The Beasts of Barsac” by P'^BERT BLOCH

A Jules de Grandin story

by Seabury Quinn
 KNOWLEDGE
THAT HAS
ENDURED WITH THE
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SUPERSTITIONS AND TABOOS Irwin J. W^l 61

THE EYRIE AND WEIRD TALES CLUB 93
Except for personal experiences the contents of this magazine is fiction- Any use
of the name of asvy living person or reference to actual events is purely coincidental

PiBASB mention Newsstand FicnoM Unit when answering adveiiisements

LAMOKT BUCBAKAK, Aesoetate Edttor.
 I'l> 1)1 fll>\\l)'\ I I
'
UI.I'llM .

UI^S DB GRANDIN, looking even fided as he toc^ a half-swaJIoTV of Qiaf- yours, and not have to drive thirty blocks hunted up my case of instruments and got
;
my thought you were
mofe diminutive and dapper in his treose and followed with a sip of black through zero weather,” I broke in somewhat into
—
greatcoat. "But I

J it i

uniform of major in the Service del coffee. "I am tired like twenty dogs and
*
rudely. "Have them make the delivery room too tired

Rensiegmenis than in civilian attire, re- half as many ready, if you please, and give her half a "Ah bah!" The little laughter-wrinkles

rded tiie highly polished tip of his tan budge from this chair if
—
so small puppies. I wo>jId not
” > grain’ of morphine if the pain becomes too deepened at the outei corners of his eyes,
"That Jules de Giandin, he is what you
'

S ot with every sign of approval as he ex- The of the telephone sawed

shrilling • great.
To
I’m starting right away.”
de Grandin I explained: "Just one of call?—the cramper-in- the-stomach? He is al-
haled two columns of smoke through narrow through his statement and with a nod of i

those things that keep life from becoming ways complaining, that one. You must not
nostrils. Dinner had been something of a apology I picked up the instrument. "Yes?”
function that evening, for at a little place I inquired.
j
too dull for the doctor. "The population of put too mucK credence in his lamentations.”
\

in East Fifty-third Street he 'had found that "This is Michaelson, Doctor," die wo-
^
New Jersey is due for an addition ia- the
afternoon a half-case of Nidts St. Georges man’s voice came to me from the other end (
next half hour, and I have to be there as
— JT WAS an ordinary case. Miranda Mor-
welcoming committee ” -L tissey was young and strong, and^^de
whidi he had borne home triumphantly just of the wire. [
part of the
"Will you permit that I go with you to Grapdin’s obstetrical skill was amazing. "So
in time to grace the capon which Nora Me- "Yes!" I repeated. Miss Mkhaelson was
Ginnis had been simmering in claret for our night supervisor of the maternity floor at
I

f
assist?”he asked. “Me, I have so long been —now—my small sinner,” he spanked the

evening meal. Now, fed to repletion, with Mercy Hospital, and when she called I knew busily engaged in reducing the sum total of ' small, red bfanf s small, ted posterior with
coffee on the stand at his elbow and some- what impended. humanity that it will be a novelty to take a wet towel, “weep and wail, and breathe
thing like a thimbleful of green Chartreuse "Mrs. Morrissey in Fifty-eight
— ,
part in its increase. Besides, my hand grows the breath of life in the process. What?” as
left in the poussc cafe beside his cup, he "How long?’’ I interrupts. awkward for the lack of practice.” the baby refused to respond to his com-
seemed utterly at peace with all the world. "Not more than half an hour,
[
be delighted,” I assured him as 1 mand. "You will not? By blue, I say you
'"The day has been a trying one at the Bu- less. If £ were in your place
— ”
sir. Maybe f

'
'T’ll

reau des Remiegments, my friend,” he con- "If you were in my place, I should be in v For everyone who cheats deaSh, death must have another vktiml
Heading b7 A. R. TILBURNE
 — . " ”

WEIRD TALES DEATH’S BOOKKEEPER 7

more of him in the future, and that he shall

I not promise you —
He turned and cast could have happened. Only
—” I paused,
$hall! You are too young to <^efy y^
He hear of Jules de Grandin.” a glance half quizzical, half mocking, at de words continue, and be
elders. T^e that, petit
and a pipmg,
diablotm!
_

The object of our colloquy turned toward Grandin and me, and with a guilty start I
at loss
prompted
for
softly.
to
"Yes, only
—
struck a second, sharper blow,
outraged wail answered the assault. "Ah,
us as the elevator stopped in answer to his realized we had halted almost at his elbow, Well, — oh, this sounds utterly absurd, I

—much better!” He wrapf^ ring, and in die light that flowed from
the drinking in each word he and Camilla said know — I’d never think of mentioning it to
that is better
the now-wriggling small,
wrinkled bundle car we saw him outlined clearly as an actor
w^
to each other. anybody else, but —hang it all, man, it seems
in a spotlight on a darkened stage. He "Good evening, Dr. Trowbridge,” Cam- to me there’s something like black magic in
of humanity in a warmed turkish towel and
a big man, six feet tail, at least, and his nodded coldly as she recognized me, and his cures.”
bore it toward the bed where Miranda
ilia

height seemed greater because of his extreme with an answering bow I took de.Grandin’s "Ah-ha? How do you say?”
rested with all the pride of a cook carrying
slenderness. He was in black throughout, elbow and guided him toward the door, "In every instance where a cure has been
a chef-d’oeuvre. "Behold your man-child, boaN
a long, loose cape like a naval officer’s feeling like a naughty little boy who had effected someone in the patient’s family has
mother," he announced as he laid the baby
on her bosom. "He is not happy now, but doak hung from his shoulders, his broad- been caught eavesdropping on his elders’ taken ill and died within a year. Sometimes

in your arms he will find happiness.

Le brimmed hat was black velour; his dothes, conversation. sooner, but never later.”

hen Dieu grant the- world in whicli he has too, seemed to be of a peculiar shade of "Now, what in Satan’s name is it all He w'as silent for a moment, then, "Per-
black that caught and p^eted die light. about?” the little Frenchman demanded as haps,” he admitted thoughtfully. "The
been both may be a better one than that into
which we came!” The only highlight in his costume was the .. .
we stepped into the stinging cold of the Greeks knew of such things —
that marked his collar above February night. "How’s that?”
As we walked down the corridor he drew band of white
his wide, flowing black crarat, and
in com- I. laughed without humor. "I wish I now, «<5«
"I cannot say, at least not
his hand across his eyes wearily. "There is
something more solemn in a birth than a plement to the somberness of his attire bis knew. Dr. Coiquitt is a newcomer to Har- I did but think aloud, and not to any great
death," he confided. "For the dead one aU skin was pale olive and his lips intensely, risonville, as I told you. Where he came effect, I fear.”

is over, his troubles are behind him,

he is red. As we stepped into die car beside him from goodness only knows. We know only
quits with life and fate. But for the one we caught the scent of perfumed soap and that he had credentials from half a dozen TT MIGHT have been a week later, per-
who is beginning life helai, who can say bath powder, but underneath the more Europen universities, and had no difficulty X haps ten days, when Camilla Castevens
what he has stepped into? A quarter-century agreeable odor, it seemed to me, there was a in obtaining a license to practice. Since he called on me. She was a tall young woman

ago when little boys came into the world we faint, repulsive smell of decay and corrup- -r-^ _ set up shop in Dahlenega Road he’s raised with copper hair and steady blue eyes, past
thought diey were inheritors of peace and tion. '
\
.

the ver;^? devil with the medical profession.” the first flush of her youth —
some thii^-two
safety and security; that we had won the war Coiquitt bowed gracefully ^ we
,
joined
be outdone in
"Ah? ^How is that, is he a quack?” or -three —
but with the added attractiveness

to end all war. Today?” He spread his him, arid de Grandin, not to wish I knew. He’s certainly not that early maturity gives to a woman. In ffie

hands and raised his shoulders in the sort of courtesy, returned the bow punctiliously, but orthodox. The first case I have real know- light of the consulting-room lamp her face

shrug no one but a Frenchman can attain, for a moment, as their glances crossed, both edge of is one he took from Perry. I think looked sad, her cheeks seemed hollow, and
"Who can prophesy, who can predict what nKn seemed pjoised and alert, like duelisfs you know Perry. First-rate heart man. He’d her red lips dipped in a pathetic downward
—harbe d’un houc vert, who in Satan’s name wiio seek an opening in each others’ guards. been treating Mrs. Delame for angina pec- airve. 'Tm frightened, Dr. Trowbridge,”
I fek a shiver of something like awe
run toris, and having no more luck with her than she confessed.
is diat?” he broke o€ sharply.
through me. It seemed to me as 1 sat in a was to be expected in the circumstances. I found it hard not to be sarcastic. It was
I looked at him in amazement. His small,
pointed chin was thrust forward and in his box seat and watched a drama staged by Then somehow Delarue met Coiquitt' and on the tip of my tongue to ask her why
little round blue eyes there was the flash
Fate unfold. These men had never heard of took the case from Perry. Within two she did not take her fears to Dr. Coiquitt,
of sudden anger, while his delicate, slim each (^er, never before set eyes on each months his wife was as completely cured but better sense prevailed, and instead I
nostrils twitched like those of a hound scent- other, yet in the glance of each there ^one as if she’d never had a moment’s illness, looked at her inquiringly. Like the priest.
ing danger or quarry. "Who? Where?” I a sudden hatred, cold and deadly as a bared That started it. Case after case the rest of the doctor has to be long-suffering and
asked. knife. They were lilce two chemicals that us had given up as hopeless wa.s taken to patient.
"Yonder by the elevator, my friend. Do waited only for a catalyst to ejqjlode them. Coiquitt, and in every instance he effected "I —I’m terribly afraid,” she went on as

not you see him? Parhleu, if the Iscariot had a complete cure, even with Bernice Stevens, I said nothing to help her. "I don’t want
smoothly we were
descendants, I
of theml”
make no ctoabt that he is one
TS.AVEUNG
scarcely aware of
so
itsmotion, the elevator
drew to a stq> at the ground floor, and
who was so far gone
that
with carcinoma hysteria
none of us would operate, b«ause there
wouldn’t have been enough left of her to
to die.”
"Fewof us do, my dear.”
shall have to if”—^he paused a
I looked where his glance indicated and "But I

Coiquitt stepped soundlessly across the <»r- bury when we’d cut the mprbid growth long, agonized moment, then with a burst
gave a shrug of disgust. "That’s Coiquitt,”
I answered. "Dr. Henri Coiquitt.” ridor to the reception room. At the door away.”
—
of something tike hysteria "if Richard is
‘'Hein?" Camilla Castevens rushed to meet him. "U’m?” he pursed his lips. "I take it to get well. He says I must!”
"How is he. Doctor?” we heard her ask in there is something more here than mere "He? Who?”
’T don't know much about him, and the
little that I do know is not good. He came a trembling whisper. "Is be is there any — professional jealousy, my friend?” "Dr. Coiquitt, sir. Don’t you know,
here since you went away. You never heard itBprovement?” 'T ^ook my head hopelessly. "Of course, haven't you noticed? He was treating Mrs.
He bowed to her with a superb gentility, We'd have been chagrinned to have
•

there is, Delarue for an incurable ailment. She got

of him.”
"Thank God for that,” he answered yet the gesture had a hint of mockery in it,
I thought "Of course. Miss Castevens. Did
a stranger take our cases and effect cures
.when we'd abandoned
, wdl — ^yes, well, when all
—
the other doctors
piously. "But something tells me I shall heat all hope, but that said she hadn’t a chance! but her son Don*

i
 ” ” ” — ”

10 WEIRD TALES ©BATH’S BOOKKEEPER 11

In cases such as this there are no little things; "He will be within the orbit of our observa- to his death against the earth? Coincidence, anguished peal, almost as if it wailed in
all is of the importance, and 1 would know tion. WTien the hunter stalks the tiger, he
you say. Perhaps in one case, and possibly pain, and as the shrilling of the gong ceased
all that I may be of assistance to you. Begin and
tethers a goat to a stake in a clearing,
in two, but in the three of whichwe know, someone beat upon the panels with a fren-
at die beginning, Mademoiselle, if you waits in concealment till the striped one
and in the many which we damn suspect zied knodc.
please.” makes his appearance. Then, when the mo- coinddenra has ceased to take a great part. I hunied to answer the summons, and
She rehearsed die story she had told me, ment is propitious, he fires, and there is Parbleu, to say otherwise would be to pull Camilla Castevens almost fell into my arms,
and he nodded emphatic agreement as she one more handsome rug to decorate a floor. toe long arm of coincidence dear out of ’’Oh, Dr. Trowbridge,” she gasped as I
finished. "I do not know how he does it, So it is in this case. Mademoiselle and joint! Non, my friend. There is something steadied her, "he’s found out that I came to
Mademoiselle,'' he admitted as she brought Monsieur her fiance are the bait which we
more sinister in this business-of-the-monkey you! I don’t know how he did it, but he
her recital to a close, “but I am as convinced leave for this debased species of a charlatan.
we are dealing with. what do
Do
Just it. is I calledme on the ’phone a little while ago
as you that there is something unholy about keep up your courage, Mademoi- not know, but 1 sh^l make it my affair to and told me tliat my time » up. Rick vill
this business. What it is remains for us to selle," he cast a smile of reassurance at
secure toe necessary information, you may get well--he seemed positively gloating
find out. Meantime, if you will oblige us by
submitting to a physical examination” ^he —
Camilla, “and we shall do the rest. “Be
brave; we shall not fail you.”
be assured.” when he
— told me that— -but I must die to-
"How’ll you go about it?” I demanded, night ” Her voice trailed off in a gasp
rose and nodded toward the examination
—
room "we should like to assure gurselves ^^rpHE pair of you are crazy as a brace of
nettled by his air of assurance.
He spread his hands and raised his shoul-
and if I had not held her she would have
skimped to the floor in a swoon,
of your condition; perhaps to prescribe JL loons,” I fumed when she had taken ders. "How
should I know? The case re- 1 carried her into the study and stretched
treatment.” her departure. *T can understand Camilla. quires toought, and thought requires food, her on the sofa while de Grandin bathed
There was no doubt in either of our minds It’s the power of suggestion working on
Hiere is an excellent dinner awaiting us. her temples with cologne and held a glass
when we had finished our inspection. There her. Theie’s a book about that sort of Let os give it otu attention and dismiss of brandy to her lips when she revived a
was a widespread area of dullness round her thing in the library, written by a man named
tois never-quite-sufficiently-to-be-anathema- little.
heart, the pulmonary second sound was Manly Wade Wellman. He’s made a study- tized 0>iquitt person from our thoughts a She was pitiable in bet terror. Her
sharply accented, and a murmur was dis- of the matter and decided that if belief in
Lttle while.” lower lip began to quiver and she caught it
cernible in the second interspace to the left illness is induced in someone who firmly be-
savagely between her teeto to steady it. Her
of die sternum at the level of the third rib, lieves what is told him, he will become ill
TTB WAS rather bte to dinner the next
so harsh as to be audible over the entire —
even die of the disease he has been told h^"”
evening, and Nora McGinnis was call-
fingers twisted
and
and untwisted toemselves,
at the base of her throat we could see
pericardium. Camilla Castevens was un- has. It may be that Camilla had a tendaticy
lug on high heaven to witness that the voq toe pulsing of an artery as her tortured heart
doubtedly a victim of myocarditis, and in toward a weak heart. Now, if ''Gc'^i’itt
vin Hone she had prepared especially jumped like a fri^tened rabbit with each
an advanced, almost hopeless stage. induced her to believe she would develop
for him would be entirely ruined when he beat. "Be calm, ma pauvte” de Grandin
"I shall not hold the truth from you, myocarditis, and administered some evil-
Mademoiselle,” de Grandin told her grave- tasting drug to be taken regularly and so
bustled m with that peculiar smile that told ordered gently. "You will do yourself an
he was mudi pleased with himself on his injury if you give way. Now, tell us jmt
ly when she returned to tlie consultation keep her attention fixed on the suggestion,
face. what happened. You say he threatened
room. “You are a very ill person, and in ut- it might easily be that her constant worry
"Me, I have dose reseafch at the city hall
—
most danger. These"' ^he saibbled a pre- and the fear of impending sickness and
tois afternoon,” he toM me. "At the bureau
you?”
"No, sir. I wouldn’t call it a thr^t so
capsules
—
scription for some three-grain amyl nitrite
“will ease the pain when it comes
death have combined to make that latent
of siaiistiques vitdei I delved into the rec- much as a statement — like a judge pra-
on. Crusih one in your handkerchief and in- lieving such rubbish-
—
heart-weakness active. But as for your be-
ords. 'This Coiquitt person is the very devil oounemg sentence. He told me
— I should
of a fellow. A hundred cases he has had never see another sunrise
hale the fumes freely. For the rest,” his "Ah, bah, my friend," he patted back a
slender fingers tapped a fuguelike rhythm
since he began the malfwactice of medicine "'Nom d’m bouc pert! Did he, indeed?
yawn, “you bore me. Always you must ra-
on the edge in the city, and I find he has prolonged a And who in Satan’s stinking name is he to
of the desk, "we shall have to tionalize a thing you do not understand,
hundred hves for a greater or less time, but pas judgment of life and death upon his
seek the cause of your illness, and it is not taking the long route around the barn of
at the cost of an equal number. He is not fellow aeatures, and especially on the pa-
in you, I assure you. Do not hesitate to call Monsieur Rt^in Hood in order to arrive at
on us if-you feel the need of our assistance.” a false conclusion.
tighteous, my friend. He has no business tients of Jules de Grandin and Samuel

"And I should dismiss Dr. Coiquitt?” to do such things. He armoys me exces- Trowbridge, both reputable physicians? Do
“It was the power of suggestion, you say?
“Not at all; by no means. Desist from sively, par les comes d’un crapaudl” you rest quietly beside the fire, Mademoi-
Let us for the sake of argument admit that
Despite myself I could not foibear a grin, If you should have a fit of oppression
'

taking his nostrums, seile.

you have not already
if suggestion could induce such an organic
"What are you going to do about it?” I use the amyl -nitrite capsules we gave you.
fiance by all means
—
done so, but permit him to attend your condition as that we found in Mademoiselle
Camille. Tre bien. So much for her. But
asked. If you desire it, a little brandy cannot do you

"But look here,” I protested, “if your was it also suggestion that caused Madame
He tweaked the waxed ends of bis harm. —
Meanwhile come, friend Trow-
small mustache alternately, teasing them to bridge,” he turned to me imperatively, "we
theory is correct he’s already done Camilla Stevens to recover from advanced carcinoma
immeasurable harm. If we permit him to
— — and her husband to develop it and die
needie-toarpness. “I do not quite know,”
he confessed. "At times I think perhaps It
have important duties to perform.”
“Duties? Where?”
almost as she regained health? Was it the
stay in the case
“We shall know where he is and what power of suggestion that pulled the young
—
would be best if I went mon Dieu, is it “At Di. Colquitt’s, in the street of the
he’s up to, pafbleu,” de Grandin returned. man’s plane out of the sky and dashed him
toat we are attacked?” funny name, pardiea! We
shall talk wito

^
The front doorbell had given a quid;, that one, and in no uncertain words—'*
 WEIRD TALES DEATH’S BOOKKEEPER 13

of such trifles at such times, I noticed that about in a lion’s skin. However much the
"We can’t go barging in on a man like head of the stairway,” the servant answered
the lids above the odd, unchanging eyes had leopard has succeeded in effacing his spots
fjijj
” as we stepped across a long hall carpeted in
a faint greenish tinge and a luster like that or Dessiles in changing his eye-color, the
"Can we not, indeed? Observe Jules de black, with black, lack-luster walls and ceil-
of old silk. For a moment he raked us with leopard still is but an overgrown, great
Grandin, if you please, myfriend, and you ings.
a glance of cold, ophidian malignancy, then pussy-cat and Dessiles remains a stinking
shall see the finest instance of barging ever "He is a Haitian, that one,” de Grandin
abruptly lowered his lids, as if he drew a charlatan and traitor!”
barged, or I am
one infernal, not-to-be-be- confided as we crept up the black-carpeted
curtain between us and his thoughts.
am an
lieved liar. Come, dons; dlez-vous-en!” stairway. ""He
of voodoo, a papdoi.
tliinks that I
I did not tell him
initiate
that
“Good evening, gentfcmen dare I say — <<rp0UCHE!” the man behind the table

COIQUITT’S house Dahlonega — many words —but neither

colleagues?” There was suave mockery that J- laughed with a low hard raucousness

D r.
KOad loomed
dark as Dolorous
Garde against the smalt blue of the winter
in I

did
was
I
in just so
deny it.. And now” —he
himself as for a physical encounter, and
halted, braced
direatened to become stark savagery at any
moment in his voice. "To what am I in-
like the crackling of crushed paper. "You
are right on every count, my little droll one,
debted for the honor of this wholly unex- and since your knowledge goes no farther
sky. In keeping with his bizarre person- struck the black-enameled door before us
pected and I’m sure quite undeserved visit?” than yourself, and you shall go no farther
ality its owner had had the place painted with his knuckles.
"Entrez," a deep voice answered, and we
The anger that had shewn in Jules de than this room, you might as well know all.”
black, with no relieving spot of color, save
Grandin’s face had given way to a puzzled With an almost incredibly quick motion he
for the silver nameplate on the door that stepped across the threshold,
frown, and beneath his sliarply waxed, flung open a drawer in the table and
bore the single word Coiquitt. No diink The room was positively bewildering. It
diminutive mustache his lips were pursed as snatched a heavy automatic pistol from It,
showed in the tightly drawn shutters, no ran across the full width of the house, some
if he were about to wliisde. For a long swinging it in a quick arc between de Gran-
came from the house, but
ray or spot of light thirty feet or mote, and the floor above had
moment be made no reply, and his silence din and me, steady as a pendulum and
not to oe deterred by the tomblike air of been removed so that the vaulted ceiling
seemed to goad the other into sudden fury. deadly as a serpent poised to strike. "Be
die place de Grandin beat a tattoo on the was at least eight yards above us. The floor
"Quoi?" he demanded almost shrilly. "Is seated, gentlemen,” he ordered rather than
panels with the handie of his military swag- was of some black and shining composition,
itthat you come to see a marvel, and are invit^. "When the time has come to say
ger stick. "Norn d’un nom d’un nom d’un strewn with rugs of leopard skin with the
and the
stricken speechless ^ the sight? I am not an ‘voir you may stand, if you wish, but
artichaut," he promised savagely, 'T shall heads and claws left on, glass eyes
stand here hammering until I bring the set in±e beasts’ stuffed heads blazed at us on display, my simple ones. Speak up and until then I must insist that you sit—-and
state your btainess and be off!” keep your hands in plain si^t.”
filthy place down on his ears, or till he an- with a threatening fury. The walls were dull
' "MorUeu!" Surprise seemed to have I collapsed into the nearest chair, but de
swers me!” black and emblazoned with a great gold
'
forced the word from de Grandin. Grandin looked about him deliberately,
At last his persistence was rewarded. A dragon that seemed marching round and -

"What is it that you—” began the other, chose a comfortable divan, and dropped on
sh ufflin g step sounded beyond the portal round the room, while across the farther
but de Grandin ignored him completely. it, resting his short swagger stick across his
and the door drew back on a crack, not end was built a divan upholstered in black
“Not Coiquitt!” he airacst shouted at me. knees and beating a tattoo on it with lean,
swinging on hinges, but sliding in a groove silk and strewn with red and cloth-of-gold
on oiled bearings. It would have tScen a piLows. Here and there against the walls
"Not Coiqokt, Trowbridge, pour f amour nervous fingers. “And now,” he prompted,
d’un pore touche! It is Dessiles, Pierre Des- heedless alike of the menacing, blank siare
battering-ram to force the place, I thought, were cabinets of ebony or buhl containing
siles, the ^state, false alike to his country in Colquitt’s glassy eyes and the threat of
as I noted the strong steel of the track in large and strangely-bound books, scientific
and his Aesculapian ealh as a physician! the pointed pistol, “you were about to re-
which the heavy oak door traveled. paraphernalia and bits of curiosa such as
Dessiles the necromancer, the sate espion, gale us with the story of your adventures,
A Negro, heavy-set and obviously power- skeletons of small animals, stuffed gila mon-
difflnissed from the faeuite de medicine, con- were you not, Monsieu?’’
ful, but dreadfully hunchbacked, peered at sters and serpents coiled as if forever in the
and baby crocodiles. A hu- victed of conniving with the filthy Bodie to "I was about to say that I survived the
us through the aperture. "The doctaire is act of striking,
not seeing patients now,” he announced in man skeleton, fully articulated,swung from sdl his country’s secrets, and condemned to green hell of the lie du Diahle. They penned

an accent I. could not quite place, but which a frame of ebony like a gallows, and in 'a*-
penal servitude for life on Devil’s Island!” me in like a brute beast, staled me on
He levded his small swagger stick at the stinking straw in a sty no pig with amour
sounded vaguely French. tiled fireplace there stood a retort hissing
other as if it were a w^pon and continued propre would consent to live in, made me
"Nevertheless, he will see us, mon vieux," over a great bunsen burner. Incongruously,
his denunciation: "I had heard he had es- drag a ball and chain behind me, starved
de Grandin promised, and launched into a
torrent of words, speaking in a patois I
on a book-strewn table in the center of the
room, there was a massive silver vase con* caped from confinement and made his way —
me, beat me but I survived. And I escaped.
to Haiti and become a member of the voo- Throug^i swamps that swarmed with aoco-
could not make out, but which the other taining a great bouquet of orchids,
dooists, and when I first saw him at the diles and poison snakes and reeked with
understood instantly. The man who sat at the table raised his
hospital I was almost sure I recognized him, pestilence and fever, I escaped. Through
"Oiie moment, if you please, Msieu," eyes as we entered, and as I met his gaze 1
he' begged as he drew back the door and felt a sudden tingling in my spine — the sort though when he turned to face me I was
just as certain that I was mistaken, for in
shark-infested waters and
swarmed with gendarmes on the watdi for
shores that

when in the reptile house

pleased to tell the doctaire ”
—
stood aside for us to enter. "I shall be of feeling one has
at the zoo he looks down into a pit filled the olden days his eyes were gray, now they me, I escaped, and found safe sanctuary in
are blade. I do not know how he has done the ho^mforti of the voudois.
"Non, by no means,” de Grandin denied, with lizards and nameless crawling things.
it, but I know beyond a doubt sow that he “They welcomed me for my learning, but,
"Do not disturb him at his lucubrations. Colquitt's eyes were black
as polished
pardieu, they had much to teach me, too!
is Dessiles, despite the changed color of his
We shall go to him all quietly. I know that obsidian and strangely shiny, yet unchang-
by example, how make
eyes. I cannot be mistaken in that voia, ffiat I learned, to a
he will see us gladly.” ing in their stare as th^ of one newly dead,
monstrous egotism of fte ass who struts zombi, how to draw me soul from the body
"Bien, Msieu. You will find him at the and almost idly, as one takes minute note
 8 WEIRD TALES DEATH’S BOOKKEEPER 9

aid who was her idol died just as he was ing fires around them, then, when die tor* lover, but the risk to you is great. Do you ing, make a careful note of his condition,
about to receive his commission in the Air ture had become unbearable, offering the love him more than you love life?’ and report to you. In three days he should
Corps when his plane crashed in his final poor wretches bowls of cool water, only to "Of course 1 vowed I did, that I would begin to improve. In two mon(hs he should
practice flight. Oh, I know you’ll say it dash them from their lips as they were about gladly die if Ridr could live, and he smiled be completely recovered.’ That was all, and
was coincidence; ±at his plane would have to drink. ITiat’s the way its been with Ride at me —
I think that Satan must smile like I left that' queer, black-walled den of hk
cracked up just the same if his mother had and me for neatly twelve years. Doctor, that when a new damned soul is brought feeling foolish as if I’d been to consult a
died instead of getting well. But it didn't. We’ve starved and thirsted for eadi other, to him. fortune-teller
“
She got well and he died. TTien there was and time and again it seemed our period of 'For every one who leaves the world an- "But the next day when I called the
Bernice Stevens. Nobody thought she had waiti^ had come to a close when” die — other comes into k,’ he told me. ’For every hospi(al to inquire after Richard they told
an earthly chance, and she herself prayed raisedner hands in a gesture of futility one who cheats Death, Death must have an- me he was showing marked improvment,
daily for death to her from her
release "something else happaied to postpone our other victim. I have pondered long upon and his improvement has been constant ever
dreadful suffering; but he took her case and marriage. At last the war came, and Rick got this matter; I have learned the wisdom of since.”
—
cured her and Bert Stevens died within ten his commission. 'There seemed nothing that the ancients and of people you Americans “That’s wonderful,” I commented, and
months. Of cancer, too. Perhaps thal was rould halt us now, and then this unsus- — in your ignorance call savage. I know she caught me up abruptly, sarcastically:
coincideace, also. How many coincidences pected heart ailment appeared; Rick was whereof I speak. I do not presaibe fof the "Yes, isn’t it? It’s wonderful, too, that as
do we have to have to mdee a certainty, discharged from the Army on a medical ailing. I give my medicine —
and thought Richard gained in strength I’ve lost weight
Doctor?
—
you ” She
"I’JI tell leaned forward, and
certificate and went to Dr. Dahlgren and
half a dozen other specialists. All told him
to the well, and they, by sympathy, affect the
suffering. If you will agree to do just as I
steadily, and for the past
suffered agonizing pain in
two wedcs have
my right breart
intheli^of my desk lampher eyes seemel the same thing. He might live one year, "
say I can care your lover, but it may be that and arm, and have these dreadful smother-
hard and expressionless as blue gems inlaid —
maybe two ^he might dropdeadanyminute. your life will be (he forfeit demised for ing fits when it seems that a pillow has been

in an ivory face. "I have proof! The man's "I wanted to get married right away. I’m his. You must
understMid this dearly; I clamped across my nose and mouth. 1 tdl
a wizard; just as much a wizard as those making fifty dollars a week now, and that would not have you embark on the case un- you, Dottor Trowbridge, I am dying; dying
dreadful men they hanged and burned in would keep us. I could love cherish knowingly.’ surely as if I had been sentenced to death
medieval days. He is-^e is!" Her voice him for whatever time remained to us, and "Well, it sounded utterly absurd, but I by a court. Rick’s getting well, and, of
rose almost to a ^iek, and as I smiled in* — oh, Doctor, I love him so!” She broke was desperate, so I agreed. He went into a course, I want that; but I'm afraid, sir, ter-
credulously, "Listen: down utterly and bowed her head upon her- __back room and I heard him clinking glass ribly afraid. Besides, if I die, what sh^ we
"You know that Richard Bream and I clasped hands, crying almost silently with OTL glass, then presently he came out with have gained? Rick will have life, but not
have been in love for years. We
went in body-shaking sobs. At last; “I was desper* a sj^lnge which he thrust into my arm and —
me, and I I shall have nothing at all!" Her
grade school together, and to high school, ate,Dr. Trowbridge. I’d heard about the drew blood from it. Then he disappeared voice rose to a wail of pure despair.
and afterwards to college. We’d planned
to be married just after commencement, but
wonderful cures Dr. Coiquitt had made, and
went to see him.” A
shudder, mote- of hor-
again for a short time, and finally came bad:
-with a tall glass inwhich some blade liquor
'H3amiIIa!” I admonished sharply. "Such
things don’t happen. They can’t
—
the depression came along just then, and ror than of fear, it seemed to me, ran steamed and boiled. 'Drink this,’ he ordered, "By blue, my friaid, I ffiink thg^ do and
Richard ccnildnl get a start in his law prac- dirough her. "Itell you, the man is a wizard, ‘and as you drink it pronounce after me, "Of can,” de Grandin’s diarp denial came as he
tice. They took his furniture for debt, and sir. my own free will and accord I agree to give stepped into the consulting room. "You
'
evicted him from his office, and he couldn’t "His oflice is more like a necromancer’s myself in his stead, whatever may betide." must excuse me, Mademoistlle," he bowed
get even a clerkship anywhere; finally he was den than a physician’s place. No daylight I took the glass into both hands and drained to Camilla, "but I could not help hearing
forced to take a place as a soda dispenser penetrates it; everything about the place is it at a gulp as I p^oounced (he words he something of the things you said to Doctor
in a drag store—Richard Bream, Escpiiie, blade — black floors, black walls, blade ceil- told me, and instead of being boiling hot Trovihridge as I came in. You need have
bachelor and master of laws, Phi Beta Kappa ing; black furniture upholstered in blade the liquid seemed as cold as ice so cold — no fear your confidence will be violated. I,
and Sigmu NuTau, a soda-jerker at ten silk brocade. The only ii^t in the place is it seemed to send a chill thiou^ every vein too, am a phj^ician, and whatever I have
dollars a we^, and glad to get that muchl from a black-shaded lamp on (he desk where and artery in my body, to make my toes and heard is under the protection of my oath
I had twelve dollars weekly from my work he sits and waits like a—4ike a great spider, fingers ahnost ache with sudden chill, and of confidence. However,” he lifted brows
as a stenographer, but two people can’t live sir! He wasn’t kind and sympathetic as a freeze my h^rt and lungs until I breaffted and shoulders in the faint suggestion of a
on twenty-two dollars a weA, and besides, I doctor ought to be; he -wasn’t glad to see with difficulty. shrug, "if you will consent ttutt I try, I think
had mo^er to look after. Then finally Rick me; he didn’t even seem surprised ffiat I “Before I left he gave me another bottle perhaps tiiat I can help you, for I am Jules
secured a pia« as law clerk with Addleman had cesne. It was as if he knew I'd have filled with black liquor and told me, 'Take de Grandin, and a very dever person, I
and Sinclair, and just as we were planning to come to him, and bad been waiting with this three times a day, once before each meal assure you.” .

