The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1913-06-27

ness Vi uSCeSSIIy, and spent Tue HlSuC
there. The two men might have STUN
bled over them, -akfng them up and
provoking a request for explanations.
For the moment, NJ. Mifroids inquiry
saved them from any such unpIeas-
ant encounters
But they were not left to enjoy
their solitude for long. Other shades
now came down by the same way by
which the door-shutters had gone up.
Each of these shades carried a little
lantern and moved it about, above,
below and all around, as though look
Ing for something or somebody.
Hang it," muttered the Persian.
Il don't know what they are looking
for, but they might easily find us.
Let us get away, quick! Your
hand up, sir, ready to fire! .
Bend your arm more .
that's it! Hand at the level
of your eye, as though you were fight
ing a duel and waiting for the word
to fire! Oh, leave your pistol
in your pocket. Quick, some along,
downstairs. Level Of your eye! Cues
ton OF life or death! Here,
this way, these stairs!" They reached
the fifth cellar oh, what a duel,
sir, what a duel!"
Once in the fifth cellar, the Persian
drew breath. He seemed to enjoy a
rather greater sense OF security than
he had displayed when they both
stopped in the third; but he never
altered the attitude Of his hand. And
Raoul, remembering the Persian's OBJ
servation-'I know these pistols can
be relied upon"-was more and more
astOnished, wondering why any one
should be SO gratitied at being able to
rely upon a pistol which he did not
intend to use!
But the Persian left him no time
for reflection. Telling RaouI to stay
where he was, he ran up few steps
Of the staircase which they had just
left and then returned.
How stupid Of us!" he whis-
pered 1--WE shall soon have seen the
end of those men with their lanterns
1t is the fremen going their rounds.
The two men waited five minutes
longer. Then the Persian took Raoul
up the stairs again; but suddenly he
stopped him with gesture. Some
thing moved in the darkness before
them.
the Persian.
The two men lay fiat on the floor.
They were only just in time. A
shade, this time carrying no light,
just a shade in the shade, passed 1t
passed close to them, near enough to
touch them.
They felt the warmth Of its cloak
upon them. For they could distin-
guish the shade sufficiently to see
that it wore cloak which shrouded
it from head to foot. On it's head it
had (. soft felt hat.
1t moved away, drawing it's feet
against the walls and sometimes CIV
ing a kick into a corner.
'Whew!" said the Persian. We've
had narrow escape; that shade
knows me and has twice taken me to
the managers Office.
us it some one belonging to the
theater police?" asked Raoul
It's some one much worse than
that" replied the Persian, without
giving any further explanation
Its not he?"
He? If he does not come
behind us, we shall always see his
yellow eyes, That is more
or less our safeguard tonight i.
But he may come from behind, steal
ing up; and we are dead men if we do
not keep our hands as though about
10 fire, at the level of our eyes, in
'front.'"
The Persian had hardly finished
speaking, when a fantastic face came
in sight a whole fiery face,
not only two yellow eyes!
Yes, a head of fire came toward
them, at a mans height, but with no
body attached to it. The face shed
fire, looked in the darkness like a
flame shaped as a mans face.
oh" said the Persian, between his
teeth. Il have never seen this be-
FORE Pampin was not mad,
after all; he had seen it.! :.
What can that flame be? 1t is not
he, but he may have sent it! :.
Take care! Take care! :.
Your hand at the level Of your eyes,
i'll heavens name, at the level OF your
eyes | know most OF his
tricks but not this one
Come, let us run 1t is safer.
Hand at the level Of your eyes!"
And they fled down the long pass
age that opened before them.
After a few seconds, that seemed
to them like long minutes, they
stopped.
He doesn't often come this way"
said the Persian. This side has moth
ing to do with him This side does
not lead to the lake nor to the house
on the lake. But perhaps he
knows that we are at his heels g.
although l promised him to leave him
alone and never to NEEDLE in his bus
mess again!"
So saying, he turned his head and
Raoul also turned his head; and they
again saw the head OF fire behind
their two heads. 1t had followed
them. And it must have run also,
and perhaps faster than they, for it
seemed to be nearer to them.
At the same time, they began to
perceive certain noise OF which
they could not guess the nature They