The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1909-04-15

CndTdCIeTS III HeTNOuS HdSJeI dlleEW dIS
being violently hurled to the floor
creating loud clatter that was re
echoed in the large, vault-like room
The next instant my friend was jerk
ed violently to his feet, his body
straining in fearful combat with some
unseen power. Back and forth they
reeled, this way, now that; unheed
ingly overturning the table in the
fierceness of the struggle, Through
it all, | sat as one in dream, unit
saw Johns right arm-the hand OF
which still retained its hold on the
deadly ornament-strike twice In
quick succession The violent strug
gle ceased, and my friend sank back
almost exhausted, his breath coming
in short, whistling gasps.
''Are you hurt" l demanded anx,
iously, assisting him to a couch.
NO." he answered between puffs
I'm not hurt, at least l don't think
am. Did you see the wretch attack
/ me after he had finished writing?'
81 saw you struggling with some.
thing invisible to me-" l replied.
How did you provoke him or st
or whatever it was?" l asked.
81 don't know. Never happened
that way before. At any rate, the
fiend has gone. Let's see what he
has written"
THAT is ancient Hebrew" Slowly
he interpreted:
Death -waits-for-- him who
extorts-an-oath oath-bound-secret +
toc-,have-sworn. Pests-no-more
For some minutes neither of us
spoke. Finally l said:
well, what do you make of it?'
81 think l have proved my conten-
ton that a human spirit inhabiting
an astral body has cognizance of its
| doings while in a carnal state. One
thing is certain-we have the process
for making and poisoning metal OF
this kind all right, if this cipher can
only be read was a fool that ]
didn't force him to write it all In
Hebrew. By George" he exclaimed
"rll compel him to do it yet"
Don't do it," advised earnestly
You may not get off easily again ]
| heartily concur in your assertions
with all my heart, if that will be any
inducement to abandon your purpose
Better let well enough alone, and not
again provoke SO vengeful a visitor
Il won't do it tonight" he answer
| ed laughingly, as l unlocked the door
and prepared to take my departure
'but I'm going to be master of that
secret yet. 1t will be great satisfac
ton, even though / do not care to
make use of my knowledge"
About fortnight after the above
experience, Johns man presented
himself in state OF considerable ex
citement, and insisted upon my &C
companying him to his masters
house. He told me on the way over
that my friend had retired to his
''den" about 8 o'clock the night be
fore, and that repeated knocking had
brought no response. A feeling OF
grim foreboding took possession OF
me at this information, and hasten
ed to unlock the heavy oaken door
with a key l always carried. My
worst fears were realized. John was
lying across couch stone dead.
The coroner's jury returned a yer
dict OF death from unknown causes
The conclusion was justified, foI
there were no marks of violence up
on the body and the autopsy showed
that he had been enjoying perfect
health. The only peculiar thing thai
attracted the attention of the wise
acres composing the jury was a sing
Ular red mark in the palm of his
right hand, the skin being slightly
abrazed or broken in one spot. i
was not considered of any import
ance, however.
This fact, taken in conjunction
with a piece of paper, covered ovel
with characters penctled in ancien
Hebrew which picked up from th'
floor on leaving the room, has giveI
me the true solution of the problem
John. disregarding my advice, ant
the warning attached to his first at
tempt TO wrest the secret from th'
dead artisan, had compelled a returl
of the latter and forced him to writ
directions in ancient Hebrew. TheI
the same scene took place, only II
the struggle that followed afterward
the hand holding the archaic orna
ment was in some manner bruised 81
that the skin was broken by the blad'
of the weapon. No power on earsl
could save him after that. A hal
hour late and ali was over with him
1t is most remarkable and curl
Gus fact that the dagger itself ha
never been found--it having complete
ly and absolutely disappeared. Th'
only trace was the red outline Of IL
blade in Johns hand. which hav'