to get married his father died, and he bad the patience of a great cat sitting at a rat* and once before you say your prayers at
his mother to support. It was just one thing
after another. Doctor. Every time we thought
our period of waiting was over somediing
hole.
"When
seemed scarcely
I told him about
interested;
Rick's case he
but when
night. You do pray, don’t you?’
"
'Yes, sir,’ I answered. 'Every night
morning.’
and Reminded
I
by Ws announcement
the amenities had not been observed,
introduced them formally, and he dropped
that

I’d •

came up to destroy our hopes. I've heard finished fcalkinghe said in that heavy fordgn '"So much the better. Take an extra dose into a seat facing her. "Now, if you please,”
the Indians sometimes tormenting their accent of his: These matters have to be ad* of this before your morning prayer, fljen, he ordered, "tell me all fhati,you have told
prisoners by tying them to stakes and li^t- justed. Miss Castevens. I can cure your and I shall call on Mr. Bream m
the morn- Friend Trowbridge, and l«ve out noffiing.
 14 WEIRD TALES DEA'TH’S BOOKKEEPER 1?

moves and "We have heard we

and leave only an automaton
breathes, but has no mind
that
or reason. I sired, and
—
small mustache. all de- use of his pistol, when to make a move to
draw a weapon would be to sign one’^ own
The telephone began to ring with a shrill
insistenceand instinctively I reached for it,
learned from them how it is possible to cast "And now time has come to say
the death warrant; but he who would shoot but he put out his hand to attest me. "Let
the illness out of one and into another — 'Adieu pour I'etemhH’ ” the other broke in quickly if he saw you readi for a weapon it ring, my friend. He is past all interest in
even how to swerve the clutching hand of savagely as he leveled the pistol, steadying
death from one to another. Poor little fool, his dbow on the table. "You think
— would never give a second thought of glance such things, and as for us, we have more im-
portant business elsewhere. I would inspect
do you know that in the mountain fastnesses "l^on, by blue, it is that I damn know!”
to this so lifie, harmless seeming stick of
mine. No, certainly. Accordingly, when he
—
of Haiti there are men and women still de Grandin’s voice was hard and sharp as a had bidden us be seated and threatened us
Mademoiselle Camille
"You think she may have
— I

young and strong and virile who were, old razor as he raised one knee slightly, pressed with his pistol, I took great care to seat my- "I do not know just what to think. I have
when Toussaint I’Ouverture and Henri his hand knob of his
against the leather self where 1 could aim my cane at him as I the hope, but I cannot be sure. Come, hasten,
Christophe raised the banner of revolt swagger and gave it a sharp half-turn,
stidc
held it across my knees, with nothing inter- rush, fly; I entreat you!”
against the French? How? Because, parbleu, was no louder than the burst-
Tlie report vening to spoil the shot- 1 knew I must take
they know the secret I alone of all white men ing of an electr ic light bulb, and there was at him sooner or later. Tiem, am I not the CAMILLA lay upon the study sofa much
have learned from them how to turn the — no smoke from the detonation of the car- clever one, mon vieux? But certainlyj I Ci as we had left her, and smiled wanly
hand of death from one man to another, tridge in the gun-batiel hidden in the cane, • should say yes.” at us as he hurried into the room. "You did
But there must be a willing victim for the but the missile sped to its mark with the- "You certainly got us out of a figltt fix,” see him, didn’t you?” she asked with some-
sacrifice. accuracy of an iron-filing flying to a magnet,
I admitted. "Five minutes ago I shouldn’t thing akin to animation in her voice.
"There must be one who says thathe and Coiquitt swayed a little in his chair, as have cared to offer a nickel for our diance "We did, indeed, Mademoiselle’' de
will die in place of the other. Granted if he had been struck by an unseen fist, af getting out of here alive.” Grandin assured her, "and .what was much
this, and granted the such power as I possess, Then, between the widow’s peak of the He locSced at me reproadifuliy. "While I more to the point, he saw us.”
the rest is easy. Life begins at forty, some black hair that grew well down on his fore-
was widi you, Friend Trowbridge?” "I knew you must have talked to him and
Yankee has said fatuously. Pardieu, it can head and the sharply accented black brows For a moment be bent over the man made him relent, for just a little while ago
begin again at seventy or eiglity or a hun- above the glassy, unchanging black eyes, sprawled across die table, then, "Ah-ha!” he — it more than ten or
couldn’t have been
dred, or flow back strong and vibrant into
one who lies on death’s doorsill, provided
there came a spot of red no larger than a
dime, but which spread till it reached the
cried jubilantly. "Ah-ha-ha! Behold his fifteen minutes —
had another dreadful at-
I
stratagem, my friend!” tock, and ji«t when
I had given up all hope
always there is one who will become the sub- size of a quarter, a half-dollar, and finally
I went a little skk as I looked, for it and knew that I was dying it stopped, and I
stitute of him whose time
is almost sped. splayed out in an irregular ted splash that
seemed to me he gouged the dead man’s found I could breathe freely a^in. Now I
"That the secret of the cures I’ve made,
is covered almost the entire forehead. There
eyes out of their sockets, but as I too^k a almost well once more. Perhaps”—
my silly little foolish one. I have not was a look of shocked surprise, almost of
second glance I understood. Over his eye-
feel
hope struggled with fear in her eyes "per-
—
dianged the score. Death still collects his reproof, in the raid visage, and the Hk rlf,
balls, fitted neatly underneath the lids,' haps I shril reraver?”
forfeit, but he takes a different victim; that lack-luster eyes kept staring fixedly at de
Coiquitt had worn a pair of contact lenses "Perhaps you shall, Indeed, Mademois-
is all. Yet I grow rich upon the hope and Grandin.
that siraul.’ ted natural eyes so well that only elle,” he nodded reassuringly. "Come into
the credulity of those who see only the a fixed stare betrayed ti^m, and they were &e examin^ion room if you will be so kind.
creditcolumns of the ledger Death keeps. rpHEN suddenly, appallingly, the m
n fi
made with black irides, entirely cotKralmg It k that we should like tb see what we can
They do not realize, tlie fools! that every i seemed to melt. The pistol dropped the natural gray of his eyes. see.”
«edit has its corresponding debit, and when from his unnerved hand with a clatter and "He had the omning, that one,” de G^an- It was amazing, but it was true. The most
Death finally strikes his balance. Too bad,’ his head crashed down upon the table, jar- din grudgingly admitted as he dropped the minute examination failed to show a symp-
&ey_say, 'he had so much to live for, yet ring the great silver bowl of orchitis till it
he died
little hemispheres of glass upon the table. tom of angina pectoris. There was no area
just as she regained heaith.’_ Ha-ha, nearly overturned, and dislodging a pile of "He made but one great mistake. He under- of dullness, no faint suggestion of a heart
It is to laugh at human gullibility, mes
books so they crashed to the floor. estimated Jules de Graadin. It is not wise murmur, and her pulse, though rather li^t
enjantt. You, by example, would nex'er "And that, unless 1 am much more mis- to do that, Friend Trowbridge.” and rapid, was quite steady.
stqop of practicing such chicanery, I am cer- taken than I think, is my friend,” de
that, "How will you explain his death,” I "Accept out most sincere congratulation^
tain. Oh, no! If ydu could not effect a cure
Grandin rose and walked across the room "Of Mademoiselle,” de Grandin murmured as
you would permit the patient to die peace- to stand above the dead man slumped across but
—
asked. course, you shot in self-defense,
he helped her from the table. It seems
fully, and raise yoiir hands and eyes to the table. "The English, a most estimable "But be stewed in sulphur and served hot you are on tiie highway to complete re-
heaven in pious resignation. Me, I am dif- people, have a proverb to the effect that the with brimstone for Sato’s breakfast,” he covery.”
-As long as there are fools there will one who would take supper with the devil
k broke in. "The man was an escaped convict, "Oh!” her exclamation was a small, sad
^ those books,
Death
prey on them,_ and
s
to
my stipend
collect
I shall
for
keep
my
would be advised to bring with him a long
spoon. Eh bien, I took that saying to heart
a traitor to France and a former agent of the sound, and there was an enmeshed, desper-
Boche. I am an officer of the Republic, and ate look in her eyes. “Rick! If I get wdl,
work, and be known
® ”
— the
as great doctor who before coming to this place, mon vieux. This
kittle harmless-seeming cane, she is a very
had the right to apprehend him for the
American authorities. He resisted arrest,
he'll—”
De Grandin made a little deprecating
——
I frar
you have lost this one, cher valuable companion in the tight fix, I do and” his shrug was a masterpiece, even for sound with his ton^e against his teeth. "It
SMant, the ghost of an ironic grin.appeared assure you. One never knows when he may him "he is no longer present. C’est tout may be even as you say, ma chhe. I would
beneath the waxed ends of de Grandin’s find himself in a rase where he cannot simple, n’eit-ce-pas?” not give you the false hope. Again, it may
 — ”

16 WEIRD TALES
be quite otherwise. Have you courage to go but it can play the very devil with a nornal
with us to the hospital and see?” heart, —
when one is not so strong ^have the
discretion, Mademoiselle.”
he supervisor of the third floor where “I'm hanged if I can understand it,” I
T young Bream’s room was, met us at the confessed as we left the hospital. "First
Bream is dying, then Colquitt, or Dessiles,
elevator. "It’s really amazing,” she confided
as we walked down the corridor. "Mr. seems to cure him, but makes Camilla wilt
Bream has been improving steadily these and wither like a flower on the stem as he
past six weeks, but shortly after ten o’clock improves. Then, when you shoot him, she
tonight he had a dreadful paroxysm, and makes an amazing recovery and Bream
we diought it was the end. We
had to get seems practically well
— If he had retrogressed
Dr. Carver the house physician, for all our as she recovered
efforts to get Dr. Coiquitt on the 'phone He chuckled delightedly. "He called him-
were useless. Dr. Carver gave us no hope, self Death’s Bookkeeper. Tres bon. He was
but suddenly —
almost miraculously, it balancing the books of Death when I shot
—
seemed to me the spasm passed and Mr. him, and as you say so drolly in America,
Bream began to breathe freely. In a little caught him off his balance. The scales were
while he fell asleep and has been resting even. She he had sent the psychic message
ever since. I never knew a patient sick as to, but not in quite enough force. Had he

but;
—”
he was with myocarditis to recover fully, endured five little minutes longer, he might
have forced her to her death. As it was I
"Strange things are happening every day, damn think I did not delay one little minute
Madame,” de Grandin reminded her. "Per- too long in eliminating him. At the same
haps this is one of them.” time he endeavored to cause her to die he
I had not treated Bream, and so had no attempted to undo the work he had done
basis of comparison between his condition for young Monsieur Bream, but his death
as I found him and his former state, but cut short that bit of double-dealing, also,
careful examination revealed nothing alarm- and the young man lapsed again into the
ing. stateof almost-wellness he had attained
His pulse was weak and inclined to when the sale tfompeut tried to kill him to
be thready, and his respiration not quite death. Yes, undoubtedly it is so. I can no
satisfactory, but there was no evidence of more explain it than I can say why a red
organic affection. With bed-rest and good cow who eats green grass gives white milk,
nursing he should make an excellent pros- I know only that it is so.
T WAS not a first-rate hotel, not even
for that section of Manhattan, but
pect for some life insurance salesman in a "And in the meantime, if we walk a block
I Sabine Loel’s drawing room on the
year or less, I thought. De Grandin agreed
with me, and turned to Camilla, eyes agleam
with delight. "You may congratulate him on
in this direction, then turn twenty paces to
tlie left, we shall arrive at a place where they

purvey a species of nectar called an old-

John seventh floor was handsomely kept and softly
lighted. Sabine Loel herself was worth look-
ing at twice, a tall, mature woman of a fig-
his impending recovery, Mademoiselle,” he fashioned —
a lovely drink with quantities of
ure both opulent and graceful. She had
—
whispered, "but do it softly ^gently, The
aching sweetness of a lover’s kiss morbleu,
lovely whiskey in it. Why do we delay here,
my friend?” Thunstone’s splendid black eyes and slim white hands
that half-concealed themselves in the wide
sleeves of her black gown. Her dark hair,

Inheritance brindled with one lock of white, she wore

combed well back from her almost Grecian
face, and her mouth, though sullen, was
I;,

By MANLY WADE WELLMAN curved and warm.

'J

' Heading by ELTON FAX i

They say 1 want to practice evil enchantments, fc

I called him tivice and the third time . . . !

17
 18 WEIRD TALES JOHN THUNSTONE’S INHERITANCE 19

"Ms. Hjunstone,” she greeted her caller, QTRETCHING his long arm across the but we can reach Darrington before it sistent little fingertips demanding admit-
wiflja formality that half sneered. 'Won't O desk, he turned the folded will and breves.” tance.
you sit down? I hope this is going to be a showed another passage: "I’ll get my wraps,” she said. The fire showed them a spacious room,
friendly visit —
last time we met you were occupying the whole width of the house’s
downright unpleasant about my approach to ... with the understanding that the said T WAS twilight when they passed through front. A door stood open at the rear, and
occultism. You did say, however,” and she John Thunstone shall institute a serious I the little toyni of Darrington. Thun- to one side mounted a staircase. All was
smiled slightly, that I was attractive. and complete study of the phenomena stone, who had a marked bit of road map to panelled in dark wood, and bookcases
Thunstone sat down across the writing which have excited so much discussion. . . guide him drove up a steep, winding stretch loomed bate, while the furniture was swad-
desk from her. He was laiger for a man of concrete where he had to put his car into dled against dust.
thai she for a woman, with a thoughtful when Sabine Loel had finished, Thun- second gear. Trees, their winter-stripped To Thunstone’s mind came, all unbidden,
redanguiat face and a short, neat moustache stone took the document back and restored branches making strange traceries against the lines of the ancient Lyke-Wake Song;
blade enough for an Arab. His deep-set it to his pocket. the last pallor of light in the sky, crowded
bright eyes did not flicker under her search- 'T’m in honor bound to study the place, thickly at each brink of the pavement. Al- This ae nighte, this ae nighte.
ing^2 e. eygn jf j weren’t eager to do so. But Garrett most at the top of the slope, he turned off Every nighte and alle.
You re
sent^ d^ply,
enbtely too attractive,” he as-
especially as you have poten-
^

was deceived in one particailat ^I’m. not — upon a very rough and narrow dirt road,
lAich brought them at last to Bertram
Fire and sleete. . . .

psychic, not a medium, You are. I want you

for danger, in your unusual attitudes
tiairties
to come witli me.” Dower. The house was a tall, sturdy-look- The fire was doing well now, shedding
toward, and stodies of, the supernatural. She did not reply at once. Finally: "I ing structure, almost like a fort. As they its first cheerful heat. Sabine Loel moved
However, I m
here on business. didn’t know you knew James Garrett, Mr. rolled into the yard, sleet began to fall. gratefully towaid it. The redness made her
Busmess?” she echoed, Mid her eyes Thunstone.” "I trust,” said Sabine Loel in a murmur- pallor seem more healthy. "I wonder where
glowed^^ his big left h^d thrust itself into "i didn’t. I knew only about his place, ous, mocking voice, "that you came prepared the treasuie is,” she ventured.
the inside pocki^ of his jacket, where his and the strange stories. He seems to know with wolfbane and holy water.” "NcAiody seems to know about it, not
wmet wc«ild be. me only by my But
flattering reputation. "Wolfbane’s out of season,” replied even whether it exists oi not,” returned'
But he brought out a document in- that’s beside the point. WiU you come?” Thunstone, and made the car creep into a Thunstone, "The stoiy is that some Revolu-
something legal-lodcing a blue m She smiled, with a great deal of madden- tumbledown shed at the rear of the house. tionary War looter hid it a bad character, —
foMer, so creased and doubled as to exhibit “And I’m no priest, so I bring no holy to judge from the implication of ghosts
jog mystery. "Why not ask your friend the
one ^pewritten paragraph. He passed it Frenchman—Jules de Grandin? You and things. Aren't there other ways of confront- around it.” From his parcel he dug a fat
to Safame^el, who leaned back to let light he are very dose. Are you surprised to learn ing the supernatural?” Shutting off the coach-candle and held a match to it. He
fall upon it: that Ikeep some watch on your movements?” engine, he turned on the inner lights. Sabine set it in its own wax at the edge of the

Heanswered her questions in order. "I Loel’s face, a frosty white oval among dark table.
... and to John Thunstone, the chararter
and success of whose investigations into
iavited de Grandin, but he and Dr. Trow-
bridge have ail they can do in that line just
furs, turned sidewise to him.
"This inheritance of yours
—
” she began, . . . Fire and sleete and candle-Hghte,
psydiical matters I have observed with now. No, I’m not so much surprised as and then broke off. "Shall I help you with And Christe receive thy saule.
interest, I do hereby bequeath my house warned.” your packages?”
Imown as Bertram Dower, situated one Still she "Once you sug-
temporized. "if you like.” He banded her two He had no desire to give up his soul this
mile, north of the town of Darrington, was dishonest
gested, in public, that I m wrapped bottles. He himself took a much night, or for many nights to come; but the
counly of . .
. claiming to communicate with the spirit larger parcel, slid out of the car and held i memory of the quaint old lines might be a
world." the door open for her. Then he snapped gdod omen. Bishop Peter Binfel’s witch-
"I know about Bertram Dower House,” “Yet you have the power to communicate, off the lights. In unfamiliar gloom they bistory, be reflected, points out that holy
Sabine Loel. "What student of the oc- and to do honest business when you widi. walked slowly around the big house to the names are protection against ill magic.
cult hasn’t heard of it? Conan Doyle, said If a broker sells spurious stock, can’t he roofless porch. Thunstone produced a key, 'This is going to be cozy,” said S^ine
the atmoyhere alone proved the existence change arid sell honest shares? I’ve kept and the lock whined protestingly at its turn- Loel, and dropped into the muslin-covered
of spirit forces; and John Mulholland isn't track of you, too. I venture to say that you ing. They entered threk darkness. chair that hacf startled her. "Are you wor-
all Peptic when he talks about it. The house need money now, this minute.” "What’s that white thing?” gasped Sabine rying? Remember old beliefs and stories?”
belonged to old James Garrett, who Again he put his hand into his inside Loel, suddenly cowering back. And she laughed, as if in triumfh that she -

wouldn't let anyone enter. And there’s that "A chair in a muslin cover,” Thunstone had half-read his mind.
story of hidden treasure ” She broke off,
— pocket.
This time he brought forth a note- reassured her, and groped his way to a He smiled back at her, withoirt any pique,
and licked her full, curved lips with a tiny case,fiom which he took several bills. She table where he set down his package. Peer- and opened his package further. There were
pointed tongue. "What’s this on the mar- accepted them giavely but readily, folded ing about, he made out a fireplace almost more candles, some paper napkins, sand-,
The bit, written in ink?” them^ small between her slender, white directly opposite. Crossing to it, he felt for wiches in oiled paper, fruit, and two glasses.
"Apparently it’s for me,” said Thunstone, fingers.
and discovered logs and kindling. Rapidly Unwrapping one of the bottles, he skilfully
"but it’s cryptic. Something to the effect of "When do we stMt?” she asked. he nude a fire. It burned small for a mo- forced its cork and poured out red wine.
'Call him^ twice, and the ttiird time he comes "Let’s have an early tea, then I’ll fetch
ment, then strong and bright. The sleet be- "Supper?” he suggested, and Sabine Loel
uncalled.’ Read on.” my cat around. There’s a storm threatening. gan to rattle at the windows like hard, in- made a gay gesture of applause. He uncov-
 20 WEIRD TALES JOHN THUNSTONE’S INHERITANCE 21
’

ered two straight chairs and held one for "is a bedroom. Look at tliat fine old out of the chair before one could well fol-
first,
page. 'The name of James Garrett, and some
her as she came to the table. walnut bureau. This next one is a bath- sort of warning: 'This book is for my eyes low his movement. The book spun out of
But she paused, in the very act of sitting room. Fixtures archaic, but service^Ie. An- alone.' ” She turned a page. "Don’t tell me his lap and fell on the hearth, His hand
down, paused with her knees half bent and other bedroom here —
and anotlier. Tliat’s drat he was a psychical investigator, too!” caught up the heavy poker and brought it
her head lifted. It was as though she had all. No phenomena to greet us. At least
“Give it to me, please,” said John Thun- along.
frozen in mid-motion. none that shows itself. stone.
"T^-there!” she wailed. "At the door!’’ Sleet bombarded the slopes of the roof "I want to look through it,” she de- ABINE LOEL faced toward the staifose.
as they turned back down the stairs. murred. S
She did not turn toward him as he carfie
rpHUNSTONE could not see what she "You didn’t pry too closely,” observed "Give me,” he treated. "I’m owner
it to •toher side, but kept her eyes fixed on the
J- was talking about, for the candle glared Sabine Loel, and her voice was steady of this house, and it’s MSt that I examine darkness at the top. “It started to come
in fais eyes. He
moved, lightning swift for enough now. "Afraid of finding some- documents.” He took it from her hand, not down,” she whispered hoarsely, and choked
all his size, around the table and to the door thing?” roughly, but without waiting for her to offer on the rest.
—
beyond the inner door, that stood open to He shook his dark head. "If anythir^ is
afraid, it's whatever you saw. If you saw
it. She stared, with a sort of bright
hard- Thunstone seized one of the candles and
the rear of the house. All was black there, ness, and wiped her sooty fingers on a paper went up the stairs again, two and three at
save for the wash of light that beat dimly napkin. a time. Sabine Leel remained by the table,
past him. "Will you pardon me?” asked Thunstone. leaning upon it with one slim, pale hand,
SILENCE
"Don't leave me here alone,” Sabine Loel
was pleading, and he strode quickly back to
the table, but only to seize and light another
r tliey descended. Thunstone
poked the fire-logs with a long, heavy
poker of wrought iron, and up sprang sparks
He drew
light
an armchair close to the fire. By its^
he began to read the slovenly hand-
her face a mask of expectant terror.
As Thunstone mounted into the upper
writing. What James Garrett had written hall he lifted his candle high, but for the
candle. Holding it hi^, he pushed iMo the and banners of flame. Again they went to began very ponderously: moment it was as if tlie darkness muffled
rearward room. It was huge, musty, full of the table, and this time there was no inter- and enclosed that quivering little blade of
furniture. He saw another door, closed. As ruption. Sabine Loel took her seat facing my thoughts and find- He had to strain his eyes to see,
I had best enter light. -

he touched the knob, he started. Something the inner door, and Thunstone’s broad back If this is not a record though he had seen well enough the first
ings on paper. '

was moving softly up behind him. turned toward that dark rectangle, almost
to impress others, it will at least give me time up. In spite of his steady native cour-
"I was afraid to stay there by myself,” within dutdiing distance of it. He could not the writing, perhaps age, he hesitated for ever so little. He forced
calmness in
Sabine Loel breathed in his ear. "Can’t I deny a feeling of apprehension, but his big strengthen me against follies of imagina- himself to enter the nearest bedroom.
come along?” hand was steady as it lifted his wine glass. As he crossed the threshold, he thought
tion.
"Come,” he granted shortly. He peered "A toast,” said Sabine Loel, lifting heis
They do me wrong who say I want that something crept to face him; but it
through the door he had opened. "Here’s in turn, and at least she spilled none. "I v/as only a shadow, jumping as his candle-
to practice evil enchantments. It is only
the kitchen, evidently. And there, to the drink to — realities!”
that I bought this old house, .with its flame moved. All else was quiet in the
ri^t, a pantry. Now, then, for upstairs. "To realities,” repeated Thunstone. close,, cold air. He thought of a creepy wit-
weird reputation; haunted, the countrj’-
Are you game?” "Sometimes they are stranger than fancies.” ticism in a novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald: "If
side calls it, and haunted I believe it to
"I hav«i’t told you yet,” she half-chat- They drank, and Sabine Loel laughed there’s a ghost in the room, it’s nearly al-
be. It is also true that there is' a hidden
tered, "what it was I saw.”
"No, I’ve not given you much time. Was
quietly over the rim of her glass. But her
shining eyes were fixed on the darkness be-
treasure in the cellar —a treasure that I ways under the bed.” That was the sense,
will never let my kinsmen hunt for in if not the actual wordiirg. Thunstone wished
it something human?” hind her companion. He pretended not to that all men were here who joked about
their turn.
“Yes. That is, it stood erect, as tail as a notice. ^
supernatural dangers. Stooping, he thrust
man, wilh a head and a long body.” They When they had finished eating, and had
'Thunstone 's eyes widened a trifle. "That's hispoker under the bed. Something stirred
had wMked back irtfo the front room to- emptied one of the bottles of wine, both
—a
gd:her. "But It wasn’t flesh. It was all misty, returned to the fireplace. "It seems to be
why he left the place to me,” he said aloud. '
cloud of dust.
"May I take more wine,” asked Sabine Sneezing, he went to the other rooms in
and I didn’t see any limbs or features.” She smoking,” pointed out Sabine Loel. Nothing moved in them but shadows,
Loel, at the table. He nodded, and read on: turn.
gulped and ^ivered. "Perhaps chimney’s
the clogged.” Thun- nothing spoke but the sleet on windows and
"Well,wasn’t in the back of the house.
it stone again took the iron poker, and probed
roof. Yet, as he descended the steps once
have dug deep and its guard must
I
Not downstairs, anyway. You want to come exploringly upward. A
shower of soot
know that I am dose at hand. 'The least more, he felt weary.
up?” And Thunstone started for the stair- descend^, and he jumped quickly back to Sabine Loel stood exactly as he had left
touch of my pick or spade brings him to
-

case. keep from being soiled. Not so Sabine Loel, She questioned him with her mid-
drive me away. For I called him twice her.
She almost ran to keep up with him. who cried out in excitement, and snatched night eyes, and he shook his head. "I found
out of curiosi^, and the third time . . .

"What if you meet it?” up something else that had fallen down, nothing,” he told her.
"Gome along and see.” |dis feet were from a ledge within the fireplace. She smiled back, ruefully. “You must
Sabine Loel screamed loudly and wildly,
heavy but confident on the stairs. He held —
"A little box the treasure!’’ she exulted.
and dropped her wine glass to shatter on forgive me, Mr. Thunstone. I came here
aloft the candle to illuminatea little cell of "No, it’s a book.- A ledger, tied shut widi expecting things, I’m not sure just what. I
upper hallway, from which opened the floor.
an, cord, and dirty.”
Thunstone had been leaning back in his may be mistaken in what I seem to see. But
several rooms. * With a quidc pull she broke the cord and
chair, as relaxed and comfortable in seem- you did say that you believe in my psychic
"'Ihis,” he pronotinced, gazing into the opened the book. "Look, here on the first
ing as a cat. But, like a cat, he was up and powers.”
22
WEIRD TALES JOHN THUNSTONE’S INHERITANCE 23
assured her. Sri^ine Loel’s fur coat still hung draped
"I do believe in them,” he hm^ on the lips of the bank. Thunstone, substance chiuniog and whirling within
wisely or aaoss the back of the chair in which she
''You Iiaven’t always used them straining his eyes, could not decide what strange, sharp conmes. It’s head, set on top
honorably, but you have them.”
had sat to eat and drink. One of the candles
those lumps were. without benefit of neck or shoulders, looked
was gone from where it had stuck in its
He laid the poker on the table and stuck
his candle beside its fellow.
Then he went own wax. Thunstone tottered to the table,
Biff he saw them stir. to be without a aanium as well — it had

dutched it, and bent and gazed at the floor.

