Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-09

And yet, if this thing he had shown
them tonight were a genuine phenome-
| non, product of newly discovered laws
controlled and manipulated, what was
! the essence of the result? Again the
girls temples throbbed.
But rude interruption broke in upon
her thoughts. A clatter arose at the
entrance door of the studio. 1t was
flung open, and all the little group
within turned to look. Brainard's Jap
anese servant, Ushigi, rushed in. his
dusky eyes wide with excitement, his
prominent teeth cleaning white through
wide-open lips.
Look! Seei Ouick!" he cried, and
whirled to point back at the open door.
In contrast to the light within the
white room, that in the entrance hall
outside was dim. The open door offered
a. dark rectangle to Phyllis eyes, like an
opening abruptly flung wide to the out
side night itself. Ushigi was clearly
frightened. But nothing came in at
the door.
Brainard strobe across to the Jap.
Look here!" he demanded. Whats
the matter with you? What have you
SEEM"
But Ushigi was trembling. He point
ed again at the door. "Therer ne
1 IL
hiss alone would have sent chills racing
over the spine.
Don't be fool" Brainard flung him
aside and started toward the door him
self. What the devil do you think
you've let in out of the night that
ScareS-"
But he stopped short as he came
opposite the open entrance. For a
moment he stood still, staring. Then
slowly he took backward step.
Miss Brainard screamed. A chair
fell with crash as some one leaped
up. 1t was John. He rushed across
to Brainard's side. There he, too, stop
ped, and stood gaping at something in
visible to the rest.
"What-what is it?" he gasped.
Wave upon wave Of cold swept over
Phyllis. All the bizarre occurrences OF
that night seemed uniting to some
climax that made the blood CONCEAL
Carol, at her side, caught her arm, ana
the contact brought cry from her.
Then the two girls chung frankly to
each other in terror.
| Whoever you arc" It was Rad
ley's voice calling out through that
dark rectangle over there. whoever
you are-or whatever you are, come in
here where we can see you!" he de-
manded.
No sound came in from the hidden
hallway. Nothing appeared to justify
the tense attitudes Of the two young
men who seemed to see. Then both
abruptly drew away another step from
the door. Something stirred there.
Phyllis straining eyes caught glimpse
of gray figure, swaying, wavering, as
the outlines of heat waves Waver above
a fame Then it took form, as 1t
drew slowly into better light. Human
form-the figure of man! Or some
thing that had been a man!
1t had et-knees-hands-a mouth
eyes! 1t had the beard of pie
tured troll hanging in matted cas-
cade over its breast It's slowly moving
limbs were half covered with the tat
tiers Of some wasted garment that mere
ly chung in shredS It's flesh was gray
as sun-bleached dust. But it moved
and its hollow eyes blinked blindly IN
the light and stared at them from un-
der its ragged hair.
But Brainard relaxed and took a
step forward.
Look here" he said, what is thiS1
A masquerade"
The strange being stood still and his
man.
"For-for Gods sake" he whispered
huskily, tell me-where I ami"
Tell me who you are" demanded
Radley, clearly believing that some
trick was being practiced on him now
"and maybe I can. Don't try to gel
away with anything here"
; The smoky eyes in the gaunt face
turned slowly and went over them all
AS they encountered Phyllis gaze they
stopped. To be so singled out had tn
effect of ateadying the girl, as DEFINITE
demand ll1on her always cid.