The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1926-07-15

nobly overbore her protesta tons:
He rose. revealing his bread, black
eirdle that clasped his scarlet robe
about his waist, all figured Il gold.
He stepped to the shelves and
took from one Of them q bronze
Golfer Of some size. With this be
returned to the table, set it down,
opened it, and drew forth 9 tiny
phial-a slender little tube OF
glass that was plugged and sealed.
It contained no more than q
thread Of deep amber fluid-a doz-
en- drops at most. He held it up
so that it cleaned golden in the
light. ~
saThis," he said, sis my elk.
rum aureum, my golden elixir, a
rare and very subtle potion, sufn-
Gent for your need" Abruptly he
preferred it to her. q.
With a little cry Of gratitude
and JOY she held out avid hands to
take the phial. But as her fingers
were about to close upon it, he
snatched it back, and raised a hand
| impressively to restrain her.
"Attend to me-" he babe her,
his glittering eye regarding her
intensely. "To this golden elixir
you shall add two drops of your
own blood, neither more nor less;
then contrive that Messer Lorenzo
drink it in his wine. But all must
be done while the moon is waxing
and in a measure, as the moon con-
tinues to grow, so will his passion
mount and abide in him. And be-
fore that same moon shall have
begun to wane that Lorenzo Cas-
trocaro will come to you, tho the
whole world lie between you, and
he will be your utter and absolute
slave. The present is a propitious
time. Go, and be you happy"
She took the phial, which he
now relinguished, and broke into
thanks. But imperiously, by q
wave Of the hand and q forbiddingi
look, he stemmed her gratitude
He smote little gong that stood
by. There was the sound Of the
opening door. The curtains parted
with clash, and the white-robed
Nuhian appeared salaaming on
tic threshold, waiting to recon-l
duct her. -
Madonna Blanca bowed 10 the
great magician and departed over
awed by the majesty of his de-
meanor. She had passed out, and
still the Nublan waited on the
threshcld--waited for the man he
had admitted with her. But CsI-l
vinus. knowing naught Of his
slaves motive for lingering, babe
him i1arshly begone; whereupon
the curtains were drawn toy sther
again and the door was closed !.
Left alone, the magician Gung'
off the great mantle of overawtne
dignity, descended from the lefty
Indifference to gain, natural in one
who is master Of the ages, and be-
came humanity interested in the
purse which Madonna Blanca had
left him. Drawing wide the mouth
Of it, he emptied the golden con-
tents onto the vast page OF his
book Of magic. He spread the gilt
tcring mass, and fingered it at
fectionately, chuckling in his red
beard. And then, quite suddenly,
his chuckles was echoed by laugh,
short, abrupt, contemptuous and
sinister. ct ~
With q startled gasp Corvinus
looked up, his hands spreading to
cover and protect the gold, his
eyes dilating with q sudden fear,
a fear that swelled at what he
saw. Before him, in midchamber,
surged a tall figure all in black
black cloak, black cap and black
face, out Of which two cleaning
eyes considered him. ii.
Trembling in every fiber, white
Of cheek, his mouth and eyes
agape, a prey to a terror greater
far than any it had ever been his
lot to inspire in others, the wiz
ard stared at the dread phantom,
and assumed unnatural1y, It
must be confessed-that here, was
Satan come to claim his own at
last.
There fell q pause. Corvinus iat-
tempted to speak, to challenge the
apparition. But courage failed
him; terror struck him dumb.
Presently the figure advanced,
silent-footed, menacing; and the
wizards knees were loosened under
him. He sank gibbering into his
high-backed chair, and waited for
death with hell to follow. At least.
you see, he knew what he deserved.
The apparition halted at last.
before the table, within arms
Length. of .Corvinus, and. a voice
came to break the awful spell, a
voice infinitely hooking yet IN
questionably, reassuringly human.
Greetings, Thrice-Magew it
| Itstook Corvinus some moments
to realize that his visitor was NOR
tai, after. all and some further
moments to: recover some SEM