Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-04-29
CHAPTER XII.
Explosion and a Rattle.

L
Explosion and Rattle.
Karloff started and turned toward
the door. "What are you doing in
there?" he asked quickly. "How did
you get in?" 49,
thought maybe we might be able to
use this little motor in getting away
with the girl"
$50" muttered Karloff. "I see.
Never mind that now. My motor is
waiting down on the road. I've just
killed my chauffeur!"
"Killed him." gasped Gafford.
"My God, man-what for?"
an order that you might wear his
Clothes" said Karloff coldly, turning
away. "Comew
Gafford followed him across the
track and into the grass and small
bushes which grew beside it. A
shiver gripped him at the matter-of-
fact manner in which the Russian
announced his murder of the Jap.
Karloff, leading the way, seemed to
sense mis- companions attitude, and
began to speak:
"There is no need to worry about
the chauffeur's demise, my friend
had no compunction in killing him.
We of the society, hold that a per-
sonal sin becomes justified when a
great good to the many may be
wrought thereby. If we are to get
this girl and save your country and
the race of the whites, we must not
let the obstacle of one life stand in
the way. In the plan have formed
it is necessary for you to be clothed
as my chauffeur. To obtain his uni
form while he was living would have
been impracticable, therefore he
died. These yellow men would have
no compunction in killing us few
days from now. One may not scru-
pie too closely in var"
Gafford caught at his mention Of
Shiela.
"Then you found that l was right
about the girl 2" he asked.
ayes and no." said Karloff. "She
is there, as you felt certain, but this
Oshitu, like many men of his class,
is a surprise. He told me frankly
that he has her, but he also tells me
that he has offered her marriage
that he loves her, and would make
her his wife"
"Loves herr" stammered Gafford.
"The insufferable brute!
"You should be glad it is so," Kar-
loft responded. at has meant much
to her."
Out of complete emotion Gafford
said no word. In his heart he
breathed prayer Of thanks for what
had revolted him a moment before.
They reached the road and the
motor, where the dead man still sat
in the seat. Without word the
Russian dragged the body from be-
hind the wheel and threw it upon the
rumble at the back. Having disposed
of it. he climbed in and sat down in
its place.
Galford ran around and took place
at the other side. The machine
leapcd into action and fled away
toward the hills. For a moment he
sat in surprised lack of understand
ing at his new turn in affairs, them
"Where are we going?" he in
quired.
"To the wireless hut" replied Kar-
loft, increasing the speed.
Gafford clung to the seat as the
auto swung and swayed.
"But why?" he questioned as it
righted itself.
"Because my plan of action leads
there" snapped Karloff. "Watch
the body and re that it doesn't
bounce off. This roau is bad"
1t seemed to Gatford, in that mo-
ment, that a madman sat at the
wheel. karloff drove with the reck-
lessness of one utterly devoid OF
care.
Without doubt he had formed
some definite plan Of procedure, but
to Gafford it was incomprehensible.
Still, he bethought him, the man
ought to know the situation better
than he. He said no more, but
turned in his seat and laid steady
ing hand on the body of the dead
chauffeur, while they rushed ahead
They reached the foot Of the hills
and began to climb. The throb OF
the motor was the only sound as
they mounted the grade. Karlofl
threw the throttle wide open ano
took the grades with rush.
The lights splashed long strips o1
brilliance ahead, and presently
showed the hut. The Russian cut of
his power and slid to stop at iti
door.
drag the body inside and ge
into it's clothes" he directed as h,
climbed down. He leaned back intt
the car and carefully lifted out (
padlocked box.
While Karloff unlocked the doc
of the wireless hut, Gafford should
cred the body of the chauffeur. To
gether they went inside. Karloff se
down his box and switched on SOM
lights plainly fed by the plant il
the valley. Gafford laid the dea,
man on the floor, and began remov
ing the clothing he wore.
Karloff' opened his box, lifted ou