He bent lower, lying at full length on great, gross lips and jaws, and pointed bat-
back to the fire. As he came close to the the floor. The candlewick in the cellar sent eats jiffted from it, but tiiere were rff> eyes
hearth, he stifled an exclamation. A blob of candle-grease stuck to the planks, ^
up a momentary flare of strong bluish light, or brow that he could see. Hands, at the
which James Garrett had midway to the open door that led to the
The book in
It showed him that •whole part of the cdlar ends of scrawny, jointless arms, lifted to-
•written his secrets of treasure and terror silent back of the house.
his big hand in brief radiance, and he identified the gray- ward him, as though they were trying to
was ablaze in the fire, Thunstone shakily put out
ish objects. fumble at his throat. Thunstone bad a sense
"How did that happen?” he cried, and for the other candle, then thought better
They were a head and a hand, strangely as at the presetKe of an unthinkable, revolt-
quickly dragged it out with the toe of his of it. The weakness was leaving his knees.
shaped and indistinct but unmistakable, ing foulness; but he did not retreat or falter.
shoe. Too late, he saw at once. The thing After a moment he moved again, and this
time with the strange, wise silence that his
And they were moving, slowly and His big right fist sped straight at the head-
was consumed beyond restoration. stealthily. blob.
"What’s the matter?” be heard Sabine big but capable bod^y could achieve. There
was little light in the room to the rear, but
Thunstone's Hps opened, but no sound No impact, only a swirling and sucking
Loel asking, but he was too busy to reply.
. .

came out. The smaUer lump, the hand, inward of the TOpois. The whole body-form
Kneeling, he slapped out the fire in the enough for him to see that the kitchen door
crawled deliberately over the lip of the drifted backward, like smoke before the
book. Oiily a few bits of the inner leaves now stood open. He groped his way
bank and down the face of earth, above swing of a fan. It hung like a smudge
remained uncharred. He put together two through it.
Sabine Loel’s stooped, straining shoulders, against the bank, and there he saw ttiat it
of them, then a third, lilce bits of a puzzle. A great section of the kitchen floor had
It was somehow only half -formed, a rounded thickened, immediately and consider^ly, to
Pwt of a sentence became legible: been lifted up and back, like a trapdoor.
-rabble of some foggy substance, and its arm a slimy wetness. It was no more like moulded
From beneath beat up a feeble, pale radi-
on one knee at the •was reed-thin and jointless. The effect was vapor, but like a dank daub upon the eartlien
. . . terialized, it can do harm; but ance. Thunstone settled
of a strange gray spider with thick, short face, a foul stagnant pool set upon on end.
materialized, it can also be harmed it- edge of the open hole and peered down.
The cellar of Bertram Dower House was legs,descending on a preternaturally stout And it moved back toward him.
self. . .
strand of web. "nie hand opened, the fingers Its hands came up gropingly as before, to
simply a great squared hole in the hard
quivered, like the spider-limbs clutching for ttie level of his face,
He
turned toward the hearth to look for earth, walled by uncemented banks of rough i

almost as steep as- prey.

more remains. As he did so, something soil. Crude, solid stairs,
downward fully twelve feet. They touched Sabine Loel’s neck. And TYE felt a moist flick, as if wind had blown
seemed to explode in his head, and light- a ladder, led j
-O. a bit of stinking spray upon his cheek,
'his still' aching head
she looked up, and shrieked with a wild,
ning and thunder filled the room. He col- Thunstone lowered
below the level of' trapped terror. Despite all his determination, he broke
lapsed forward, and did rtot see, hear or until he could see well
the floor, and gazed downward, in the di- John Thunstone rolled himself into the ground before the advancing filthiness. As
feel.
rerSion of the front of the house.
opening, his hands holding toe brink to he did so, he alm<»t stumbled backward
break his fall. He spun in toe'air, dropped over the crumpled form of Sabine Loel.

H IS wto returned slowly and cautioizsly,

as to a place both dangerous and un-
familiar. The back of his head housed a
From that direction blazed the ligjit, the
big candle that had been taken from the
table. Itwas now stuck i^ii a rock or clod
several feet and landed upright on soggy
earth.
Stooping quickly, he scooped her up under
one arm and dragged her back with him
His nostrils suddenly filled with a ,daJnp toward the ladderlike stairs. His eyes did
red-hot throbbing, and his nose pressed of earth on the cellar fl^r, and riied its
mouldy smell, and the shock of his heavy not falter from the presence that slowly
against the warm stone of the hearth. He yellow light into a cavelike hole in the
descent made the blue candle-flame quiver, pursued.
knew that he lay on the floor, face down, frontward bank. Here stooped a human fig-
but for the moment he could not move, not UK in a dark gown, toiling with a spade. All these little details he noted, even as he It had changed yet again. Now it was
Thunstone caught a momentary glimpse of rushed. no longer liquid, but solid,
even for the sense of peril hovering over
the pale face, stamped wifli an almost mur-
The rest of what had been on the dark Still it presented the ungainly gargc^Ie
him.
"Who hit me?” be mumbled thickly. derous d^ermination the —
digger was bank above Stoine was coming down. It
flowed swiftly and unsubstantially, like a
outlineit had first shown, degenerate head
‘

made Sabine Loel. upon misshapen body, with gross hands

Sabine Loel did not answer, and he
She knelt as he watched, and thrust one heavy cloud of greasy-gray vapor settling upon reed-like arms. But it had gained sub-
drift to rise to his hands and one knee,
hand into the loosened soil. For riie s^e thiou^ lighter atmosphere. Beneath it, stance, as mudi substance as jeton "fbun-
shaking his head to clear it, like a groggy
Sabine Loel was collapsing, but whether in stone’s own big frame had. Details were
boxer. The dim room, distorted to his vi- of a breath she groped, then voiced a little
sion, was empty of her. As he straightened cry of triumph- She lifted a palmful of
a faint of under the weight of the thing now sickeningly clear. Its loose slab lips
Thunstone could not take time to decide, twitched and gaped open, showing a tooth-
his body, something slid along it and fell gleaming stuff, yellower and brighter than
—
with a startling clang the stout iron poker, the candle-light. It was gold. Three plunging leaps took him across the
earthy floor.
less mouth full of the blackest shadow. Its
big hands hooked their fingers like grapnels.
diat had been lying across his back. Getting Again she took up the spade and began
shakily to his feet, he shook his head again. delving, swiftly but shakily. Her head and
'The creature faced him, rising to his own They bore claws at their tips, daws as black
shoulders pushed themselves deeply into the
hei^t, and higher. as crystallized vegetable decay.
It still hurt, but bis strength was flowing
bade into him. little cavern, just below a pair or graying It was like a grotesque body moulded To his wire-tense mind came a sudden
of thick, opaque steam or smoke, its blessed memory, the memory of that sur-
 ” ” ” —

24 WBIRD TALES John thunstone’s inheritance

viving scrap pf James Garrett's burned hooking a toe bdiind a hand on xvhidi it tooce dirt upon tiiem. She cried out in p»ro- "I!” she cried, finding her 'TCoce at 1^.
ledger: was rasing and dragging it into another test, a hand ai her brow from which sproiSed "I summoned it!”

sprawl. A third kick hefted its slack, tiie waving gray lock of hair. "You were too greedy to remember what
"... materialized, itcan do harm, but, squirming weight bodily into the hallowed- "You can testify now to the meaning of James Garrett wrote in his book, and on the
msderialized, it can also be harmed it- out cavern where Sabine Loel had toiled, tainted rocMiey,” Thunstone told her flatly. '
margin of the copy of the will sent to me.
self. ...” Tliere his enemy seemed to recover itself. '"Ihe treasure and its guardian seem to go 'CalJ him twice, and the third time he comes
Shrinking clear of him, it struggled to rise. togetiier. It threatened James Garrett, it uncled.' That’s exactly what you did.
He let go of die slack form of Sabine But Thunstone had caught up the fallen threatens us. Some would be trhe and call Twice you pretended to see something ter-
3joel, and as she sank to the earthen floor, spide and poised it for a downward sweep, the gold accursed. I call it unprofitable.” rible, to deceive me. The third time, there

still swooning, he stepped in front of her. Though there were no eyes or excuses for Once again he threw in earth. "Let the was no deception. The guardian of the treas-

Had her eyes been open, she would have eyes in th^ gray face, the creature knew thing stay shut up here, and its gold with ure rose to deal with you.”
seen Thunstcme’s face grow suddenly danger and cowered back. Candlelight, it.” Sabine Loel's face was white, but calm,
bright and purposeful, his lips drawn taut strongest here, showed it suddenly wet like "Bii there’s a fortune,” protested Sabine "listen,” she pleaded. "Be sensible. There
beneath his dark moustache. His wide shoul- filthy snow in the sun ^it —
was dissolving Loel frantically. 'Td touched only the top.
— is too much money here to let lie.”

•
ders hunched themselves, as if power great- into flowing liquid again, hoping to trickle There’s enough to "No,” he replied, "there is not too muc3i
ened within him. For a tliird time he set away to escape, reorganization, new attack, "It was left to me, by the will of James money here to let lie.” Stooping, he gazed
himself in the way of the entity’s advance. "Thunstone struck with his s)hovel, n<^ - Garrett.” Thunstone toiled on without eas- at his heap of earth. Above it huc^ a s-wid

Yet again the hands stole toward him. into tire hole but above it. ing. "I half-guessed tiut something like of grayish vapor, no larger than the upward
His left arm sras extended, pugilist fashion, A shower of clods fell from the walls wid thiswould happen. You, with your power waft of a cigarette’s smoke. He patted the

and the bands found it and dosed upon it. roof of the depression, momentadiy ova- and your deceit, were exactly what was place wMi the bottom of the q>ade, and the
He' felt those claws of hard rock as they whelming the form inside. It was already needed to tempt the thingforth, so that it vapor vanished.
pierced his coat-sleeve, but he did not try half-mel^ into dampness, and into that ccmid be defeated and hereafter kej^ out "We could both be rich,” Sabine Loel
to pull or struggle loose. Shifting his dampness fell earth and muck, mingling of reckoning. As I construct it, you read persisted. "We can come and dig tomorrow,

stance, he drove his right arm with all the and disorganizing. Thunstone struck again James Garrett’s ledger while I was upstairs by daylight. We could bring crucifixes,
strength he could put l:^k of it, powerfully and again at the earth above and around alone.” priests, any protection you want.”
j;
"^ly,” stammered confusion, "We’ll never dig for it,” he said,
and scientifically, at that woridng, grimacing
mouth.
it, piling shovelfuls of dods as into a grave,

“What —what— •” "why — she in

"We must,” she fairly ^bed. Hervhite
His knuckles pulped the blub lips over It was the voice of Sabine Loel. The noise
He smiled as he dug his spade into fresh hand caught his sleeve, the same sleeve that'
something hard— thing must have teeth of the struggle must have roused her. Sie ^ earth. 'Til hazard a guess. I’d pid you to 'had been torn filthy talons. "Listen, I

after all, chalk-textured rather than bony, was on her feet, moving close. Her pale. hunt spirUs, so you I^gan by pretaiding say. You admit I’m attractive —
well, I’M be

The witless-locfcing head snafped ba«ik handsome face showed no terror, only m)^- only pretending —to see som^ing as we yours. I’ll spend my life making you happy

from his blow like a batted IsM, carrying tification and some embarrassment. Plainly sat down to eat.” beyond any dream. I can do tiiat. YouTl
»
with it riie body^ the arms,- the hands. Cloth she only half remembered what had fri^t- have both fee gold and me.”
ripped as the talons tore from their hold on ened her, literally, out of her wits. HE did not deny
it, but lowered her head. He did not answer, did not even look at
Thimstone’s sleeve, and with his freed left ThuiKtone paid no attention, but hurled S "That was only mischief on your her.

fist Thunstone sped a long, dean jab. From still more eartii into the cave, and more, prt,” he went on. "Then, wheni I found She brought her beautiful white mask
somexvhere a moan drifted tip, the thing Some black dampness seeped through for a the book in the chimney, you pretended of a face close to his, fixing his eyes with
could feel pain. Thunstone stepped in, moment, and he flung a fresh spadeful' upon again to see something cm the stairs. That hers. "Am I so easy for a man to refuse?”
crouchii^ hw. The talons, missing a grab it. Then he paused,
was to start me on another chase, so that slie murmured softly.

at his n^, scrabbled clumsily in his dus- "L^ it finish its change now,” he said, you’d have a chance to read. You quickly "No,” said John ’Thunstone honestly.
ordered dark hair. He dug his ri^t fist, when he caught his breath. "Even if it‘s skimmed throu^ what Garrett had written "You are by no means easy for a man to
thcaa his left, into the spongy-seeming mid- vapor again, this dirt will confine it tonight, about where the treasure was to be dug for. refuse. But I refuse you. I’ll fill this bcde
die of the b^y. Then his tight fist cut up- Tcsnorrow I’ll be back with workmen and To keep me from seeing it too, you threw toiiighti Tomorrow it’ll be sealed so that

ward to where normal beings have a chin, cement mixers. This cellar shall be filled the bocik into the fire. Isn't that true?” only dynamite will ever open it. Of course,
Thete was a sudden floundering fall be-
—
to the brim with concrete —
^marked witii Still she keprt guilty silence. ’Thunstone
smiled more broadly, completely without
if you feel that you can’t live without the
treasure, I’ll go away now. You may rem^n
fore him, and there rose at him two floufBh- protecting symbols
malice. alone, with die spade and the candle, and
ing, kicking extremities that he could not S^ine Loel was at his side. Now she vras
call feet. remembering. Her eyes flickered in horror. "And you hit me on the head with the dig up everything I’ve buried.”
poker, eh? 'Thought to get the money while Sabine Loel drew back, and 'bowed her
She held out a trembling right band, in
But I woke up sooner
H LAUNCHED a kick himself, and
e
wondered half -foolishly if the torso be
struck had ribs to break. Again he kicked
which she still clutched half a dozen broad
pieces of gold,
"I found these
—” she began,
I lay unconscious.
than you tiiought, just in time to save you
from what you had summcmed.”
head again. This time she was accepting de-
feat.
Jcflm 'Thunstone resumed his shoveling.
and shoved, and the misshapen form tried Rou^y, Ibunstone snatdied them from
to. roll clear, to get up. He kept after it, her and flung them into tiie pit. He shoveled
 PLANE AND FANCY '27

bis desk. Plane Geometry by Tundiffe, ners, had always saved them. They tell iw
Witherail and Jenkins. He looked at the wdiat little we know of Keer.

diagrams of lines and angles printed on its It goes back further than that, really.
well-thumbed pa^. If they had ever had Almost as soon as he could talk, Tommy
a meaning, it was lost to him. Darrow would tell his stories. If there was
Somebody was poking him: Jimmy John- no one to listen, he would slip away behind
son, in the seat behind. He looked up. They the barn and babble to himself. His aunt

ctrid were all looking at him. Mr. Andrews, the

new math teacher, was watching him, tap-
ping with his fingernails on a crisper,
tried to discourage it; she thought it queer,
and was afraid that others would a^ee.
There had never been aueerness in her fam-
cleaner copy of the same brown book. ily, and she didn't want gossip starting.

Nettie Andrews had come

—
“Well Darrow we’re waiting.’’ Mr.
to Eastham from a pri-
vate school, and he found die atmosphere of
She might have tried to stop the moon from
rising.
In the one-room country school there
public education a Ikde trying. Tommy got was no place for much but the regulation
slowly to his feet. three R’s, but the new teacher was freffr
“Well, Darrow? I understand this is from normal school and had had a brief
your third term in this class. Surely you can contact with some of the newer ideas in
explain die theorem?” education. She asked the children to write
Tommy licked his lips. It was always the little stories of their own about the things
same. There was oo meaning in the stuff they did, and if they couldn’t write she let
— it didn't hang together. It had been the them tell them te the class, and she would
same ail throu^ grade school. Arithmetic write them down. The first stories of Keer
— algdira—they weren’t right. His mind are in her writing.
rejected them. He’d trained himself to mem- They are a child’s stories —
stories of lit-
orize stuff —
take k on faith —
parrot it oat tle things, things a child would find won-
when the teachers asked for it, but this derful. Put they are dream stories, of a
geometry was the worrf of the lot. It was beautiful far-off land where people and
twisted-distorted —
wrong. He licked his things axe as they riiould be in dreams.
lips. ,They mature quiddy, as though the Toxniny
“Mr. Andrews,” be said thoughtfully; Danow who roamed the fabled moors of
"this —
book it's 'plain’ geometry. Isn’t there Keer grew older than the rather quiet little
any fancy geometry?” boy who sat in his corner, tongue in his
Lying in his bed, snug up under the teeth, scrawling his stories painfully on a
By P. SCHUYLER MILLER slope of the roof, with the moonlight mak- ten cent pad.
ing ranges of hills across the bed-quilt, The other children liked them. They
T WAS one of those golden autumn dow, and he could see the hills back of Tommy wondered about it. Why shouldn't recognized that Tommy was queer, but it
days when the air is like crystal and the Eastham. They were good hills. He had there be a fancy geometry as well as the was a fascinating sort of queerness, and
I hills are adrift in sunshine. It was a
day when tiie cliffs of Keer would be smoky
roamed them, mostly alone, ever since he
was old enough to be away. The colors of
plain kind? Why shouldn’t there be a kind
of geomrtry that didn’t refuse to fit to-
which is rather strange when one considers
the normal savagery of children of their
purple curtains drawn across the plain, and autumn were painting them—the red fire of gedier when he tried to reason it out? Why age toward the outlander — they accepted it.

the hill towns would be white p^Ies a maple, yellow drifts of birdies, scarlet wasn’t diere anodier kind of geometry When diere was a new boy who migfa have
strewn over the gray moorland. It was a day lines of sumac tracing the fence rows. The his kind of geometry? picked on him, they protected him, and I
to be in the saddle, breathing the drift of pines were dark forefingers pointing at the He was still wondering when bis eyes doubt that he ever realized that he was be-
smoke from the bog fires, hearing the drum sky, and the cedars advanced across die high dosed and the purple cliffs of Keer rose ing shielded. In Keer it was he who was
of a stallion’s hooves on the hard-packed pastures like a storming army. The window in the moonlight. —
the shield he who rode the night, his
road, feeling the wind sing by. It was no was open, and he could smell leaves burning cloak flung out behind him, his sword loose
day to be ij^^ool. on the playground outside the school. his not a story of Keer or people. in its srabbard. He was glad that they liked
Tommy Darrow’s seat was near the win- He looked at the book which lay open on T We is

have Tommy Darrow’s

its

own stories to listen when he had a story to tell. Ife

to give us some idea of that marvelous was glad they sometimes ask^ him to tell
Heading by A. R. TILBURNE realm. His aunt, being a practical woman, one when they were out of school, off in
mtKh of them, but the the hills after nuts or squirrels. He would
The land of Keer is a strange world —
certainly not of this earth —
in some
never
teacher
thought
who had taught him to write, back sit on a rock with them sprawled in die
ways feudal, in others oddly advanced. itt the little district sdiool at Beeman’s Cor- grass at his feet, and keep them spellbound
 ?WEIRD TALES PLANE ^ND FANCY 29

ometry than the one he struggled to digest aad bulletins from Albany. He had. In a patiently opposite him while he turned the
with the magic of his cloud-swept kingdom literal sense, known the answers —word pages.
beyond the purple cliffs. When the five in school. He had set his teeth and re-
were consolidated and they went solved to swallow the stuff, logic or no logic, for w'ord, once he his mind to it —
and At firstshe could see that he was skim-
districts
in to Easdiam to the new central school, and he was getting on better wife Damon had even earned himself a "B” in plane ming — obliging her, but nothing more. She

went with Andrews, Ki.D. The young teacher recog- geometry and was doing well in solid. Then was glad that he wanted to oblige. Then,
he was glad that his teacher
nized that what Tommy was giving him was bad come a change. It was gradual, and it about a third of the way through the first
them, because it was she who suggested
did n<X affect all his studies at one rime. book, something caught his eye or registered
that they could have a paper of their own purely parrot-talk, but he decided that after
It seemed to be a slow loss of interest on his brain. He stopped, frowned, bent
perhaps, as the high school three terms in the class it was all that any-
not as
journal,
fine,
but amimeographed
little leaflet one could ask of the boy if he passed the —
even in his writing which affected every- over the page. He riffled back a few pages
Regents with a decent mark. Tommy’s feing tuxt his mathematics. Tbe faculty was and seemed to follow an argument which
which they could plap and print and sell to
nt first inclined to accuse Damon Andrews was developed there. Finally he turned
flieir schoolmates. In its pages Tommy’s aunt, his mother’s older sister, was a trus-
of overworking the bcty, and then they clear back to fee beginning, and she could
chronicles of Keer gained a wider and a tee of the school.
joined forces to agree that he must be dealt see the muscles of his jaw working slowly
more demanding audience. In school Euclid was fee law, but out of
with aarotding to fee precepts of child psy as he toiled through fee unaccustomed
school, when the chores were done and he
dioiogy. symbols. He never even looked up when
N THESE stories, and in the tales whldi could go up to his room or climb up to the
Helen Wlnship was the teacher who had she finally slipped away.
I Tommy Darrow’s boyhood friends re- open ledges back of town, the other, fancier
come with Tommy from the little one room
member, Keer takes shape. It was a strange brand of geometry gradually took shape In
world, certainly not of fliis earth in some
ways feudal, in others oddly advanced. It
— his mind. Once it was started it came easily
to him. It was not too much different from
school where she had first taugjit and he
had first listened patiently and politely to The was
next day Saturday.
drews missed the morning colloquium
Damon An-

the "plain” variety of the little brown boot, her teaching. She was a little older now, and he wasn’t in the ice
ai fee post office,
had its sorcerers, black and white, but we but not too old to believe in a kind of cream parlor that night at the regular time.
mi^t have call^ them scientists. It had but what differences there were seemed to
be fundamental, and he began to see why magic. He was not in church on Sunday, although
its lords and ladies and pomp and cere-
Euclid seemed alien, and unreasonable. He She volunteered to talk with Tommy, he had a class in fee boys’ department. He
mony, but it was a nobility of the common to find out what was wrong, before more came into her homeroom on Monday morn-
had all of the simpler theorems in his head
people. Tommy’s father in that other world
before he wrote any of it down, and then drastic stros were taken to bring him into ing, just after fee passing bell, wife
was a smith, a bearded, brawny man who line. And so she was fee first to see th'e Tommy’s notebooks in his hand. She
forged swords of miraculous- strength and he did it in the' hieratic script of Keer,
which he had never before put on paper. strange new geometry of fabled Keer. stepped out into the hall wife him.
keenness, respected by all, feared by none,
It somehow seemed to fit the odd, non- He took fee notdx>oks out of the hole "’This stuff is amazing,” he told her. **I
with a hearty, roaring laugh that would under the floor boards where he kept them. don’t see why he’s had to write it in this
Euclidiao structure which he was building.
echo down the glens of a frosty morning.
It was soon dear to him that this was the His aunt would have had no sympafey wife gibberish, but what I can follow is real. It’s
His mother was young and golden haired,
such truck had she known of it; even his
with a voice that soared up in the morning
geometry of Keer itself that he was setting
—
down not alone of the misted moorland stories wae hidden there, although she was
true. It isn’t Euclid, God knows. It isn’t
anything I’ve ever seen or heard of
—
like a bird’s, and a firm but gentle hand for
kingdom with its five towns, but of its world rather proud of fee grudging deference Tommy calls it fancy geometry,” she in-
a horse. His own parents, here in our
world, he had never known.
— its entire universe. When he had the which me parents of souk of his school'-
mates showed her for harboring so "tal-
terrupted.
"Of course, but feat’s only a name.
rudiments of the geometry down on' paper It’s
Even when they reached high school. ented" a boy. The characters of the saipt a kind of private joke.” He hesitated. "If
he went back to the algebra, and saw where
Tommy’s schoolmates never of his tired
were, of course, unintelligible ,to fee fee kid can do this kind of thing, why can’t
it was that he had gone astray, and where the
tales, and he was kept busy writing them out
altered laws should lead. It all fell together teadier, rwid the diagrams were ..extremely he get Euclid?”
in his laborious saawl for the school paper.
simply and beautifully. His fingers seemed odd, seeming somehow ill-fitted to the flat "I thought you understood that. He
One girl, a year younger than Tommy, had surface of fee paper. Some of them seemed doesn’t believe in Euclid. It isn’t real
almost to run of themselves, and one after-
fried to illustrate them, but she had never
noon as he sat at his attic window writing almost to have depth and extension, and not for him.”
seen Keer. She grew tearful when he tried
he looked up and through fee flawed panes even a kind of motion of their own. They He snorted. "You mean that crazy stuff
to explain where the difference lay.
'The girls in Keer were not like the girls
saw the purple cliffs of Keer striding away meant nothing to her as they were, but she —
he writes? That Flash Gordon Grustark
into the twiliglit behind the patched roof of asked to borrow them, and he agreed. Taizan nonsense? What’s feat got to do
he knew in Eastham. They were more ma- Helen Wlnship had a great respect, and
his unde’s barn. with it?”
ture and less concerned with the proper af-
maybe a little more than respect, for Damon She took the notebooks from him. "Let
fairs of men. He was a shy boy, or at least
Andrews. He was young; he had made a me have these,” she said. "The bell will
a retiring one.
hills, but it
He loved to roam the
still
was alone now, or with a dog. T he new passion that had gripped him
was soon evident to his teachers. Tommy
brilliant record in college; and she had ac-
cidentally come across his name in a mathe-
be ringing, and I promised Tommy that he
would get them back feis morning. Perhaps
He had an irritating way of treating his had been a good student, though never a
matical journal where one would scarcely we can talk about it at lunch.”
fellow pupils, boys and girls alike, as though brilliant one save in his writing, and feey
look for a paper by a villas schoolmaster. Winter had gone by, and it was spring.
they were children. were on the wild side, tolerated mainly be-
She took 'Tommy Darrow^ notebooks to There was a chill in the air, and the ground
was early October ^hen Tommy Dar-
It cause of the vogue for self-expression which
him. When he snorted and pushed them was frozen along the north slopes, but a
row first began to wonder whether there was finding its way into places like Eastham back at her, she smiled her sweetest and sat thin green gauze was veiling fee willows
—
might not be another a "fancier” ge-
— under the impetus of teachers’ conventions
 WEIRD TALES PLANE AND FANCY
as diey climbed flie hill behind die school drove and Tommy sat between diem, his arched windows as Helen turned the car his sword on the oaken door, setting the
and picked a sun-warmed boulder to shelter
—
gaze far away -beyond the woods and into the winding drive which circled round echoes ringing.
them from tlie wind while they ate their —
mountains beyond the green expanse of the base of the crag and ran out along the They stood a moment in the darkness,
lunch. the sea when they came to it —among the narrow spine of r^dr which joined it to the waiting. Then the door opened and yellow
She bad the notrf>ooks with her. They hills of Keer. mainland. lamplight flooded out into the stone paved
unwrapped their packets of sandwidies, un- "Are you sure he’s here?” she asked. vestibule, silhouetting the ga\mt black figure
corked their thermos bottles of coffee, and
chewed diligently while somewhere below TWO journeys were made
spring. As Helen Winship’s car raced
that day In "He said he’d be.”
and peered ahead. "Maybe
Andrews leaned out
it’s the blackout.
of an old man. He stepped aside, and the
lamplight played over a hooked beak of a
them a redwing shouted for pure glee, on beside the sea, Shannakar ©f Keer rode Gloomy old pile, isn't it?” nose, over a straggling white beard, thin
^en they had finished he gave her a ciga- over the high plateau beyond the purple lips, and a deep-lined face. Shadows made

rette, took one himself, and leaned back cliffs with two tried friends. 'They were on he three companions left their horses skull-pits of the hot old eyes.
against the rock.
"Someone who can really understand die
a mission, and what its nature might be was
not entirely clear, even to Shannakar, for
TX at the l»se of the crag
on foot.
and approached
Shannakar’s brain was —
—
Shannakar of Keer ^Tommy Darrow of
Eastham stepped into the house of the
the castle
^uff should see those books, you know,” diete was a wise woman’s prophecy mixed clearing fast, and a deep fear was growing Black Prince Sagai. The two who were
he told her. ’T think they’re important. It’s up in it, and a message written in gall on in him. Was this his secret after all, or with him moved soullessly behind him,
beyond me how a kid like Tommy Darrow soft white silk, and a lock of raven halr.^ —
was it a ruse of Sagai’s- a magic of some trapped by the malign power of those
could have produced them, but I’ll take your They were not in the livery of Keer, ahd Idnd, luring them hither for purposes of the ancient eyes. The little fooks with thar
word for it. I want you to get his permis- their skins were stained dark, and their Black Prince’s own? Momentarily a curtain written secrets— ^the symbols and diagrams

sion to teke them to a man I know of — collars pulled up around their chins as they droppal over his eyes, and he could not"" of the strange geometry which would link
man who lectured at Columbia last sum- rode down out of the moors into the oak recognize the faces of the two who strode Earth and Keer, and give their master free
mer while I was there. Nobody much was forests beside the black, still sea. Their beside him, their naked swords frosty in range and power over both, here in this place
^ the lecture, but he said some amazing horses’ hooves drummed on the packed the starlight. —
where the two worlds were one dropped
diings. He could tell what this means, if sands, and in the distance they heard the Then the high arch of the doorway from Helen Winship’s hand.
anyone can.” deeper thunder where the great breakers rose before them, black and empty against And Sagai smiled and picked them up
She frowned. "Is that fair, do you think? which came swefeping out of the east broke the grim gray wall of the castle. The as he closed the great oak door with its
It’s Tommy’s work. Shouldn’t he present against the savage rock of Vrann. man on his right — was it Hannar or a carved kingfishers—the halcyon standard of
it, rather than some third person?” "We’ll be there soon,” Andrews said stranger?-—-kno^ed with the pommel of the evil breed of Vrann.
Andrews flushed. "I hope you don’t think over the boy’s head. "Hear the surf pound-
I’d claim credit for it myself! I never ing? His place is out on a headland, with
taught him this, or anything like it. I nothing between him and Spain except At-
couldn’t. Noone could. But I want Hal- lantis.” He glanced down. "Tlie kid
cyon to see it and pass on it before anyone asleep?”
tries to do anything about it.” She shook her head. "Dreaming, I think,
She stubbed her cigarette out on the but not asleep. Let him be. Time enough
ground beside her and gathered up the pa- when we're there.”
s from her lunch. The noon bdl would There were no sentries out, and it both-
ringing soon. ered Shannakar. They had taken the usual Like the Lady at the p.ight
"I’ll ta& to Tranmy,” she said. "I think precautions, but he wondered whether
he should go along.” Sagai’s seers might not have a magic which
It was a long trip, and there were the would pierce the veil he had woven. As
school authorities to persuade, because it
would take more than a week-end. 'Then
Tommy’s aunt had to be convinced that this
they drew near to the crag the pattern of
his quest began to take shape in his mind.
It was a matter of a spell —
a ritual of words
Y
its
OU’LL not want to miss a copy of V/EIRD TALES with its
strange and mystic stories of the unnatural and the occult,
vampires and werewolves and monsters and indescribable . . .

was something wbicli would bring credit and diagrams which somehow linked Keer horrors!
to her line rather than further notoriety to w'ith that other world he often visited in • • •
the no-good Dartows, and that there might —
dreams a formula which would somehow
— there just might —
be money in it in the open gates which might not easily be closed. IS true that WEIRD TALES is thinner, due to government
T
long tun. They decided to defy gossip and
use Helen’s car, because it would save them
There was a danger to Keer, though wha£
it was he could not precisely say. Enough
/ —
paper restrictions and we are glad to comply with any request
a day. that he was going alone into the ca»tle of
—
helping the war eSort but you get the same number of stories, the
It was a glorious drive,- the April sun- his —
enemy to seek it or to use it.
same number of words and the same amount of top-notch “weird"
reading as before.
shine warm on their faces, the smell of The place was a looming heap of stone,
springtime moist and rich in their nostrils, almost a part of the headland on which it
the soft blue of spring in the sky. Helen wa§ set. No lights were showing in the
 —

STRANGER IN THE MIRROR 33

sort of flavor, but it grows on you. Have delicious stuff. My girl made it. I guess

some more. I mentioned that.

