Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1909-05-05

small bare room. Into this place the
night streamed from window oppo-
site which was so close that it's box
en- panes might be touched with the
nand. On our knees we crept I. the
window and peered into the DOM
IRON which the light streamed rom
window opposite which was sc close
that its broken panes might be
touched with the hand On our knees
we crept 10 the window and pesred
into the room from which the light
came. The sight we saw froze my
blood with horror
On board supported by two chairs
lny the body of a beautiful girl. Clad
In spouess white. the pallor of her
countenance matched In paleness ner
flowing draperies. She lay on Ter
back. her arms folded across her
breast and her black hair falling In
great waves to the floor. The roo n
was bare except for two cheap chair =.
The walls were hung with charts bear
Ing cabalistic designs.
Was she dead? ] glanced at ClarI %
and the inspector but their eyes.
riveted on the scene across the mar.
row court, gave no answer. In tbr
background. Zingaro stood silent WITH,
folded arms. We dared not spea<
even in whispers, but instinctively !
knew it was Miss Watrous.
Suddenly. while we watched, door
opened and figure stole silently into
the room. Ii 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 occmlt.
The figure OF the old man advanced
toward the outstretched form of the
girl. Then, with n quick motion OF
his hand, and while my heart stopped
its beating. he drew from beneath the
folds OF his robe a glittering scimitar.
Quick as a fash the inspector
whipped ouThis revolver and dropping
on one knee sighted along the barre :;
but restraining movement of
Clarke's hand stopped the fire.
The old man laid the sword gently
|
a 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
the broken window. / give the words
as Clarke afterward wrote them out
for me:
Il immediate this victim TO thee. o.
Lucifer, master and prince OF rebel
lious spirits. | adjure thee to leave
thine abode. in whatsoever quarter of
the world II may be situated, and come
hither TO communicate with me. /
command and | now conjure thee 20
appear without noise and without any
evil smell, to respond in a clear and in
telligibie voice, point by point, to all
that | shall ask thee Venite! Venitc,
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 i 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. | know my heart stopped for
J full five seconds. The inspector &C
knowledged afterward that though n ,
expected the denouement he would
have fired had not his forefinger been
nervcless.
Into the room, and before the as
tonished gaze Of the fanatic. sprang a:
4 bound as near a perfect incarna-
] tion Of the devil az care to see either
In this world or the next. Glad from
head to foot in glittering reptiIiaD
scales. his arms extended into gauzy
wings. his mustache and beard of inky
{ black, curling defiantly, his head-dr
nodding. his eyes blazing. he stood
with avenging finger outstretched be
| fore the now erin ging old man. whose
! scimitar dropped lmpotent 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 nv
soul ! 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 1t all meant, was at a loss to
| fathom.
AS the form OF the fanatic settled
TO the floor the apparition changed
its steady pointing to rapid passes
After few seconds the old man lay
still, and highly trained mentality haG
| tTiumphed over fanaficism. Then
Lucifer, in his own proper person.
came TO the window and Clarke'a
CHEEKY voice called: Come on, mem
Through the windows you can make