Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-27
Continued From Yesterdays Starr
TWENTY-FIVE INsTALLMENT.

w YE followed the length o. the
n I tunnel. It was impossible
wv to hear Morse, whose shoes
We're padded; as tor Inc, l
walked as quietly as possible.
The light, radIating from the under
ground chamber beyond, increased. But
all at once l became aware Of vision,
increasing likewise III diStinctneSS,
though at first SO improbable that did
not grasp its meaning. The effect was
that of an object seen through the
wrong end of a telescope, at firSt in an
unreal remoteneSs. but becoming def
mite on nearer approach.
And in this way, as 1t were, horror
grew on me- took form, confirmed it
self as actual. And at last l realized
what it was saw. But the sight re-
oembled something out of the far past,
rs If one looked i'll magic crystal
capable of evoking it--Vivid as life, but
with a visionary unreality.
Beyond the threshold 1 remained,
staring at what centered the gaze like
an actual Medusa. From Morse, who
had come behind. l heard sIbllant
intake of the breath.
Before us, at the other end OF the
room, stood Eleanor. But there Was no
movement Or lite i'll hdf attitude. A
form in chiroscuru it seemed, the black
ness of her gown against skin colorleSS
as marble; her hair i'll serpent COILS
upon neck and brow, shading the sight
less face, half bowed, that yet seemed
to gaze at us in hopeless submission.
If fear, if agony that has brought peace
at last are ever beautiful, they were
beautiful here, but with a dreadful
fascination.
Then I realized that she was not
standing at all, that she was hanging,
her arms twisted behind her. the body
crossed by cords at first invisible against
her dress, but holding the limbs, which
sagged forward. And from behind her
head rose the mass of black post.
All this was perceived, Of course, in
a moments time. That central form
in its tragic significance, momentarliy
shut out every other object; but almost
at once was conscious Of another per-
son, whose back was turned toward u.s.
sitting on low bench, apparently alb
sorbed in contemplation OF the woman
and. even as l was about TO spring Tor
ward. voice strangely familiar drawled
through the silence:
Have you got him, Hasta? Up
stairs. is he? Well. fetch him down.
But look how beautiful she is. Fatal
beauty, eh? ! loved her, HaSta."
At that rising and Strengthening NM
self to his full height, he turned lels-
urely and there stood before us form
ing part of the incredible nightmare
Carl Balloon.
It would be vain to describe the SEN
Sation of that moment, Or rather Vor-
tex of sensations. From where he
stood, his body concealed that OF
Eleanor so that he seemed " have risen
up in place of her. And the image OF
him there remains forever stamped on
my mind, detached as a portralt-tal,
poised, graceful, the smile still on MS
lips, but in his eyes an alert compre-
hension.
The servant had shown amazement
and dismay at what had befallen on
him like a thunderbolt-not SO his mas
ter. No twitch of muscle, no change
Of face betrayed the least surprise or
other feeling. He stood at ease, ne
smiled still; it was only in his gaze
that one could read how clearly he I'M
destood.
But even here there was no token OF
disconcertment, let alone OF rear. AS
in the eyes of panther the light seems
to withdraw itself, crouching before IL
blazes into passion, so l remember tne
look of Carl Ballion at that moment II
rested ON Morse and myself.
There was an interval OF that klno
of silence that proceeds the crack VI
rifle when a markSman aims at Jar
get; but when Balloon spoke at last, IL
was in the same leiSurely draWl.
sol Captain Morse comes to lunch
at Greyhouse! 1 wasn't prepared lor
him. 1 didn't know But MS
quite fit and proper. Welcome, by all
means. trust you'll like the MENU
His voice resembled the insuf1erable
purr of a beast before it rises to
snarl. And the doctor, my accom-
plished friend. who. after sneaking and
messing behind my back and blnnder--
ing about, thought he outwitted me!
And the lady who thought she could
play fast and loose with me, and has
learned better. Welcome. every one!"