Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-05
THE VACANT WORLD
BY GEORGE ALLAN ENGLAND
Copyright 1915 bv Frark A. Mmscy Com punv

certain like that OF the others. but firm and
vigorous, He estimated the height nt more
than Ave feet eight inches. the weight at
possibly one hundred and forty pounds
| Even at that juucturc his scientific mind,
always accustomed to Judging, instinctivcly
| registered these data with the others.
Here. you; get back there shouted
| stern, as the girl rose again from filling the
pail.
The cry was instructive. for even as he
uttered 1t ne knew II could not be under
| stood thousand years OF rapid degenera-
tion had long wiped all traces of English
speech from the brutemen, who now, at
most chartered some bestinl gibbcrish. Yet
the warning echoed loudly through Madison
Forest and the oboah hesItated
The tone. perhaps. conveyed some mean
: ing to that brain behind the soplng fore
head Perhaps some dim, racial memory
OF human speech still fingered in that mind
in that strange organism which, by some
| freak OF atavlsm. had thrown back" out OF
| the mre of returning animality almost to
| tho human form and stature once again
However that may have been, the crea-
| turs-chlef halted In his advance Unde-
cided he stood moment leaning upon his
| spear. sucking at the rude mockery of a
| cigar. Stern remembered having seen Con-
| sui the trained chimpanzee, smoke In pro-
csely the same manner, and nameless
loathlng filled him at his mockery OF the
dead buried past
Let me carry the pail - said he. We've
got to hurry--hurry-or It may be too
late !"
NO. no-I'n keep the waterw she an
swered, painting, You need both hands
clear Come 90
Thus they turned and, with n shudderIng
glance behind, started back for the tower
again.
But the obeah, with a whining plant.
spat away his tobacco leaf They heard a
shuttle OF feet And. looking round again.
both saw that he had crossed the little
brook.
There he stood now, his right hand out,
palm upward. his lips curled in the CHASTITY
Imitation of smile, blue gums ana yellow
tushes showing. sight to freeze the blood
with horror. Yet through II all. the mean
Ing was most clearly evident.
Beatrice laden as she was with tho
heavy water bucket. more precious now TO
them than all the wealth Of the dead world,
would still have retreated. but with word
of stern command he bade her walt lie
stopped short In his tracks
Not step" commanded he. Hold on
If he makes friends with us-with gods
that's a million times better every way
Hold on--walt. no--thls is his move"
He faced the obeah. His left hand grip
ped the repeating rifle. his right the auto
matte held in readiness for instant action
The muzzle sight never for second left
it's aim Rt the chiefs heart.
And for a second silence fell there In the
forest. Save for the rustlng murmur OF
the Horde, and faint, woodland trckle
OF the stream, you might have thought the
place untouched by life.
Yet death lurked there, and destiny
the destiny OF the whole word. the future.
the human race, forever and ever without
end; and the cords Of fate were being
loOsed for new knitting.
And Stern. with Beatrice there at his
side, stood harsh and strong and very grim
stood like an incarnation OF mans life,
waiting
And slowly, step by step, over the yield
ing. noiseess moss, the grinnlng. One-eyed.
CHASTITY Obeah-man caIns nearer nearer
still.