The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-04-25

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Godfrey demanded, and one of
the detectives pressed one into
his hand. Ready, now, men,"
he added, crossing the hall into
Silva's room.
The crystal sphere was glow
ing softly, and seated cross-legged
on the divan, his hands folded,
his eyes fixed in meditation, was
Silva.
Let's see what the Thug is up
TO-" said Godfrey, and opened the
door into the closet where we had
seen Mahbub once before. There
was burst of acrid smoke into
the room.
Come here, you fellows!"
Godfrey cried, and Simmonds and
I sprang to his side.
In the middle of the floor stood
an open brazier, with thin yell
low flame lowering above it. Be-
foresthe brazier, sat Mahbub.
AndSthen, as the smoke whirl-
ed aside again, saw the snake.
Look. Simmonds," Godfrey
cried, there against the wallis
there something Thereon is 1t
just the smoker"
looked, too, fancied SOW
something-a shape, a huddleS
shape - grotesque - horrible
somehow.
] heard Godfrey's startled cry,
saw a tongue of yellow flame
leap from his revolver. .
saw the Thug spring into the
air, 1 saw him tearing at some
thing that swung from his neck.
At the same moment, Gidfrey
sprang to the door from which
volumes of heavy, scented smoke
still eddied, and disappeared In
side.
| scarcely noticed him; I was
staring at Francisco Silva, mo-
tionless on the divan, his eyes
fixed on the crystal sphere, I'M
disturbed amid all this terror and
'Lester!" Godfrey shouted
Lend a hand here."
| fought my way into the
other room where Godfrey was
bending above that huddled shape
7 had glimpsed through the
Catch hold" he painted; and
staggering, suffocating,
we dragged it into the outer
room.
Quick" said Godfrey. Hold
the torch"
The halo of light fell upon a
hloodless face-the face of Mar
iorie Vaughan.
We staggered out with her,
across the hall, into her
room, and laid her on her bed.
nSimmonds,"> said Godfrey Ego
out and bring that Irish girl, and
send one of your men to phone
for Hinman."
Simmonds sent one OF his men
scurrying with word, and him
self dashed up the stairs to the
other floor. He was back In a
moment, almost dragging the
girl with him.
you understand what you're
to do?" he asked the amid, and
she nodded mutely. "And now
for Senior Silva" he said, in an
other tone, taking the torch from
my hand. II fear he will have a |
rude awakening"
Godfrey stepped to the inner
door and flashed his torch about
the room. The divan was empty
Simmonds paused only for a
single glance.
l saw Godfrey half-turn to fol-
low; then he stopped, and turned
on the lights.
Lets see what happened to
he said, and crossed to
the inner door.
The Thug had not got away. He
lay on the floor dead. He had
been bitten by the snake. The
snake, too. was dead, but 1t had
done its deadly work before Cod
frey's revolver had ended its life. |
I'm going OUT" said. 81
,an't stand this!" and I hurried |
INTO the hall. Godfrey Joined me
here.
We met the doctor at the stair
way.
"Oh. it's you!" he said recog-
lizing us. What has happened |
iow?"
ITS Miss vaughan-she's been
half suffocated."
Godfrey hurried down the
'tairs. At the foot we met Sim
nonds. T''----
We've searched the grounds"
he said, "but haven't found any
me-"
well. we can't do anything.
aid Godfrey, $50 we might as
veil rest awhile" and he passed
INTO the library and dropped in
o chair.
followed him, but as l sat
Iown and glanced about the room
saw something that jerked me
o my feet.
A section of the shelving had
,een swung forward and behind