Do you mind if we leave the light out, Yes, we have few pleasures here in
here in the cell? That yellow light in the Death Row. But I can assure you, when
corridor is enough to see by, and it has Guido burned, I felt a happiness that was
a pleasant, quieting sort of effect on me. out of this world.
Reminds me of the soft lights you see in So you’re no student of the occult? 'That

certain of the old masters. And since we means, of course, that you don’t believe in
have to keep our voices low, the light seems anything you can’t see, or can’t explain, or
tight for it. have explained to you by the oit-and-dried
Yes. I want to talk; I want to spill a lot rules by which you live,
of things that never came out at my trial. Warden, do me one courtesy. Don’t in-
Tomorrow, I’ll just be a few lines of type suit my integrity by concluding that I’m’
in the newspapers
—
"Thor Holderson, con- acting crazy in order to play for a last-
victed of the murder of Jacob Bachman, minute reprieve. And please don’t insult
went to his death in the electric chair at my intelligence by concluding that I really
Walden Prison this morning at 5:55 a.m.,” am crazy. I know it’s too late for the
and so on. But before I go, I want at least governor to do anything, even if you
one man to know the whole story.’ phoned him now. And I’m as sane as you
Do you believe in occult matters,, war- are.

den? Or do you believe only in powers

that you, yourself, possess? 'This story may T COULD be aazy, warden; believe me,
be a little — frightening. Of course, it’s 2 could be crazy, what I’ve seen in the
not fearsome to me, but then. I’ve been all past six months.
through it, and I’m not easily scared. Warden, here in Death Row, I’ve
You’ll remember a week ago, when Guido thought a lot about the reality of the life
Oseletti got it? You know how everyone we and its dullness when you o>m-
lead,
else in Death Row pulled the usual stereo- pre with the tremendously more vifatl
it

—
typed demonstration the eerie wailing, reality we dream. Maybe it’s
of the dreams
the muffled beating on the Vails, when the a form of escapism, a sort of mystical sour
lights went dim and the hum of the gen- grapes, but I firmly believe that the life my
eratorswent up from out there past the mind lives outside my body is a thousand
green door? Hell, warden, if you’ll
little times more intense and stirring than the
check up, you can find that 1 didq’t blow dull and stupid life that the two of them
my top. I laughed. soul and body — ^live together.
Honestly, now, did you ever kiss a
Heading by A. R. TIL3URNE eems strange, doesn’t it, when Guido woman in real life that gave you the ter-
S andhismotherdidtheirbesttohelpme rible, beautiful passion you’ve had from

H
I
ello, warden.
come in.
wanted a priest,
had no quarrel with God,
things to talk over with a fellow
Nice of you to
They asked me
but I

just
told
if

them
a few
human
I
being.
I’ll

to
Sit
And
only be a
down
I guess I’m
memory tomorrow,
here,
still that,

and have some

Nice of you folks to let ray girl bring it
me right along. Good, isn’t it? Odd
even

candy.
if at my trial?
Futmy how Guido
killing his mother.
peculiar,
mean. To
I
Well,

mean
that’s part of the story,
wnt
And
funny.
I’m
to the chair for
I

you, that seems callous,

don’t mean
Laughable, I
women

up
in your dreams?
enjoyed one triumph in
to the nobility of your victories
you sleep?
matters,
If more people thought of such
maybe they wouldn’t make such
Have you ever
life that measured
when

sure, but you must remember, warden, I’m a grim struggle of.hanging on to life,
a product of Hell’s Kitchen, and a con- Of course, the terror of dreams is greater

You who fear the tenor of dreams, remember — there are some victed murderer to boot.
Have some more candy, warden. Very
than the terrors of living—at least some say
so. But you could, if you tried, imagine
hideous terrors of living far greater!
 —

34 WEIRD TALES STRANGER IN THE MIRROR 35

some tenors that would malce the hideous and and stronger. So I admired
wiser, Snapped out a prescription in what must for it brou^t me into hb home even more,
stuffof dreams seem pallid by comparison. him. His mother, too. She was young, have been Latin, and old Jake filled it au- where I could see and talk to his mother,

I liketo imagine such things, here in this vital, That alone was enough
beautiful. tomatically, looking at her with respectand Here, warden, have some more candy,
rather oppressive lonesomeness that's the to make her unusual, in a poverty-ridden wonder. Oh, she was a smart woman, a tre- —
Angela Caseletti that’s Guido’s mother
Death Row at Walden. slum where most women are old at thirty, mendously brilliant, bold, beautiful woman, used to make candy like this forme. My
—
Suppose just let your mind run on it toothless hags at forty, and dead at fifty. Of coune, you understand that my real girl, who brings it here to Walden, b an
—
a minute suppose you looked in a mirror My mother, thank God, died when she was intimacy witli Guido only began this last Italian, too.
one day, and saw someone else. Just think thirty, and missed the worst of the life I year or so, but I was In and out of their Angela used to sit and tallc to me, there
about it. Simple thing you pull yourself— knew. house a thousand times as I grew up. in that old kitchen, with the single yellow
up to a mirror, expecting to see a familiar, Guido was a queer one. He had the bulb, and the brown shadows playing in
if disappointing face, and it’s someone A ND it was Guido’s mother who gave same inner strength, and the confidence the corners, just like this cell is this minute,
else. ' Warden, that's a real soul-shaker, *^^me the only taste of what a home that came from it, as hb mother. It would "Oh, they were kind to me, Guido and
isn’t it? might be. She went out working, to take have made him a leader in any of the gangs his mother.
Think of it. You’ve seen the same face care of herself and her son, like most other in our old Hell’s Kitchen. You were in The tilings I went through in my boy-
all your life. To be sure, time has altered mothers where we lived. But where, the the cops in those days; you know what hood there in Hell’s Kitchen — well, you’ll
it, but so subtly that it’s hardly noticeable. other women came back haggard from their those gangs were like. To be a leader in understand, because you were in the cops
As a child, you played with that image, night’s work charring in office buildings, or such a gang meant money and power. But once, yourself, and you saw the rough side.
laughed at it, made faces at it. As a young their day’s work in factory or laundry, Guido didn’t want to be a leader. He I was there at their home the night of
man, you checked it carefully foi blemishes Guido’s mother came back — ^well, radiant stayed aloof, usually having only one close the killing. Old Jake Bachman’s killing,
and for the first faint crawl of beard that — as though her life and vitality had some- friend, and their goings and comings were I mean, tiie one I was convicted for. I
proved your manhood, and scanned it how been renewed. matters of great interest and speciation, felt nervous, because the gang had been in
anxiously when you went on your first Their home was luxurious, sinfully simply because Guido, rather than the pals some trouble with Bachman, and I was in
dates with girls. And when you w'ere luxurious, by our standards. 'There was he had, commanded our attention. on it. You see, I still ran with tiie gang,
grown up, occasionally you stared at it bit- food in greater abundance than most of us He was a sort of idol to us younger kids, although Guido didn’t. When he was
terly, realizing that in spite of yourself, —
knew, and there was knowledge. I have certainly to me, and you can imagine how away, now aod then, I’d hang around at
the face and the man behind it were grow- the fortune, or misfortune, to be better proud I was when he suddenly picked me Bachman’s with the gang. He didn’t like
ing older. Sometimes, after a bad night, educated than most Hell’s Kitchen boys, for his dose friend. Fat Driscoll had been it,nahually. Did you ever know an old
you’ve looked at it reluctantly, your nerves wouldn’t you say? Well, I got my educa- thick with Guido, and you remember the drug-store man who liked a bunch of no-
a-jangle, and the signs of eidiaustion and tion from the books in Guido’s home, and terrible, tragic thing that happened to him good loafers hanging around, stealing
dissipation have made it seem'-almost like from Guido’s mother. She was not bnly —how he was found, shot to pieces by the andy and cigarettes, keeping good custem-
a stranger’s face. But at least, with all its educated, she was intelligent. watchman in Hobart’s warehouse, with the ers scared away?
faults, it was still your face. I’ve seen her stop and pass a few words watchman dead, too. They claim the rest I don’t know why it happened tirat I had
But suppose, some day when you had widr an occasional professor from the big of the gang got away with a hundred thou- trouble with Bachman. To give myself
such a hangover, and your nerves were college a few blocks over, when they'd —
sand in furs sables and mink and ermine, was tiie least tough of the bunch,
credit, I
practically on the outside of your skin, you come venturing down to Hell’s Kitchen to And Pat’s death had been hard on Guido, and he and I had always been fairly
faced up to a mirror and the image that sit in the sunlit park that had more tradi- I remember the teats in his great, dark eyes, friendly.But he’d threatened me that day,
looked bade, and imitated your every move, tion than beauty to recommend it. And and the strangeness in his face, as though and I had a feeling—but you don’t believe
was not you, but someone else? I’ve seen their faces actually troubled and he couldn’t understand sudi things. Be- in the occult, warden, so you wouldn’t be-
Here, move just a little, so you can see puzzled after a few such passages, and cause, you see, Guido was rt^er mixed up lieve in premonitions, of course,
my face. I want you to see that I’m as Guido's mother, her head on one side, in any rough stuff. The cop on that beat More candy? Eat it all, once you get
calm and quiet as my voice that my eyes — laughing at their amazement like a naughty had actually sat in Guido’s mother’s kitchen it’s hard to stop; I won’t be needing
started
are steady, and my face placid. You must child. during the time the robbery was commit- any after tomorrow. Not funny, huh?
not believe I’m crazy. But warden, I And once, when I was sick —she pideed ted, with Guido asleep in a chair. Not Sorry, I guess thatis a little morbid,

looked in a mirror once, and Guido Casel- me up in the gutter, outside Jacob Badi- that anyone suspected Guido anyhow; it
etti looked bade. man’s drug store~she gave orders to Bach- was just routine to question him, since Pat there we sat diat night,
I knew Guido Caseletti and his mother man with more authority and sureness than and he had been so close. » * and Guido’s mother must have sensed
all my life. He was a little older tlian I, any young interne from City Hospital. And I loved being Guido’s close friend, my nervousness and my melancholy. She
 36 WEIRD TALES
STRANGER IN THE MIRROR
was so attentive and so bent on helping me the familiar planes and surfaces and
that she actually had no time for Guido.
ows of Guido’s room, that hard
shad-
closed ej'es) and I was talking in a quick, Jake down — ten people who had known
She made me some of this candy, and breast relaxed, and I lost a fraction
of the
knot in my . nervous voice —my voice —to Guido’s me all my life.
talked to me, soothingly, in that quiet voice
animal fear that was lifting the hairs on my mother. And they saw me stuffing the money
of hers. Once, when Guido moved in the from his old money-can into my pockets.
neck. Then I turned to the mirror.
siiadows, she actually oideied ut tliat woman who talked to the per- Of course, you know they never found
the room.
him out of Warden, it was not 1 in that mirror; if
wat Guido. Now wait, don’t say It was
B son that was me, even while I lay the money. Some said it was two thousand
We drank a little, a few glasses of sour, imagination, the result of drunkenness,
there, she wasn’t the Angela Caseletti I had dollars.
or
bradcish Dago Red, and after awhile I felt known, the calm and beautiful woman Warden, that’s very funny. It was more
bad light. The light in that room was as
^
sleepy. My nervousness was gone, and the bright as the one the cops kept in my
who had talked to me so quietly and like twenty thousand, I found out later.
let-down of the tension just folded face You’ll remember how
kindly. I went through
me up. the next day. The mirror was fine
plate
She understood. I remember she
called
Her gorgeous olive skin waS sallow, and the trial like an automaton? I couldn’t re-
me "poor boy,” and led me into Guido’s
glass, because the Caseletti’s
but the best in their home. Guido, you
had nothing
mottled with crimson spots, the flush of a member — things. My mind would come
room, Stood there just like a mother, rage more violent than even a Hell’s whirling up to the edges of a dark dream,
willremember, was half a head taller than
while I peeled down to my underwear, Kitchen boy had ever seen. 'The cords in and then I guess it was the common-sense
and I am, bigger all over, and he
was dark
after I was in bed, she tucked me her neck stood out as though she were of instinctive caution that swept it back.
in. where I am fair. It was not a mistake.
Warden, that was (he worst night of my
The man in the mirror was Gnido.
carrying a great weighton her back, and My mind, automatically refusing to think,
life. I woke up, very late.
The room her arms were curved up in such a frenzy about anything so dreadful.
Think it over, warden. You’re sick and
was so black it seemed thicker
than air, that die tendons at the wrist looked like You’ll remember how I accepted a pub-
shaken and weighted with a fear that is
and more 'oppressive. The sounds wires. lic defender, and went through the mo-
were all su'b-hLimaa. You wake in a strange room,
gone from the street down below. I was dose to fainting again. If I had tions of pleading not guilty, and the farce
The turn on the light, and~the face in the mir-.
gassy smell from the river
came drifting been so fully conscious that I could have of a trial. I couldn’t think. Even when
ror isn’t yours.
in as it always does with the late mists,
and They can
grasped all this me, standing there while the judge finally called on me up
to stand
talk about witches and were-
it just simply felt late. And there in that wolves and warlocks and vampires. They
I also lay half-conscious on the floor me, for sentence, my mind was numbed. I
dark I lay, with my heart
pounding, feel- talking to a sane woman turned suddenly knew had been a quick trial. I knew
it
can load it up with the fancy writing
mg that something was terribly
wrong,
of a
Poe or a Stevenson. If you're reading it
into a nightmarish fury —
I think I would that, the people I knew, only Guido
of all

fe^ng torn to pieces, v/ith a strangeness have died. But every sense in me was so and Angela Caseletti had tried to help me.
alone at night, with the proper
and a pull on my nerves and mind accompani- shaken that I could only lie there, unmov- But when that judge had finished his
that was ments of wind and crewing shutters
•strangerand more terrible than anything and ing, and almost unfeeling. dirty little chore, and ended with the
rain, such things can give the
I had ever felt in imaginative 1 remember her saying, in a voice that stereotyped, hypocritical invocation; “and
my life.
quite a little thrill.
Somehow,got up and stumbled to the
I vibrated like the whip of electridty when may God have mercy on your soul!” I be-
But if you want your mind to shrink
light switch. My feet felt funny, and in into a tight, hard little ball, and go cring-
you touch an open socket accidentally-— gan to think. Because at that moment,
the strangeness of Guido’s
room, I gashed “You fool, you didn’t give him enough!” Guido stretched his legs out straight, and
ing into a skull-corner in a fear
my shins against a chair, but the oain that’s the Have some more candy, warden? Well, then brought them back again, and his
same size and shape as death,
just try the
while intense, didn’t feel like any
pain I'd
it’s rather rich; it’s easy to get enough. trousers hitched up above his socks. That’s
plain, everyday action of looking
known into a And I remember me, laughing back at when saw the black scabs of those two
before. And there was a separa- mirroi, and seeing another person
I
tion of detab in the pain, as though
the
looking her, reckless and crazy —
that me who stood deep cuts across the shins. And I remem-
^ment of its happening was hours long.
back at you. 'Would it hit you hard.^
I tell you what it did to me. I fainted.
there — and saying; "The old fool had bered that' night, and how / had felt the
I felt the flesh being
opened, and the bite more blood in him than a hog. It was beau- pain of those cuts. And I remembered all
Yes, fainted like a girl. Imust have. Be-
of the sharp wood on bone, tiful, mother!” that had happened.
and then the cause when I came
pain started, but with it
to, I was on the floor in Well, warden, you know how they I guess everyone still recalls ffiat prepos-
and overlying it, Guido’s room, still only half-conscious,
I could even feel
the little drops of blood
well out and gather, and
and standing above me, talking to
Guido’s clothes
—
found me at Guido's passed out, with my
with blood, and that gash on
terous attempt
almost unbelievable fact that
I made to escape, and the

slide down the

stiff I got away.
mother, was me.
skin of my legs. And all this time, my cheek. They found skin tissue from That in itself made a bigger story than old
that
dreadful feeling of strangeness
was like a
Yes, me, but nothing like the me
always known. My clothes were
I had

bloody,
my cheek under old Jake Bachman’s fin- Jake’s murder, or —what will happen to-
living panic in my mind. gernails. Not that diey needed ..all that morrow.
there was a deep gash down
Somehow, I got the light on, and seeing
the side of my scientific horseplay to send me to the chair. And one reason I made the escape good
face (I could see all this, through h a l f- After all, ten people had seen me shoot old was the fact that I came right bade to
 — ^ '

38 WEIRD TALES STRANGER IN THE MIRROR 39

laid her
Hell’s Kitchen, where no sane man would it so that his spirit and mine had changed remember them all, and how ffiey died, up to me, so unsuspecting. She
have gone, back to Guido and his mother. clothes —
^for the time it tock to murder
some under the guns, and some here at
hand on Guido’s hair, and kissed
and the time,
tire

Guido
back

I kept my -eyes away from that woman and rob Jacob Bachman. of Guido’s necic, all
Walden.
"Dear, she
And what they died for, all of it, was m
I was afraid of the depths of knowledge I learned how that was done. It was lay in his room, in my body.

in her eyes —
but I asked them for help, very simple. It's a matter of achieving a that bread box of Guido’s mother’s
a neat — called me; “dear,” and "heart of my
and they gave me money to get to the tranquility in another man, you can make little fortune to keep them safe
from harm. heart.”
1 Then I turned, and slie saw my eyes,
coast. the transfer of your soul into his fledUy en- Now, the money’s in another, safer place.
velope. It’s quite simple — drug that is
I
No, warden, Guido would never kill the and — the axe.

he coast, hell! was never more than little known but easy to get —undisturbed mother he loved, and who had made him
I gave myself up shortly after Guido
T I

a mile from them. And in two months, quiet, in a light that is neutral, not too safe and comfortable and rich.
was convicted and sentenced. Not just be-
as soon as my beard had grown, I came bright —and the rhythmic drumming of cause I wanted to be here and see the lights
out of go dim and hear ffie other dead-to-be
But
back and rented the room above their quiet, monotonous talk. Not hypnotism, still, he was seen snealdng
bowling in their cells. Naturally, I didn’t
kitchen. That’s where I wanted to be. something simpler and greater. the house early in the morning of the
There were some things I needed to learn. I learned how it was done. Who else Mrs. Moreni want to miss that, but I had other reasons.
day she was found dead.
You see, I had now really committed a
I knew tiieir kitchen like the palm of my do you think killed Guido’s mother? saw him slip out, and saw him drop some*
hand. I knew where they sat, and where Guido? Don’t be silly, warden, nodding And murder, and somehow, I felt like expiat-
thing in the deep grass at the alley.
your head in that odd fashion. Listen to and ing it. I had been sentenced to burn for
they wouldn't look, and I bored a hole Mrs. Erickson saw him, wild-eyed
murder Guido had committed. That
bloody, coming back upstairs.’” And after
through the floor of my room, taking cate me; you can still hear quite well, I know. a
Guido loved his mother. And besides, wasn't good. Now, he had burned for
to open just a pin-point in flieir ceiling so all,the axe they found in the grass had
a killing had done. Somehow, it seemed
I could see all they did. hadn’t she made him rich, wkh no work Guido’s fingerprints all over it. I took care I

like justice that I should die, too.

You don’t believe in the occult, warden? on and little or no danger?
his part, of all that.
But the more I’vethought about it, ffre
Well, your privilege. But there are
that’s Do you remember that Pat Driscoll was And I took care that he was found, un-
he less I like the idea. After all, I did the
strange and unfathomable hiding places in killed in Hobart’s, while Guido slept at conscious, beside her. Of course,
And home? Yes, but a hundred thousar^ Perhaps he world a service in killing that woman. I’m
the Italian spirit. there are strange in claimed no knowledge of it.
as good a citizen as you are, warden,
and
knowledges in those craggy Italian moun- furs had disappeared before Pat died. And had none. I’d given him plenty of the
tains where civilization began, so long ago. I have seen Angela Caseletti wrapped in stuff. But there he was, and there she was,
maybe better, from what I’ve heard of
you, and, the various frame-ups you’ve
I found out how Guido had entered my sables worth a fortune, strutting alone in murdered. His dumb stare couldn’t back
gotten away with. It doesn’t seem right
body, a^d I had been put into bis. her vanity, while I watched from that pin- up his claim of insanity. Matikide is a
You know how dreams are. How a hole in the ceiling of her kitchen. pretty ugly crime. Juries don t like it. for me to die, warden.

you not of the body goes adventuring into Doyou remember Banco Gordon.’ Do knew that Angela would never let any-
I
Walden, October—Thor Holdefkm,
lands that are strange and beautiful, with you remember how he cut old man Sever- one but Guido get neat enough to harm
youthful gangster who was convicted of
companions never seen in this life, but ance's throat, and took a double handful her. But remember, I knew her secret. I
the brutalmurder of Jaccb Bachman six
somdiow more familiar than the people of diamonds out of his pocket? Those watched her make that candy. The drug’s
you touch and love and talk to? You know stones drifted back into the market, so palatable in candy, this particular months ago, went to his death in the elec-
moie -
But tric chair at Walden Prison at 6:02 diis
bow, at sudi times, another world is easier cleverly that the cops never got close to kind of candy, with the odd taste. it s

own Guido liked wine. morning. Holdetson, who had been

to believe in than our world. 'There what happened. But fltete was one giant acceptable in wine, and
stoical during his trial and
confinement,
is this you, then, which is obviously not of star ruby &at never showed up. I have You take good claret, and the drug just
completely before his execu-
down
tire body, but as real
real than your
—
known
^perhaps even more
Would you
seen that ruby on Angela Caseletti’s finger.
There was a box, a common bread box,
gives it a brackish, puckery taste, like cheap
broke
tion. Either in real or feigned frenzy, he
self. Dago Red.
all the soul? Whatever, we we in their kitchen. In it was Jake Bachman's Guido to drink; I just struggled with guards until given a seda-
it call it, It was easy to get
insisting 'that he was the warden
of
know it exists. twenty thousand dollars, and ten times that slipped down and left an open bottle tive,

The preachers say that the body is only much from other crimes that men died one day when his the penitentiary.
for, where he’d find It,

a be laid aside some bri^t day,

shell, to fighting off the cops, or here in the electric mother had gone out. And the rest — the Warden James Goiz, whose nerves have
a machine that wears out, a suit of flesh chair at Walden. Pat Driscoll had been quiet, the light, the drumming of monoto- been shaken by the recent, unprecedented ,

(hat clothes the spirit. Guido’s friend, and so had Banco Gordon. talk, they were easy. number of electrocutions, announced today
nous near future.
And had happened to me was
all that So had Dave Wallis, and Ty Cardwin, and never forget how she walked right that he plans to resign in the
I'll
&3t Guido and his mother had arranged Toots Moscovitz, and Legs Airigoni. You
 feasts of Barsac
By ROBERT BLOCH
Heading hy JOHN GIUNTA

T WAS twili^t when Doctor Jerome far from orthodox —

but Jerome could bank
readied the ogre’s castle. He moved on one tiling. Barsac was too fat to be a
I through the land of a child’s
fairy-tale
picture book; a realm of towering mountain
vampire, and too indolent to become a
werewolf.
crags, steeply slanting roads ascending to Still, there was something strange about
forbidden heights, and douds that hovered this invitation, coming
after a three years’
like bearded wraiths watching his progress lapse in correspondence. Merely a scribbled
from on high. note, suggesting that Doctor Jerome come
ITie castle itself was built of dream-stuff. down for a month or so to look over ex-
Nightmare qualities predominated in the perimental data — ^but that was Barsac’s usual
great grey bulk, rearing its crumbling bat- way of doing things.
tlements against a sullen, blood-streaked Ordinarily, Doctor Jerome would ignore
sky, A chill wind sang its weird welcome such a casual offer, but right now it came
as Doctor Jerome advanced towards the as a life-saver. For Doctor Jerome was
rastleon the hilltop, and an autumn moon strap^d. He’d been let out of the Founda-
rose above the topmost tower. tion, he owed three installments on his rent,
As tile moon stared down on man and — —
and he had literally ^no place to lay his
castle alike^ a black cloud burst from the, head. By pawning the remnants of his pre-
ruined battlements ard soared squeaking to cious equipment he'd managed to cross the
the sky. Bats, of course. The final touch of Qiannei and reach Castle Barsac. A month
fantasy. in a real castle with his old friend it might—
Doctor Jerome shru^ed and trudged lead to something.
across weed-choked flagstones in the castle So Jerome had seized Opportunity before
courtyard until he reaped the great oaken the echo of its knocking had died away.
door, And now he banged tiie iron knocker,
Now to raise the iron knocker the . . . watched the castle wot swing open. It did
door would swing open slowly, on creaking squeak, a bit.
hinges ... the tall, gaunt figure would Footsteps. A
shadow. And then-
emerge. . . . "Greetings, stranger. I am "Delighted to see you!” Sebastian Barsac
Count Dracula!” embraced his friend in the Frencli fashion
Doctor Jerome grinned. "Like hell,” he and began to make Gallic noises of enthu-
muttered. siasm.
For the whole fantasy collapsed when he "Welcome to Castle Barsac,” said the
thought of Sebastian Barsac. This might be little man. "You are tired after your long
an ogre’s castle, but Barsac was no ogre. march from the railroad station, no? I will
Nine years ago, at the Soibonne, he’d show you to your room — servants I do not
'made friends with shy, fat little Barsac. retain. And after a shower we shall talk.
Since then they had taken different paths Yes?”
but it was impossible for Doctor Jerome to
imagine his old companion as the ideal
tenant of a haunted castle.
Not that Barsac didn’t have some queer
U P THE winding stairs, pursued by a
babbie of incoherent conversation. Doc-
toiled, bags in hand.- He found
Old Barsac was too
vampire, too
fat

indolent to
to he
become a
a

ideas. He’d always been a little eccentric,

tor Jeiome
his oak-paneiled chambers, was instructed in
werewolf —bat there are other things!

and his theories on biological research weie the mysteries of the antique mechanical
40
 —

42 WEIRD TALES THE BEASTS OF BARSAC 43

shower arrangement; then was left to bathe EHIbH!) the bulging spectacles, Barsac’s coming of Doctor Jerome entered and
and dress.
He had no time to marshal his impres-
then begin to ascend the evolutionary scale.
In a word, the animal will show humat7 char-
acteristics.”
B"What
eyes gleamed oddly.
is Reality and who makes its
light.
stood dazzled in the doorway.
Set in the mouldering tower of the old
s'ons. It was not until later —
after a sur- Dector Jerome scowled. laws?” he mocked. "Come, and see for castle was a spacious, white-tiled, com-
prisingly good dinner in a small apartment “In the nine years that you’ve been dab- yourself the success of my experiments.” pletely modem laboratory unit. A great
downstairs —
that Jerome was able to sit back bling in this unscientific romanticism here He led the way across the chamber, down outer room, filled with electrical equipment,
and appraise his host. in your castle retreat, a new word has come tile hall, and up the great circular staircase, was displayed before him, All of the
They retired to a parlor, lit cigars, and into being to desaibe your kind, Barsac,” "niey reached the second floor on which appurtenances necessary to micro-biology
sat back before the grateful warmth emanat- were ranged on shelves and cabinets,
he said. “The word is ‘screwball.’ And that’s Jerome’s room lay, but did not pause. Select-
ing from the stone fireplace, where a blaze what I think of you, and that’s w’hat I think ing a panel switch from the open box on “Does it please you, Jerome?” asked Bar-
rose to push back the shadows in the room. of your theory.” the wall, Barsac threw it and illumined the sac. “It was not easy to assemble this, no.
,

