The Washington times., 1916-05-21


the girl. But their conversation was
interrupted by willis, the butler, who
had gone to answer ring at the front
door.
Miss Myra. here's n letter which n
found under the door. When I opened
1t there was not n soul N sight" he
said, anxiously but politely trying to
scrutinize the unusual handwriting on
the black envelope.
A curious smile seemed to twist Var
ney's vciuptuous lips for an instant. and
Willis shot HIM n questioning glance.
But the expression died away. and the
well-brcd calnnoss on the visitors face
Myra's fingers trembled as she tore
open the envelope, to draw out the black
paper message within.
The lustrous blue eyes diiated in
sheer horrer when she saw In the lower
outline OF two fists. with thumbs up
turned. drawn In white ink! 1t was the
sign OF the devil worshippers!
"oh. mother!' she screamed. averting
her glance before she dared to finish
the message which was written above
the dread symbol.
What Is IT, dnar?" and Mrs. May
nard's heart sank IN apprehension as
she rushed into the drawing room.
Look Look That awful sign--and
see what Il says! !" cried the girl. weak
ly.
Her mother took the black pspcr with
n skeptical frown. She adjusted her
reading glasses. and then suddenly
girl.
The massage was simple.
"Myra Maynard
when you receive this letter. Pay
son Alden will be beyond human
aid"
Then she handed II to varney, who
smiled at its words.
ITS some Joke" he said. Perhaps
Alden sent It,"
He looked down again at the symbol.
end then his expression changed.
by George, j forgot. heard that
the police had tried 10 raid this Black
Order unden, A.den's directions. A pa
trolman told me abou1 II us | came up
town-all the police are talking about
IL now. Perhaps this Is connected with
sign?"
paper to study It again. She rushed to
the telephone.
will try to reach him at his home
IL that fails, we must do something
else at once" she declared. Jigging the
receiver impat!ently.
The servant at the PHYSICIANS home
! said that the doctor he'd not telephoned.
i nor had he been seen around the house
since early morning.
"Oh, Arthur What can I do? Can't
you advise something?" Myra cried.
helpless as n wohnded bird, as she turn.
ed her plaintive eyes toward the half
sneering countenance OF the club man.
well. IL he's in trouble 1t IL OF his
both OF fooling with this sort OF stuff.
II have heard that I,eople lose their
reason and their health. I'm this case
he may have lost his life. by intruding
In what waS- none OF mis- businfsst'
There was an undercirrcnI q. hate
in his voice which did not go unobscrved
| by Myra.
Arthur, you must no. be - bitter
life more than once, ri terrible effort
and risk. II YOU are. IA good a friend
as you say, you are. you will help me-"
J she pleaded.
| "Oh. well. don't like the fellow. he Is
bore. But, he's human. Ia advise
calling up the police station. to learn
! II they have seen him.
The lieutenant at the desk gruffly
answered her call. When the girl mem
toned her name his manner changed.
! and he called the captain to the instru-
! ment.
Have you seen anything Of DR..
Payson Alden?" she demanded. was
he injured this morning."
near being blown to bits by those
crooks. but we couldn't find sign OF
them. The doctor stuck around there
| Just the same. after we gave up"
| We'll hasn't he telephoned you? Ia
that all YOU know about him?" she
asked.
Yes. Miss Maynard. the last we saw
of DIR. Alden he was prowling around
near the ruins"
Myra repeated the vague news to her
mother and the visitor.
Varney repressed smile OF satisfac-
ton. and then shook his head In as
sumed apprehension.
That's terrible. IL he II alone there
and these men actually did blow up the
place. there Is no telling what may
| have happened to him. Perhaps that
| letter was true after all"
Myra walked the floor Juggling at her
gown in nervous abstraction. As she
approached the window to look down
the driveway Of the beautiful old es-
tate varney approached her.
tone. Come into the library away
from your mother. and will tell you.
Making an excuse she led the way &c
another room. while her mother won
dered vaguely at the meaning OF 1t all
Mrs. Maynard was laundering thes,
DAYS in her vain efforts to understand
Myra's psychology. The girl hat
changed so greatly since the odd meet
ing with DR.. Payson Alden. Her grow
ing interest In him was patent TO the
disapproval OF the occult experiments
Mrs. MAYNARD could not combat hei
own growing liking for the physician.
As they reached the seclusion OF tn,
other room Myra turned her nervous
face TO Varnev.
what do YOU think we can do?"
"Well." and his words were givei
with studied slowness. You remem
Der the doctor claimed that he hypno
tized you. and that he projected you
spirit or YOUR. What was IT, h,
called it?"
MY astral body prompted Myra
What has that to do with his DANCE
now?
Varney nodded impressively.
That's just II A whole lot. Now
tell me truthfully, was II actually tn
case Did your astral body really ~
somewhere? Is all that rubbish true ?"
why, of course. | actually saw tn
men I'm the Black Order. just as though
II were a dream, ! left my own body
asleep there i'm the chair. i seemed L
float through space and then found my
self In a black ROOM with men kneelinI
! on the floor, chanting some terribl
words which | could not understand
She trembled at the recollection.
Yes" she continued. at is almos
unbelievable, Arthur. But It actuall
: And / saw that horrible face OF a man
with his thumbs upturned. Every da
4 see that face appear-somet.mes o.
: the glass of picture frames. sometime
In my goldfish globe! And l saw a Wis
ion of DIR. Alden In his bedroom, SUI
fering from that queer gas which cam