Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-04-29

Sne the same girl OF tne Saiuen VI
the Nippon, or had her fate been
cruel to her? A flush of shame
warmed Gafford's cheeks, because
he knew that, no matter what might
have happened, she was still the
same in her soul, and would always
be.
Presently Karloff came down the
steps of Oshitu's house and hurried
away toward the factory buildings.
Though he watched for an hour,
Gafford saw no sign of the Japan
ese engineer.
The sun sank slowly downward to-
ward the west. At an hour which
Gafford judged to be somewhere
around four the bugles blew once
more. Again the prison compound
opened its gate, spewed forth a
trudging line of men, and received
another into itself.
1t was evident to Gafford that they
were working three shifts, and push
ing the production to the uttermost.
He turned his glasses away from
the plant itself and began search
for the hut where Karloff had told
him the track motor was kept. After
a time he found it and studied its
position against the time when he
should steal down to meet the Rus
sian after dark.
AS the hour grew later he began
to experience the strain of uncer-
tainty and waiting. AS long as it
was fully day he had been content
| in a way to lie on the ledge and
watch. Now, with a failing light,
came impatience of delay, unan-
swered questions, and doubt.
What had Karloff learned? Was
Shiela really there? Was she safe?
| Was she even alive, or had she chos-
en- to die, perhaps? Would the
Russian really meet him? Had he
been convinced, or had he but pre-
tended in order to learn of his at
tempted mission? Had he really
talked to Oshitu of pretended mes
sage, or told him of man he had
met in the hills? 1t seemed to CAT
ford that the twilight brought these
doubts upon him as he waited and
watched.
Lights began to twinkle in the val
| lev under the pail of smoke. A
/ faint glow rose from the tall stacks
and the open mouths of the cupolas,
where the molten metals waited to
make the castings of the bombs. A
faint wind came up and rustled the
grasses and weeds on the edge OF
the ledge where he sat.
Presently inaction grew irksome
beyond endurance. With last
plance to the west, where the sink
ing sun still made lemon-yellow
streak in the heavens. ne rose and
moved away.
He made his way back toward the
hut of the wireless, and with it as
landmark went on to the road which
led down the mountain to the plant.
When he had gone far enough along
this as his recollection of his obser-
vations from the ledge warned him,
he turned eff and struck through the
Clusky timber toward the right-of-
way of the railroad.
Above him it was still twilight,
but here under the trees it wes al-
most night. He began to hurry as
| he went for-xard so far as he cnn-
sistcntly could with caution. After
n time he saw faint Tightening of
the gloom before him and came out
beside the track He mounted it and
turned again toward the valley at
smart trot.
AS he went on the night came
completely down, and the glare of
the furnaces shone above him on the
cloud of smoke. Their glow reflected
until his way became family lighted
by strange red light. AS on the
nipht before, it waxed and waned as
the fires in the forges leaped and
died.
1t reminded him of the midnight
fires he had witnessed as boy when
NE had crept from his bed to look at
the reflection of flames or had gone
racing after the fre-engines as they
dashed by. He became aware of
dull reverberation which beat about
him. and knew it was the roar Of the
great plant in the night.
1t was though it had become a
sensate thing and roared out the
malice of the things born within it's
fiery heart. To Gafford, in his mood,
it seemed that it might be the mod
ern metamorphosis of the tabled
ciragon-a creature with q heart of
fire. breathing a fiery breath which
blighted all it touched.
He m,ved through the red refec-
tion of its breathing. lone knight
seeking to destroy its might. He
smiled as he trotted forward and
recognized the thought.
Not only was he knight prepared
to do battle, but his mission was one
of rescue for a captive maiden as
we'll. 81 must slay the dragon and
save the damsel this night" said
Gafford, and ran on.
By and by he came to the point
where the switch turned off toward
the magazine of the bombs, and to
the little hut of the track-workers.
1t was merely shed set to the side
Of the track, and closed at one end
by door. Two rails ran under the
closed leaf of the opening, which he
saw at glance were for the accom-
mediation of the motor Karloff had
mentioned. Suddenly it occurred to
him that the car might be useful in
escaping after they had freed Shiela
McRae.
He crept forward from where he
had leaned in the shadow of the shed
and began an examination of the