Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-03-23
rNgh I
By the Noted Author
IDAH M'GLONE GIBSON
A Scene of Horror

John Storm spoke In a yolct
so low that only who had follow
ed him, and Kitty and Juliar
Thorndyke heard him. But Tony
Melville, sensing that something
was yrong, hurried across thu
stage.
Here, John, what are you do
Ing with my actors? l can't have
this, you know. | am all ready
to take this shot. Come on Thorn
dyke!"
Tony turned around quickly
but Thorndyke had disappeared.
Where is that man? Here
you, find Thorndyke Immediately
fell him he can't leave the sci
when am beginning to shoot
John, you get out of here. Il
you were anybody else but a pa
Of mine l would treat you pretty
rough for this"
But, Tony, you don't under.
stand. Thorndyke Is making Kit
ty's life miserable. Look what he
has done to her," and he quickly
stripped the sleeve from her up
per arm and showed the prints OF
, hand in red on her white flesh
Damn him" exploded Tony
I'll fix him for that" There was
real menace in the eyes of Tony
Melville, Pm sorry, Kitty. I'll
see that he doesn't do 1t again. -
mo, no, Tony. Don't, don't
make any more trouble for me.
de is insane and he will do some
ching if he is crossed that we will
all be sorry for. l can put up
with it until the end of the pic
Lure and then Tony you will have
to take care of me for a while
and keep him from me-"
I'll take care of you, Kitty.
Don't worry about that. You
will be perfectly safe in the rec
tory"
Tony turned on his friend with
low whistle of mingled surprise
and CONSERVATION.
"Yes, Tony, l am going to take
care of her all her life-if she
Will let me-"
The little group had resolved
Itself into tense, dramatic
group.
John Storm, with his back to
the heavy oak door of the library
set, was facing Kitty. Tony Mel
vile stood at Johns left, his eyes
firmly fixed on the minister's un-
wavering countenance. l was on
posite Tony, and, although be-
tween the two, l was nearer Kitty
than John. The library door
was directly within my line of
vision, as l gazed, fascinated, at
John Storms beatific but deci-
5ive features.
John Storm broke the silence
which engulfed us. TONY" he
commanded tens-W, don't look
at me that way. | have stated
my position. You understand it.
[ love Kitty"
Kitty gave a glad, involuntary
little cry and moved nearer TO
John. For moment | thought
he was going to clasp her in his
arms. Then, to my amazement.
[ saw Melville, man of the world,
sophisticated, hardened, wipe a
tear from his cheek. Meantime a
change passed over me which |
cannot describe or analyze with
any clearness. l felt that I was
dreaming. Strange forebodings
swept over me. l knew that we
were on the brink of a tragedy
but whence 1t would come and
where 1t would strike | could not
tell. l felt my skin break out in
cold perspiratlon.
Without willing it | moved
nearer to Kitty. stared at the
others wonderingly. Did they
know? Did they not have the
same realization of impending
danger that had come to me?
L was held tranfixed as If in a
trance. l wanted to warn them
and yet there was nothing to
tell! Some unknown force was
numbing my brain and prevent
ing me from speaking. l had no
longer any strength, any cour-
age, any power to set my own
will in motion.
| only knew that a feeling of
horror-stark, menacing, deadly
had settled over me and I wasl
afraid, afraid.
| glanced quickly to the right,
the left and behind me. AS my
eyes came back to John Storm S
face | saw the heavy oak door be-
hind him open slowly, inch by
inch-apparently undirected by
any human agency.
l tried to shout a warning. II
tried to move but l only remain
ed dpowerless-fascinated-watch-
ing that massive portal swing
slowly, noiselessly open.
l knew that climax impend-
ed.
l told myself that l must warn
my friends and then, as | asked
myself, Warn them of what?"
Julian Thorndyke's emaciated,
form slithered thru