The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-08-18

small waxen image about one foot high, wrapped around the feet with a piece of silk. He placed 1t on the desk where the planter recog- .nized 1t instantly as wax figure of Madeline. ss
 "You--devil. What are you up to? Where did you see this girl ?' he repeated.
 "Tonight-on the road" Mirandi told him, his forefinger caressing the head of the image. There was young man with her.
 "Yes, they are to be married to- night. "Oh," Beaumont continued impatietnly, you have waited too iong to do anything"
 Mirandi continued to stroke the figurette before him. but he bent 8 penetrating glance on his visitor. "Come, out with it," he said. sud- denly rising, his eyes glittering. "Just what do you want?'
 Tiff she were to disappear for A 7, month";, Beaumont suggested hopeful.
 '.What do you hope to gain by her disappearance?" Mirandi ask ed.
 "Everything."
 "Everything?" Do you think she will forget her lover in a month?
 "Just give me a month";" Beau mont pleaded. "Just one month with her - alone"
 "Not in a montk or year, Moh- sieur. have looked into her eyes. She is deeply in love--but not With you"
 "They are to be married in an hour" Beaumont explained, pacing the floor in his agitation. tell YOU it must be stopped. There must be way"
 MirandPs arm shot out and he stopped the planter. in his tracks. Drawing the man, toward him, he bent his head close.
 There is a way" he told him: "But the cost-the cost is heavy. Beaumont stepped back and looked at him. Give me what l want" he said in low voice. stop this wedding, and you may ask anything"
 Mirandi studied the man for an instant. Them turning. he opened the door of a wall safe. From tne inside, he drew small black case. Opening it, vial was disclosed containing dark, greyish powder. Fielding the open case in his two hands and smiling evilly, Mirandi glided cat-like back to the side or the planter. Bending over he whispered in his ear, and at the same time he thrust the case into his hands.
 As the Voodooists whispered words. Beaumont drew back with a look of horror. 'No-no-not that" he said and thrust the case toward the sorcerer. But Mirandi brushed him aside, as he almost missed through his white teeth showing in Devilish leer. { "Only a pin-point, Monsieur Beaumont, in a glass of wine. Or, peraps, in Q flower" {
 "No, can't, I won't. There must be some other way," the planter protested. He seemed about to hurl the case into his tempters face.
 Mirandi lowered over him com- mandingly.e There is no other way" he said. taking hold of his visitors arm and easing him to- ward the door. .,a.
 Again Beaumont held out the case with the deadly potion. but Mirandi waved it aside. Keep it, Monsieur, keep it. You may change |your mind. Remember, only a pin point. And send me word after you use it."
 Opening the door, he thrust his visitor outside. Closing the door again quickly, he crossed to the table. Picking up the image or ,, Madeline, he held 1t before a ruby light that suddenly gleamed from the cavity of a human skull sus- lnended from the ceiling in cor | ner of the room. Holding the image high above his head, and bathing 1t in the glow of red that flooded the room, he intoned:: "You're a strange, droll goa i: with your Beanumonts ana your Madelines and this thing called love-"
 Beaumont made the miles back fto his plantation under all the pres s,,re the car would bear Upon his arrival home, he sent word to pr. Bruner, Madeline and Neil to pre-.
 pare for the ceremony. A florist
 had been summoned, and also an iorganist. While the wedding. parry was. preparing, the planter ana ST. yer went into a conference penino closed doors.