Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-14
CHAPTER Y
The Surprising Mr.. vnrney.

ing himself in an odd way. Seated in
big lounge chair In his ha ndsome
bachelor apartment, Arthur Earney.s
pored feverishly over the supply of
morning newspapers which had been
brought to him by his valet
queer he muttered. as he nervous
ly bit his iingcrnails until the blood
came. Not a line. I've read them ALI
over twenty times, from the first coll \
umn to the smallest advertisement. Not
line"
lie rose. pushing the sheets angrilySl
to the floor. lie went to the telephone.
resting on a small mission table at this &
side of the room
Three times he essaycd to lift the re- s:
ceirer off the hook and as many times
he dropped II back nervously
The black eyes burned like evil Goals: "a
his voluptuous mouth was blush graz.
no longer hued with its customary tull- 4
biooded scarlet. Heavy puffs sassed y
beneath either eye, and across his fore IS;
head was some faint lurid mark sus-S;
Eestive OF healing burn. Deep lines
chiselled on either side Of his nose.
and purple hollow in either nabby 1
cheek gave further evidence of a night 81
Of wild debauch. @
And yet man seldom lies to himself, "a
when he is all alone: Varney rose, and n
staggered toward the black wood buff \
ret, talked to himself. as though toss
force some spirit into his aching BODY.
I. i
some whisky. or course do. Not
drink after all these awful hours. S
NO wonder I'm EroGgy on my legs."
He poured out an eXtravagant tum-
herful. Fills mouth twtched as he winc- 4
ed over the bite of the iiauor on his
parched throat.
I'm burning alive! Well. I'll risk il
now" s
He walked to tho window, drawing
his dressing gown about him, and rais-a
ed the sash, to blink out at the glorious
flood OF sunshine. A ella monster might
have cast the same malevolent glare
at the blue vault or the sky. as it,
emerged from its hole in the desert s
sand dunes.
This time nc lifted tho receiver from
the hook, and in thick voice called
for a number "a
Soon he received the connection.
All. can speak to Myra"" he feigneds
calm politeness that was in strangee
contrast to his trembling fingers.
Then he heard her voice over thes
wire. although bewilderment held him
dumb for an instant.
Yes. yes; who is 1t. plcase?" .-
Myra, Myra-iu is Arthur. Good
morning, dear girl" Ft
There was a note OF irritation whch&
surprised him as the girls voice cameg
back. az
"Oh. it's YOU. We'll, | didn't rccog
nize your voice at first You must have
a cold " She hesitated. and then as an $
aftcrthought quickly added: ARTHUR
We made dreadful discovery iast
night. Come over as soon as you cam,
and I'll tell you about eng
Alden, at this juncture was cndeav.
orinS to convince Mrs. Maynard that
4 WAS absolutely essential to the girls
protection that he be allowed 20 con
tinue his investigation with her aa-9
Slsiance. The mother had finally given
Il SrudginE consent-yieldinG, as She
believed, TO the lesser OF two evIls5
Alden had not eaves-droppcd at the 3
short telephone conversations; perhaps
later developments might have been
different had he done so.
Myra, after Varney's promise 10 calls
Immediately. lett the library and en-
tered the dra wing room, in time to hear
hcr mothers admonition:
Or. Alden, don't know why have
yielded to you. I will absolutely forbid Z
any further experiments OF this dread
1ul nonsense. after to-day. No good
can come of 1t. and n world OF evir5
may result"
But. Mrs. Maynard. I hclieve your
daughter has unusual psychic power.
she has shown In several ways that
she Is mediumistic. l want YOU TO be
with her when We try 1t, anu then your
mind VIII he AT ease. 1t Is very sim
Pile
The girl came to them. her radiant
with tho wonted peach bowl
What is it? I'm so anxious to helm
you. DOCTOR
Just TO try a little hypnotism, to
get you snto receptive mood to com
plete the message which was ;nter
rupted last night"
IL took Alden many minutes to CON
vince Myra's mother that hypnotism
would not destroy her daughters will 8
nower. nor weaken her mind With
me SIKH of medical lecturer he ex-
planned the process and finally was
ready sor the seance.
N!fa message TO Narney had caused
Two surprising conflicts or thought in
,hat Senti"man's mind. HIS words. as
ne hunS up the receiver, had boon.
lnahk God!' And the sincerity with
"hich these unfamiliar words crossed
me lips of the Secret Service mombersi
OF the Black Order was in battling con-
'rast to tho sudden look OF terror With
Which he regarded the telephone, as q,
rang again. -
TO q muttered vclley of imprecatlons.
rs Narney steadied his nerves with an.
"'mer iibation at the handy buffet q
The bell persisted in its baleful sum
mons.
IT :ast hs summoned up the cour-
age to answer The message was
short and To the point.
Are you there, varney?"
The man answered in frightened
monosyllahle
Varney. go to the house at once and
una out why YOU failed"
Therc was an ominous silence. Var
hey licked his parched lips and waited
for further Instructions t
Come TO me at once, a. soon as
you nave learned the situation You 4
nave had one lesson. Is another need
cd; Lay your plans to complete the
TASK before midnight ph
is your last chance"
And the word ended in 4 curious
hiss resembling the warning OF the
cabra.
Arthur Farncy dropped the receiver
INTO place, and spranS toward his bed
room. y quick survey OF his features
convinced him that his appearance
would betray his nervousness. He rang
the bell tor his valet, III
"a quick massage, James. did not
sleep we'll last night. and look tenEa
years older than I should. Hurry, now
and call m "A v IN . ~