Doctor Jerome’s fatigue had lifted, and he upper stoirs. They began to climb again. The very tiles were transported up the steep
“Theory?” Barsac smiled. "It is more than
•felt stimulated, alert. a tlieory.” And all the while Barsac was talking, mountain passways to the castle, and the
As Sebastian Barsac began to discuss his "It’s preposterous!” Jerome interrupted. talking. "You have seen the gods of ancient shipping of each bit of equipment was
recent work, Jerome took the opportunity
•to scrutinize his friend.
“To begin with, your statement about the Egypt?” he said. “The anthropomorphic costly. —
But behold is it not a perfect spot
human soul being divisible. I defy you to stone figures with the bodies or men and in which to work?”
show me a human soul, let alone piove that the heads of animals? You have heard the
T ITTLE BARSAC had aged, definitely. you can cut it in half.” legend of the werewolf, of lycantiiropic 1~\OCTOR JEROME nodded, absently,
He was fat, but flabby rather than roly- “I cannot show you one, I grant,” said dianges whereby man becomes beast and -a-' His inward thoughts were tinged with
,

poly. The dark hair had receded on his domed Barsac. beast becomes man? definite envy. Barsac here was squandering
fordiead, and his myopic eyes peered from ‘‘Then what about your mechanical hyp- "Fables, all fables. And yet behind the his genius and his wealth on th^ crazy dab-
spectacles of increased thickness. Despite The no
nosis? I’ve never heard it explained.” fables lurked a trutii. truth lurks bling, and he had every scientific luxury at
verbal enthusiasm, the little lord of Castle longer, for I have found it. The seat of
"I cannot explain it.” his command, While he, Jerome, a capable
Barsac seemed oddly languid in his physical “And what, in an animal, are human evoUrtion lies in the stMil, and in the soul’s scientist with a sound outlook, had nothing;
movements. But from his talk, Doctor characteristics? What is your basis of meas- human instrument of expression, the brain, no job, no- future, nothing to work with.
Jerome recognized that Barsac’s spirit was urement?” « We have grafted cellular structures of one It wasn’t right, it wasn’t just. And yet
unchanged.
The words began to form a pattern in
“I do not know.” —
body onto another why not graft portions "Even an electrical plant,” Barsac was
“Then how do you expect me to under- of one soul to another? Hypnosis is the exclaiming. “We manufacture out own
Jerome s mind —
a pattern holding a mean-
ing he did not understand.
stand your ideas?” key to transference, as I have said. power here, yousee. Look around. All is
Sebastian Barsac rose. His face was pale, ^ “All this I have learned by much thought, of the finest! Or perhaps you ate eager to
So you can see what I have been doing despite the fire’s ruddy glow. much experimentation. I have worked for see what I promised to show you?”
these nine years past. my
All of life since “I cannot show you a human soul,” he nine years, perfecting techniques and meth- Doctor Jerome nodded again. He couldn’t
I left t-he Sorbonne has been devoted to one muimured, "but I can show you what hap- odolo^. Many trrnes failed. To my stand the sight of this spotless laboratory
— discovering the linkage between man pens to animals when they possess part of laboratory
I
I have brought animals, thou- because of the jealousy it aroused. He
and animal through the alteration of cell- one. sands of «iima!s. Many of them died. And wanted to get it over with, get out of here.
structure in the brain. It is an evolutionary "I cannot explain mechanical hypnosis, I procured others, working endlessly towards Now Barsac opened the door of a second
process, this thing I seek —
an evolutionary
process wherein the cycle occurs in the life-
but I can show you the machine I use to one goal. I have paid tiie ptice^ myself, room, beyond. It was nearly as large as
hypnotize myself and the animals in order dying a thousand mental deaths with the the first, but the walls were untiled. The
span of the individual animal. And my key? to transfer a portion of my soul. failure of each mistaken attempt. Even a original castle stones lent startling contrast
My key is simple. It lies in the recognition "I cannot measure the human character- physical price I have paid. A monkey — to the greatgleaming metal cabinet which
of one fact— that the human soul is istics of the animals undergoing my treat- —
sde cochon ! took from me my finger. So.” dominated the center of the chamber.
divisible.”
ment, but I can show you what they look Barsac paused and held up his left hand “This room I had not the heart to
‘What is all this?” Doctor Jerome inter- likeand let you judge. in a dramatic gesture to reveal the stump change,” Barsac explained., "It Is here, ac-
rupted. "I don’t see what you’re driving at, "Even then you may not understand my where his left thumb was missing. cording to family tradition, that my great-
Barsac. Where’s the connection between ideas —
but you will see tl;^ I am actually Then he smiled. “But it Is not my wounds'* great grandfather conducted his experi-
biology, alteration of cell-structure in the
brain, and evolution?
And what part does
carrying them out!” of battle I wish to display to you it is tire—meats in alchemy. He was a sotcetor.”
By this time. Doctor Jerome had also fruits of victory. ‘'Gane.” “So is his great-great grandson,” Doctor
a divisible human
soul play in all this?” risen to his feet. “You mean
you’ve been They had reached the topmost tower at Jerome murmured,
'
I will be blunt, my friend. I believe
transferring your soul to an animal body?” last. Doctor Jerome gazed down the dizzy- "You refer to the machine?” Barsac
that human characteristics can be transferred
Sebastian Barsac shrugged. “I have been ing spiral of the stairs they had ascended, stepped over and opened the metal door In
to animals by means of mechanical hypnosis. transferring part of what I call my soul to tiien turned his head forward as Barsac un- tiie side of the cabinet. Within the large
I believe that portions of the human
soul the bodies of many animals,” he amended. locked the panelled door of his laboratory exposed area was a chair, fastened with
essence or psyche can be transmitted from
man to animal—and that the animal will
"But you an’t — it’s biologically impos- and gestured him inside. clamps from which led a number of con-
sible. It defies the laws of Reality!" The did: of a wall-switcb heralded the voluted tubes and metal valves which, in
44 WEIRD TALES THE BEASTS OF BARSAC
turn were fastened to a switchboard bearing Out of one batch I could hope for two or —thdr dead grey bodies were unchanged. of Barsac, and wlthlrt their flaming eyes was
an imposing number of dials and levers. three — That is, until recently.
reactions. Barsac was mad, quite mad. the laughing gaze of Barsac, and Jerome
Then began to find that almost all of my
I And then Doctor Jerome saw it. He recognized them for what they were and
— stared at one rat and saw the left forepaw screamed again.
The chair faced a glass prism
in the metal that had the general appear-
a window subjects showed changes.”
Barsac
where no
moved towards the fourth wall,
cages loomed. Here were shelves
tiiat was not
skated hand!
a forepaw —but a tiny des- But screaming did not stop them. Noth-
ing stopped them as the mannikin-horde and
ance of a gigantic lense. Before this prism
was a wheel of radiating wires, so fine as to filled with jais. Preserving jars. Doctor He stated at the other tats in the other the wol^horde flowed in a furry flood to-
be almost transparent. Various tubes from Jerome decided. jars and saw that each left forepaw was wards his writhing body on the bed. He
the chair led to the tips of the wires at dif- He moved closer for another look, but. alike. Each forepaw was like a human hand Felt the touch of their horrid paws every-

ferent points of the wneel-rim. Barsac turned. He halted him, left hand on —like the left hand of Sebaitian Barsac on where, tensed himself for the moment when
"This is not magic but science,” Barsac Jerome’s shoulder, so that Etoctor Jeiome which the thumb was missing! he would feel their claws, their jaws —
said. "You see before you the mechanical looked down upon the trembling stump A shriek v’renched from his throat as
hypnotic device I have perfected. The human where the thumb had been, 2. Jerome sat bolt upiiglit in the bed.
subject is seated in the chair, so. The attach- "Before I show you this,” he whispered, Moonlight streamed tranquilly through
ments are made, the adjustments calculated, "are you sure that you will not be shocked? OMETHING was climbing the’ ivy out- the castle window, and its bright pattern
The cabinet is closed. "The power is tiuned I do not wish to startle you unduly.” S side the castle walls. Something was was etched upon a bare floor and un-
—
on to be automatically generated for a "Let me see,” muttered Doctor Jerome, peering Enough the castle window peer-' — shadowed walls.
time-span set beforehand. The subject gazes "I shall only permit you to gaze upon ing with little red-rimmed eyes that held a The creatures were gone. They had never
into the prism. The wires before the prism the last experiments,” Barsac whispered. "I li^t of gleeful and atrocious gloating, existed, save in his own disordered dreams.
revolve and various -arcs are actuated across could show you dogs with human legs, mice Something chuckled as it scrambled throu^ Doctor Jerome sighed and dropped bade
its Mechanical hypnosis results
surface. — with human and no tails, monkeys
skulls the open window and dropped to the floor as thehot perspiration trickled down into
and then, by means of electrical impulse, that are hairless and possessed of human of tlie castle bedroom on tiny paws; paws his eyes. He drifted off to sleep again,
something of the life-essence, the soul it- faces.. But you would mock at me and say that scraped and padded as they advanced It seemed to him as though the oaken
self, is released. It flows through the glass they were freaks, hybrids —
or tell me I could towards tire great bed. door opened as he slept, and Barsac crept
into the room. The little fat man was smil-
prism, a vital force, and impinges upon the produce monstrosities by using infra-red or Suddenly Jerome felt it aawling up the
animal subjects set before the cabinet in the gamma rays. a, counterpane. He writhed and twisted, strik- ing a secret smile as he advanced on the
focal range of the glass. The animals receive “So I shall show you my last experimental ing out with his hands to dislodge it; but bed. In his arms he held a rabbit a white —
the essence and —
change. The transference results only. The ones that prove not only the creature crawled upwards, and now he rabbit. He stroked the furry head until the
is complete. Something of the human goes that human characteristics can be trans- could h«r it chudding in a voice that was ears lay flat and the pink-timmed eyes were
into the animals. By graduating the focal
range I can work with a dozen animals at
ferred to animals —but that my character- a shrill mockery of human laughter. open and alert. Then Barsae’s eyes opened
istks have been transfened. The transfer- Then its head rose on a level with and he gazed on Jerome and he fixed
Oftce. Naturally, each experiment drains my ence of my mental powers caniiot be meas* —
Jerome’s qfes, and he saw it saw the furry Jerome’s gaze witii unshakable intensity,
strength and taxes my vitality.” ured. I shall let you judge the physkd re- figure, the monkeylike body and the manor- Barsac’s bulging eyes held a command and
"It taxes ray aedulity,” Doctor Jerome suits only, kin head of a witch’s familiar saw and — a ghastly promise, and Jerome could not
interjected. "Perhaps they will not excite you very recognized the hideous little monster for turn away. Barsac’s very being seemed con-
Barsac shrugged dolefully. "Very well. I much, these creatures of mine. They are not what it was ... an animal, but with Barsac’s centrated in his eyes, and as he stared,
could explain minutely the workings of my as grotesque as the earlier ones, but the face! ' Jerome felt his own being rise to meet that
machine, but I see you demand visual proof reproduction of an exact characteristic ex- He screamed, then, and knew without any ghastl‘'-,gaze.
of.its work. Come with me.” cites me more than the semi-anthropomor- further indication that the creature was not He i. It himself flowing out . . . out . . .

'The third door was opened and Doctor phic strudures in the earlier bodies. It shows alone. and somehow he knew that he was no
Jerome stood in the last chamber. me that I am on the right track at last. My The room was of them. They were
full longer staring at Barsac but at the white
It was hot in here, and a sharp scent smote next step will produce not creatures that crawling out of the shadows in the corners, rabWt. The white rabbit was absorbing his
his nostrils. An animal reek permeated the
bare room. Lining the wails were cages — and living. I
—
are dianged and dead, but creatures changed they were creeping along the panelling of
the walls; they crowded through the door
personality through the hypnotic stare,
Jerome felt weak, giddy. His head reeled,
dozens of cages. Some held tats, some white -
"Show me!” Doctor Jerome commanded, and slithered through rat-holes in the worm- and through a blurred mist he saw the fig-
mice, and there was tier upon tier of glass "You will not be impressed.” Barsac riddled flooring. me of the white rabbit. The white rabbit
containers housing guinea pi§s. "They are only rats and you may They were all about him now, chattering was growing. The furry body was larger. It
squealed, mice squeaked, and guinea pigs
Rats insisted.
not even notice
— and squealing as they climbed tov/ards him. slipped out of Barsac’s hands and crouched
chittered._ "Show me!” Then through the door came the man- on the floor, looming upwards as it swelled
"Experimental Barsac ..com-
subjects,” "Then, look.” man-sized figures with the
sizecT figures; the and grew.
m^ted. "Alas, the supply is continuously Barsac stepped aside and Doctor Jerome shaggy bodies and flaming eyes and the acrid its long white ears were melting into a
being exhausted. I work on batches of gazed down at the jars. 'The bodies of •
scent of the werewolf seeping forth from was changing. The pink
skull that in itself
twenty or more at once. You see, not -all twenty rats floated in the preserving fluid, between their carrion fangs. And beneath muzzle blended back into the face. The tab-
— —
animals are responsive to the treatment. Jerome stared. They were rats and only rats their shaggy bodies was the flesh and form bit’s eyes were moving farther apart Mid a
 46 WEIRD TALES THE BEASTS- OF BARSAC '47

mouth sprang into prominence above a sud- he perceived anything except a most un- the nejd two days. I shall proceed at once He found much to interest and delight
denly protruding chin. The rabbit had a pleasant prospect. He shook his head slowly. with &e operations I have in mind. I hope him. Massive Regency furniture, elaborate
face. "I —
I can’t,’’ he murmured. to be able to give you complete proof of
—
living animals that will not only
tapestries, a full gallery of oils. ’The family
portraits of the Barsac line gazed down
There was something terribly familiar "Wait, you misunderstand! I shall not success
about the rabbit’s face. Jerome strove to ask you to submit to hypnosis if you do not bear a physical resemblance to me, but in- austerely from a long chamber at the rear of
cleanse his mind of loathing and concen- wish to. I shall take that risk myself. All I herit my mental processes as well.” the castle, and Jerome speculated as to the
trate upon recognition. He had seen that desire is that you remain here and help to Doctor Jerome shuddered slightly. identity of tliat gr&it-gieat grandfather with
face before and he knew that he must re- supervise the work, take notes, and act as "Please,” said Barsac. "Do not leave me the sorcerous piodivities.
member whose it was. a scientific witness to corroborate my find-
during these next two days. 1 shall stay in Everything hinted of great age and great
Then, in a wave of supreme terror, he ings.” the laboratory and work if you will prepare wealth. If the castle was haunted, it was
recognized the face upon the rabbit. no Doctor Jerome did the meals. You underhand, I cannot keep haunted by the past alone. Again Jerome
It was his oum — "It's use, Barsac.”
not attempt to disguise the disgust that servants here. They are ignorant, supersti- was leminderf-of the story-book atmosphere.
worked in his features. "I can’t stand it tious fools—easily frightened, And I must Ail that was needed was a family vault in
3. I won’t set foot in that laboratory again..” have some one here to rely on. You will the cellar.
Barsac clucked sympathetically. "You will stay?” A vault? Why not?
T^OCTOR JEROME didn’t tell Barsac get over your aversion,” he predicted. "And, Jerome was silent for a long moment. Jerome explored. He discovered the
-L/ about his But Barsac must
dreams. I hope, soon. For I shall now proceed with Then he nodded. "Yes,” he whispered. "I descended to the lower levels and
stairs that

have noted his pallor and the dark pouches the last experiment. If it succeeds and I — will stay.” here he found the cataccrris.
Catacombs they weie in tiuth. On marble
under his eyes, and drawn his own conclu-
sions.
—
know it will ^you must be convinced. And
if you are convinced, you can carry on felt
Barsac clasped his hand. Doctor Jerome
the cold, flalAy fingers and drew back slabs lay the stone sarcophagi of the Baisacs.
'T fear my accommodations are not of the alone.” involuntarily. To him, the light of gratitude Row on row they rested in eternal slumber
best,” herald, over the breakfast table. 'Tt "Gurry cxi? Alone?” in Barsac’s bulging eyes was too reminiscent here below. Now only Sebastian Barsac re-
is my hope that you will soon beccrae a<xus- Barsac lowered his head. The little fat of the look he had glimpsed there in his mained, the last of his line, and soon he too
tomed to the simple life. After we begin man addressed the wall rather than his dreams. would join these ranks of the dead.
working together, things will probably ad- breakfast companion. "I shall not wait,” Barsac promised. "I The last of the Barsacs, and he was mad.
just themselves, no?” "Yes. I am not long for this earth, my go now to prepare. I will be in the labora- Mad and soon to die.
*T^o,” said Doctor Jerome. "And what
makes you think I’m going to work with
friend. The doctors,they tell me of my tory —
^you need only to bring meals to the
outer door. Within foity-eight hours I hope
Motv soon.’
heart. The strain of long experimentation There in the dank and silent catacombs,
you?” has taken its toll. And this last one may well to announce success. Meanwhile, you are at the thought came to Jerome.
"But of course you are going to work prove to be the end of further work, if not liberty to amuse yourself you will.”
as He could die <^uiie soon.
with me, my friend,” Barsac declared. "It of my life itself. My
vital energy is drained He turned. "I will leave you now. My Why not? Let him die soon, and quietly.
was for this reason I asked you to come by the T,gnosis. No, Jerome, a man cannot gratitude, Jerome.” Then there would no longer be a Castle
here. I appreciate your brilliance, my friend, give of his soul and retain life for long.” Barsac left the room. Barsac. Jerome would have the castle, have
and need your tsdents badly here.
I Doctor Jerome stared at Barsac’s earnest Doctor Jerome smiled grimly as he gazed the laboratory, have the money. And why
"I have waited for you before resuming ' up at the forbidding stone ceiling. not? Barsac was mad. And he was all alone.
face. Barsac avoided his gaze and continued.
my experiments so that we could complete "That is why I invited you and asked "Amuse myself as I wifi,” he muttered. The doctors had said he would die, and it
the final steps together. I realize that you you to consider working with me. When I need hardly be called murder. Perhaps a
were shocked by what I
night, but I trust your reason has prevailed
over your emotions.
showed you last die, I wish that you will carry on my work.
For the saire of our friendship, and because
of my respect for your abilities ard bril-
H e finished his cigar, then rose and
walked aimlessly down the hall. His
footsteps tang eerily liirough the empty cor-
strong shock would do it.
Yes, a shock. Baisac would weaken him-
self in these aazy experiments. And then
’Toge^er we can carry this experiment liance. Have no fear, v'hether you choose ridors. At a turn in the hail Jerome saw the it would be so easy to precipitate a stroke,

to its ultimate conclusion. Up to-now I have

to enter the laboratory or not, I have com- figure standing against the wall in the shad- a seizure. He could be frightened.
produced monstrosities and then man- —
aged to reproduce my own physical chatac-
piled all of the notes and data necessary for ows and started back. The will was made, and all that remained
you to take over. Then he recognized the outlines of a suit was the deed. Mad Barsac would lie here
teristics in a group of animals. I can go "And one thing more.” Barsac’s voice was of armor. Of course— Castle Barsac would on the last empty slab, and it would be
further than that, I think. I have evolved quite faint. "I have made the other arrange- have suits of armors. And all the trim- ended.
a relihement of my technique. Using other ments. I have seen my advocate and pre- mings, too. Perhaps he could amuse himself Doctor Jerome ascended the stairs slowly.
animals than rats, I hope to make the pared my will. You will be left eveiything
for a few hours, exploring the castle. He went out and walked through the hills,
changes and keep them alive. when I die; my entire estate goes to Etoctor Jerome set about his explorations returning only at dusk. He had wrestled
you to
Then I can determine whether I have continue in this work." with precision. He covered the
scientific with temptation and put it aside. There was
transmitted a portion of my mind as well as Jerome rose. *Tt’s no use,” be said. ground thoroughly, entering a score
floor no thought of putting poison in the food
"I
a force that changes the bodies to resemble
me. You perceive the significance?”
won't go into that laboratory w&h you.” of dusty chambers and apartments being
careful in each instance to turn on the lights
— he took upstairs at dinner. He left the tray
"Very well. outside the laboratory door and knocked.
I understand. But this I
Doctor Jerome did not look as though before venhuiag into a strange room. He descended quickly before Barsac opened
ask of you
— please stay here with me during
48 WEIRD TALES THE BEASTS OF BARSAC 49

the door, and ate a solitary supper in tiie Pulled his being into ffie glass, for as ffie inanity from this monstrous affront to the fury over the castle, and the rumbling swal-
great castle kitchen below. humming rose insanely about him, Doctor laws of life. He would do the deed as he lowed the noise of the vibrations from the
He was resigned to waiting, now. After Jerome felt himself plunging forward. His had planned, by shock. Tonight. laboratory upstairs.
all, in a few weeks Baisac might die a nat- body was clamped to the seat, but his soul Yes, tonight. He’d short the electrical Jerome peered out of the window as
ural death. Meanwhile, let his work go on. soared through the weird prism and lost it- current in the castle, go up to the laboratory jagged lightning slithered between the
Perhaps he might succeed. self in Barsac’s mad eyes in die dark, and shock Barsac to death, mountain aags.
Jerome listened to the-reveberation from Doctor Jerome awoke. It was daylight Never lay a hand on him. A siui,ple plan, 'The thunder grew louder,
the laboratory above his head. A steady hum- at last, but he did not sit up to gieet its and it would succeed. It must succeed. Doctor Jerome turned back to get Barsac’s
ming sound^, accompanied by a rhythmic coming. He Jerome knew it must succeed by late tray ready. Then he paused,
felt weak, drained.
pulsing. Batsac must be in his cabinet now, Drained. —
afternoon for when the vibrations sounded "Why bother?” he whispered. Yes, why
working the focal prism and hypnotizing A dreadful suspicion was forming in from above he realized he couldn’t wait bother? Why wait any longer. He’d go up-
He knew much longer. He couldn’t stand the sound stairs now, shut off all Ae lights, knock
himself and his animals. Doctor Jerome Jerome’s mind. that he had
wondered what sort of animals he was using —
dreamed but he did not know what he or the visions it conjured up. Barsac, drain-
ing his soul into the bodies of a horde of
on the laboratory door. Barsac would ap-
pear, expecting hjs dinner-tray. Instead, he’d
in these "improved” experiments. hadn't dreamed. Giuld it be that there was
On second thought he didn’t care to know. a distorted truth in his symbolic nightmare? animals —
it was impossible to bear the find death.
The vibrations were beginning to affect his Was Baisac lying to him? Perhaps his thought. Yes. He’d do it now, while the resolu-
nerves. He decided to turn in early. One machine could drain some of the vital What were the animals? Not rats, he had tion held,
more day and it would be over. If he could essence from a man’s soul. Perhaps Bar- said. Jerome remembered the rats. Barsac As the thunder mounted, Doctor Jerome
good night’s sleep, now, his morbid had refused to show him the other mon- walked up the stairs on his grim errand,
get a sac wanted him to assist in the experiments
fancies would vanish. so that a part of his soul would be removed slrosities. He only showed the rats with Lighting flidcered as he leadhed the see-
Accordingly, Jerome ascended to bed, — not to be incorpoiated into animals, but the deformed paws. The paws with the miss-
ing finger or missing claw.
ond landing. Jerome moved towards the
switch panel on the wall, Then came the
switching off the lights as he proceeded into Barsac! Hypnotic, scientific vampirism!
down the hall. He undressed, donned Jerome prepared dinner and laughed. His blinding bolt, and as thunder followed, the
Had Barsac been in this room last night
pajamas, plunged the castle bedroom into while he slept and dreamed? Had Barsac apprehensions faded away with the memory lightswent out.
darkness, and sought sleep. hypnotized him in his sleep, seeking to snare of Iiis dream. The storm had struck. It was an omen.
Sleep came. his soul? Jerome exulted.
paws. Of course! How foolish he Now he moved up die spiral staircase
Something had happened. Jerome felt
The leading to the laboratory landing at the top
A nd -
then Barsac came. He wheeled in
the cabinet, the great met^l cabinet, and
weak.
And then he was strong —strong with
was, letting Barsac’s crazy talk and the
morbid atmosphere of the castle affect him.
Because of that and a few bad dreams he’d
of the great castle tower. He groped his way
slowly, in utter darkness, tensing himself
once again his bright eyes ca..* ht and cap- sudden purpose. The thoughts of yesterday
tricked himself into swallowing the gro- for the moment when he would reach the
tured Jerome’s astonished stare. Jerome’s came back, but they came now as a resolu-
will slipped away and he entered the cabinet. tion. tesque claims of an obvious lunatic. oaken door and knock.
He was clamped into the seat as a prisoner He would kill Barsac, today. —
There was a machine but any lunatic, Then he listened, above the howling of
given the funds and a scientific training, the storm, for the vibrations from behind
is clamped in the electric chair. Like a pris- He would kill him befoie he died him-
can build an imposing machine. That didn’t the door.
oner, Jerome knew he was facing the execu- self. He would kill Baisac because he was
tion of a death-sentence. Yet his will was a madman, because experiments were
his prove that it actually worked as Batsac Th^ had ceased, abruptly, when the

a prisoner — and now, as Barsac turned the blasphemous, because he deserved to die. claimed it did.
There had been no other monstrosities for
lightning struck.
Jerome reached the top of the stairway.
dials, his soulwas imprisoned too. lioctor Jerome would kill Barsac for the
Jerome stared tliiough the great glass sake of Science. Jerome to see—for they didn’t exist. Bar- He edged towards the door. He was ready,
prism that loomed before his eyes. He could That was it. For the sake of Science. sac’s talk about previous experiments was now—
not look away, for the gigantic lense was in Doctor Jerome rose, dressed, prepared merely talk. The door opened, swiftly.

There were the rats, but what of it? Doctor Jerome heard Barsac’s labored
itself a hypnotic agent,- pulling at his retina, breakfast, took Barsac’s tray upstairs, re-
impelI4ng him to gaze ahead into the hugely turned to the castle chambers below, and be- Barsac had been cunning. He had taken breathing.

magnified world of the focal field. He waited twenty rats, killed them, and removed their "Jerome!” called Barsac. 'The voice was
gan to plan anew.
for the animals to appear in the field — but Madman or genius, Barsac would die. He individual claws on the left forepaws.
That was all there was to it.
faint,but filled with overtones of triumph.
—
"Jerome where are you? I’ve succeeded,
there were no animals. had to die. Suppose he were really doing
There was only Baisac. For suddenly a Barsac was aazy, and there was nothing Jerome, I’ve succeeded beyond my wildest
what he claimed? Suppose he actually man-
great face loomed through the glass — aged to create animals with human physical to fear.
Doctor Jerome laughed again. That made
dieams!”
Jerome was very glad Barsac had called
monstrous face with the bulging eyes of attributes and with human rninds? Minds
it easier. He would kill the madman and out. It enabled him to locate Barsac's body
Barsac, and the great domed forehead. like Barsac’s mind?
Barsac was smiling and his yellow teeth Wouldn’t that be the ultimate horror? take over. No more nightmares, no more in the darkness.

were exposed, but Jerome could only see And shouldn’t that horror be avoided, fears. - Now he glided forward and brought his
His laughter blended with the thunder, cold hands up to Barsac’s neck. SuddeQ.
the eyes. The eyes that glared and pulled at stamped out?
his own eyes, at his brain behind them. Of course. He, Jerome, would save hu- A storm was breaking. It shattered in shock, a fright
 WEIRD TALES THE BEASTS OF BARSAC
But Barsac did not screana with fear. He The animals were loose. He’d better lock
Jffome screamed, and knew Barsac had He had to get out before they reached
screamed with anger. the l^oiatory door, at once. spoken the truth. The monsters he had him, touched him, took him. He had to.
''Jerome, it’s you!” he shouted. He heard the shrill squeaking as he made aeated with his mind were going to kill Gasping in agony he reached the corri-
So he knew. Knew Jerome meant to kill the second landing and turned to climb the him in revenge for Barsac’s death. And dor’s end, knowing tliat the horde was keep-
him. Therefore he must die. Jerome's hands, last flight to the tower level.
there was no escape. ing pace. He turned again, ran forward. He
which had risen merely to frighten, now re- 'Then he paused. For there was a drum- Their squealing filled the corridor and never gave a tliought to the stairs.
mained to strangle. —
ming from me floor above a padding and their bodies blo^ed it completely. They And then, as the squealing rose, and
He tightened his grip about Barsac’s a scraping as small bodies moved down the swarmed around Doctor Jerome like raven- echoed in his ears, Doctor Jerome tumbled
throat. Barsac tried to daw him off, but hail. They had already left the laboratory.
ing rats, but they were not rats. Jerome down the castle staircase and landed with a
he could not see, and his gestures were piti- For the first time he detected the ominous knew that if he should see them he would sickening little crunch that he never heard.
fully weak. note in the squeaking sounds. Shrill little go mad. And if he did not see them they His head lolled grotesquely on the broken
Now Barsac did not cry out. He merely cries of anger resounded from the head of would crawl up his body and sink their stem of a neck. He lay next to the body of
gurgled as Doctor Jerome pressed his wind- the stairs. They were angry, as Barsac had horrible little mouths in his throat, stroke Sebastian Barsac, and like Barsac, he tm
pipe and then dragged him back along the been angry when he had died. Barsac, who with
his face their ghastly fingers. quite dead.
corridor. He dragged him swiftly, purpose- had come out, crowing in triumph that his Jerome wheeled and charged down the It was casual Irony that chose this mo-
fully, and with his own feet be felt for the experiments were successful beyond his corridor again. 'The nightmare ranks broke ment on a^iin.
for the castle li^ts to flicker
edge of the great staircase. wildest dreams. for a moment and he sped down the blade They revealed nothing but the two bodies
Then he thrust Barsac forward. There His experiments were juccessjul! corridor of the haunted castle with the beasts lying at the foot of the stairs. Mad Barsac
was a single shriek as Sebastian Barsac "I will transfer the physical attributes of of Barsac at his heels. He was playing tag lay dead, and so did mad Jerome.
reeled in darkness, and then only a dreadful myself, and also the mental attributes.” with death in a nighted lair,-and death ran On the landing above, the twenty es-
series of rubbery thumps as he plunged Jerome knew the meaning of fear, then. behind him on purposeful paws. Death caped guinea pigs blinked down with stupid,
down the black well of the spiral staircase. squealed and chattered, and Jerome fled. uncomprehending eyes.
Doctor Jerome stood there as the thunder
came again. When its muttering reverbera- The creatures of Barsac’s experiments
were loose. The creatures whose bodies
tion died away, the thumping had’ ended. he had changed. Whose minds were a part
Barsac was at the bottom of tlie stairs. of Barsac ’s mind.
Cautiously, Doctor Jerome descended the They knew and they were loose. Loose
staircase. His feet groped for the next stair, and coming after him to seek revenge!
and groped for the feel of Barsac’s body.
But it was not until he reached the bottom
that his shoes met the resistant flesh of
Barsac
Jerome heard them creeping down the
stairway. They were after him. They knew
—
he was there they could see in the dark!
he turned in blind panic down the hallway.
A Charm
By PAGE COOPER
Jerome knelt and passed his hands over He'd hide in his room. That was it, his
that flesh, finding it quite cold. As cold as room. He stumbled through the pitch-black
death. corridor, and heard them at his heels.
So
live the
it was done. Barsac was dead. Long
new ruler of Castle Barsac!
The beasts were swift. He reached the
door, groped for his key. He fumbled m N ightshade and mistletoe
Squeezed with the womb of a virgin doe,
Doctor Jerome straightened up with a his pockets, cursing. The key wasn’t on hrs Juice of spider, sting of bee;
'•

grin. It was easy, after all. “Gentlemen, it ring. And the door was locked. With love’s old magic I conjure thee.
was in unavoidable accident. Sebastian Bar- Perhaps he’d dropped it now, dropped it
sac was at work in his laboratory when the on the floor. He stcKDped to feel around.
Thrice three the circle round,
lights went out. He came out into the hall, And his hand encountered the warmth of I sweep with curlew’s wing the ground.
evidently with the purpose of descending flesh. Flesh that was furry, but not furry
the stairs. In the dark he must have rhade enough. Flesh that wriggled through his
Prick my breast on a black thorn tree.

a misstep and fallen down the staircase.” fingers.

With the blood of my heart I cry to thee.

