The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1909-02-12

!
learn the true story of the fall of the
great Baal-Zeboub"
And then It dawned upon me that
no matter with what dlabolical fra
ternity we were dealing Clarke, with
his won 1erful knowledge OF the vaga.
ries that have possessed the human
mind since the dawn OF the ages, had
its ritual ut his tongues end.
But you waste our time, which is
precious. II the examination is salts.
factory lead us TO the Vice Regent Of
Lucifer and II he so desire he may
question us further" commanded
Clarke in tone of authority
"'Tis we'll To the Temple of Ia.
homet" answered the sentry.
He turned and motioned us to fol.
low. We entered and heard the door
close behind us with a click leaving
us in utter, absolute darkness.
And then. seeming to come from the
roof over our heads, spoke voice so
terrible In its menace 80 steely cruel
in its tones that | felt my knees be.
gin to batter against each other.
Let them that would look upon the
face Of the Vice-Rcgent Of the Evil
One enter through the eternal flame
It said "If they come on the business
of the great Luclfer they pass un.
scathed Otherwise they wither up
and die"
Our guide had disappeared as If
by magic. Motioning me TO follow,
Clarke pressed forward. We neared
the flame and still there came no heat.
Then Clarke stepped into II and was
lost TO sight while | stood alone In
that awful corridor. Summoning all
my courage | too stepped into the
flame Beyond a tingling Of the
nerves and a singing of the skin
felt no sensation.
found myself with Clarke In an i'm.
mense hall. the counterpart in devil.
ish decoration OF the passageway we
had left. The walls, roof and floor
were of stone and the whole scene
was so broken with recessos. grottoes
and innumerable stone images of ga.
tanic beings that II was difficult to
Judge its size. Behind us the flame
alternately flashed and ilickered. If
there was another entrance It was so
cunningly concealed as to escape our
notice. Before us was a massive al
tar, apparently hewn in the solid rock
though upon closer examination
found It, as well as all of the interior
decoration, TO be of moulded con
crete.
We we're alone. At least we saw no
forms but those OF the devils and imps
that, as In the corridor flashed their
many colored eyes upon us from all
sides.
Suddenly the stiffness was broken
by a voice from somewhere in the
deep recesses OF the cavern, a voice
steely and cruel In Its icy suavity.
looked. Yes. Thaida was there.
She seemed even more beautiful
than in the brief period when I had
before seen her. Her robes chung to
the graceful outlines of her willowy
form. Her black hair was coiled tight.
ly into a crown about her beautifully
shaped head and in Its tresses one red
rose, matching perfectly the coral of
her lips, was the only bit OF color.
Proudly she walked. and Hypatia be-
fore the monks of Cecil was not love.
lier nor more disdainful of her execu-
TONERS.
She took her place calmly before the
center of the semlcircie. The count
approached her and taking her hand
touched It to his lips with a tri-
umphant smile. She offered no show
of resistance. Had she steeled herself
to- submit meekly to whatever be in
store for her? Then ensued some
ritualistic gibberish of which I could
not catch the import, during which
each member Of the semicircle seized
what looked to be a chalice from the
altar and beat upon II with short
stick.
20, Lucifer, Star of the Morning,
answer thou unto the conjuration OF
the Four and say II II is thy will that
this maiden become faithful Pal.
ladist in thy service" This the count |
intened in solemn voice.
From somewhere in the roof came |
the answer In hollow reyerberating |
tones:
ut Is my will"
"Then come. thou art mine." said |
the count as with outstretched arms
he advanced toward Thalda. She |
stood disdainfully erect ~ he neared |