The Washington times., 1916-05-14
CHAPTER XVII.
The Friendship of Hail.

~ X. ALDEN CURED MS urpf'ieHCo
with difficulty. Us he fnmcd
about the laboratory. IIc de-
terrhined that he would never
risk Myra's,bfe !seain nv "a, projection
Of the astral body, for the members Of
the Black Order had struck upon the
most cumming OF psychic traps
II playej. directly jnte their hands"
he muttered. ''But Prof. Hail cab teach
me more of their methods. "a wonder
why he takes so long, - go .-fs -.
Payson Alden rang Nm .his Hihdoo
friend once more to urge speed.
II am coming at'once- J have .nnished
tho necessary costume. my friend was
"on Second thought.,' eents5ued Al
den, they are undoubtedly watching
my house. 1t would be fatnl for US to
be seen together now Meet me some
give them the slip from this ehd. II you
can dc the same there"
Splendid. DR.. Alden. We may as
well get near the order rneett'g place.
II you will take taxicnh To PASSOVER
street and Belmont boulevard you will
strike a corner Of the park. Go down
the path and keep walking until you
reach the rustic bridge. Beyond this Is
a small summer house. ] will be there.
waiting for you. It will take you near
ly half an hour to reach the place from
your home, Y will br'nr the costumes
with me for immediate action"
The doctor hurrledly obeyed instruc-
lions after assuring himself once more
that his revolver was in working order
and safely stoweh away In his hip
The rendezvous was on the outskirts
Of the city and was a tedious ride to
him.
But at last he found the darle-stinned
student OF the occult biding his time In
the covert of the rustic summer house.
The two men greeted each Other
warmly. It was evident that theirs wal
O friendship beyond mere words. Alder
and Hail had been working for man!
terioua workings of tho Black Order
SO. II was that the Hindno's success II
gaining membership WAS triumph fol
II had ben a difficult task. as Alder
realized from the long, description OF tn,
tortuous Initiation with which his frient
now RECALLED him..
depths OF horror during the three day.
Of my initiation. That Is why you dit
not hear from me sooner ended ul
Hail. But the terrific battle with MIS-
Maynard's spirit was the most st., harrow arrow,
that she was doomed. How did you saw
herr"
md the final surprising efficacy, o
prayer. He. then eagerly demanded Il
know more about the ruling spirit OF thu
devil-worshipers.
II know nothing about him, excep
that he is a foreigner. not an American
The order is one Of the most ancien
origin-thousands of years old, hav'
been told The order had been practi
cally wiped out In Europe because OF tn
great war. but the master intends start
ing branches throughout the United
States within the next few weeks. II h
succeeds. Heaven help the hapless coun
kiden's firm mouth frightened in al
ironical smile.
"He will never do It, for intend I,
end his career of crime within the hour
YOU must teach me the signs and pass
words. so that we may get him TO
gether," he answered. ut was won
derful thing that we came together
Professor Hail. after all your studies II
Europe and the East. for we shall do
wonderful service to humanity
sit Is So Well, the secret entrance I
the underground meeting room is no
over ten minutes walk from here. w
may as well be preparing Tor the al
tempt"
While Hail was rehearsing the physi
clan in the symbols and cabalistic word
of the devil ritual. the prime spirit @
the black magicians was attending to
strange rehearsal OF his own.
In the open all within ths stone en-
any immediate neighbors. the Maste
was adjusting a respirating mask
was similar to those worn on the battle
fields and In the trenches of Europe 70
the protection against poison gas as
saults.
on an old stone bench lay box who's
Label declared that II contained ION
gross of Marvel rubber toy balloons.
Beside the box were two metal tank
containing some curious gas which wa
the evident reason for the protectiy
mask which now covered the evil fac
completely.
The Master carefully filled one Of ii
deflatod balloons which he took frol
their caee. studying the pressure of II
yapor with satisfaction. He used 81
from each one of the tanks until II
balloon was almost bursting. Tying Z
mouth with strong white thread; !
bohbed H. up and down. IL might nay
seemed r. childish action, except for n
ominous caro- with which he held h
guarded head away from the toy.
He labhed the taut rubber with pi
and II exploded. to leave "A tiny pu
of green vapor In the air.
lie nodded approvingly and remov,
the mask. after making sure That q
fumes had disappeared. Behind u
bench were two more respirating mask
which he placed In the side OF y
tanks. Then with his cunning smil
registering supreme Sef-satistactvo
ne re,iI ed into the house through ra
sting. boltedJ doorway. d.
; He reappeared presently, leading tv
mambers o: tn" cult .u.. 49,,
Before you fill the balloons maj
sure to have the masks adjusted
was the curt command. Then obey n
Instructions TO the letter. I will not IA
this time" e. !,
lie disappeared as his two assistan
ohedientlv Initiated tho mysterloI
work Thcv fi'ied more thr1 fortv
n..ll = siaasW NIaN IL