The Spokane woman. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1921-1935, 1927-08-04


car IN front slowed down and the one
behind came closer. Instead OF being
seized with panic, however, Il sense Oh
calm came over me and made me re-
member the object vi my quest. i
wondered if l should begin my OF
fensive by Draining the man at the
wheel OF my taxi. lie was, l had
NO doubt by this time, i'll the employ
of the man who held the girl in his
power. Or was l mistaken about the
whole thing, after an! In another
minute the narrow lane between the
lights and the curb would be passed,
and
Suddenly the limousine in front stop
ped, and my taXicab rammed into II
with such violence that | was thrown
from my seat. Before l could regain
my lost equilibrium, the car behind
had smashed into us from the rear.
There was Il moment of confused dark
ness in which | struggled to open the
door. 1t gave way suddenly, and l
iunged out into the arms of Il gorilla
like form on the running board.
brick wall seemed to crash down upon
my unprotected head. Then oblivion
My return to consciousness seemed
to be upward through an interminable
well of blackness. Demons of pain
pranced about on my shoulders and
hammered my head numerically. /
tried to lift hand to my throbbing
temples, but, for some strange reason.
my hands refused to respond to my
brain. Gradually regained conscious
ness, to find that ! was bound tightly
to chair with high back and hard.
unpadded arms my head slumped for
ward on my chest. / opened my eyes
in dimly lighted room.
"The hero wakes" derided voice
hollow and dillingham; seemed to
come from all parts of the room at
the same time. "More light, Kelso.N
The sudden flash of light that fol-
lowed was like knives to my aching
eyeballs. l clamped my lids together
tightly and lowered my head still more.
Hold up his head, Kelso," ordered
the voice, and ruthless hands jerked
my head against the hard wood chair
back. A few moments later | opened
my eyes-and then | saw
lowering in, or just above, Il finely
carved chair of Oriental design was a
form so hideous that l knew at once
it was possessed by no creature be-
longing 10 humankind. / say lowering,
for il seemed that the thing was like
nebulous mass of velvety black
smoke, risng-yet remaining suspend
ed in position-frOm the seat of the
chair. / was unable to distinguish
arms or limbs. Although the room
was brilliantly lighted by large cell
ing chandelier, that part of the room
occupied by the strange monster was
in semidarkRess. The formless mass
seemed to undulate in its movements
as though about to be dissipated into
the air. Its 1idless eyebalis We're like
green discs-evanescent and tilmy--set
above yellow fangs that protruded be-
tween lips of amorphous blackness.
"Wouldst rescue fair maid in dis
tress, ehI' tainted that terrible voice
in tone that caused little pin pricks
to spread over my entire body. well,
who knows? You may have the nerve
to do it. Time will tell time will tell
Look at him, Marjorie, and answer me:
has your brave hero the nerve to save
you. Speak, fair one"
A long, quivering sigh drew my ach-
ing eyes to the left end of the large
room. Before broad windows heavily
draped in purple and gold, half re-
Ginning on a sumptuOusly appointed
lounge, was the girl from Alquier's
Clad in mysterious creation of d.
aphanOus silk that accer tnnted her
physical charm, she sent tie blood