The Washington times., 1917-11-02
DRACULA,
THE VAMPIRE
By BRAN STOKER.

body to the dining room; and laio
what fiowers / had on my dear moth
er's breast
When they were there 1 remember
ed what DR.. Van Helsihg had told me,
but 1 didn't like to remove them, and.
besides, I would have some OF tho
servants to sit up with me now. 1
was surprised that the maids did not
come back. I called them, but got
no answer, 50 I went to the dining
room to look for them.
THE FOUR MAIDS
ARE FOUND DRUGGED.
Ny heart sank when I saw what
had happened. They all four lay help
less on the floor, breathing heavily
The decanter OF sherry was on the
table half full, but there was a queer.
acrid smell about. was suspicious,
and examined the decanter. II smelt
of lapdnum. and. looking on the side
board, I found that the bottle which
mothers doctor es for her-oh! did
use-was empty. What am to do?
What am I to dor I am back in the
room nth mother. cannot leave
her. and am alone, save for the
sleeping servants. whom some one
has druEged Alone with the dead!
! ] dare not go out. for can hear the
low howl Of the wolf through the
broken window. -
The air seems full OF specks, float
ing and circiing In the draught from
the window. and the lights burn blue
and dim. What am to do? God
shield me from harm this night. i
shall hide this paper in my breast
where they shall .nnd It when they
come to lay me out. Ny dear mother
gone! It Is time that ! 90, too. Good
by. dear Arthur, II I should not sur
l. vive this night. God keep you, dear.
and God help me! -
DR.. Se.odrd's Diary.
IS september.-I drove at once to
HillIngham, and arrived early. Keep
| inS my cab at the gate, went up
the avenue alone. I knocked gently
and rang as quietly as possible. for /
feared to disturb Lucy or her mother.
and hoped to only bring servant TO
the door. After a while. finding no
response, I knocked and rang again;
stIII. no answer. I cursed the laZiness
/, of the servants that { ~ should lie
abed at such an hour-for II was now
10 o'clock-and SO rang and knocked
again. but more imp: tiently' but still
without response.
Hitherto hal blamed only the serv-
ants. but now terrible fear began
10 assaIl me. Was this desolation but
another link In the chain OF doom
which seemed drawing tight around
US? Was II Indeed house OF death
to which / had come, too late? !
knew that minutes, even seconds, OF
delay might mean hours Of danger TO
Lucy, II she had had again one OF
those friEhtful relapses: and ] went
round the + use to try II / could md
by chance N entry anywhere.
/ could find no means OF ingress.
Every window and door was fastened
and locked, and / returned banled TO
the porch. AS 1 did so. heard the
ra pid pit-pat of a swiftly driven
horses feet. They stopped at the
gate, and a few seconds later 1 met
Van Helsing running up the avenue.
When he saw me. he gAspeG out:
Then It was you. and just arrived.
How ts she? Are we too late? Did
you not get my telegram"
answered as quickly and coherent
| Iy as 1 could that had only got his
telegram early In the morning and
had not lost a minute In coming here.
and that ] could not make anyone
| in the house hear me. He paused and
raised his hat as he said solemnly:
Then l fear we are too late. Gods
will be done"' With his usual re-
Operative energy. he went on: Come.
II there be no way open to get in, We
must make one. Time Is all in all to
US now"
CTo BE Continued Tomorrow)
tCopyriEhtedl