The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-01-15
The Creeping. Mon
by Fronees Shelley Wees :
Chapter 48
The Shining Knife


Tuck was bathed in cold. icy
perspiration. Her heart was
pounding in suffocating beats. She
could hear il distinctly. He lifted
his head and stared at her. Could
he hear it too?
Bump bump bump.
His face was black with wrath.
He looked up at the ceiling. He
came over to her swiftly and
glared down at her. "Was he at
home when you left?" he demand
ed in desperate whisper.
She would not answer. She
could not answer. for the moment
he had spoken he put his hand
tightly over her mouth. and then
picked up long roll of bandage
and gagged her.
Suddenly the man smiled to
himself again. He went noiselesS-
~ TO the cabinet and took little
bottle from it. with thick pad of
cloth. He went to the end of the
room she couldn't see, and she
heard nothing; but wave of fresh
sweet night air poured over her.
Then it was gone. and the heavy
air Of the room settled around her
again. The gag hurt badly and 1t
was so dry. Her mouth was so dry
She twisted her head and cheWed
at the gag. but it would not bulge.
She pulled at her wrists until the
bonds cut into them. but she could
not move.
That would be Michael, alone
up there. Alone, come to find her.
She couldn't warn him. Michael.
The light went out. The world
was black again. forgotten.
The sweet night air revived
her. He had left the door open,
this time when he came in. and a
cool breeze swept gently over her
face. The water. in the pan
bubbled and sang.
She turned her head.
There was a sort of wide bench
against the wall on her left hand
side. opposite the big cabinet. On
the bench Michael was half sit
ting. propped against the wall. By
the time Michael opened his eyes
his feet were tied together and
his hands were bound firmly be-
hind his back: but worse than
that. his wrists were tied to a ring
in the wall.
Michael had seen Tuck lying
there on the table He had stared
at her with terrified eyes for a
moment, and then he had smiled
at her. lis cW:. dear impish smile
Tuck's heart skipped a beat. and
then the warm blood flowed
through her veins again and she
felt alive Her brain worked again.
The man spoke. you were
alone?"
"Oh. no." Michael said. do you
think I'm crazy?"
Indeed? You lie well, Forces
ter"
And you? What am to call
YOU Murchison?"
Whatever you like. II won't
make the slightest difference. Luck
has played into my hands to-
night" he said exultingly.
"Yes?"
"Yes. indeed. | had thought of
something of this sort. but hadn't
dreamed ] should be able to man.
age IT, Once or twice | was almost
afraid of YOU. Forester Afraid
that you would discover the truth,
perhaps. and so end my work. 1t
is very important work. If the
world could but realize it, it is a
great thing | am endeavoring to
do for humanity.
Now ! am going to finish my
experiment Forester. and you
shall have the pleasure Of watch
ing me-"
Tuck shut her eyes. There was
long silence. Then Michael
spoke. and his voice was terrible,
you devill" he said.
mo. YOU are wrong. Forester,
this must be done. For years have
been on the verge of this discov-
cry. Again and again | have been
thwarted by the stupidity of au-
thorities, by the hide bound Bit
terneSs of associates. must do 1t.
! must do it, do you understand"
His voice dropped almost to a
whisper as he stood there by the
kettle. his hand reaching out to-
ward his instruments.
Life
"EORRESTER, do you know
L what / am searching for? Lifel
Do you understand that? Lifel
The Vital Force. The thing that
preachers call the Soul. SOUL" He
was breathing heavily. He moved
aside and pulled up to the stove
a small wheeled table. GLASGOW
cred. On it he laid a sterile, white
cloth: then he took from the water
that tray of shining, keen-bladed
knives.
81 know where to find it, For
roster. / know exactly where, in
the brain. il lies. Do you know
why they have never discovered
il? Because. when they look for
it in dead bodies. it is gone. Be-
cause. when they look for it in
anasthetized bodies. it is diSSi-
pated. 1t cannot be captured. 1t is
too small. too weak. But / know
the way"
Tuck's heart was in her eyes,
staring at Michael. Michael was
straining at his bonds, twisting,
turning. his face the color of
paper. His eyes were blazing.
The man at the table took a
test-tube from a rack and laid it
carefully beside the shining array
before him. He was working very
deliberately. very carefully.
Il have been handicapped" he
went on. 1T tried to work with
animals because of the absurd
prejudice against the riSking of
b,tr,ap 1;fa uou, foaliSh that iS