The evening world., 1920-07-15

N the mean time Bertha Ktrcher
was conducted the length OF the
plaza toward the largest and most
pretentious of the buildings sur
rounding it. This edifice covered the
entire width Of one end Of the plaza.
It was several stories in height, the
main entrance being approached by a
wide flight OF stone steps, the bottom
Of which was guarded by enormous
stone lions, while at the top there were
two pedestals thanking the entrance
and Of the same height, upon each of
which was the stone image Of Large
parrot. AS the girl neared these lat
ter images she saw that the capital OF
each column was hewn into the sem
blance of a human skull upon which
the parrots perched! Above the arched
doorway and upon the walls OF the
building were the figures OF other par
rots, Of lions and OF monkeys Som0'
OF these were carved In bas-relief'
others were delineated in mosaics. while
| still others appeared 70 have been
painted upon the surface of the wall
Through three other chambers and
! past three more massive doors, at each.
| OF which her guard was changed. the
/ girl was conducted before she was
/ ushered into comparatively small
room, back and forth across the floor
of which paced a man In a scarlet
tunAc, upon the front and back OF
which was embroidered an enormous
parrot and upon whose head was a
barbaric headdress surmounted by q
stuffed parrot.
The walls of this room were en-
tirely hidden by hangings upon which
hundreds, even thousands, OF parrots
were embroidered. Inlaid in the floor
were golden parrots, while as thiclly
as they could be painted upon the
ceiling were brilliant-hued parrots
with wings outspread as though In
the act of flying.
The man himself was larger Of stat
ure than any she had yet seen within
the city. His parchtnent-hke skin
was Wrinl1led with age and he was
much fatteF than any other OF his
kind thai she had seen. His barred
arms, however, gave evidence OK
great strength and his gait was not
/ that of an old man. His facial ex-
. preston denoted almost utter imbe-
cility and he was quite the most re-
, pulsiVe human creature that ever
Bertha Kircher had looked upon.
For several minutes after she was
) conducted into his presence he ap-
r peared not to be aware that she was
> there but continued his restless pac-
ling TO and fro. Suddenly, without
! the slightest warning. and while he
: was at the far end of the room from
D her with his back toward her, he
= wheeled and rushed madly at her.
Q Involunta1ly the girl shrank back,
o extending her open palms toward the
!. frightful creature as though 10 hold
a him aloof, but . man upon either
y side of her, the two who had con-
Y Quoted her into the apartment, seized
r and held her.
Although he rushed violently toward
. her the man stopped without touching
y her. For a moment his horrtd white
y trimmed eyes glared searchingly into
her face, Immediately following which
he burst into mahiacal laughter. Fol
two or three minutes the creature gave
N himself over to merriment and then
+ stopping as suddenly as he had COM
l. menced to laugh, he fell 10, examinins
II the prisoner. He felt Of her hair. her
5. skin, the texture of the garment she
"a wore and by means OF signs made
II her understand that she was TO oper
70 her mouth. In the latter he seemed
- much interested, calling the attentior
ID of one OF the guards to her canlAt
#, teeth and then barring his own sharl
ID fangs for the prisoner to see.
ts Presently he resumed pacing to ant
IN fro across the floor and It was full,
As fifteen minutes before he again no
Id ticed the prisoner, and then It wal
TO TO issue a curt order to her guards
OF who Immediately conducted her from
en- the apartment.
" @ X O'a'l-u.AA1.