Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-01-12
PROLOGUE.

49,, y w ~ KY VI
meal. Old Sullivan. reading his paper
behind the flat desk in the far corner,
did not look up. That was the manner
IN which most of his guests came in.
Simpson, vino had signed the register
ana was on his way to the sleeping
quarters, paused and turned his
purp!ish face toward the door tina had
been shasc., by the blow. keener witted
,ii;tu mos. .: the dcrelicts who drifted
lnto til.S iiouSe of refuge. he wondered
whether me place could furnish him
amusement. Also, he was making a
mental bel ina. there could come in
nobody more wretched looking than he.
After q short. dead silence outside,
'here oliowed the sound of hard flesh
ana rough finger nails scraping and
claWlns Gil the woodwork. The door
swung in very slowly. and that which
had sounded X a sack of meal stood
WaVerias In the opening, like a spectre.
lamb, his left hand still ON the knob.
lie tremhled Nisibly, and, without re-
moving his shoulder from the wood
against which he leaned, passed his
right hand YEARLY across his forehead.
me IONS. pale fingers moving loosely
were nc hat. His beard, a week old,
co:npleted the dark. circular frame for
his dead white face. made all the
shas,'icr by the big. fever lit eyes.
III" eyes We're terrific. They had in
them The flame of terror. 1t was as if
the ~f''recncss Of it lighted up all the
badge, of misery that he wore. His
co!lar was gone. showing the neckband
or his shirt fastened with a bone COLLAR
button. The rusty coat hung open. ex-
posing a c 4 in his shir. just over his
heari, ana from tine right ul.' of his
Goa, sleeve, us he moved his hand with
thai secular, crawling motion, dansled
a long piece OF cloth. His trousers,
baggy and shapa!ess. Tapped slightly
as ms knees knocked together. His
ci"lhes, Zoo biz toy him. made him look
like . draped skeleton. His torn shoes
SPREAD Il as it they had been filled
with musi.
The terror that was in his eyes was
also IN his heart. 1t was more an
parent. more real. than any terror that
mao ever faced Simpson the bum, or
o!d Sullivan. 1t was something super
na1n:a! something ghostly.
Simpson, silivered.
Sullivan. who had let his paper slide
holSilN TO The floor, got to his feet.
lleil"!' he said, trying to make the
word u mere greeting. In reality it was
a command TO the stranger to speak, to
oanlSh the Spectral impression.
The trembling man sprang into the
room Will the agility of a cat, slammed
.he o"pr SLUT. and fell hard with his
pacK a@ainst it. He looked like one
VINO cas- run Il great distance and
makes one last effort to escape pursuit.
f12s buinins eyes glanced at Simpson
ana then at the few articles in the
barely furnished room. but thev took no
hhoW'edG" OF "hat they saw. The
main" ot them, brilliant and steady.
went toward Sullivan.
w nat can we do for youo:" the old
man ASKED brssquely, dislikiny the brill
Han. eyes.
ne 81 llr1oGr ~ oy.nf
against the door. licked his lips twice
ana tlieG to speak. When he did so. il
was III a rattllns, whisper. and he move
nus neck curiously as if his throat hurt
MIN. '"'
'iielp me-" he sald. and there was in
Gnpleasantiy like a whine.
All right" Sullivan, having pul1ed
,'ltlse:i together, assured him. Come
over here
The visitor trembled as if invisible
liIesls'lh!e hands had hold of him. and
"sa.a liis burning eyes surveyed the
room blildly. He came away from the
door with an i%nfinity of caution. his
breath audible in his nostrils. He came
SLOWLY, his knees half giving way be-
meath him. As he walked. half OF the
sore oil his right shoe fell away from
, ~ roo, ana tapped against the floor.
rus arms huns loose at his sides.
Will you'-lle said. Whispering
when ne almost had reached the desk
VIII You ~nelp-help me?"
Although the whine of appeal was
sun in The whisper. there was. back of
'nai. something which sounded like a
new definition of despair. II announced
that he had no hope of finding h,aln
sure Sullivan answered him
breezily. nm
The stranger lurched against thu. desk
ana fell forward, the hardness of his
nonN o making a knocking noise.
With his head bowed. his nose nnSbad
against the hard wood. he flung nm his
right arm. his hand shaking. the fingers
moving tnrouSh the air with the slow.
Gravity motion. and screamed aloud
one prolonged note.
I'm afraid of it,"
flung far back on his shoulders. and
stared at Sullivan.
I've run through the Streets, he
sad in a whisper, through the streets
II through the fields-1,o 900 miles,
A'ld 1t was always-always behind me.
Al held on to my shoulder"
lie clapped his left hand to his RIGHT
shoulder. hesitated "a moment, and
fr2i.hed sheepishly. trying to cover nm
ms failure to capture that which
threatened him.
Nearly got it hem" he declared.
'he Whisper. more than the burning
eTes. made Sullivan all sympathy. He
.,ield or"ar a pen and spun the reg
lister around
can YOU sign your Nance" he in
GIircd kindly.
Inc stranger took the pen and pushed
cue to:h piece OF coat sleeve out of the
way. preparater y To writing. He Paused
the pen webbing in his hand, while a
ne" and grayer horror spread over his
taca Then. with the n:v. ugl.ness up.