Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1915-12-16

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was dark and silent. With face decid-
eddy grim. he took his torch from one
pocket and his pistol from another.
Come along. Lester" he said. We've
got to look into this. Have your torch
ready-and your pistol. God knows
tainS.
He pulled back the curtain, so that
the hall was lighted to some extent
from the open doorway, and then
was a broad one. running right through
the centre of the house from front 10
rear. Godfrey proceeded cautiously
and yet rapidly the whole length of it,
flashing his torch into every room.
They were all luxuriously furnished,
but We're empty of human occupants.
From the kitchen, which closed the hall
at the rear, a flight of stone steps led
down into the basement, and Godfrey
descended these with a steadiness 1
could not but admire. We found our
selves in a square,, stone tagged room,
evidently used as q laundry. Two doors
opened out Of It. but both We're Sc
cured with heavy padlocks.
Store rooms or wine cellars, per-
haps." Godfrey ventured, mounted the
stairs again to the kitchen, and re-
turned to the room whence we had
started.
Everything there was as we had left
it. The dead man sat huddled for
ward in his chair; Swain was still on
his knees beside the coach; the girl
had not stirred. Godfrey went to the
side of he coach, and, disregarding
SWANS fierce glance, again placed
his fingers on the girls left temple.
Then he came back to me.
IF she doesn't revive pretty soon.'
he said. we'll have to try heroic meas
ures. But there must be somebody in
the ouse. Let's look upstairs"
He led the way up the broad stairs,
which rose midway of the hall, sending
a Ion ray of light ahead of him. I
followed in no very happy frame of
mind, for 1 confess that this midnight
exploration Of an unknown house. with
a murdered nan for it's only o%ccupant.
was getting on my nerves But God
Trey proceeded calmly n systematic
cally.
The hall above correspondent to that
peloW, with two doors on each side.
opening into bedroom suites. The first
was probably that of the master of
the house. 1t consisted Of bedroom.
oath and dressing room, but there was
no one there. The next was evidently
Miss V~aughan's. 1t also had a bath
ana a dalntlly furnished boudoir: but
these, too We're empty.
Then. as we opened the door .orors
the hall, a strange odor saluted us
an door suggestive somehow of the east
WINCH in the first moment, CAUGHT
the breath from the throat, and in the
second seemed to muffle and retard
the beating of the heart.
a flash OF Godfrey's torch Shove
mat we were in q little entry. closed al
the farther end by a heavy dranerv
Godfrey STROBE forward and swept the
drapery aside. The rush of nerfurne
was oVerpoWering, and through tho
opening came a soft glow of light.
IL was a momen before l got nv
breath; then a mist seemed to fall from
before my eyes inc a strange sense Of
cXaltation and well being stole through
me. | saw Godfrey standing notion
less. transfiNed, with one hand holding
pack the drapery, and his torch hang
ing unused in the other, and I crept
forward and peered over his shoulder
at the strangest scene I have ever
Gazed upon.
Just in front of us, poised in the nj,
some three feet from the floor. hung a
sphere of crystal, glowing with a soft
radiance which seemed to wax and
Wane. to culver almost to darkness and
then to burn more clearly. 1t was like
a dreamer's pulse, f!lttering, p~a1lsing.
leaping, in accord with his vision. And
as ] gazed at the sphere, I fancied T
could see within it strange, elusive
shapes, which changed and merged
and faded from moment to
aIlQ yeI always ClGdTGf anQ moro S1lp-
gestive. ! bent forward, strainine nv
yes to see them better, to fathon their
meaning.
GodfreA turning to speak to mo. saw
my attitude and shook me roughly by
the arm.
Don't do that, Lester!!" he growled
in my ear Take your eyes off that
crystal"
l tried to move my eyes, but could
not, until Godfrey pulled me around to
face him. I stood blinking at him
stupidity.
i was nearly 1ss gone: myself. before I
sphere like that can hypnotise a man
more quickly thar anything else on
earth, especially when his resistance is
l%essened, as 1t is by this heavy per-
fume."
ut was rather pleasant" I said. Il
should like to try it some time"
We'll, you can't try it now. You've
got something else to do. Besides, it
has two victims already"
1.-TWO victims?"
Look carefully, but keep your eyes
off the sphere" he said, and swung me
around toward the room again.
The room was shrouded in impene-
trable darkness, except for the faint
INC quiVering radiance which the
phere emitted, and as I plunged my
eyes into it's depths in all effort to see
what lay there, 1t seemed to me that
| had never seen hlackness so black.
AS ] stared into it, with st~aining eyes,
a vague form grew dinlly visible beside
the glowing sphere; and then / recoiled
a little, Tor suddenly it TOO shape and
l saw it was a nan.
had a queer fancy, as l stood there,
that it was really a picture into which
l was sazing-one Of Rembrandt's-
for, gradually, one detail after another
emerged from the darkness, vague
shadows took on shape and meaning,
but farther back there was always
more shadow. and farther back still
more.
The man was sitting cross legged on
a low divan, his hands crossed in front
of him and hanging Imply between
his knees. His clothing ! could see but
vaguely, for it was merged into the
darkness about him. but his hands
stood out white against it. He was
staring straight at the crystal, with
unwavering and unwinking gaze, and
sat as motionless as though carved in
stone. The glow from the sphere
picked out his profile with a line of
light could see the high forehead,
the strong, curved nose. the full lips
shaded by a faint mustache. and the
long chin, only partially concealed by
a close clipped beard. 1t was a Won
derful and compelling face. especially