The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-02-19


i claim the privilege belonging to the female
members OF the society" she said calmly the
right TO hnd. II possible. a substitute"
Granted answered the chairman gravely.
The customary ten minutes will be allowed
YOU In which TO do 80. Meanwhile. the prepa-
ratons must proceed in the usual way"
with n dread that ate all other emotions.
Virgins watched keenly from his concealment,
and the preparations that he saw in progress
though simple enough In themselves filled him
with sense OF ultimate horror that was freez-
ing: The Committee Of Three were very busy
with something az the back OF the improvised
platform. something that was heavy and. on
being touched. emitted a metallic and sono- ous
ring. As In the strangiing terror and heat OF
nightmare the fun meaning OF events is often
kept concealed until the climax. so Virgins
knew that this simple sound portended some
thing that would only be revealed 10 him later
something appalling as Satan-sinister as the
grave. That ring of metal was the Gong OF
Death. He heard 1t in his own heart. and the
shock was great that he could not prevent
an actual physical movement His jerking leg
drove sharply asainst chair. The chair
The sound pierced the deep silence OF IN,
big hall with so shrill note that. OF course
everybody heard H. Virgins. expecting to have
the whole crew OF these black-robed people
about his ears, held his breath in an agony Of
suspense. All those pairs OF eyes, he felt were
searching the spot where he lay so thinly hid.
den by the table-cloth But no steps came
toward him. voice. however. spoke-ths
voice OF the Firi-she had heard the sound and
had OWNED fits cause.
Loosen my bonds. she cried for there is
some one yondcr among the shadows. I have
found substitute And swear TO Heaven
he Is plump"
The sentence was so extraordinary that Wig.
gins felt n spring Of secret merriment touched
somewhere deer within him. and a gush Of
uncomfortable laughter came UP in his throat
so suddenly that before he could get his hand
TO his mouth u rang down the long dim hall
and betrayed him beyond all question of es-
cape Behind Il lay the strange need OF VIC.
lent expression He had 20 do something The
igff rfr d,
danger. And the nightmare strain OF the whole
scene. the hints and innuendoes OF a dark pur.
pose. the implacable nature of the decree that
threatened so fair life-all resulted in a pres.
sure that was too much for him. Had he not
laughed he would certainly have shrieked
aloud. And the next minute he did shrek
aloud. The screams followed his laughter with
a dreadful clamor. and at the same instant he
staggered noisily TO his feet and rose into full
view from behind the table.
The whole silent crew of them stared darky
al him. and in front of them. like some fair lily
growing amid decay. stood the girl with the
proud and pallid face calm and self-controlled.
Immediately beyond her. little 20 one side
Virgins next perceived the huge iron cauldron,
already swinging from its mighty tripod, wait.
ing 10 receive her into its capacious Jaws Be.
meath II cleaned and hickered the flames from
a dozen spirit-lamps.
My substituted rang out her clear voice
My substitute! Unloose my handsl And
seize him before he can escaped"
In darkness" Numbered the chairman. and
AT the same moment every light was extn.
guished from the swltch-board-every light hut
one. The bulb Immediately behind him in the
wall was left burning.
And the crew were upon him, coming swiftly
ana stealthily down the empty aisles between
the tables. He their forms advance and
shiit by tho CLEAN Of the lamps beneath the
awful cauldron. With the advance came too
the sound OF rushing. eager breathing He
imagined though he could not see those evil
mouths a-working
And az this moment the subconscious part OF
him that had kept the secret all this time ana.
aehy revealed in letters OF fame the name Of
the society which fifteen minutes before he
nau taled 70 catch. The subconscious self
that supreme stage manager that arch con.
spirator, rose and struck him I'm the face "a
70 were, ont Of the darkness so that no under.
stood with a shock Of nauseous terror the
caught
For this secret society. meeting for their
aWIul rites IN great public restaurant OF mid
london we're maniacs Of a rare and singular
cripuon-yilely mad on one point but sane
on aii the rest They we're cannibals,
Never before had he run with such speed
asHiy ana recklessness; never before had he
guessed that he could leap tables clear chairs
WIN tAe hying manner Of a hurdle race and
uou-e PAINS and tower-pots an athlete OF
lNcnty lodges collisions in the football field
but IN each dark corner where he sought A
temporary refuge. the electric light ON the vail
above Immediately spranr into briiiiance 80
OF tne crew having remained by the switch.
board to control this diabolically ingenious
method OF keeping him ever En- sight
And al last they caught him Breathies,
ana exhausted he collapsed backwards against
the wall in dark corner. But the llght In.
SANITY flashed out above him. He Law IN fuiI
view. and In another second the advancing
horde-ho saw their eyes and mouth so close
would be upon him. when something utterly
unexpected happened. his head In falling struck
az llnst q hard projecting substance and-a
oe.l rang sharply out. 10 was a telephonel
How he ever managed 20 get the receivar
10 his lips. or why the answering EXCHANGE
came go swiftly be does not pretend 20 Know
Pc had just time 20 shout. "Ilelpi helpi Send
police y. .... Restaurant Murderi Can
nlnaie. when he was seized violently nv fba
collar hie arms and legs Erssped By dozen
pairs OF hands.
The fact that help might be on the v,v
however gave him COURAGE Virgins Smashed
riEht and left screamed. kicked BIZ and btitied
TVS frock coat was ripped from hts hack ,vith /.
WhlHtllug tear or cloth and lining and ho found
himself free nt the edge Of a group that CLAW.
ca ana beat everywhere about him The Ar,
hEht was now in his favor lie sbot dov,
tho hall AGAIN Ike a hare. ioaplne table, on
the way. and ninginE digh-cove rarafo.
menus ot The pursuing crowd az FAST a. be
tolld Jay hands upon them
luen came Feritahlo nandomonfur, %
sNah'rd glass and cruckcry while n erin -
iron c1uFht ha arms behind and pinfoocd
them beyond on possibility 90 moving Turninq
quickly. De- found himself looking efrai-bf me-
tho eyes OF a biz blue policeman. the door mo
the street open beside him. Tho crowd h..
camo 40 once incVrlcablv mixed Ian ara
lumhIcd together Tho chairman. and tho ri-i
who was t0 have been eaten. melted frte I.
single person Tho nhNaufhropist and fhe "a
lady FIld into each other