Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-16


placed thcro. on tho floor wero several II foot
,hHre r Sar9 ,s into the wood Even
nish
Not minute to lose for fire elemental
The physlcian ran. for messenger and
then bade farewell to the distraurht medium.
Have no fear" he told her. FOR / know
tho antidote FOR these strange spirits. We
Will soon have It under control"
The messenger boy arrived tagging a.
usual with his class. but Alden gave hin,
a nn for ro unusual activity as he banded
ION jug or stoneware and showed his shout
der Importantly.
Rum alons now. with this note and your
get another dollar IL you back here in
Where's It tor asked tho boy. squirting
at the address. oh. the manager OF
sehnidt's Slaughter House. All right suv-
nor I'll be on the Jump
And he made good his word. returning with
the vessei filled with fresh blood from the
Gee, that's a bum cargo" said the youth
with shudder. as he pocketed his second
Payment But reckon youse doctors has
I buy all sorts of stuff. don't youse?'
Alden nodded and dismissed him with a
rus in one corner OF the laboratory Thi.
consisted OF broad. fiat bowl upon tripod
electric tubing. about feet across the
ais. Alden tested 1t for instant. turning
wall The ultraviolet rays flooded the room
making his eyes smart at the sudden illu-
"'inet'on' He was satisfied and turned It off.
On the shore road Myra gathering
along slowly, enjoying the warm spring
hreetcs. as she wondered over Arthur Var
she did not observe three ominous figures
concealed behind the ledge OF the steep bank
out a she was watched with the shrewd In
tcnsity of wild beasts about to spring upon
Now. shoot" commanded one Of the men,
Down tho hillside they plunged after her.
= bullet struck branch close by her head.
and she nroluntarily screamed.
TOO late she realized the force of Payson
tldcn's caution.
She lied down the road In the opposite d.
rrction from that In which her horse had
been ridden. toward an old barge. moored to
the bank.
Two more shots followed her but she had
n,ade 80, another turn in the road and was tenn
oh. where shall Eo7" she exclaimed des-
She saw that she was leaving unmistakabIe
footrrints in tho sandy shore, and paused. n
she clambercd upon the barge. to hide. her
down the stream an old tree. fallen so that
1t stretched down past the waters edge.
Here was idea. She ran toward the
high bank, purposcly digging her shoes into
the sand so as to leave distinct trail on
her way past the barge
Behind her the members OF the Black Order
were speeding through the trees to get in
sight OF her.
+, But j., fortunately; the girl managed to drop
, nj the water. where she could wade UP to
before they came into view.
=, With her virile young arms strengthened
rome which hung over the side of the de-
And with sigh OF relief she darted
through the hatch into the shade OF the
deck Even as she did so. her prosecutors
But her strategy had outwitted them. for
vainly beat the bushes for her.
For as Myra rested from her plunge and
exertion she saw through the. doorway an
whose apparition she had observed in Alden's
laboratory; The figure rushed toward her.
her feet. running. stumbling over the debris
OF old boxes. broken boards and the like.
with which the interior of the barge was
Uttered. toward room far back in the hall.
She could barely discern a doorway. and she
sprang into this just the spectre was
upon her. She slammed the door shut, and
held the knob. frozen with terror,
On the other side Of the partition the nr.
biance OF mirth touching this barrel and
that box with its fingers. AS 1T did the
10 Irvine through the partition to brighten
the Mortified girl still more.
The flames grew and she became weaker
and weaker az she stood by the doorway.
trying to keep the monster away from her.
. suddenly the srectre dlsappeared. and the
flames seemed to die down. but Myra had lost
consciousness
Hack in Payson Alden's psychological lab.
"ratofS the doctor was performing strange
its methods from the pages OF a musty old
French volume.
II may he crazy" he muttered, ito believe
some OF this But they say It has been done
that elcmentaIs are vampires and are blood
hungry. Then this ought to work"
lie poured out the cory contents OF the
Jus into the shallow bowl
As ne did so he cried out elemental
sririt OF fire, come! OFFER you blood sac
:'iiice.'
And even ne spoke the spirit material.
ized.
II stlll retained the astral form of Halt hi,
friend. hut as the blood began to disa ppear
~ though sucked MP by an unseen sponge.
IN" physician lowered the rope sustaining
tho electric coil He pressed the lever. and
the biting rays OF the ultraviolet force
low ed forth.
The figure within writhed and shriek.d.
and suddenly changed in form: all like OF
Hail disappeared
viii YOU. let Myra Maynard alone If I
''Ycsss," the sibilant tones of the
elemental. writhing In torture.
Remember. il you break faith can sum-
mon YOU again commanded the physician.
Go when l turn out the lights"
'Yesss!" Kissed again He drooned tha
lever and the light disappeared So faded
the vision as we'll. and Alden ran to the
telephone.
Now know what may be expected" h.
exclaimed.
quick message to her home Informed
road. Another call to fire Headquarters in
formed that the only fire In that upper dis
trict was burning barge. which was OF
Get to II at once. There Is q ejrl th.r.lm
cried the physician.
But he did not wait for reply Instead ba
rEced downstairs. hailed taxicab fortunate-
~ enpassant and within few minutes which
water, even as the engine reached the scene
ne uasned into tho hRtchway and leaning