Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-10

hear their words. Noiselessly | crept
back 10 my door. ready al seconds
alarm 20 retreat within and once
more establish my barricade. But IN
Ill more urgent peril should threaten
! did not enter. Instead remained
there. determined TO hear all thar |
possibly could of The anery converse
ton now underway.
Il tell you. you fool Brodeur
yociferated. "tke whole blame OF this
horrible affair rests with YOU sucE
as does not go to that woman, Nom
dun nom, You have wrecked and
ruined the eliminating experiment of
my whole life.
And why? All through your thrice
accursed vice.
Heavens. man! Couldn't you keep
from The stuff little longer? Wasn't
there time enough later 10 crafty thai
brutal craving? Hadn't you manhood
enough left in that rotten carcass of
yours to keep YOU from il now,
you--"
Enough" cried Ersazy in pas
sion. NO more, You and your fool
OF a driver"
IAN accident may happen To any
body, but your drug is inexcusable.
The guilt lies on you and on Boss"
or all three Of US perhaps re-
turned Vital But most of all on
her. Without authority, without per
mission. she removed the bandagcs'
Condemn her Vengeance mus be
done"
A cold rage filled my blood. The
monster was trying to divert attcn-
ton from his own crime by accusing
me; and /. what had | done? Nothing
savc follow minute directions specit
cally given.
sensed fear in Ergazy's tones.
He seemed eager 10 escape. A small
Ter. weaker man than Andre. and now
terribly shaken by his drug debauch,
he could By no means hope 10 stand
against he Frenchman il il came 10
physical conflict. keenly listened.
Perhaps, after all. the thing Wa
ineyiiab! Elgazy went on, while
could hear Andre pacing tlle floor
and mutterin2 below his breath AT
any RAE. Andre We should NOT duar,
rel any lon&er. Grave peril confroato
us nov We must work torethcr. aot
pun hDart. The body must be III
posed 0i, proper measures> be takeh
10 save us from detection, and many
other hing, done. Now thai We haze
failed we must look 10 il sharp II We
are 10 save cur oxn skins.
You cur, snarlcd The fr' nchman
"Canaile."
Il tell you We must nave been AT
wrong from the beginning i'ocS She
not show It now in death?''
A moments silence Then lirodeut
exclaimed
How do We know hut ,nA coad
ton lias supervened l4ter2 How can
We tell what she was like when lhal
idiot removed the wrappings"
The camera will il no. rell2'
En- the camera? Has the cumeto
been used"
Il don't know. answered Nltall
but It's gone lroln my room She
took il for some PURPOSE Where is II
now
BY Heaven, in the @ard. | re
menbcr now seeing il there"
IN that ease she mus have taken
pictures
You think SOP"
Andres voice shook with passionate
"8%erncsS
There's only one way 10 teU. 'lhat
Is 10 examine the plates"
Right They must be developed al
o,icc Then We shah seei Then We
elall have unimpeachabo evidence"
Vital made no reply. bul ! heard
nini cough once or twice. Andres
footsteps rapidly passed down the
hall and entered the surgery.
\ panp Of new terror lransiiycd
M.
The proof that their experiment had
ali but succeeded and that the terrible
change had come about since | had
taken off, the wrappings would now
soon he in their hands. They would
inevitably attribute their chastity fail.
urc and the death OF Alexandra to
some hlunder on my part
cursed the inspiration that had
ed me IN take those pictures. and
with az exceeding bitterness wished I
that ] had flung The camera and all
into the FIRE
But it Vas now TOO late. /
heard Andre call on summons
10 Vital. who obeyed and likewise :
went into tho surgery
In a few minutes now the pictures
hat would seal my deatl-warranl |,
would be- ~ The hands OF my enc.
niir..
Sick with terror. crepl back into
the room, once more locked The door.
and waited for The attack
CHAPTER XVII.