The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1913-03-13

may be safely assumed that II 1t doeA
possess human population-and by
human ] mean reasoning and speaking
creatures, they would in all probability
be vastly different from US physically,
and therefore In the nature of things,
mentally But az to what these differ.
ences might consist OF no ono can have
any conception" He started a
though surprised, leaned forward
and rubbed his finger across Alan'a
bosom. A black streak instantly ap,
peared In the wake OF the finger.
( Were you not dressed In black when
you arrived here this EVENING"" he de-
manded crisply. And you. too. doctor
and your"
They looked at each other in won
derment. From head to foot they
were gray, as gray as had ashes been
Uttered over them through . sieve,
while by the glow Of the lanterns ana
brighter electric lights the ground
seemed to b earpstsd with a sooty
snow. In their absorbed listening they
had not noticed the phenomenon, but
now as they lifted their faces upward
they were conscious of the falling of a
soft. impalpabls substance, fine as
-four, sinking - gently az thistle
down. Desmond brushed a spoonful Of
1t into his palm, scanned it, rubbed it
between his fingers, smelled Of it, even
tasted it, then shook his head.
Undoubtedly organic dust brushed
from the visitor by atmospheric fric.
tion," he muttered. He suddenly bent
over with another sharp exclamation
of surprise. Hello! What's this?"
4 small tw71 had come twiTling
down to his feet and he picked it up
and turned 1t over slowly as they
crowded around him. ANY of you
ever seen anything like this?" he de.
manded at length as he passed it from
hand to hand. Critically they scanned
1t. The twig was about the length
and size Of lead pencil and at it's end
was leaf black as Jet, perfectly round
and about the size of q silver dollar.
Upon the leaf and extending from rim
to rim was stamped In glittering white
strange cabalistic design. Doris
leaning forward for better view.
gasped sharply and clutched at the or
nament below her throat. Removing
it with a quick motion she laid 1t be.
side the leaf, while from all sides
arose expressions Of amazement. For
in size, in color, in design, in all re-
spects save that her trinket was Of
jade and diamonds whilst the leaf was
all vegetable they were identical.
"A most marvellous coincidence"
muttered Desmond dreamily, his eyes
half closed. "Inexplicable. The plot
is thickening fast. Dust falls. Vegeta.
ton descends. What II after all---my
God, what's that?"
He turned his face quickly upward.
every eye following. every ear alert.
From above came first strange cry
unlike any sound they had ever heard
before from the throat Of man, fowl or
beast, Quavering yet sharp and in.
sistent, bearing the notes of both ap-
peal and threat as though the thing
that uttered 1t knew not what his next
aet---a.5a1c 20 aid II Is 7i1eclsi0H Ut
tered the double note. And while those
below were still staring open mouthed
and speeches. before the oncoming
of this new mystery, there came q
rush as of mighty wings, q tanning of
the air that swept their faces, while
from out Of the darkness there set
tied before them monstrous shape
that rooted them in their tracks and
caused every hair upon their heads to
prick and pull. Manlike Of head and
limbs, yet manlike in such way as no
mortal eye had ever seen before. with
huge bullying eyes, a cavernous mouth
hung with loosely Tapping lips, thin
arms, and legs that seemed to be made
Of cords instead of flesh and muscle
and his reddish body loosely hung
about by strange skin, he was more
the fantastic apparition Of deliriun
than any creature known to man since
the grotesqus flying shapes Of prehis-
toric ages. And more marvellous than
oil else, attached to his shoulders by
huge brachial muscles that ran down
ward to his hips were great pair of
batlike wings with spread Of full
thirty feet, and with these now fully
extended he crouched before them in
the attitude Of bird just alighting.
Slowly he scanned them, his great
eyes glowing luminously In the dusk,
bis broad mouth working Enthusiastically
and his head craned forward as
though trying to read in their faces
what manner Of creatures they were,
and whether his next movement
should be one of friendship. antagon-
ism or night. Then his eyes settled
upon Doris, who now paralyzed by a
terror Infinitely greater than had pos
!essed her at the approach Of the hos
tile world, could Only Stare 1t the
monster like one chained to the spot,
Then slowly he raised ono long arm
until it's index finger pointed at the
ornament which she held in her hand,
md with a strange croaking sound
and a curious birdlike hop he came
straight towards her.