He whispered the words aloud, just ffie The creatures had come!
way he meant to repeat them at the inquest. Fangs nipped at his thumb. He stood
He heard their echoes rustle and die away. up, hastily, and kicked out at the furry
And then he heard the other rustling. • beast. But another body brushed his other
Itcame from far overhead, from a room ankle, and then they were all around him.
at the top of the stairs. A
room at the top Their squealing rose. One of the tiny mon-
of the stairs —
a rustling from the labora- strosities was crawling up his leg, and he
tory! felt the touch of minute fingers clinging
Jerome bounded up the stairs. to bis body.
 GUARD IN THE DARK 53

25 Wilburts minutely examined a soldier ing a chap of Ronald’s years. He shunned

holding the minature replica of an automatic the company of other liildren of his age
rifle. in the neighborhood, and although he did
"Sure I will. Tell me, Rcmald, why do you passably well in school —
^his teacher told

have so many? You must have several hun- Wilburts that he would be an honor-roll
dred soldiers here.” pupil if he would only try ^liis social ad- —
"Need ’em,” said the youngster, his justments were not at all normal.
mouth setting in a tight line. He detested the games that went on in the
"Do youlike to recreate battles, I mean school yard and was in the habit of sneaking
out some of the campaigns of the off home after classwas out instead of mix-
war?” It had occurred to Wilburts that per- ing with his peers in a raid on the local
haps his pupil’s mania for toy soldiers had ice-cream parlor.
sudi a significance. "We need somebody to bring him out,”
"Nope.” said Mrs. Frost to Wilburts. “Heaven knows
"Well, what then?” Mr. Frost and I have tried to do all we can
"I have to have them.” Ronald Fr<Mt for him. ...”
turned away from his toy closet with a fist able to help my son, ef,
"You might be
full of marines. Jeffry watched him as he if I had one, but you can’t help your own,”
meticulously replaced the tin soldiers thjrt quoted Wilburts brightly from something
had been clustered in groups on the tables he remembered in a child psychology
and floor of his bedroom. class.

Jeffry Wilburts smiled to himself. "Ah, "It seems you’re right,” sighed Mrs. Frost.
changing the guard, eh?” "We can’t help turn, appa.tendy. I still

"Yes." No more than that. Not very com- think a lot of this has to do with Chose stupid
municative. soldiers he’s so preoccupied with!”

j
.
Wilburts noticed that Ronald placed the
soldiers in a careful pattern. They formed
"High time the boy ^
over these ideas,”
said Mr. Frost with an angry rustle of Che
a circle of toy-soldier protection around the paper. "But don’t try to just take the soldiers
center of the room. The center where Rcmald away from him. It's an impossible task.”
fc,
Frost’s bed was! Mr. Frost elaborately rolled his eyes ceiling-
ward. “I tried it once and he got so excited

By ALLISON V. HARDING
W HEN
teacher’s
Jeffry WUburts, fresh from a
college course, had inter-
viewed Mr. and Mrs. Frost for the job, this
. . . well, we had to call Dr. Brown."
Properly warned and initiated
things stood Wilburts started to apply his
on the w^
had been the main thing they had told him great knowledge of child psychology,
that day in the Frost’s pleasant suburban learned from dusty library tomes and agw
home. professors who were much neater their sec-
twelve-year-old boy to Jeffry Wilburts as he
^
E— the new tutor his row on row of shiny pointed to another part of the shelf whereon "He’s not at all a drill boy,” said Mis. ond childhood than their first.

Frost wMi a sort of a perplexed pride, "but Jeffry quietly decided that he would
M lead soldiers . . soldiers in the painted
. lay squad after squad of tiny toy figures,
khaki of the army, in the navy dark blue, each with a machine gun — sub-machine he has this fixation about soldiers.”
"I’d have to tell you what our bill is
closely observe the boy. It
to try
was preposterous
and bully the lad. You never got any-
and in the blue with red trimming of the guns and light and heavy ones.
marines. Some were standing, ,some were supplying the boy with these lead soldiers,” where that way. And it was most old-
Jeffry nodded interestedly and took sc«ne
marching, some lying on their stomachs, of the pieces off the shelf to locJc at them snorted Mr. Frost. "And besides, I think fashioned.
guns pointed forward. more closely. Ronald getting about old enou^ to give
is In the corner of the room, almost behiml
"Lrok at my machine gunners,” said the "Be very careful!” the little boy cautioned up playing with toy things like that.” a screen that hid Pwash basin, was an easy
had liked young Wilburts and
'The Frosts chair. Jeffry made it his in the evenings,

Heading by BORIS DOLGOV he them. He had taken up residence there obtensibly to chat witli Ronald, but really
as companion and tutor to Ronald. He soon to watch the ritual that went on, commenc-
realized that the young Frost lad was no ing when the li^t sneaked slowly from
The tin soldien were not just playthings —they were ordinary twelve-year-old. The boy was
bright when he wanted to be. He had imag-
the room across the sky into the west.
Out of bis play closet Ronald would bring
in a fuleless war of horror ination. scores more soldiers to supplement the ones
But with all of this Jeffry detected a that, all day, had been grouped in small
certain listlessness that was most unbecom- clusters around the room. Jeffry watched this
54 WEIRD TALES GUARD IN THE DARK 55

procedure for several nights before he felt Young Frost turned quickly, putting his needed absolution, he got it from the two. spot of color on the cheeks and then a life-
that it was time to pop a few questions. hand behind his back. He glowered at the
"That's just it,” said Mr. Frost. "He less putty white-lead face. Jeffry picked up
tutor.
demands these soldiers for birthday and the officer and scrutinized him closely. He
his evening Wilburts watched the Wilburts started forward slowly. Ah faa,
T twelve-year-old arranged his miniature
as
here was something interesting. He was
determined to see what Ronald was hiding.
Christum and God knows any other time
that I can be wheedled out of a dollar or so,
grinned at the expressionless tiny face and
then suddenly realized that the passenger
troops. The tutor was once more taken with but the bc^ is so destructive with them it’s sitting opposite was eyeing him amusedly.
the precise and scientific way the lad cov- The boy backed away from him as he came endless. We can’t keep up with him. He put his package away carefully and
eted the room with his knots of soldiers. on.
"Don’t worry about it, Mr. Wilburts.” settled back in the day coach with a copy
“Ronald.” “Ronald, what is it you have there?” Mrs. Frost also put in her oar. "I just wish of "Approach to Education.”
"Um?” The boy said nothing but merely stepped you could get him away from those soldiers Jeffry Wilburts’ scheme worked.
"^'hy do you do this every night?” backward until he came against the dosrt permanently. I sometimes tliink tliey mean "For me?” said Ronald with brightening
"
’Cause I need to, that’s why.” door. He was fumbling for the knob, his more him than interest as Jeffry took the cover off the box
to his father and I do.”
"You like to have them around you, eh?” eyes hatefullyon Jeffry when the companion Thus, his consicence surfeited, Wilburts revealing the contents.
The litde boy’s face was tight-lipped and stepped forward quickly and pinned Ron- attacked his wheat c^es with vigor and did "Golly,” and the youngsters inade a grab
glim for one so young. He said nothing for ald’s arms to his sides.
not even look up when Ronald stole in a at the precious package.
a moment. "Now, let me see,” gritted Wilburts, few minutes later with a small good morn- The lad took the soldiers out one by one,
"I have to have them around me.” surprised at the strength in the youngster’s examining them closely. His face was
ing to his parents.
He placed six blue-dad soldiers on the body. The two swayed together for a min- Despite his smugness and the disadvan- bright and the look he turned on Wilburts
edge of the washstand beside Jeffry. Wil- ute, Ronald’s face white with strain and was worth three dollars and more.
tage of theoretical training, Jeffry Wilburts
burts found himself staring at the soldiers then the man’s strength forced the boy’s was not entirely lacking in sense. He real- "Oh, thank you, thank you so much, Mr.
fascinatedly. Their uniforms were such exact hands outward and forward and then finally ized that Ronald, who before had merely Wilburts. I need them so,” and Ronald
replicas of the real thing, their equipment the small, tight fingers opened and objects ran off toward his room. It seemed that
tolerated him without question or enthusi-
so cleverly copied, their little fi^es stal- dropped to the floor. Wilburts stepped back, Jeffry had so3red with his ward but not
asm, now attempted to avoid him as much . . ,

—
wart inirigid posture only their little gray- one hand still holding the boy’s wrist and as possible. This would never do. The with the Frosts.
white lead faces completely unllfelike, ex- bent over. first goal for the companion or tutor is to
-
“Now what the dickens did you go and
pressionless like putty-wax dolls. Wilburts With his other hand he explored down- ' win and hold the youngster’s confidence do that for?” said Mr. Frost in an annexed
looked from one to the other of the six little ward. The objects were toy soldiers, or at i voice.
and friendship. Both fiom the standpoint
figurines. AH their faces wore a blank, mys- least, parts of them. Heads and torsos, legs i Wilburts realized that some explaining
of his future as a teacher and tutor and for
tmous, nothingness expression, an ageless and arms, little guns broken loose from the sake of his immediate pocketbook it was in order. It wouldn’t do to win back
-t
passiveness that could only be achieved in the solder that held them to tiny lead bodies would never do to alienate Ronald to the the boy at the cost of the patents’ regard,
lead. — like real soldiers who have been in bat- degree where the Frosts, despite their ob- "I’m trying to work diis problem out,
Jeffry Wilburts counted forty-five sol- tle ... a score of soidifcrs, broken and bent
vious liking for him, would have to look Mr. Frost. 'This is my line of work and
diers around the room. Some were on the —dead soldiers! for somebody else. you’ve got to let me handle it in my own
bed numbering among them
table, others, Ronald stood back now, breathing rapidly. Obviously, his campaign to win back way. I don’t want the boy to think I'm
several madiine gunners, were on the floor He looked at the floor and then at Wilburts. Ronald’s tolerance would have to be cen- against him.”
at the four cornersof the bed. Jeffry hardly knew what to do. His first tered around the soldiers. On his day off Mr. Frost took Jeffry’s side. 'T think he’s
Wilburts shook his head and after good impulse was to grin flie whole matter off. in town Wilburts paid a visit to the^ toy right, dear. If Mr. Wilburts can get Ronald’s
nights were said went off to his room down "Say, you’ve busted up a lot of those department of a large department store confidence he’ll be able to do more with
the hall. The situation was an intriguing soldiers, Ronald.” where, after not a little thought, he discov- him.”
one. Here was a lad who was logical on To cover his own lack of assurance he ered a set of khaki-clad troops, each with a Mr. Frost harrumphed. "I think the best
all subjects as far as he, Jeffry Wilburts, put a note of reprimand in his voice as he sub-machine gun, and led by. a nattily thing to do would be to take all those damn
—
could make out and he could make out talked. dressed officer with holsteied revolver. soldiers and chuck ’em out.” He went back
—
very well- and yet he had an obsession on Three dollars. to his paper with an angiy rustle.
soldiers. Wilburts comforted himself to
deep with the thought that the Frost’s could
*K>t have gotten in a better man for the job •
T ^E boy said nothing. He simply knell
down and began to gather up pieces
of the broken soldiers. He turned and
On his way out to the suburbs, Wilburts
took the set from its wrappings and eyed
the soldiers with satisfaction. Three dollars
"You know what Dr. Brown said, dear,”
Mis. Frost reminded. "The child is emo-
tional.”
of handling Ihe bc^. walked slowly into the closet arid Jeffry meant a good deal to Jeffry Wilburts, but
In the morning, violating his usual cus-
tom of dressing and going tight down to
breakfast, Wilburts went in Ronald’s roc«n
heard the noise as they were diof^ied into
a receptacle there. Not knowing what else
to do Wilburts walked back to his own
after all, he philosophized, you have to
spend money in world if you’re going
this
to get ahead. He looked closely at the sol-
D ays
closer.
and
passed and with the gift Ronald
Jeffry
Whatever
Wilburts came somewhat
his peculiarities, little
still and bathrobe. The bc^ was
in slippers room and after dressing quickly, went diers and marveled casually at the care with Frost was a clever lad and Wilburts begari
bending over something on the floor and downstairs. which they were made, the uniforms and to see visions of himself receiving accolades
didn’t hear Jeffry. Before Ronald arrived he had pcaired out guns so precisely duplicating the real thing. as his young pupil went on to take hi^
"Morning,” said Wilburts lustily. his story to Mr. and Mrs. Frost. If his soul The same deadpan faces, though. A faint honors in sAool.
 56 WEIRD TALES GUARD IN THE DARK 57

Ronald seemed to resent less Jeifry’s more liked my giving you those soldiers the other more soldiers. Please help me get them. I "Just what I thought, there’s nothing the
frequent visits to his room, and the longer day.” don’t know what will happen if I can’t.” matter with the young scalawag; he just
time spent tdiere. It was interesting to Wil- Ronald paled and came over toward Wil- needs to be tau^t some good common
burts that the new' soldiers that he had burts. "I’ve got to have soldiers, Mr. Wil- hat night after Ronald had gone to bed
brought, to the boy weren’t immediately
used. Ronald put them away in the closet.
burts. I've just got to. I need more now.
Every night some get killed.”
T Wilburts had a long talk with the
sense,” and looked meaningfully at Jeffry
Wilburts, who thereupon decided to put
Frosts. off delivering his opinion of Brown for
"Aren’t they all right?” the tutor queried "You mean you break them,” corrected "It’s my opinion,” said Wilburts pomp- good.
anxiousy. Jeffry with a smile. ously, "that you ought to have your doctor Time passed and Ronald’s pleadings for
"Oh, sure, but they aren’t quite ready Ronald cried. "I’ve
"I don’t break them,” look over this ohap.” new soldiers became incessant and frenzied.
yet.” told Mummy
and Dad that, too.” "Oh dear, you don’t think he’s coming "But it’s not nearly Christmas yet, Ronald.
"Ready for what, Ronald? I don’t under- "Well, every morning there are a few We can’t be buying you things every time
down with anything, do you? There’s been
stand.” more all broken how come?”
. . .
a lot of scarlet . .”
.
you have the wish,” Mrs. Frost reasoned.
The young boy got an impatient tilt to his "Th^’re dead.” Wilburts interrupted. "No, no, I don’t "And for Christmas it’s time you wanted
head. "You don’t put troops into real bat- “Ronald!” mean anything like that. I mean, I think something like boxing gloves or a fishing
tle without training, do you?” And he lev- "I don’t break them.” this soldiercomplex has gone a bit too far. rod,” roared Mi. Frost to his son. "No more
eled a most scathing look at Wilburts Chat "You’re talking foolishness, yoimg feller. ... I think we ought to 'have a doctor ...” of these soldiers, my boy. That’s for chil-
seemed to say "any fool should know that.” you don’t break them, who does? And
If dren. You don’t want to be like a child now
and Jeffry tapped his ^ead.
"Cfli, of course,” said the companion happens at night when you’re in here
it
"Oh,” said Mrs. Frost. you’re twelve.”
hastily. alone. Suiely you don't think I or your
"We’ll get Dr. Brown,” boomed Mr. It was increasingly evident that night by
It was a week afterv'ard 'that Mr. Frost parents come in here and break your soldiers,
Frost. "I'll call him before I leave for town night Ronald’s troops were being thinned
met Wilburts outside and called him ovct to do you?” out, by some contrary or destructive process,
tomorrow and we'll have him stop by. I
the side of the house where the waste recep- "No.” ..
thinkit’s a good idea, Wilburts,” reasoned Wilburts.
tacle stood. "Well, what then?”
"Look,” Frost said pointing.
On his way to his room Jeffry silently Late one fall evening Ronald did some-
Ronald hung silent, then said finally, “I thing unprecedented. He crept into Jeffry
opened the door of Ronald’s room and
don’t exactly know.”

W ILBURTS followed the direction of

the pointing, and there, in among
throwouts was a pile of broken tin soldiers
the
Jeffry Wilbmts persisted.
adding one bad habit to another. You’re
telling an untruth. We’re not Chinking of
"Now you’re
peered inside. The room was dark and from
the bed came the sound of the boy’s breath-
ing, deep and regular. Certainly nothing
going on now. At least sleep kept him from
Wilburts’ room. The tutor was moved by
this visit from the boy and adopted his most
friendly attitude.
"Well, hello there. Are you still walk-
— easily a half a hundred of them. punishing you because you break your sol-
playing his games. As he turned softly to ing around at this hour?”
"It’s a disgraceful waste. I will not allow diers. They’re yours, but we're trying to
go his foot almost stnidc a lone soldier on "Mr. Wilburts, I want to talk to you,
iny son to grow up with such a streak- of make you see that it is a dreadful waste. It
the floor near the door. He stooped and please.” His eyes were downcast.
wanton destruction in 'him," stormed Frort. makes your father very angry. You want "Sure, Ron^d. Go ^ead,” and Wilburts
saw it was one of the madiine gunners he
Wilburts ta<±fully agrwd with him and more and more soldiers why mother says — had given Ronald, gun at ttie ready in a dropped the book he was reading and smiled
said he would speak to Ronald that evening. ^e bought twenty -five dollars’ worth of lead lifelike poise. Wilburts smiled and tiptoed in friendly fashion at the youngster.
It was dark outside when the two, tutor soldiers for your last birthday. That’s a lot
into the hall. The boy stcx^ for a moment unsurely in
and young boy, retired to the latter’s room. and then you go and break them.”
. .
.

Dr. Brown, prototype of the solid, jolly,-' the center of the floor and then looked up
Automatically, the lad .wertt dxiut his job Ronald was nearly on the point of tears. from and at Jeffry.
<»timistic country doctor,was in ,ttie next his slipper toes
of placing out the soldier patrols. Jelfry no- "But I don’t break them, I tell you."
day in the late afternoon. He examined "It’s about the soldiers,” he breathed out.
tked idly that by now Ronald was using die "Oh Ronald,” Wilburts turn^ away with Wilburts didn’t say anything.
Ronald thoroughly and came downstairs
madiine gunners he had given him. a feigned attitude of disgust.
with the opinion th^ “the young chap was "You see how my Mummy and Dad are
Wilburts broke the silence. "I saw a "They protect me!” about it. But I thought, I thought maybe
hi^ strung with a nervous constitution but
whole lot of your broken soldiers outside in
die waste receptacle.”
"The
"Yes, and
soldiers?”
Cliey get killed protecting me.’'
physicaUy he’s sound . . . nothing to worry —
you could would get me some more. I
about.” need them, Mi. Wilburts.”
The boy showed little interest. "Oh,” so the lad wanted to carry this
After Brown had huffed and grunted his
Wilburts went on. '"That’s pretty costly,
you breaking them that way. Ronald. I hope
you’re not going to do that to the ones I
gave you.”
fantasy further, eh. "And just what is it that
kills
Ri^t
them, Germans and Japs,
here!”
"No,” aied Ronald.
I

'"I tell you I don’t

suppose!
way into his great coat and departed, Wil-
burts thought seriously about telling Mrs.
Frost that the country practitioner wasn't ex-
W ILBURTS frowned and shook his
head. "You know what your family
thinks about this, Ronald. You wouldn’t
actly the kind of doctor he had had in mind want me to do anything behind their backs,
don’t break them,” Ronald turned to know exactly. It’s something I can feel at
when he’d suggested that somebody look at would you!”
the tutor. "I don’t break them.” night. It comes in here. Into this room.”
Ronald, but Mrs. Frost seemed so carefree “It’s that I don’t have much mote,”
"It’s an expensive thing to do,” went on "And ycHi need the soldiers to protect
since the physician’s visit and verdict that pleaded Ronald. “After a few more nights
Wilburts, ignoring the boy’s denial. "'J^y you, like a bodyguard?”
he decided to put it off for a while. I don’t know what’ll happen.”
not conserve the ones you have. Just between "Yes,” Che youn^ter turned beseeching
And when Mr. Frost came in at ni^t "Nonsense,” expostulated Wilburts, not
us, young feller, I don’t think your father eyes toward the older man. "I have to have
and received the news he snorted and said. undeistanding what the boy could be going
 — — .

58 WEIRD TALES GUARD IN THE DARK 59

on about "Just stop breaking them and Ronald was arrangmg ms blank-faced little square of faint lightness to his left. 'Ihe cur- T3UT whatever was they were fighting
you’ll have enough,” soldiers —
at his table and on the fioor tains moved sluggisihly in the niglit air
was still coming.
it

A
breathing, panting
"I don't break them.” Ronald stamped around 'his bed. Jeffry sat in tire diair by but there was something else! There was
noise of a thing. Nameless, descriptionless
obstinately. die washstand and watched, ignored by some other movement in the room. Jeffry’s except for the grotesque shadow it threw.
"All right, then, •whoever does, see they young Frost. bands felt numb in his lap. The white there
Itie soldiers were scattering as the shadow
don’t. No, I can’t get you any mote, Ronald. "You haven’t very many left,” accused was his open notebook. Was Ronald astir?
darkened and grew in intensity around the
Most likely you’ll be breaking mine soon,”
this last petulantly with thou^t of his own
Wilburts.
“Not enough tooi^t, not nearly enough,"
—
No, he could see yes, (hat must be Ron-
ald’s head there on the pillow. Suddenly
bed. Jeffry saw that one after another the
toy guards were going down, The flashes
cash outlay. "Now you’d better makes tracks replied the boy half to himself. Wilburts felt his eyes drawn inexorably to of firing were growing less frequent. Still
tack off to bed.” The preparations -went on for some time something moving on the floor near him, the noises in the room were the distant, in-
WMKrat another word the little boy and then Ronald undressed himself and got —
He looked ^he could move 'his eyes but distinct but recognizable noises of battle
turned and went off to bed.
The next day with Ronald off at sdiool
into bed. "Good night, Mr. Wilburts.”
Somewhat taken aback at the lad’s per-
the rest of him was seemingly paralyzed.
'Ihat movement was —
a soldier, soldiers!
—
heard from afar and all the time the heavy,
slobbeiy breathing grew in volume until its
Jeffry took ffie opportunity to investigate the functory attitude the tutor mumbled good 'Ihe toy soldiers were moving! All the while
wheezing inhalations were like a giant bel-
clos^ 'where the wy
ke{i his precious sol- night and left the room. Several hours later, Wilburts clearly registered ttiese thoughts, lows half-full of unhealthy water.
diers. He noted that stock of lead soldiers in his own chamber, it sleepily occurred tp his mind was
anesthetized with a numbness But the crowning blow of terror came to
•was truly low. And in a metal basket at the half-awake Wilburts that it might be a —
of shock Of sleep or death. It was quite Jeffry Wilburts when 'he felt a tug and pull-
the corner of the room were the broken parts good idea to watch the youngster for a impossible. All around in the dark corners ing on his trousers and suddenly, as he
of several dozen soldiers. It was wrong the while. And when he got up in Sie night to sm^l tilings were deploying —
small lead looked down, a tiny figure pulled itself
way the boy kq>t breaking them. Why step on his soldiers in some perversion of figures, running and crouching, holding desperately into his lap. That part of Wil-
couldn’t they be feed up? fantasy, why Jeffry would catch him led- dieir tiny guns in readiness! burts’ mind still functioning in a semi-
That night when Ronald was setting up handed. (tabbing a large loose-leaf note- But the mind-shocking fantasy was not rational manner dimly recognized the tin
his soldiers — all that were left unbroken book in which to jot down anything of over —
this hallucination, for that it must be, soldier as the officer of the ones he had given
Wilburts brightly said, "The thing to do is worth and sticking a pencil in his pocket he reasoned one small hindmost part of Jeffry to Rtmald.
to solder the broken parts together. Don’t stole down the corridor, opened Ronald’s Wilburts’ brain, was not passing. But now the officer, standing on Wil-
just chuck them out that way. How about it, door ever so softly and crept into the dark- What had awakened him, he realized burts’ open notebook, had his revolver out
Ronald?” ened room. now, was the Breathing. Not from the bed, of his holster and was shooting toward the
'The boy turned toward him, "Don’t you
see, that doesn’t do any ^jod. When a sol-
Ah, die chair by the washstand. That
would be a fine vantage spot. The man
not from little Ronald, but frcm somewhere
— soiheone else. A breathing that was like
center of the room —shooting
upward, up-
ward where something black was hovering
dier is dead, he’s dead. You can’t stick him seated himself and settled into the most ffie eidialations from the lungs of a dozen over ffie bed upon which a little boy sat
together and make him a soldier again. He’s comfortable position. As his eyes became dying men, like the mournful wash of sea and stated with the gaze of one who can-
just a statue.” accustomed to the gloom, the room began to on an open coast, like a thousand things, all not see beyond the inside of his eyes.
I give up, thought Wilburts. assume shape The bedtable and (he bed —
unpleasant all inhuman or soon to be! The breathing sound was deafening and
The next morning Jeffry found the boy loomed up slowly out of (he blackness. The Then the breathing was a shadow. A suffocating. The air was filled with a damp-
picking up the usual broken and twisted softly breathing bundle on the bed was shadow that was dark and made ffie rest of ness, a vibration that was maddening, the
soldiers. More than ever the lad’s bedroom Ronald. His pupils enlarging to compensate the room seem light in comparison. A blotch armed resistance from the floor and bed-
looked like the scene of a horrendous bat- for the gloom, Jeffry began to make out the of preposterously shaped blackness ‘tlut had table —
had ceased. The monster whatever it
tle. 'The thought appealed to Wilburts.
World campaigns fought on a small scale
little knots of soldiers, some of diem his
gift to Ronald, around the room. He smiled
no reason and no reality, except that it u/as.
Slowly it was coming. From the window
—
was had won. Jeffry wished himself awake
and with a terrific effort of will’ forced his
with toy soldiers! It was intrigiiing. to himself. Now just wait for that little and the door and the ceiling and the walls hands upward. He pushed his notebook
All through the day the boy moped, imp to get up and start to break his soldiers ... all at once! shut and drove himself up and toward the
diowing little interest in anything. Dark just as an excuse to get some new ones! Wilburts could barely move. His fingers door. He had no memory of opening it
circles under his eyes testified to the fact twitched in his lap, on the sides of the and stefpiing out into the hall, or of getting
,
that he had not slept too well. He answered
solicitous queries from his mother asking
bow he felt with short replies.
T ime at night and in the dark barely
exists. It is the hand of a watch slowly
notcbcx^ that lay in his lap. For the paral-
ysis of his body, fais eyes tried to make up.
into his own bed, throwing the notebook
into his bag and falling on his bed.
creeping around a luminous dial, the slow For they were darting everywhere. Jeffry The next morning Ronald didn’t come
As night, aj^roached he claused himself breadiing of a human, the strange night liooked at the bed and there was Ronald sit- down to breakfast. Wilburts, although he
and went uj^airs early. Mr. Frost hat- sound of soundlessness. How long Jeffry ting up, his eyes white discs of blank, stark had a memory of a very bad dream, attached
(

'
rumped the whole business off. Mrs. Frost
tJ»ught maybe he was coming down with
sat there before he began to nod he did not
guess or try to guess.
fear.
Great activity was taking place on the floor
—
jio significance to (his that was until Mrs.
Frost went upstairs and let out a screen for
som^ing. Jeffry Wilburts, after saying He drifted out of nothingness to aware- around the bed. Suddenly a tiny flash, fol- the others. Jeffry and Mr. Frost ran up the
good ni^t himself, decided to go upstairs ness for no immediately appreciable reason. lowed by others in rapid succession from stairs. Ronald was sitting up in bed grin-
\ and see what was going on. 'The room took a vague, unreal form be- different sectior« of the room, attracted the ning at them strangely. Briefly, Wilburts’
: With greater care &an ever before fore him. The window was a quartered tutor's eye. The soldiers were fighting har-lrt attention went to the floor. EverywhcK,
 —

60 WEIRD TALES
were the soldiers—every ot:e broken. An- As he pulled it onto his lap he noticed
other pitiful cry came from Mrs. Frost as the bulge. He flipped open the pages and
the two men rushed closer. It was fright- caught the object as it fell out.

fully obvious. The boy was utterly mad; he It was the toy soldier-officer! Wilburts
had turned Into a complete, raving idiot in wet his lips and his head pounded.
the night! The one that had come with the soldiers
he had given Ronald not so many weeks ago.
As he rode toward the city Jeffry Wil- The one that had crawled upon his lap and
hurts thought unpleasantly of that last day onto the notebook in his dregful dream last
at the Frosts. He remembered the strange night!
cawing noises the boy had made, the drool- Wilburts’ mind worked slowly over the
ing from the mouth, Dr. Brown’s visit and details, chewing each fact slowly while his
the call for specialists. He shuddered. It face tingled and dampened.
was most unpleasant. And most of all the He btcught the soldier closer, much closer
remembrance of his own terrifying dream. to his face. Wilburts' fingers trembled. It

But he did remember planning to go down was quite impossible!

all
to Ronald’s room and sit there for a while The tiny lead face should be a blob of-
to see what would go on. Yes, of course, expressionless putty and paint. But it wasn’t.
he’d even taken a notebook to report any- Instead the toy soldier’s countenance was
thing of significance. frozen in a grimace of unspeakable horror
On inspiration Jeffry reached into his bag rivaled only by the face of the man so near
and brou^t forth the large loose-leaf book. its own!

iBinw'jLU iiiiiwLiin I I I III II M 1 1 mini ii ii rr ir>ii<iTiiiivi I'n mimn'iii MqwmwiiiiiiiirijiiiiMiiiiiii imjira

Another New Book from Arkham House!

