Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1912-05-23

ttnctly Voic0-Wae Desluo me- on
the water. leaned over, leaned still
farther The lake was perfectly calm,
and a moonbeam that passed through
the afr hole in the Rue Scribe showed
me absolutely nothing on its surface.
which was smooth and black as ink.
shook my ears to get rid Of q posi-
BILE humming; but soon had to ac-
cept the fact that there was NO hum
ming in the ears 80 harmonious az
the singing whisper that followed and
now attracted me.
Had | been inclined to superstition,
should have certainly thought that 1
had to do with some siren whose bus
mess It was to confound the traveller
who should venture on the waters OF
the house on the lake. Fortunately, |
come from a country where We are
too fond Of fantastic things not to
know them through and through; and
l had no doubt but that was face to
face with some new invention OF
Erik's. But this invention was so per-
feet that as / leaned out OF the boat,
/ was impelled less by desire to
discover its trick than to enjoy its
charm; and leaned out, leaned out
until l almost overturned the boat
Suddenly, two monstrous arms Is
sued from the bosom Of the waters
and seized me by the neck, dragging
me down to the depths with irresisti-
BILE force. should certainly have
been lost, II had not time to give a
cry by which Erik knew me. For 1t
was he; and, instead of drowning me,
as was certainly his first intention,
he swan with me and laid me gently
ON the bank:
"How imprudent you are!" he said,
as he stood before me, dripping with
water. why try to enter my houseY
/ never invited you! don't want you
there, nor anybody Did you save
my life only to make 1t unbearable to
me? However great the service you
rendered him, Erik may end by for
getting it; and you know that nothing
can restrain Erik, not even Erik him.
SELF"
t. He spoke, but I had now no other
wish than to know what l already
called the trick Of the siren. He sat
isfied my curiosity, for Erik, who Is q
real monster have seen him at
work In Persia, alas--is also, In GER
tain respects, a regular child, vain
and self-conceited, and there is moth
ing he loves SO much, after astonish-
ing people, as to prove all the really
miraculous ingenuity OF his mind.
He laughed and showed me long
reed.
/ "It's the silliest trick you ever saw, =
he said, but it's very useful for
breathing and singing in the water
I learned 1t from the Tonkin pirates,
who are able to remain hidden for
hours in the beds OF the rivers"
/ spoke to him severely.
i ats a trick that nearly killed mel"
I said. "And 1t may have been fatal
70 othersl You know what you prom
!, 'isai me. Erik? No more murdersl"
Il lHaye really committed muir
ders?" he asked. putting on his most
amiable air.
'sWretChed mani" I cried. Have
vou forgotten the rosy hours Of
Mazenderan?"
4 eyes" he replied, in a sadder tone
| sT prefer to forget them. l used tC
make the little sultana laugh
thought"
/. "An that belongs TO the past" de
clared, but there is the present
and you are responsible to me for thC
present, because, II had wished
there would have been none at al
for you, Remember that. Erik;
saved your life!"
And / took advantage Of the turf
Of conversation to speak to him O
something that had long been on my
mind:
4 Erik" asked. Erik. sweaI
that
> "What?" he retorted. "You know
? I never keep my oaths. oaths arr
made to catch gulls with"
: Tell me you can tell me
ct any rate. {. :"
'Well?',s,.
OAA0AA90eA0A
: chandelier, ETik5"
what about the chandelier"
you know what mean"
~Oh," he snigger@d. Il don't min'
telling you about the chandelier
II wasn't I! Tn
! chandelier was very old and worn"
When Erik laughed, he was NOR
: terrible than ever. He jumped int
Z the boat. chuckling % horribly that
D could not help trembling.
= "Very old and worn, my dea
{ darogal Very old and worn, tn
d chandelier Il fell OF itself
d II came down with a smash
n And now, daroga, take my az
4 vice and go and dry yourself. o
1 you'll catch q cold In the headl
. And never get into my boat agaiE
= :. And, whatever you do, don