Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-02-11

cooking. Then despite the tossing of
our craft l succeeded In making a pot
Of steaming hot coffee. We were too
near the unknown to be in the mood
for conversation. +"
About IL o'clock Bloc, who al peer
ing into the darkness ahead, whis-
pered, "a la droit. Lille des Serpents.'
| looked and rising out Of the dark
ness was a black mass against the
softer shades Of the shore line.
With directions given in whispers
we made fast to the landing.
"You will stay here with the
launch" whispered Clarke to Bloc,
land have 1t ready to get away at
once in case we need it."
Then it ISIS Eat monsieur doubts
me?" answered Bloc in a grieved tnoe.
He has only to try me-"
do you think l doubt you when |
thus place our lives in your hands?"
replied Clarke, selling him by the
hand. "But you can aid us here. Are
your arms in readiness, Sexton? Then
keep them concealed, for we doubtless
are ou~tnumbered and diplomacy may
win more than force"
We stepped lightly out on the land.
ing and found ourselves facing a door
Of iron in the otherwise blank wall;
a heavy door incrusted with knobs and
beset with strange heraldic devices in
bas relief. These latter drew Clarke's
attention and he studied them earnest
ly in the dim light. Then turning to
me with a smile of triumph he whis-
pered: "Ah, l thought so. l have the
master key. Come, we will go in"
No sound broke the stiffness. There
was nothing to denote that a human
habitation of any sort lay beyond the
blank wall.
Clarke lifted a heavy knocker in
the center of the door and began q
tattoo of alternating long and short
raps. These were answered from
within and my companion in his turn
answered these signals.
Then the door swung slowly open
and a gigantic form appeared framed
In the dark background Of the opening
What is your age?" challenged 8
deep voice.
/ was thunderstruck at Clarke's an
swer in an even, fearless tone.
Five years." he said.
whence do you Gomez" again in
quired the voice.
From the eternal fame" answered
my companion.
"Whither do you co." rang out the
question.
"To the fame eternal" was the re
ply.
Whom do you bring?"
"A hitherto deluded soul who woult
gain admission among us and thus
learn the true story of the fall Of the
great Baal-zeboub."
And then it dawned upon me thai
no matter with what diabolical fra
ternity we were dealing Clarke, with
his wonderful knowledge Of the vaga
ries that have possessed the human
mind since the dawn of the aSes, hac
Its ritual at his tongues end.
But you waste our time, which Is
precious. If the examination is salts
factory lead us to the Vice Regent O
Lucifer and If he Sc desire he may
question us further" commanded
Clarke in a tone of authority,
"Tis well. To the Temple of Ba
homet," answered the sentry.
He turned and motioned us to fol
low. We entered and heard the dool
close behind us with a click leaving
us in utter, absolute darkness.
And then, seeming to come from the
roof over our heads, spoke a voice sc
terrible in its menace, SO steely crue
in its tones that I felt my knees be
gin to batter against each other.
Let them that would look upon the
face Of the Vice-Regent Of the Evi
One enter through the eternal fame
1t said. IF they come on the business
Of the great Lucifer they pass un
scathed. Otherwise they wither vi
and die"
Our guide had disappeared as 4
by magic. Motioning me to follow
Clarke pressed forward. We nearet
the flame and still there came no heat
Then Clarke stepped into it and was
los. 70 sight while l stood alone II
that awful corridor. Summoning al
my courage / too stepped into the
fame. Beyond a tingling Of thu
nerves and a stinging Of the skin
felt no sensation.
i found myself with Clarke In an i'm
mense hall. the counterpart In devil
ish decoration of the passageway W.
had left. The walls, roof and foo
were Of stone and the whole scene
was SO broken with recesses,s grottoe.
and imnumerable stone images Of ga
tanic beings that 1t was difficult t
Judge its size. Behind us the fam,
alternately flashed and tickered. i
there was another entrance 1t was 81
cunningly concealed as to escape oui
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 interioi
decoration, to be Of moulded con
crete.
NJ ssrs alone. At least ~ cav x