THE EYE AND THE FINGER
by Donald Wandrei
Here ia this volume, unifoim with Out of Spece end Time, are such utterly outre master- First Tooa times
pieces of horror as The Painted Mirror, The Lady in Gray, The Tree-Men of M’Bwa,
The Witch-Makers, It Will Grow on You, The Blinding Shadows, and a dozen others—
tuat aki apache hoi an
)

among them, for the fira time in print, the cMoplcte, uncut version of that weird classic. 'WENT OUT ON THE WAR-PATH
The Red Brain, The book will be published in October, 1944, wartime conditions per- HE WAS SOUND TO REFRAIN'
mitting, and we urge you to send in your orders no-w, for paper restrictions make it possible
to publish only 1,000 copies. THE EYE AND THE FINGER will sell at $J.OO the copy. SC/?ATCMWS W/S
WARNING: Arkham House books will soon be out of print- THE OUTSIDER
Already head W/Tf! Ms F/MSeRS \
AND OTHERS, by Loveaaft, is gone. Only 87 copies of OUT OF SPACE AND TIME,
by Clark Ashton Smith; 177 copies of SOMEONE IN THE DARK, by August Derleth, FROMi-STTMG WATsa
and 297 copies of BEYOND THE WALL OF SLEEP, by H. P. Lovecraft, remain to be sold. TaucF M3.t./fSQ HS HAD
9B9EIS NOW — TODAY! To SCRA-TCH H?S HEAD:
WITH A STICK AND
ARKHAM HOUSE, Sauk City, Wisconsin
DRINK THROU6H A
— —— Please send
... copies of
copies of
me the following, for which 1 enclose payment in
BEYOND THE WALL OF SLEEP at $5'.00,
OUT OF SPACE AND TIME at $3 00
full: HOi.LOW REED OR
CA(4g

Hama -
copies of
copies of
SOMEONE IN THE DARK at $2 00
THE EYE AND THE FINGER at $3.00 (to be delivered on publication). ^
AtUrass

:iiii:iiii!i:::i:ii':ii

61
 ” ” —

THE SPARE ROOM 63

i<o)
rooms on the odier. All in all, it was not claims that supernaturd things happen all

G/pa
2/ pare Room much different from thousands of other
bouses, but Ellen Jacobs thought it was very
extraordinary. As
turned out, she wasn’t
it
the time.
ilized they
People have just gotten so civ-
donf like to admit it. The guy
ought to know what he’s talking about; he’s
wrong. The house was probably the most a professor at New York University
By CRAWFORD SULLIVAN extraordinary residence in Brooklyn, name’s Matthew Faust. He sounds like a
Ed held down a pretty good job selling smart Joe.”
merchandise for the J. M. Cash Hardware "He can’t be very smart if he believes in
d JACOBS hadn’t wanted to buy the positively; the payments would be mote

E house in die first place; he had

been trying to save three thousand
dollars to buy half interest in Mr. Cash’s
hardware busmess. But Ellen pleaded and
than diey <x>uld afford, and the bouse wasn’t
worth the money. Two days later Ellen
took him down to the bank to sign the
papers.
Store. Being a hardware merchant is some-
thing like being a doctor: you have to diag-
nose everybody’s plumbing troubles, door-
bell failures, electrical leakages and so on.
those kind of things," sniffed Ellen.

at
"Can’t fell,” sai.d Ed archly. "We might
have a ghost right in this house. Sometimes
night w^hen
— I hear the doors creak I
between Ed had a friendly, conservative manner think that
The house was sandwiched in
aied, and said a home was the best invest-
—
ment a couple cordd make and further- two other houses whidi were exactly like
which made customers trust him like an
unde. He seemed to know everything about
—
"Ed quit it!”
Ed laughed his head off. He always liked
more drey could rent out the spare room un- it. It was two stories high, long and nar-
everything, and he could make you feel like to get a rise out of her.
til th^ decided to raise a family. Ed said no. row, with a staircase on one side and the
you were getting ten dollars worffi of in-
formation with a dollar sixty-nine cent pur-
chase. They had lived in the house a
or so when Ellen put an ad in the paper
month

Ellen was one of those extremely femi- to rent the room. The first person who an-
nine women who scream bloody murder swered it was a girl from the dime store;
at the sight of a mouse. She was slightly but Ellen turned her down. "I don’t want
—
faded the way most blondes .get when they a woman,” she told Ed. "They always want
slide over the thirty-year mark but she was — to borrow your clothes and use your electric
still attractive enough to be whistled at now iron. I’d like a nice, substantial b^elor,
and then. Ed and Ellen had been married a around middle age.”
long time, and they got along fine. The Shortly after dinner a man came to the
only thing they had serious ^disagreements door. He wore a black tcqjcoat and a snap-
about was what movie to see on Saturday brimmed hat with a blade satin band. He
night. Ellen liked love stories, musicals inquked about the room, speaking in a
and sophisticated comedies; but Ed went for low voice that had a trace of an accent
those Grade B horror pictures that packed something like Charles Boyer. Ed invited
the audiences in down at the Lyric. him in.
"I can’t understand why you like those "My name’s Jacobs,” he said. "This is
awful shorvs," Ellen protested. "The last —
my wife, Mr. I didn’t get the name.”
time we went I didn’t sleep a wink for "Kiaken,” the man replied. "Mr.
two nights.” Kraken.” He removed his hat and bowed
Ed gave an unsympathetic chuckle. "I love in Ellen’s direction. His hair was shiny
’em," he said. "They make you forget black and seemed glued to the top of his
about everything else. It’s a sort of relaxa- head. His eyebrows started in the vicinity
tion." of his temples and extended down to the
“I don’t see anything relaxing about it. , bridge of his nose in a kind of "V.” He
Especially that last one, where the girl turned was a rather distinguished-iooking man,
into a wolf and nearly bit her lover’s arm Ellen thought.
off.” "You work near here, Mr. Kraken?” she
"Didn’t bother me a bit. The trouble inquired.
with you is, you let your imagination run "At the shipyard,” he nodded. "I am on
’’
away with you. the night drift.”
“Of course I know that such things don’t Ed glanced at the man’s hands. were Th^
ever really
"But just the same
happen,”
— Ellen said qiziddy. IcMigand slender, with tapering fingers and
sli^tly pointed nails. "You do some sort
"Did you read that book, Watlocks and of clerical work?”
Werewolves, I got out of the public lb “I am a draftsman,” Mr. Kraken replied.
brary?” Ed asked. "The guy that wrote it "I must sleep during the day, aivd I do not
64 WEIRD TALES THE SPARE ROOM 6?

wish to be disturbed. I am anxious to find the door and found it locked. Insatiably ing eyebrows resembling a couple of ques- in Mopsie’s eyes reminded him erf a mad
a room where I can have complete privacy. curious, he crouched down and peeked tion marks. dog he had seen shot when he was a kid.
I amwilling to pay fifty-five dollars a month through the keyhole. His perimeter of vis- "Only that it’s Sunday,” asserted Ed. There was an instant when she looked like
if the room is suitable."
•

ibility included a smoothly covered bed, a "Most everyone goes some place on Sun- she might spring; then her tail swished
"Oh.” Ellen swailov'ed hard. She had bare-topped bureau, an unoccupied diair day.” He lit another cigarette and tried to down like a semaphore, and she raced for
intended to ask thirty-five and get thirty. no sign of Mr. Kraken. appear unconcerned. home, homing as she ran.
They showed Mr. Kraken the room, and "What are you doing?” “I work every night and sleep every day,” “Dogs,” sard Mr. Kraken, "do not like
—
he seemed satisfied with it so satisfied, in Ed jumped up, looking guilty as a sheep declared Mr. Kraken. “I live in a purga- me.”
fact, that he paid a full month’s rent on the dog munching mutton, and saw Ellen stand- tory where there is neither sun nor Sun- Ed could believe that, but he could not
spot. ing at the end of the hall. "I I thought— day.” figure out why the very sight of Mr. Kraken
maybe he was sick or something,” he blurted. Ed was definitely perplexed. He knew should make Mopsie turn into a canine luna-

H e arrived at seven the following evening

widi a small suitcase and left for work
about an hour later. Ed didn’t pay much
"But he isn’t there.”
"Dear me, can’t the man go out on Sun-
day afternoon if he wants?”
perfectly well that
in the
Mr, Kraken hadn’t been
—
room that afternoon unless he had
happened to be standing out of sight when
tic. "I’m very fond of animals,” he said.
"Why?” asked Mr. Kraken. “All animal
life is predatory: the higher forms feeding
attention at the time because he was listening "I didn't see him go out —
and I’ve been Ed looked through the keyhole. One thing upon the lower. If you were hungry enou^,
to his favorite radio program, The Green in the house all day.” ^
•
certain —
^Mr. Kraken hadn't been asleep. starting, let us say — ^you would look upon
Ghoul. Ed hardly gave Mr. Kraken another "He probably went out the back while Ed had seen that much with his own eyes. the dog differently.”
thought until quite a while three weeks, — you were in the parlor. Ed, sometimes you "You’re going to work now?” Ed asked. "CcHild be.” Ed gave a forced chuckle,
—
to be exact ^after he had moved in. are like a nosey old woman. It’s a good Mr. Kraken nodded. hoping that Mr. Kraken was merely in-
"I’ve only seen that guy about twice,” he thing we don’t run a hotel.” "I have to get some cigarettes,” Ed lied. dulging in a little gruesome jocularity. He
told Ellen. "Where does he keep himself?” Ed went downstairs muttering something "Mind if I walk a ways with you?” found nothing in Mr. Kraken’s duaiky
"In his room, I guess.” She was busy under his breath. He felt ashamed of him- "Not at aU.” The reply was politely in- countenance to encourage that hope.
maJdng a pie for Sunday dinner and didn’t self, and it nude him mad at the world in sincere, as if to let Ed know that his com- They came to the corner drug store, and
want to be bothered. "He sleeps all day." general and Mr. Kraken in particular. He pany would be tolerated but not preferred. Ed happened to glance sideways, toward the
"Even on Sunday.” was going to lay for tiut guy and have a Mr. Kraken had a brisk, gliding walk drug store window. Something was wrong.
"I guess so. We don’t see him much be- talk with him. If Mr. Kraken wanted to that made Ed husde to keep up with him. Ed couldn’t figure it out immediately, but
cause he goes in and out the back door. He . live there, he could use the front door like All the time Ed was wondering where Mr. he knew something was wrong. It had to do
he goes
says he’s afraid he’ll disturb us if —
everybody else instead of sneaking up and Kraken had been that afternoon. He must with the drug store window.
tramping through the house late at night.” down the back stairs. have been in the h<wse. He couldn’t have "Here’s where I get my dgarettes,” said
"Ma^e he’s wanted by the police,” Ed come in the back door and gone out the Ed. "See you later.”
suggested.
"Heavens, no,” said Ellen. "If that was
the case, he wouldn’t be working at the
A fter dinner, while Ellen was listen-
ing to the radio, Ed went to the kitchen,
locked the back door and bolted it, He then
front, because the back door was locked. Ed
could not make up his mind whether to ask
him point blank what the score was or to
"Good night, sir," said Mr. Kraken, with
a snail bow.
As Mr. Kraken walked away, Ed turned
shipyard. He’s just naturally shy.’ parked himself on the front steps and try to draw the truth out of him by subtle toward the window again. He saw what it^
Ed thought it over. “Wonder if he’s in smoked a cigarette. When Mr. Kraken questioning. was rills time, and his legs became rubbery.

his room now?” came home, he’d have to use his front door, 'They had walked about half a block when He leaned against a lamp post, just staring
Ellen put the dough into a pie pan and and Ed was detennined to be there waiting a little black dog pounced out of a doorway at the glass.
pressed little dents around the edges. "May- for him. and came running toward them lideety-split.
It was Mr. Ewalding’s dog, Mo|»ie, and she D’S IMAGE was plainly visible in the
be.”
'"Iliink I'll go up and see.”
“You better not.” She looked perturbed.
Hardly anybody was on the street. It was
time for Jack Benny, and all the radios in
the block were blaring. After about ten
was a great friend of Ed’s because he always
petted her and occasionally gave her a hand-
E window, but Mr. Kraken’s image was
missing. Mr. Kraken had walked between:
"He said he wanted absolute privacy dur- minutes Ed was tempted to give up his vigil ful of aackers from his lunch bucket. —
Ed and the window and he bad cast no.
ing the day.” and go inside. The program sounded like it Mopsie was no more than three feet away reflection.
“He couldn’t get sore if I just tap on might be funny. when she stopped suddenly, nearly tripping The truth hit Ed like a sledgehammer-
the door and ask him down for a cup of "Don’t you find it rather cold out here?” over her ears. Her legs stiffened, her hackles made him so weak he nearly folded on the
<35ffee. It’s nearly four o'clock.” Ed looked over his shoulder and saw Mr. rose and her lips curled away from her teeth. spot. He had seen it in the movies, heard
Ed went up stairs. He started to knock on Kraken standing behind him — in the door- —
She growled- not the type of growl you it on the radio, read about it in books; but
Mr. Kraken’s door, then paused. The tran- way!He looked taller than usual, and the would expect from a thoroughly domestic he never really believed k could be true. He
som was closed and dark, indicating that U^t from the street lamp made his eyes spaniel —
but a deep-throated, savage sound knew, though, that there is only one creature
the window blinds were drawn. Maybe he shine. that made Ed step back in alarm. v/ho does not cast a reflection in a glass.
was still asleep. Ed walked away, changed "Where did ? — I thought you were out!” Mr. Ktdcen paused for a moment. "Do _ No doubt about it —
^Mr. Kraken was ^
his mind, came back and rapped on the Ed said, fumbling for words. not be frightened,” he told Ed. “The beast vampire.
door. No reply. He rapped again. — this "Surely you h^ no reason to think that?” will not attack us.” Ed was considerably worried when ha
time a little harder. Still no reply. He tried Mr. Kraken stared at Ed squarely, his.swe^ Ed wasn’t so sure. The white savagery reached home. Having a vampire for a!
 66 WEIRD TALES
THE SPARE ROOM
roomer was oot the most customery occur- A note was waiting for him on top of the
rence in the world, and he could no‘ decide radio. It read: As Ed snapped the suitcase shut, he no- from a long line of distinguished vam-
ofl^and how to deal with the problem. It
ticed that the fingers of sunlight had slipped pires.”
is somewhat to Ed’s credit that, when the “Ed dear, away from the window sill. Then he noticed "I don’t hold it against you,” said Ed.
first shock had passed, he approached the "Mother has had another one of her something else, and his Adam’s apple gave “Only I don’t want you prowling around
problem with the same scientific detachment the neighborhood scaring people to
that might be expected of a zoologist who S e
you at the store but
ells. I tried to call
was busy twice. I am leaving for
line
a sudden leap, nearly choking him.
Mr. Kraken was watching him from the death
—
had just found a sabre-tooth tiger living East Orange and will be gone a couple of “How did you find out about me?”
doorway.
in his backyard. Ed realized, first of all, the weeks probably. That’s ail the longer they '
Ed tried his best to look like a man wait- “It was easy,” said Ed. “Tve been to a lot
value of his discovery. A real, dead vampire usually last. You will find meat and milk ing for a street car and succeeded miser^Iy. of movies whidi featured vampires, and I’ve
—
-—brought to the limelight would be worth in the ice box. You iiave plenty of clean He got up off the floor and said, “Home studied th&r weak points. I ^so read Pro-
ten times as much as a live sabre-toothed
tiger.Of course there was a certain amcxmt
shirts and if I am going to stay longer I early tonight, aren’t you?” fessor Faust’s book on the subject which I —
will let you know. Don’t forget to colled: "Hak!” said Mr. Kraken. His eyes had a have, in case )wu'd like to borrow it. When
of danger; but vampires, like tigers, could the rent from Mr. Kraken. learned what you weie, I knew just what
carnivorous gleam, and file skin over his I
be handled. Having studied the stfi)ject ec- to do. I got the druggist to give me some
"Love, Ellen” high cheddiones appeared so transparent
tensively, Ed knew all the approved meth- tincture of aconite, which is made from
fiiat the form of a skull seemed visible be-
ods.
d was neither surprised nor displeased. As long as I keep it in my
At this point it may be well to explain E Ellen’s mother had had these spells be-
hind it.
Ed stole a quick look at the bureau mir-
wolf’s-faane.
pocket, you can’t lay a hand on me.”
that Ed Jacobs was just as excited as any-
body
—
fore always when there was spring house- ror. According to the mirror, there was no “That’s true,” Mr. Kraken admitted re-
else would be under similar circum-
stances, but it was much like the excitement
cleaning Of heavy sewing to be done. It —
Mr. Kraken nothing but an empty door- sentfully.
couldn’t have been timed better. he Now way. 'Tell me djout yourself,” Ed urged.
people experience upon meeting their favor- could study Mr. Kralcen like a scientist stud- “How did you get in this deploi^le con-
“Why did you do that?” demanded Mr.
ite movie star face to face. Ed had
seen so ies —
an ameba ^without anyone looking over Kraken. dition?”
many
many
vampires on the screen and heard so
of them on the radio that he was en-
his shoulder. Furthermore, there might be "Do — ^what?” Ed did not like the expres- “It was easy,” said Mr. Kraken. “I died.”
a certdn amount of personal risk, and he sion on Mr. Kraken’s face. It reminded him “Of nature! causes, I hope?”
with their peculiarities
tirely familiar
was glad Ellen was out of it. “I was murdered,” stated Mr. Kraken.
of a mandrill he had once seen at the Bronx
Vampires, he knew, prowled only at The house was as silent as a well-man- “Murdered in this very house.”
zoo.
night, nourishing themselves on the blood ^
aged mortuary. Ed went upstairs, took a “The brute had glowered him brood*
at Ed was flabbergasted. "That’s not pos-
of some unfortunate victim. From dawn to skeleton key from his pocket and opened the ingly, as fiiou^ the crowning achievement he exclaimed.
sible!”
sunset they remained dead as fence posts,
door to Mr. Kraken’s room. The shades were of its career would be to break him into “No?” Mr. Kraken exposed his upper
andiored to their earthly remains. There- still drawn, and slender fingers of
sunlight m small pieces and then jump on the fragments tusks in a smug grimace. "Didn’t you buy
fore, 'sdiile Mr. Kralcen was supposedly
crept beneath them, clutching at the window with both feet. this house from a man called Benjamin
turning out blueprints at file shipyard, he sill.There wasn’t much time. Mr. Kraken “I wonder why that mirror should inter- Schlik?”
w«. really roaming the streets of Brooklyn would prcJjably put in an appearance soon estyou so greatly?” Mr. Kraken said, smil- “That’s right,” Ed nodded. “He was
with an eye out for some luckless individ-
after sunset. was the first time Ed had ever seen leaving for Arizona for his health.”
ual s corpmcles.During the day instead of — Ed
entered the room, trying to look in all
ing. It
him smile. His teeth were white and shiny, "Hak!” Mr. Kraken made that unpleas-
sleeping in the spare room —he was quiet-
_

directions at once. 'The place smelled musty, and four of them were regular tusks. He ant noise again. “Schlik’s real name is Josq>h
ly mouldering in a secret sepulchre. the chair seat was covered with dust and file moved forward with his fingers outstretiiied, Guloff. He is the man who had me mur-
Ed
decided not to mention his discovery chenille bedspread was as smooth as when as if itching for the feel of Ed’s throat. dered.”
to Ellen. He remembered the time a
man Ellen had first laid it. Opposite the bed was “Stay where you are!” Ed reached into "He seemed like such a nice little guy
had been sideswiped 1^ a beer truck and El- an old-fashioned bureau with drawers ou 'his vest pocket,withdrew a small brownish tcxv" mused Ed.
len had him brought into the parlor until
each side and a full length mirror in the bottle and wailed it at Mr. Kraken threat- “I was Guloff’s partner, and he did not
the ambulance arrived. The man recovered middle. Ed looked, into the drawers and eningly. wish to divide fifty thousand dollars with
in two days, but Ellen was a total wreck
for found them empty. Opening the clothes “Wolf’s-bane!” Mr. Kraken recoiled like me,” continued Mr. Kraken. "I know he
a week, srorrying about him. She invariably
closet,he discovered only a bunch of unused a st^ped-on snake. is still in town, and I will walk the streets
went to pieces whenever anything upset the hangers and an indolent spider. Then his "You guessed it,” said Ed, his confidence every night until I find him. 'Ihen I will
well-ordered routine of her life. Ed was f
eye fell on the small suitease Mi. Kraken sweeping back. “I figured you would.” drain every drop of blood from his fat car-
more rugged. had brought with him; it was lying flat te- 'i"
Next day, Ed was so preoccupied he “Why?” cass.”
neath the b^. He pulled the suitcase out "Because you’re a vampire, that’s why. Ed shuddered. “I beg your pardon,” he
missed out on three sure-fire sales, and he
undercharged a lady forty-nine cents on a
and opened it. Nothing inside but the manu- Now, don’t deny it.” said delicately, “but are your er — —
earth-
Mr Kraken had
facturer’s inspection ticket. . ly remains located in this house?”
coffee pot. Mr. Cash sensed that some- evidently purchased the suitcase so that
he TV /TR. KRAKEN looked crestfallen. “Why “They are,” replied Mr. Kraken. "And I
tning was wrong, but mistook it for the
flu would not arouse suspicion by moving into IVX ^ould I deny it?” he said sullenly, know just what you are thinking. You want
and sent him home an hour early. the room without any luggage. “There’s no disgrace in being a vampire, to find out where I am buried, so you can

yampirism is strictly hereditary, and I come get rid of me. A stake through the heart is

i
 ” ” — ” ”

68 WEIRD TALES THE SPARE ROOM 69

the mo^ conventional way or perhaps you— watching Boris Karloff fr<MH the third row
the cellar. Ed could see the outline of the
furnace, the big spider —
nothing else.
was up on a third story window sill. A
M'ould ratlier scatter my dust over the sea?” of the Lyric Theater. “You can’t scare me,” sickish feeling assaulted Ed’s middle as he
"Oh, no,” protested Ed. "That was the he said. "No, sir, not one little bit You
It became Ed had been tensely ex-
late. saw Mr. Kraken shove up the sash and step
farthest thing from my mind.” might as well realize, Mr. Kraken, that 1
pectant when
the sun went down, but now, inside. Somebody was about to meet a
after waiting at least an hour, he began to
"Then remain so,” said Mr. Kraken
let it have big plans for you and th^ don’t in- ghastly end, and Ed felt more than certain
wonder anything was going to happen.
if
harshly. "I intend to be your guest for a clude letting you run wild on the streets and that the luckless individual was Joe Guioff.
Perhaps he had guessed wrong. Mr. Kraken While he was wondering what to do
long, long time.” getting me into all sorts of trouble.”
usually put in an appearance before now.
So speaking, he swished his coat around -
“I will not be exploited!” Mr. Kraken’s about it, a shrill cry emanated from the up-
himself and vanished down the hall like a voice sounded like someone trying to rip up per portion of the hotel. It was quite a
swift shadow. a board.
rpHERE was a sudden rustling noise
-L if mice had gotten into the furnace.
— as horrible noise, and it made him turn cold
"Who’s exploiting you?” countered Ed. Ed’s all over. He ran up to the hotel entrance

O N THE
vertebrae seemed to crawl down his back and found the door locked. All he could
following evening Ed went up "With a puss like yours, you could put
like a cobra. The furnace door
rattled for was a flight of stairs and a dim liglit
to Mr. Kraken’s room again and sat on
the bed, waiting. Sure enough, shortly after
Karloff and Lugosi out of business.
guarantee you a movie contract within
I’ll
— a second on hinges; creaked open.
its
see
globe sticking out of the bare wall. He rang
It looked at first like black smoke issuing the night bell, hammered on the door pane;
sundown, Mr. Kraken appeared. "And I’ll guarantee you something else,”
from the furnace; then it oozed together the but got no r^ly. A tougher chaiacter. than
"I want you to ke^ out of here,” Mr. interrupted Mr. Kraken. "Guioff shall be
Kraken said severely. "I've paid my rent like my first victim, but you will be the second. way a chocolate pudding does when you rook Ed Jacobs might have smashed in the door,
a human being, and I insist upon being Some evening I shall find you without that
it long enough —and there was Mr. Kraken. but Ed was a great respecter of otiier people’s
treated; like one." bottle of wolf’s-bane on your person. When Mr. Kraken stood motionless for a long doors and, besides he had no desire to be-
time, and the yellow light Cutting aaoSs his come
"Did you find Guioff last night?” Ed that time comes hak!” He rattled his teeth suspiciously involved in a murder.
face made him look particulaiiy repulsive. What Ed wanted most was a cop.
asked. hoi-iibly.
"That’s my business,” snapped Mr. Kra- Ed was a little disappointed in. Mr. Kra- Finally, with silent footsteps, he moved to-
keo. "Let —
me warn you it infuriates me ken's attitude; but, having made a specialty
ward the spot 'where Ed was hidden.
sudced in a deep breath and held it until Mr.
Ed TT WAS one of those dockside neighbor-
L hoods full of bleak-faced wardiouses and
to have anyone pry into my affairs.” of selling people things they didn’t want, he
"You know,” said Ed pensively, "if I had supreme ccxifidence in his powers of Kraken went on up the stairs. After hear- deserted lumberyards, and the nearest out-
were in your condition, I’d forget about persuasion. Mr. Kraken always came to the
ing the cellar door open and close, he fol- post of human activity 'was a small beer joint
Guioff. A guy in your condition could pick spate room soon after sundown, and for
lowed quietly. about three blocks up the street. A juke
Mr. Kraken went straight to the front of box was bellowing at the top of its audio-
up some cash for himself.” three consecutive nights Ed was on hand to
die house. He opened the front door, and
“I'ln not interested in money,” Mr. greet him. Ed tried every angle he knew, controlwhen Ed barged into die place. Gr^
Kraken replied. 'Tve found that it is of but, instead of improving, Mr. Kraken’s at-
Ed saw him bend down and pick up a bing a wall phone, Ed inserted a nickel and
no use to you after you’re dead.” titude became increasingly hostile; He finally white object which lay on the doorsill. Ed yelled for the police station. He got a quick
gave Mr. Kraken a quarter-of-a-block head connection.
time
—
"But jwi’re only dead during the day- decided there was just one mote method
of persuasion left: force. He could threaten
start, then trailed behind him, hugging "I want to rqrort a murder!” he diouted
buildings wherever possible. at the voice which answered.
"Nevertheless, it changes one’s attitude to destroy him.
considerably,” Mr. Kraken informed him. In order to do this he would have to find 'They walked a long ways — about five "Yes? What address, please?” 'Ihe voice
miles, Ed figured. They v/ere somewhere at the other end sounded and
"The only thing I hunger for is blood; out where the remains were located. The tired disinter-
in the vicinity of the East Rivet when Mr.
fresh, warm blood.” cellar was tiie most likely place, but he had ested.
Kraken stopped in front of a saggy, thfee- “Export Street Hotel. There’s a man there
"Naturally,” Ed agreed. "But I thirik
you could cure yourself of that uncoutii
already inspected it carefully, without find-
ing anything. ;
story building that had an abandoned pool named Joe Guioff —
craving jf you put your mind to it Have The next day Ed stayed home from work - hall on the lower floor. A sign overhang- "Joe Guioff, did you say?”
ing the sidewalk read, "Export Stre^ "Joe Guioff,” Ed repeated. "I don’t think
you ever wanted to go on tlie radio?” and went over the house with a fine-toothed i

comb- He even pulled up the flooring on i Hotel.” he’s dead yet, but you’d better hurrj'!”
"Certainly not,” bristled Mr.. Kraken.
"With your voifo you’d be a natural for the back porch and tore oi^ part of the bath- I
Ed ducked into a doorway and then peered "And what is your name?” 'The voice had
one of those midnight to dawn record pro* room wail. In the end he was convinced I
out like an inquisitive cat. Except for Mr.
'

sudd^y acquired an inquisitorial ring, like

grams,” asserted Ed. "However, that would more than ever that Mr. Kraken was some- I
Kraken, the street was deserted. The tele- Mr. J>istrict Attorney.
only be the beginning. With me handling phone wires made aadding noises, and a Ed told him.
the business end of it, we’d
— where in the cellar.
Toward sundown he hid in the cellar be-
I
beat whistle moaned out on the river. “Address?”
Mr. Kraken stood still as a stone gargoyle; Ed told him
"No!” Mr. Kraken exclaimed harshly. hind a packing box. The place was dank ffiat too.
tiien, with remarkable agilit]', he went "There’s nothing to worry about, Mr.
"Now get out of here before I tear your and musty, and a big spider was sitting in a
strai^t up the wall. Jacobs,” said the voice consickrately. "The
heart from your body and eat it before your
eyes!”
web in front of the small window which
fronted the street, at sidewalk level. Slowly,
He 'W^nt up swiftly and easily — ^very much squad car’s on its way. There’ll be some
like a spider on a thread. Ed could hardly questioning, of course; but don’t hide any-
Ed replied by patting the bulge in his the sunlight faded away from the window,
vest pocket. That little bottle of wolfs- and die cellar became dark. Then a street believe his eyes. One minute Mr. Kraken thing. It’ll be to your advantage to tell idl
bane made him feel as secure as if he were light went on, casting a yellow light into was there on the sidewalk, and the next, he you know.”
•TO WEIRD TALES THE SPARE ROOM
"Yessif," said Ed. He wiped his forehead The crowd was dispersing by this time, sundown, find Mr. Kraken and threaten him visioned those terrtt)le tusks slavering for his
I

with a handkerchief, went over to the bar and the police cars were wheeling away. Ed with certain extinction if he didn’t make a throat. Sweat trickled down the bridge of
;

and ordered a double bourbon with a lemon went to a hotel that night because he knew clean breast of things to the police. It might his nose, and his mouth tasted salty.
peel. the police would be waiting to question hkn work. He clenched his fists; bolted for the hall.
Pretty soon two police cars came scream- when he got home. He didn't want to lie; Having some time to kill, Ed went to He managed to reach the top of the front
ing down the street, and their sirens sub- but how could he make them believe his Central Park and spent toe afternoon feed- giatbed for the rail and lost his bal-
.itairs,
sided to £ grow] as they pulled up in front story? He rolled and tossed all night trying ing squirrels. It was hot, so he took oS ance. His forward momentum, combined
of the Export Street Hotel. Ed stayed at to think of a solution. It came to him about his coat and vest and snoozed a while in the with the pull of gravity, sent him looping
^e bar, crunching a pretzel thoughtfully. six a.m. The police might not believe him, suntoine. through toe air like a projectile from a weE-
What could he tell them? The whole truth but they would certainly listen to that' emi- He reached home shortly after dark, aimed mortar. He landed on his bad: some-
;

and nothing but the truth dx)ut Mr. Kraken? nent scholar and authority on the supernat- sneaking down toe alley and entering where in toe vicinity of the bottom newel
No. There wasn’t a cop in New York City ural, Professor Matthew Faust. through toe back door to avoid any cops post.
N^dio’d believe him. vitoomight be posted near the house. Qimfa- The impact knocked out his wind and
He drained his drink, chewed a moment
on the lemon peel and started back toward E d looked up Professor Faust
morning. The professor was an oidirii
that ing the back stairway, he went straight to
toe spare room and sat on toe bed, waiting
made him feel as if he were being pushed
around in a revolving door. The whirling
the hotel. A
sizeable crowd had gathered gentleman with a large nose and a bemused for Mr. Kraken to appear. An hour passed, sensation ceased —
and he became conscious
in the street; policemen were shouting. An manner made you think of a bam owl.
that and nothing happened. Ed had waited for of a pair of 'icy bands creeping about his
;

ambul^ce slid around the comer. He appeared pleased when Ed told him he Mr. Kraken before, but this time he was ex- throat.
A cold breeze seemed to touch die bade had read "So few persons are
his book. 1 traordinarily nervous. 'The longer he waited, Ed let out a toridc that would have made
of his neck. He turned and saw Mr. Kraken interested instudy of hyperphysical
the '
toe more he began to suspect that Professor a banshee run for cover. He struck out
standing behind him. phenomena," he remarl^d. "’J^^iat of p^ \
Faust might be right. Maybe he waj crazy. with both fists, and his knuckles sank into
"Why did you call them?” demanded Mr. the book did you find most interesting?” Maybe Mr. Kraken was n<^ing but an hd- something paunchy.
Kraken wolfishly. "Answer me!” "The chapter on vampires,” Ed told him.
5

; lucination after all. All those horror movies —

"Ed ^stop it! Ed!”
"Murder is not my idea of good dean 'T’ve got one living at my house.” ‘
he had seen might have brought it on. He
fun,” said Ed reproachfully. "Did you kill
him?”
Mr. Kraken’s mandible worked up and
"I beg pardon?”
Faust.
"That’s why
frowned Professor

I came to you for help,”

