Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-03-29
CHAPTER XIV.
K1sMET!

Words cannot paint the nauseating
horror OF that moment. Fear-cold. alb
ject, awfuf fear-ran through my veins
like a drug; my face vas clammy with
the sweat Of utter terror; my hands
clutched wildly at some drapery, which
tore from it's f%astenings and came down
In my grasp. +.
Three shafts of lights swept across
the floor. and almost at once picked up
that horrid shape. 1t was coiled, with
mead raised, ready to strike, and l saw
that one side Of it's hood had been shot
away.
have, more than once, referred to
Slmmonds as hard headed and want
ing in imagination-not always, / fear.
IN terms the most respectful. Fol that
L ask his pardon; I shall not make that
mistake again. For, in that nerve
racking moment, he never lost his
GOODNESS. Revolver in hand, he crept
cautiously forward, while we others
held our breath; then the pistol spoke.
once, twice, thrice, and the ugly read
fell onward to the floor.
AT the same moment, Godfrey sprang
to the door from which volumes Of
heavy, scented smoke still eddied. and
disappeared inside.
l scarcely noticed him; 1 was star
ing at that foul object on the floor;
and then l stared at Francisco Silva.
m~otionless or the divan. his eyes fixed
on the crystal sphere, undisturbed amid
all this terror NJ tumult. 1t is inn
possible for me to remember him, as
he was in hat moment, without adj
miration-yes, and a little awe.
BUT Godfrey's voice. shrill with ex-
element, brought me around with a
start.
"Lester!" he shouted. Lend a hand
here!"
Wondering what new horror lay in
wait, l fought my way into the other
room. stumbled over the body of the
Thug. barely saved myself. my scalp
prickling with terror, from falling upon
1t. and pitched forward to where Cod
frey was bending above that huddled
shape l had glimpsed through the
smoke.
"Catch hold!" he painted: and, chok-
ing. staggering. ~suffocating. we dragged
it into the outer room. Get a window
open!"
seemed to shake. CROPPED along the wall
until he found q window, pulled the
hangings back, threw up the sash. and
flung back h shutters.
Quick" said Godfrey. "Over there.
Now hold the torch"
And a. I took it and pressed the
button with a trembling finger, the
halo of light fell upon a bloodless face
the face of Marjorie Vaughan.
Simmonds was supporting her, and
Godfrey, with frantic fingers, was loOS-
ening her robe at the throat. NY ter
rified eyes staring at that throat, half
expected to find a cruel mark there.
but its smoothness was unsullied. The
robe %loosened. Godfrey snatched his
cap from his head and began to fan
the fresh air in upon her.
PRAY heaven it is not too late!" he
murmured. and kept on tanning, watch
ing the white lips and delicate nos
trils. so drawn and livid. I'VE must
try artificial respiration" he said, aft
er a moment. But not here-this at
mosphere is sitting. Take her feet,
Lester"
We staggered out with her. some
how. across the hall, into her room.
and laid her on her bed. Godfrey,
kneeling above her. began to raise and
lower ker arms, with a steady. regular
rhythm.
"Open the windows wide," he COM
manded. without looking up. wet a
towel. or something. in cold. water. and
bring 1t here"
Simmonds threw open tho windows.
while I went mechanically to the bath
room. wet . towel. and slapped It
against her face and neck % Godfrey
directed. The moments passed. and ct
last the lips opened In q Tutoring sigh,
the bosom rose With q full i~nhalatioo,
and 4 SPOT Of color cfApt into eithne