The Washington times., 1916-04-23
Dramatized BY Charles w. Goddard.

vanced with the candiestick IN one
hand. the other held forward a. thousn
she were being LED by the invisible a.,
rector Of this curious trance. a,
UnerrinaIy she walked down IN. s,.,,.
to the library. -
Her ansers brushed along IN, wood.
work until they reached q secret spr,rr.
The panel slid back, and Mvrs sAvsns
-orawn by the irresistible urge 81 IRE
unknown pofencies. - 80
.,, she descended q steep stairway to a
r cnemper sunningiy concealed
tions o. the son IA incIo ',re Of the founda-
Tnn was the secret communion place
o. SMyras father. and since his death
BEEN nrS ssn IN t ds:'p Sns = bad
men from another, city while Msypsrd
enc the little girls had been visitinT
.h The faded black velvet hsnsinss which
mucn larger than its actual dlmensions.
Sopweos hung In the corners. A pail
s ~ gust coyered the strange altar which
, rLScd In the corner farthest from The
covered with northeastern scarlet cloth
OF some Oriental fabric ~ -'
IN the center OF this lay parchment
d sroi. nead "a place By. long Hindoo
tor 81 rho src s,,.y 'apbed into the wooden
As the sieep-waIker entered. the can
dies casting srotesaue shadows across
shso,u ssren nor. number Of rats.
ners OF the stone chamber In which
they had been nysteriousiy dweiiinr
tnroush these long years. What they
could md IN this room To eat was 4
vensmousiy. emitting a dull sicv.
Myra advanced to the altar uisciuS
the candle beside the impaied parch.
ment she knelt before 4, and even
siss : sSoa1ssp s; s through her thiniy-
tghtened and she placed her cienched
nsts. thumbs up. IN the position which
she had 80 accidentally learned that
10 tn. light Of the nickerins taper
threatening words. She drew the dag
ger from the table-her hand moving
as as though II were propelled BY some
against the force--she was resisting il
with All her youthful vigor; and yet
the glittering weapon came nearer and
nearer her breast.
The girl was sobbing.
She averted her head. 90 though plead
the occult. =. - =
The dagger point wa. now armIy
the supernatural power seemed TO Jerk
her arm high In the air. plunging the
cold steel blade downward-not Into her
mesh. but into the altar. where II once
Her hand relaxed Imply. and dropped
to her side. The rigidity Of her pose
now melted sway. and she dropped like
dying flower as she buried her face IN
her hands. to sob miserabiy.
Then she spoke the FIRST sounds which
nad come from the wan lips since her
Yes. yes-I win obey at the appointed
with. low moan the Gid rose nm
steadily to Der. feet. caught Vi the can
die Her left hand outstretched a. be-
though led by her invisible guide
She closed the panel noiselessly.
The trance was unbroken when she
extinguished the Hight. TO fail exhausted
| Into the comfortable embrace OF the
coverlets. In twisted position OF dis
sunbesms strayed into her window, 10
play their tonal reveille upon the fam
,astic figures OF the Bokhsra rug by her
when Myrs swoke she discovered a
peculiar stain upon the fingers sf her
what can this meanY'' she thought.
Il must not tell poor mother, or abe
| would have another nervous spell"
During breakfast the telephone sum-
ed to announce that DR.. Alden was in-
aisting on an interview with Mrs. May.
Myra's mother fairly Jumped In hsr
chair-then. with a frightened look she
answered: Tell that man that do
not care TO speak to him sEsin."
anxious frown. dropped her eyes TO q
rose as she nervously piucked the petals
one by one.