The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-08-18

.Deadf. she asked in a low voice.
NO" he answered in whisper.
only Unconscious"
And be Will not die?"
The man in black shrugged his
shoulders. f-@
Are you satisfied with me? Have
played my part well?"
Yes. you deserve to be star.
Philip ST. Afghan Will not now dare
marry Marion Gaylord
They continued their conversation
in low tones moment longer, the
woman apparently obiecting to a
compliance with his wishes; but the
man soon compelled acquiescance,
evidently by threats.
! Together they left the room and
passed into'the lobby. The woman
descended the steps. silently entered
the conveyance awaiting her and was
driven away. The black cavalier
then stepped from the door, CURLY
declined all offers OF carriage, and
walked rapidly In the opposite d.
| rection.
John and Peter, in compliance
with their instructions, stopped be-
| fore the entrance OF the cemetery:
! their silent passenger alighted and
walked up the broad path to the
same grave from which she had ap-
parently come.
The drivers. their curiosity whet-
ted to a high degree, tarried to watch
| her. She paused before the same
magnificent and lofty monument.
turned and removed the black satin
mask. A grinning deaths head. ris-
ing above her sombre costume, show
ed plainly in the bright moonlight.
John and Peter. uttering cries Of ter
ror. jumped on their vehicle, and
giving the horse sharp cut with
the whip drove rapidly away as II
expecting pursuit,
The woman then removed the Sec
end. the deaths head. mask, and con-
cealed It In her pocket. Her own
face although she was still young,
apparently not much over twenty
years, wa almost as ugly as the
| mask.
She was about to leave the grave
and step behind nearby shrub un-
I'll her companion could come for
her. which according to appointment
was to be In n few minutes. but she
found herself held back. Something
was pulling at the border OF her
dress: 1t was not thorn or nail on
| which she was caught-it was no In.
animate object that tore and pulled
SO violently at her gown, uttering
such mournful, weird, uncanny
sounds and means
Unspeakable horror took posses
sion of the woman, who was already
excited and unnerved by her Sur
| roundings, the hour and the scene
through which she had passed. TO
her agitated and overweight brain
there was but one solution OF this
mystery. II must be Hortense st.
Afghan, who. lying IN her grave, was
trying to pull down into 1t the wo-
man who had sought to represent
her and terrify her former husband.
Uttering piercing shrek she tore
herself forcibly away, and rushed
from the grave like one bereft OF
reason: through the gate she darted.
past the low wall OF the cemetery,
and ran alo! g narrow path that
! led to tn outskirts Of the city.
Three minutes after, the black
domino. still wearing his mask. des-
cended from carriage which stop
ped In front OF the cemetery. Ex-
changing few words with hts coach
man, whose livery was hidden under
a long cloak. he hastily entered the
burying-ground.
He looked around. evidently in
search Of his former companion. but
saw no one. He called In low tones,
but received no answer. The only
sound he heard was a peculiar whin-
ming; the only living object he saw
was a.little dog running among the
mounds. After calling three times
and receiving no response. he NUT
tered ret!ectively: THE girl has de-
ceived me after all. She certainly
has not been In the cemetery a sec
ond time; probably she was afraid.
Well, when her money gives out she
will let me hear from her"
Convinced that longer waiting
would be unapailing he left the Gem
etery, re-entered his carriage and
was driven home.
The dancers, unaware OF the start
ling events that were transpiring so
near them, continued their gayeties.
and the pleasures OF the ballroom
were ut their height when the mid
night hour struck, the signal for all
masks to be removed.
Two lovers, who were promenad-
ing the corridors. whispering sweet
nothings to each other, at that mo-
nlent pushed open the door of the
room where Philip st. Afghan still
lay insensible.
The Young woman screamed. the