we crept to the
window and peered into the room
from which the light streamed from
window opposite which was so close
that its broken panes might be
touched with the hand. On our knees
we crept to the window and peered
into the room from which the light
came. The sight We saw froze my
blood with horror.
On board supported by two chairs
lay the body of beautiful girl. Clad
in spotess white, the pallor of her
countenance 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 cabalistic designs
Was she dead? i glanced at Clarke
and the inspector but their eyes,
riveted on the scene across the mar
row court, gave no answer. In the
background, Zingaro stood silent with
folded arms. We dared not speak
even in whispers. but instinctively
knew it was Miss Watrous.
Suddenly, while we watched, a door
opened and figure stole silently into
the room. 1t was that of an old man,
tall, gaunt, and with flowing beard and
hair of white. His eyes were black
and deep-set. He was clad in a robe
of black velvet, broidered with gold
and adorned with fantastic designs:
triangles, circles, half moons, and 9TH
er figures which have been for CEN
turtles 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 of his robe glittering scimitar.
Quick as a flash the inspector
whipped out his revolver and dropping
on one knee sighted along the barrel;
but restraining movement of
Clarke's hand stopped the fire.
The old man laid the sword gently
across the breast of the girl and began
weird invocation. Mumbled in his
beard at first, the words were lost to
US, but as his infleXion rose with the
heat of his fervor they floated through
riTl6 7 rriry fhA .lr,
as Clarke afterward wrote them out
for me:
Il immediate this victim to thee, o,
Lucifer, master and prince of rebel
lious spirits. l adjure thee to leave
thine abode, in whatsoever quarter of
the world it may be situated, and come
hither to communicate with me.
command and l now conjure thee to
appear without noise and without any
evil smell, to respond in clear and in
telligibie voice, point by point, to all
that shall ask thee. Venitel Venite!
Submiritillor Lucifuge, or eternal tor
ment shall overwhelm thee, by the
power that is given unto me-"
Immediately after the beginning of
this wild invocation l missed Clarke.
The inspector still stood guard with
his revolver. Zingaro, with folded
arms, had not changed his position.
knelt at the window sill but Clarke
was nowhere to be seen.
When the fanatic finished he again
lifted and held aloft the cleaning
blade, seeming TO await some terrible
crisis.
Then a most astonishing thing hap
pened. l know my heart stopped for
full five seconds. The inspector ac-
knowledged afterward that though he
expected the denouement he would
have fired had not his forefinger been
nerveless.
Into the room, and before the as
tonished gaze of the fanatic, sprang at
bound as near a perfect incarna-
ton of the devil as l care to see either
in this world or the next Clad from
head to foot in glittering reptilian
scales, his arms extended into gauzy
wings, his mustache and beard of inky
black, curling defiantly, his head-dress
nodding, his eyes blazing, he stood
with avenging finger outstretched be-
fore the now cringing old man, whose
scimitar dropped impotent to his side,
and who gradually sank into a crouch
ing heap before the awful glare of
the apparition's eyes.
The tableau was complete. In my
soul l knew it was Clarke; knew too
well that blaze of those eyes. But
how he got there, how he had ex-
ecuted such a lightning change, and
what it all meant. l was at loss to
fathom
AS the form of the fanatic settled
to the floor the apparition changed
its steady pointing to rapid passes.
After a few seconds the old man lay
still. and highly trained mentality had
triumphed over fanaticism. Then
Lucifer. in his own proper person,
came to the window and Clarke's
cheery voice called. "Come on mani