The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1922-08-01
.'(Continusd from LAST issus)

didn't you wait until they were both
there?" ~, .. .-.
Ill thought they were, Roady ~
The wOman's voice was whining,
pleading. "Ain't you going to kiss me?'''
.; =. ;'sNo, I amt going to kiss you. You
went and made a mess of, things"
You, kissed me the night our boy
J was born. Remember that, Roady ?
Don't you remember how you kissed
me then ?". M I
"Tlat was long time ago, and you
were a different woman then. You'd
DO what I'd tell you"
"But I do now, Ready. Honest, I
DO, Ill do anything you tell me to
II you'll just be good to me. Why
don't you hold me in your arms any
More-?''
A lcuniing sound came from above.
Fairchild knew that she had made an
effort to clasp him to her, and that he
!. had thrust her away. The voices
came closer. . ..-..- :.
y You know what you got us into,
don't you? They made a strike there
t0day-same value as in the Silver
Queen. IT it hadn't been for you"
{. But they get out someway-they
always get out" The voice was high
and weird now. 'They're immortal.
That's what they are-they're immor-
tai. They have the gift-they can get
OUT -, F.!
..'Besh! Course they get out when
YOU wait until after they're gone. Why,
one Of 'em was downtown at the as.
sayer's, 70 l understand. when you
went in there" :,
But the other-he's immortal. He
got ont
You're crazyw
Yes, crazy" She suddenly shrieked
At the word. '.fhats what they all
call me-Crazy Laura. But I amt
hear mel amt! know-they're i'm.
mortal, just like the Others were i'm.
mertal! can't hold 'em when they've
got.the~ spirit. that rises above-Tve
tried mint I~-and,. Ivefonly got :one!.
t"One?" SQuint's voice became, sud
denly excited. "One-what one?' =;
]lt'I'm not going to tell. But know
/ know!" e%.--}>' ~ -. :; j.
There was silence then for a mo.
ment, and Fairchild,' huddled in the
= darkness below, felt the creeping,
crawling chill Of horror pass over him
xs he listened. Above were a rogue
md. lunatic, discussing between
them what, ut times, seemed to con.
cern him and his partner; more, 1t
seemed to go back to other days, when
. other men had worked the R1ue Poppy
and met misfortunes. ug !, =.
. Squint ROdaine was talking again.
$50 you're not going to tell me
about the one, en-? What have you
got this door shut for?" u
mo doors shut"
1T is-don't you think can see
This door leading into the front ROOM
The sound Of heavy shoes, followed
by a lighter tread. Then u scream
above which could be heard the jan
Cling Of rusty lock and the humping
of u shoulder against wood. High and
strident came Crazy Laura's voice:
."Stay out Of there--I tell you
Roady! Stay out Of there! It's some
thing that mortals shouldn't see--it1
something-stay out-stay QUIT"
Il won't-unlock this door -
II can't do 1.-THE tilpe hasn't come
yeti mustn't -,
"You won't-well, there's another
way" A crash, the sudden, stumbling
feet Of a man, then, the scratching Of
match and an exclamation: $50 this
10 your immortal, eh?" 49,.
Only a moaning answered, moaning
intermingled with some vague form Of
weird chant. the words Of which
Fairchild in the musty, dark hall be-
low could not distinguish. At last
came SQuint's voice again, this time
in softened tones:
"Laura-Laura' Honey" Y :
Eyes, Squint." ! 7
why didn't you tell your sweet
heart about this7'
II mustn't-you've spoiled it now,
Roady."
"No-Honey. I can show you the
way. He's nearly gone. What were
you going to do when he 'went---y'
He'd have dissolved IN air, Roady-
/ know. The spirits have told me''
Perhaps So" The voice of the scar
faced. mean'visaged Sauint Rodaine
was still honeyed, still. cajoling. "Per-
haps so-but not at once. Isn't there
barrel of lime in the basement ~
"Yes." 49, .;r, -..,. II. lssss
"Come downstairs with me-. ass y3
They started downward then. aud
Fairchild watched them pass, Rodaine
in the lead, carrying a smoking lamp
with Its half-broAen chimney, careen-
Ing on the base, Crazy Laura, mum
bling her toothless gums, her hag;like
hands extended before her, shuf1ing
along in the rear He heard them go
far to the rear OF the house, then de-
scend more stairs. And he went flat
to his stomach on the floor, with his
ear against q tiny chink that he might
hear the better Squint still was talk
taE u his loving tones.
7 ~ . I ~ {. u 6 . rr.-..