The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-09-14

did you, Roady?" she cackled.
did your
"Yes-I didn't know you had him
there. And you were making him I'm
mortai?'
81 found him, Ready. His eyes we're
shut. and he was bleeding. Il was at
dusk, and nobody saw him when I car
ried him in here. Then I started Civ
ing him the herbs"
THAT you've gathered around at
night?"
'Yes-where the dead sleep. I get
the red berries most That's the blood
Of the dead, come to life again"
The quakfng, crazy voice from be-
low caused Fairchild to shiver with
sudden cold that no warmth could
eradicate. Still, however, he lay there
listening, fearful that every move from
below might bring a cessation of their
conversation. But Rodaine talked on.
"Of course I know. But I've spoiled
that now. There's another way, Laura.
Get that spade. See, the dirt's soft
here. Dig hole about four feet deep
and six or seven feet long. Then put
half that lime from the barrel in there.
Understand"
"What forf"
"1t's the only way now: Wen have
to do that It's the other way to i'm
mortality. You've given him the
herbsF'
Eyes"
"Then this Is the end. Seer Now
do that, won't you, Honeyf"
You'll kiss me, ROadyT
''Therel" The faint sound of kiss
came from below. "And there's an
other one. And anotherv'
"Just like the night our boy was
born. Don't you remember how you
bent over and kissed me then and held
me In your armsf'
I'm holding you that way now,
Honey-just the same way that I held
you the night our boy was born. And
I'll help you with this. You dig the
hole and put half the lime In there
don't put 1t all. Well need the rest to
put on top of him. You'll have it done
In about two hours. There's some
thing else needed-some acid that I've
er. I'll bss back, Honey. Kiss me-"
Fairchild, seeking to still the hor,
ror-laden culver Of his body. heard
the sound of kiss and then the clat
ter Of mans heavy shoes ON the
stairs, accompanied by slight clinh
from below. He knew that sound
the scraping of the steel Of a spade
against the earth as 1t was dragged
into use. A moment more and Ro
dame, mumbling to himself passed the
door, But the woman did not come
upstairs Fairchild knew why; hel
craZed mind was following the In
structions Of the man who knew how
to lead the lunatic intellect into the
channels he desired; she was digging
digging grave for some one. a grave
to be lined with Quicklime!
Upstairs was some one who hat
been found by this woman in an I'm
conscious state and evidently kept II
that condition through the potatiOni
Of the ugly poison-laden drugs she
breWed-SOme one who now was
doomed to die and to lie in a quick
AAAAS o ave Noi ItlI1ild SdiliCo
his feet: then, as silently as possible
he made for the rickety stairs, stop
ping now and again to listen for dis
cOvery from below But it did not
come the insane woman was chanting
louder than ever now. Fairchild went
on.
He felt his way up the remaining
stairs, rat scampering before him;
he sneaked along the wall, hands ex-
tended, cropping for that broken door,
finally to find it. Cautiously he peered
within, striving in vain to pierce the
darkness. At last, listening intently
for the singing from below, he drew
a match from his pocket and scratched
1t nOiselessly on his trousers. Then,
holding 1t high above his head he
looked toward the bed-and stared In
horror!
A blood-encrusted face showed on
the slipless pillow, while across the
forehead was jagged, red, INTENDED
wound. The mouth was open, the
breathing was heavy and labored.
The form was quite still, the eyes
closed. And the face was that of
Harryl
Continued Tomorrow