I

:
*
made up his mind never to see another one
again.
Then he heard a creaking door down-
H e opened
standing beside him.
his eyes

policeman leaned against the stair rail,

and saw Ellen
A jug-shaped

down like the jaw of a snake. "I only needed said Ed. He started right from the beginning ! and the sound of moving footsteps,
stairs clutching his midriff and groaning mist-
a few more moments. Miserable, meddling and told old Professor Faust everything. 'The and he felt better. Mr. Kraken was com- ily. It was Sergeant O’Calltoan of the
”
idiot! professor seemed puzzled at first, and by i ing! He was teal, after all. Flatbush Detail.
"You
listo to me," said Ed, shaking his the time Ed had finidied the narrative he Ed stood up. A spindly moon cast a ."What’s wrong with you, Ed?” Ellen
i
forefinger sternly. “From now on, blood- looked downright alarmed. faint beam across the bedspread. He did asked, massaging his neck again. "’OCtoat
snatching is distinctly out. Either ycni wrll "The police wouldn’t believe me if I told
I
i not see the door open, nor see it close, but faafp>ened?”
toe the mark and en^rk upon some honest
enterprise, or I will shovel the ashes out of
’em about
"That’s why
Mr. Kraken,” Ed concluded.
I want you to help me. What
1 all of a sudden he noticed a black figure —
"He tried to kill me—” Ed faltered,
—
I standing in front of toe bureau. "He caught me without my bcktle
my furnace and chuck them into the river.
— —
You see ” he added, " I know where the
do you say?”
Professor Faust moved toward the door
I
"You’re late,” said Ed.
Mr. Kraken did not reply. A
pair of sl^iny
"Looks like he had too much of the
bottle,” growled Sergeant O’Callahan.
body’s buried.” gingerly. "I would say, sir, that you are eyes glared into Ed’s face. ""rhe police have been loddng for you
ilr. Kraken’s face bvitched in a dozen a sick man. suggest that you er see a
I — — ;

‘
At that mcMnent he sensed something all day,” said Ellen.
places. He si^ed bitterly. “Whai I first psychiatrist immediately.” wrong. He placed his hand against his "I figured they would be,” sighed Ed.
came back to this world, I was full of high Ed was stunned. "Yo*—don’t believe stomach for reassurance, feeling for the "It was lucky toey reached Joe Guloff in
hopes. I had been a failnre in life, but I me?” little bottle he always kept in his vest. time.”
felt certain I had all the requisites of an ad- "I’m afraid you took my book too liter- Hfj ve.it was gone. He had left it hang- "I’ll say it was,” nodded Sergeant O’Cal-
mirable vampire.
"You’re
I’ve failed again.”
just beginning,” Ed told him.
ally. It was meant to be a compilation of
primitive superstitions and folklore
— :
ing on the bench in toe park.
Ed tried to speak, but the words clogged
lahan.
They were
"We rounded up the whole gang.
usin’ toe hotel as a hideout.”
I

"We’ll go down to the police station and "And you think I’m nuts because I be- .j_ . his throat. Ail he could see was those ter- "What gang?” frowned ,

who you are. Once the story hits what you wrote!"
tell tliem
the papers, you’ll be famous
— lieved
"Tbe power of autosuggestion often
i rible eyes and toe black shadow that re-
mained as stiffly frozen as himself. With-
"Guioff’s gang, to be sure. We’ve been
lookin’ for them ever since they heisted
"I won’t do it!” Mr. Kraken exclaimed in on hallucinations.
”
brings
— According to
I
out that protective bottle of wolf’s-bane he toe shipyard payroll. What we want to know
—
a shrill voice. "I won’t be hounded by you!
"Now, see here ” Before he could get
Freud
Ed got outof there as fast as he could. He
i

i
was as helpless as a rabbit in front of a boa
constrictor.
ishow you Imew where they were hiding?”
Ed remain^ on toe floor for a few sec-
any further, Ed found he was talking to was disappointed, disillusioned and hopping { Suddng down a deep breato, Ed took a onds, just locking stupid. Finally he
qace. mad. There was now owy one thing to jittery step toward the door. The black crawled to his feet. "I didn’t know Guloff
Mr. Kraken had vanished. do. He would sneak into toe house about
j

^
figure moved toward toe door also. He en- was a gangster,” he said.- "I called the
72 WEIRD TALES
cops beause I thought he was being mur- Mr. Kraken had picked up something jutt
dered.” before leaving the house last night. El-
"Yeah?” The sergeant scratched the back len’s letter —
feey always left spedals un-
of his bristly scalp. "Guloff claimed he was der fee door. Mr. Krsdcen knew that 'Ellen
bein' murdered, too. He was so weak he would be home next day, so he had gone
couldn’t walk, and when we got him to the and called fee furnace man. It was the same
station house he went absolutely berserk as suicide.
like a crazy mao. Kept yellin’ about scane But if Mr. Kraken was now peacefully at
guy
name of McCracken.”
—
used to be his partner guy by Uie rest in the
Ed
bottom of fee river, whom had
seen in fee spare room not less than
“Kraken,” said Ed. 'T found out that Mr. fi:fteenminutes ago?
Ktaken was going to kill Guloff and I fol- Ed hurried up the stairs and nearly
lowed him to the Export Street Hotel.” knocked over Sergeant O’Callahan, who was
"Mr. Kraken is our roomer,” Ellen ex- coming down. He stepped into fee dark
plained. "Ed never liked him from the room and was immediately confronted by a
first.” shadowy figure that seemed to grow larger
"Where’s he now?” the policeman asked. as he moved toward it. He didced on the
"I —
^think he may be —
upstairs,” Ed liglit and found 'himself looking into the

stammered. —
big bureau mirror ^looking at his own im-
"That we’ll soon discover.” Sergeant age! He had nearly scared himself to death
O’Callaban took a.large, dangerous-looking on account of something feat wasn’t there.
weapon from his holster and started up the "He’s not here, lad,’' said Sergeant O’Cal-
staircasewith it. lahan. "We’H pick him up before long.
"I think Mr. Kraken’s gone,” Ellen whis- And as for yourself —
^I’ll see to it person-

pered to Ed. "I looked into his room this

morning, and all his ffiings were gone
— ally that you get what’s coming-to you.”
"Get what?”
"This morning? When did you come "The reward. There’s a twaity-seven
home?” Ed was surprised to see her all over hundred dollar reward for information lead-
again. ing to fee arrest and capture of Joe Guloff.
"Atxxit nine,” she said. "Didn’t you get I thought you knew.”
my special delivery letter? Oh, you must "That’s wonderful!” exulted Ellen. "Now
have —or you wouldn’t have hired the man you can buy into Mr. Cash’s business. Aren’t
to dean out the furnace." you glad we let Mr. Kraken have the. spare
"The what?” room?”
"The furnace. A man came and cleaned Ed’s wobbled. He had to go sk on
it out. He said you phoned him late last the bed.
night and hired him to do It. He charged Ed Jacobs says he has -investigated fee
me fifteen^ dollars," matter thoroughly, and he is ;^tisfied be-
"You mean —he deaned everything out yond the shadow of a doubt feat fee furnace
of the furnace?” man dumped fee ashes into the river some
“I saw to k he did a good job,” she
that place below Greenpoint. Therefore, if you
nodded. "He said you insisted that he dump ,
are ever in BrocWyn and you see a tall, gaunt
the ashes an fee river.” man in a long overcoat following you some
"Best place in fee world to dump ashes.” night, there is nothing to be worried about.
—
"Oh, sure ^the river,” said Ed groggily. It couldn’t possibly be Mr. Kraken.
Then it came to him. He recalled how Still — ^you never can tell.

73
 THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN 75

Was An Old Woman

with it," warned Aunt 'Tildy. "Now, If you With hair like the tassles of light yellow

'here want to
tell, L'U
start again, tell
listen respectful.
me what you got to
But keep your
corn, just as soft
“I well
and sweet.
remember the day her mother
voice dovra and stop staring at me with died, twenty years ago, leaving Emily to my
By RAY BRADBURY fimny lights in your eyes. Land, it gives me house. That’s why I’m mad at you and
shudders.” your wicker baskets an sech goings-on. Who
The grandfather dock in the hall had just ever heard of people dying for any good
Young man, Why,
finished striking three,. There were four
men out in the hall grouped around the
cause.
remember^
— I don’t like it. I

wicker, strangely quiet and hardly moving, Aunt Tildy paused, a brief memory of
like they were frozen. pain toudjing her heart. She remembered
“Now, about that wicker basket,” began 25 years ago, and her fatiier’s voice back in
Aunt. It's over six feet long, and by the that old fragment of time:
look of it, it ain’t laimdry. And those four "Tildy,” he’d said, "what are you going
men you got with you, you don’t need them to do in life? 'The way you act, men don’t
— why, it’s light as thistles. Eh?” have much with you. Nothing permanent, I
'The dark young man was leaning forward mean. You kiss and run. You don’t settle
on the antique chair. He said, “The basket down and raise children.”
won’t be light after awhile. 'Theie’Ii be “Papa,” Tildy snapped right back at him.
something in it.” "I likes laughing ana playing and singing,
“Shaw, now.” Aunt Tildy mused. "Now but I’m not the marrying kind. You know
where have I seen a wicker like that before? why?”
Seems it was only a couple years ago. Seems “Why?” asked Papa.
to me—oh. Now I remeni>ers. Certainly I "I can’t find a man who has my philoso-
do, It was when Mrs. Dwyer passed away phy, Papa.”
next door.” "What philosophy is that?”
Aunt 'Tildy put her coffee cup down, "That death is silly. And it is. It took
sternly. "So that’s what you’re up to? I away Mama when we needed her most of
tiiought you were trying to sell some- me all. Now, do you call that intelligent?”

thing. Just wait until my little Emily comes

mortkiam my
PAPA
I won't let the get home from college this afternoon. I wrote looked her and
at got wet
his eyes
body —she said — cut and saw it her a note the other day. Not admitting, of and gray and bleak. He patted her
so it ain't no good to no one course, that I wasn’t feeling quite ripe and shoulder. "You’re always right, Tildy. But
rt, but sort of hinting that I’d like to see what can we do? Death 'comes to every-
E r again, it’s been a bunch of we^s. She body?”
living in New York and all. Almost like my "Fight back,” she aied. "Strike it below
own daughter, Emily is. the belt. Fight it. Don’t believe in it!”
it TW "T O, THERE’S no leif arguing. I mind if I pour myself a bit of coffee. There. ^

got my mind fixed. You If you’d Been a bit more polite, I mielita
“Now, she’ll take care of you.
—
She’ll shoo "It can’t be done,” said Papa, sadly.

JL ^ sashay off widi your silly

wicker basket. Land, Land, where you ever
offered you sane; but you stride in here
high and mighty and you never rapped on
you out’n this parlor so quick
“Aren’t you tired?” asked the dark young
it’ll "You’re all alone in the world.”
"There’s got to be a beginning some-
man. where. I’m beginning my own philosophy
et notions like that? You |ust skit out of the door no nothing. I don’t like that kind
"No, I’m not.” here and now,” Tildy declared. “Why, it’s
gere and don’t bother me, I got my tatting of doing. You think you own the place.”
"It would be so nice for you to rest,” said just silly that people live a couple years and
and knitting to do, and no never minds Aunt Tildy fussed with her lap. "Land,
the dark young man. then are dropped like a wet seed in a hole
about tall dark gentlemen with fangied now, where’d I lay the yarn. I’m making
myself a comforter. These winters gets on "Great sons of Gosehen on the Gilbery and nothing sprouts but a smell. What good
ideas.”
The tall dark young man stood quietly, mighty chill. I’ll allow, and it ain’t fittin’ for Dike! I got a hundred comforters, two hun- do they do Chat way? They lay there a mil-
dreds of sweaters and six hundred pol-hold- lion years, doing no good for nobody. Most
not moving. Aunt Tildy hurried on with a lady witii bones like rice-paper to be settin’
ers left in these skinny fingers fumbling of ’em fine, nice and neat people, or at least
her talk. ir. a drafty old house like this without warm-

"You heard what I said, young man. If ing herself.” with clicking needles and bri^t yarns. You trying.”

you ^t a mind to speechify me, well, you The tail dark man sat down, go away and come back when I'm done, So, after a few years, Papa died. Aunt
and maybe I’ll talk to you.” Aunt Tildy 'Tildy remembered how she had tried to talk
can talk, but meantime I hope you don’t "That’s an antique chair, so be gentle
shifted subjects. "Let me tell joxs about him out of it, but he passed on anyway.
Heading by BORIS DOLGOV Emily. She’s such a sweet, fair child.” Then she ran away. She couldn't stay with
Aunt Tildy nodded thou^tfully. Emily. him after he was dead. He was a denial of
74
76 WEIRD TALES THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN 77

lierphDosophy. She didn’t attend his but- Tildy thatit had just done that once before,
th a for a full mmute Emily had been star-
thousand years. 'Ihey’ll have to rip its boards t-

ial.She didn’t do anything but set up this a moment ago. She liked Ihe old dock. ing at her. Staling hard.
down around me to get me out.”
antique shop on tlie front of this old house Ivory and ebony with gold angels hanging
The dark young man was smiling funny. “Emily: Wliat’s wrong? Why you look-
and live alone for years, that is imtil Emily naked around the face of it. Nice tone. Like ing at me like that, Emily? Stop your star-
cathedral chimes sounding softly.
"Why you smirking?” demanded Aunt
came. Tildy. "You just get out, and quit looking ing? Here, now, I'll bring you a cup of
Tildy didn’t want to take the girl in. "Are you just going to sit ^ere, young And you coffee. There.
like the cat that ate the canary.
Why? Because Emily believed in dying. But man?” “Emily, why you backing away from me?
tote that old fool wicker basket with you.”
her mother was an old friend, and Tildy 'T am.” “Emily, stop screaming, child. Stop
four men were already treading heav-
The
had promised. “Then you won’t mind if I take a nap. screaming, Emily! Stop screaming! You
“ ily out the front door. Aunt Tildy studied
Emil y,'' continued Aunt Tildy, to the Just a little cat nap. Now, don’t you get up keep screaming, like that, you go crazy.
the way they handled the basket. It wasn’t
man in black, "was the first person to live in off that chair. You set right there. You set Emily, get up off the floor, get away from
heavy, -and yet they were staggering under
this lumse with me in years. I never got there and don’t come creeping round me, that wail, cringing, Emily! Emily, stop
its weight.
married. I didn’t like the idea of living with toddying. Just gonna dose my eyes for a screaming, screaming, child! I won’t hurt
"Here, now!” Aunt TUdy arose in tremu-
a man for twenty-thirty year and then have wee bit. That’s right. That’s right. . .” something you.
.
lous indignation. "Did you steal
him up and die on me. It would shake my Nice and cool and restful time of day. No "Land, if it ain’t one thing it’s another.
from my antique riwp? My books.” She
philosof&y down like a house of cards. I noise. Silence. Just the dock a
away ticking "Emily, what’s WRONG,
child. . ?”
glanced about concernedly. “No. The .

shied away from the world pretty much. I busy as termites in wood. Just the old room
docks? No. What you got in that wicker?”
guess I got pretty persnickety at people if smelling of polished mahogany and leather groaned and put her hands up to
5iey ever so much as mentioned death to
me."
in the morris diair, and books sitting stiff on
the shelves. So nice.
"Curious?” asked ffre young man, softly.
“Curious? Me? Shaw, no. Get out. Get Emilyher face.
"Emily, child, here now. Sip this water.
it outa here!”
The young man politely interrupted now, You aren't getting up from the chm, ate Here now, child. That's it.”
"Good-by."
and took up Aunt Tildy’s story for her in you, Mister? Better not. 1 got one eye open Emily opened her eyes, stared, and then
"Good-by to you, too. Go away!”
even, calm and quiet tones: for you. Yes, indeed I have. Yes, I have. shut them, quivering, and pulled back. “Oh,
"Ail throu^ the last World War, as I re- Oh. Ah. Hmm. Aunt Tildy. Oh.”
call,you never read a newspaper. You beat
a man over the head with your umbrella and
So nice. So drowsy.
nice.
So quiet. Oh, so The door closed. That was better. Gone.
Darned fool men with their funny ideas. "Stop
"What ails you?’’
that!’’ Aunt Tildy slapped her.

drove him from your shop, when he insisted Who’s that moving aroimd in the dark
No never minds about the wicker. If they
stole something, she didn’t care, as long as Emily forced herself to look upon Tildy
on telling you about the battle of the Ar- with my eyes dosed? again.
gorme. they let her be.
Wio’s that kissing ray cheek? 'That you, She thrust out her young fingers and they
"Wien radio came in, you stuck by your “Here now,” said Aunt Tildy, pleased.
Emily? No. No. Guess it was my imagina*
"Here comes Emily home from college. vanished inside of Aunt Tildy.
old phonograph. You played the nice old tion. Only —
dreaming. Land, yes, that’s
About time. Lovely girl, walking-along. But, "What fool notion thing are you messing
records. Harry Lauder singing Roamin’ in what Drifting off, off, off.
it is. . . .
Lord, the girl looks pale and funny today. with!" aied Tildy, surprised. 'Take your
the Gleamin’, and Madame Schumatm-
Walking so slow. I wonder why. Looks hand away! Take it away, I say!”
He^ what SAY?
with her lullabies. As the years
p^ed, you tried to teach Emily, but her
—
mind was made up about certain things.
A h?

glasses.
“Just a
There.”
OH!
moment while I put on my
worried, she does. Poor girl. Tired, maybe.
I’ll just hustle her up a pot of coffee and a
Emily trembled again and turned away
•her head, shaking her golden hair into shin-
ing temblors. “You’re not here, you’re gone.
tray of cakes.”
She was nice enou^ to respect your way of The clock, unpredictably, said only a Crti, you’re gone. Oh, you’re gone. I’m just
Emily came up the front steps. While
still
thinking, and she never mentioned
— things."
morbid — few minutes after three. Shame, old dock.
Aunt Tildy was bustling ^und, die could dreaming.” \
Have to have it fixed. "You’re not dreaming. Hush, baby.
Aunt Tildy hear the slow, deliTjeratrve steps. What ails
sniffed."Think you’re smart, The young man in dark dothing stood Lands of Ghoshen!”
hifii? How you know all those things?” the girl, thought Tildy. Didn’t sound like
She near the door. Aunt Tildy nodded her head. "You’re dead. Oh, it’s awful. You’re
shmgged her shoulders. "Well, now, if you she had no more spunk ffian a dead lirard,
think you can come and talk me into ffiat
“You leaving so soon, young man? Good
"The door opened in front. Emily stood out dead. You CANT
be here.”
thing. Emily’s coming home and she’d fix Funny This sort of talk upset Tildy a great deal.
silly wicker basket, you’re way off the trestle. in the hall. Why didn’t come in?
you. Had to give up, didn’t you? Couldn’t
girl. She took Emily’s hand and it passed clean
If you so much as Jay a hand on me I’ll spit convince me, could you? I’m mule-stubborn.
“Oh, Emily?” called Aunt Tildy. through her lacy bosom. Instantly, Auftt
right in your face!” You couldn’t get me out of this house, no- Tildy raged to her feet, stomping them.
'Ihe young man smiled. Aunt'Tildy sitree.Well, young man, you needn’t bother
Emily came walking in.
— —
"Why ^why ” she muttered angrily,
"Oh, fliere you ate, Emily. I been waiting
sniffed again.
"Now, you
coming back to try again.”
for you to come. There was the darndest
"that — that fitber, that liar — that sneak-
don’t have to simper at me The young man bowed with slow dignity.
fool men roaming about in here with a thief!" Her thin hands knotted into wiry
like a sick dog. I’m too old to be made love ‘T have no intention of coming again. hard pale fists. "That dark, dark fiend! He
at. That’s all twisted dry, like an old tube
wicker bask^, and a young man who tried
Never.” stole it, he stole it! He took it away, he did,
of paint, and left bdiind in the years.” “Fine," dedared Aunt Tildy. "I always
talking me into something I didn’t want.
You just missed them. Glad you’re home. oh, he did, he did! Why, I
—
” She could
There was a noise. The dock in the hall told.Papa I’d win out. Why, I’m gonna sit
Makes it right cozy
— find no words to symbolize the steaming
struck three. Strange. seemed Aunt here by this window and knit for the next
It to
Aunt Tildy stopped talking. Sie realized wralJi within her. Her pale blue eyes were
 ” ——

THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN 79

78 WEIRD TALES make preparations. “Take her away, Wil-
"We have no one of that description
fire. She spluttered off into an indignant Auntie.” She collapsed over the wheel, bat working for us
— liam. Get the other men and take her away.
work with a crank around.”
silence. Then she turned to Emily. "Qiild, Aunt Tildy was already skedaddled from "Well,” Auntie continued, "as you just I can’t
When the four assembled and con-
men
get up off diat floor. I need your help. Get the open door and trotting with mincing so intelligently said, this is no place for a
skirt up the conaete drive and around in gentle lady like me. And I don't want me verged upon her. Aunt Tildy was a fortress
up, now!” in mus-
here. I want me home, I want me cooking in lavendered lace. Arms crossed
Emily lay there, shivering. back to where the shining black hearse was
turkey for Sunday visitors, it s almost Easter cular defiance she said, "I won't budge.
"Aii tight,” declared Aunt Tildy. "PART unloading a wicker basket, she
time. I got people to worry about. Emily to She continued to repeat that phrase as
of me is here. By the Lord Harry, what’s Aunt Tildy thrust to the attack, immedi-
feed, all them sweaters to finish knitting—” was evicted in consecutive moves, like a
leftof me will have to do, momentarily, ately.
pawn on a chessboard, from preparation
Now stop gawking and fetch my cloak and "Young man,” she directed her shout at The mortician was patient but beginning
room to resting room to hail, to waiting
bonnet!’' one of tiie four men unloading the basket, to get perturbed.. "I’m sure you’re quite
— — chamber, to funeral parlor, where she made
,

Emily confessed. “I'm scared. I’m so “young man, put down that basket. Put it ^ilosophical and philanthropical, Madame,
scared.” right down!” but I have no time. A body has just arrived.” her last stand by sitting herself down on %
funeral vesti-
'This last, he said with evident relish, and a chair in the very center of the
Aunt Tildy planted fists on bustled hips. The four men carrying the basket paid into gray
glance at his assorted scalpels and instru- bule. There were pews going back
“Is you scared of me?" little attention.
ments. silence, and a smell of flowers.
"Yes.” One of them said, "Step aside, lady.
"Why? I’m no booger. I’m just me. You We’re doing our job. Let us do it, please.” Aunt Tildy bristled. "If you lays so much "You can't sit there, lady,” sard one of
the men. "That's where the body
rests for
known me most of your life. Now’s no time "But that’s my body you got tucked in- as a cuticle on that body. I'll beat you,” she
the service tomorrow.”
to snivel %d sopp. You fetch up on your there!” declared Auntie, brandishing her assured him. Again, the parasol.
"I’m sitting right plumb here until I get
feet or I'll slap you straight across the parasol. He brushed her aside like a little old here on this spot,”
what I want. Sit right
bridge of your nose!” "That I wouldn’t know anything about,” moth.
instant retort.
Emily rose in sobbing haste. She stood said a third man. "Please don’t blodc traffic, "Oh, Heimings,” he called gently to one was Auntie’s
of the men. "Escort this little lady out-
like a cornered animal, trying to decide Madame. This tiling is heavy.”
She
They
tried to move her. just sat
ishich direction to bolt in. That probed a painful wound in Aunt , side, please.”
with her fussy
Aunt Tildy glared at the fellow. there, pale fingers fussing
"Where’s your car, Emily?” Tiidy’s pride.
her throat, jaw set, one high shining
"Out — —in front, Ma’am.”
i

"Sir,” she cried. ‘T’ll have you know I "Show me your backside, going the other lace at
shoe tapping impatiently. If they got
near
way!”
frontdoor. ""Now
—
"Good.” Aunt Tildy hirstled her out the
” Her sharp stare poked
only weigh one hundred and ten pounds!”
He looked at her with funny eyes. "I’m The assistant came and held onto Aunt enough she quickly whopped them a whop
both directions of the street. "Which way not interested in your hip measurements, Tiidy’s wrists. “This way, please.” with her parasol. And vmen they touched
is it to the mortuary?” lady. I just wanna go home and eat dirmer.
her she sort of— slipped—away.
extricated hersH easily. It wasn’t Mr. Carrington, the Mortuary President,
Emily had to hold onto the rail of the
steps fiunhling down. "What are you going
My wife’ll kill me if I’m late.”
The four of them forged ahead. Aunt Tildy
hard with the way her flesh sort of
amazed Tildy. Such an unex-
heard the disturbance from his office in back
and came toddling in to see what the com-
to do, Aunt Tildy?” Tildy in hot pursuit through a large door slipped. It even
motion was about. He scurried down the
"Do?” cried Tildy, tottering after her, into a hall, down the hall and into a prepa- pected talent to develop at this late stage.
“There,” said Auntie, much pleased at her aisle. "Here, here,” he whispered, finger to
jowls shaking in a thin, pale fury. "Why, rations room.
get my body bade, of course! Get my body A man in a clean white smock stood ability. "See? You can’t budge me. I
want mouth, "Show more respect. What is this?
back'. Go onl" awaiting its arrival with a rather pleased mp body back!” Oh. Madame, may I help you?”
The mortician opened the wicker basket She looked him up and down. ‘You
smile on his long, eager-looking face.
he Emily dendied to the casually, then in a recurrent series of double-
may.”
Aunt Tildy didn’t care for the avidity
T car roared,
steering-wheel, staring straight ahead at of that face, or the personality of the entire takes realized that the body
—
—maybe ^yes—no well, —
was—it
uh —
seemed
couldn’t
"And how may I be of service, please?
"Go in that room over diere,” directed
the curving rain-wetted streets. Aunt Tildy man himself. The basket was deposited and it

diode her parasol. ttie four men retreated. be but "Ah,” he exhaled suddenly. He Aunt Tildy.

turned. His eyes were wide.

"Yes?”
"Hurry, child, hurry. Hurry before they 'The man in the white smock, evidently a investigator
cautiously. ”Eh “And tell that eager young
squirt juices into my body and dices and mortician, glanced at Auntie and said: "Madame,” he said,

cubes in the way them persnickety morticians "Madame, this is no fit place for a gentle- this lady in here. Eh — is she — relative of to quit fiddling with my body. I’m a
lady, and my moles, birthmarks,
maiden
scars and
have a habit of doing. 'They cuts and sews woman.” yours?” „ my
other bric-a-hrac, induding the turn of
,

it so it ain’t no good to no one!” "Well,” said Auntie, gratified, 'Tm glad "A very dear relative. Be careful of her. him
"A twin sister, perhaps.” He grasped at ankle, are my own secrets. I don’t warit
"Oh, Auntie, Auntie, leave me go, don’t you feel that way. Them is my sentiments, in any
prying around, cutting it or hurting it
make me drive. It won’t do no good, rio but I can’t seem to convince those other men. a straw of dwindling logic, hopefully.
good at all,” sighed the girl. That’s exactly what I tried to tell that dark- "No, you fool. Me, do you hear? Me!” way.” ^
considered the proposition.. This was a trifle vague to Mr. Carrmgton,
"Humph!” was ail the old woman would clothed young man.” The mortician
who had not as yet had an opportunity to
say. "Humph!" 'The mortiaan puzzled. "What dark- He shook his head to dear the fog. "No,” —
see, he said. In
correlate bodies. "I don’t
Emily pulled into the curb and cut tiie clothed young man is tiiat?” he decided. "Things like this don’t hap-
He busied himself dx>ut the room. vague helplessness.
motor. 'The one who came puddling around my pen.”
“Here,” she said, wearily. "Here we are, house, that's who.”
 80 .WEIRD TALES ! THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN 81

me weakening !
"He’s got me in there on his table like a
turkey ready to be drawn and stuffed
— in interior
emitted a squeak. "Oh, no. No. You’ll dis-
Harrington glared at the mortician.
‘"Well, don’t stand there! Fix it up!”
The body walked.
"Think!” Auntie said.
Mr. Carrington hustled off to verify this locate our business. Heavens. Millions of "And be careful with that dgar butt,” ’The old brain thought.
claim. After fifteen minutes of waiting dollars will be lost. You wouldn’t do added Auntie.
"EASY, EASY,” Aunt Tildy. "Pul
—
"Now speak!" she ordered.
silence and horrified arguing, comparing of that?” said ’The body spoke, bowing to the morti-
notes with the mortician behind the dosed Auntie smiled pleasantly. "Wouldn't I?” the wicker basket down on the floor where cian’s aew.
door, Mr. Carrington returned, pale and Carrington ran up the dark aisle and in 1 can step in it easy.” "Much obliged. Thank you.”
shaking, to confront Auntie. the distance one could hear him frantically They placed flie wicker on the floor. She "Now,” said Aunt Tildy, finally. "Cry!”
"Well?” said Auntie. fingering a dial-phone and then talking to a didn’t look at the body much. Her only com- And she began to cry tears of utter I»p-
"Uh— that is. Most irregular. You can’t series of important people. It took him half ment was, "Natural looking.” "Then she let piness.
— — sit there.” an hour and then huge cars began roaring up herself fall backward into Ae wicker.
"an’t I?”
Carrington dropped his glasses, picked
them up, fumbled them on his nose and
in front of the mortuary and the brothers
Harrington arrived
president.
to bolster their hysterical
There was a sudden biting sensation of
arctic coldness,
a spinning.
a great twisting nausea and
It was like two drops of matter
And now, any afternoon, about four, if
you want to visit Aunt Tildy, you just
walk around to her antique shop and rap ai
"You are making it difficult for us.”
said, All six of them ume down the aisle like coalescing. Water trying to seep into con- the door. There’s a big blade funeral wreath
“1? I!” raged Auntie. "Saint Vitus in the a delegation ‘of diplomats. “What seems to crete. So slow to do. So hard. Like a butter- on the door. But don’t mind that. Aunt
morning! Now, looky here, Mister Blood be the trouble?”
and Bones or whatever, you tell that ”
— ,
Auntie told them with a few well-cho«n
fly trying to
husk of chrysalis.
back into its discarded Tildy left
humor.
it there. She has some sense of

"But he’s already extracting the blood cu^ words. Ail the faces watched Aunt Tildy in her You rap on the door. It’s double-barred
from the body.” They held a conference, meanwhile no- struggles. Mr. Harrington was evidently and triple-locked, and when you rap her
"What!” Auntie swayed and coughed. It tifying the mortician to discontinue his concerned. He kept wringing his fingers ap- voice shrills out at you:
was like a kick in the face with an iron boot. home-work until such time as an amenable prdiensively and trying to help with ges- "Is that the man in black?”
"What’d you say?” agreement had been reached, mortician tures. 'The mortician was ftanldy skeptical And you laugh and say no, no, it’s only
"Yes, yes, oh, I assure you, yes. So you came out of his chamber and stood smiling and in grim humor. The others just stared. me, Aunt Tildy.
just go away, there's nothing to be done. quietly and smoking a cigar. Seeping into cold granite stone. Seeping And she laughs and says, "Come in
The mood is running from the body and it’ll Auntie looked at the cigar. into a frozen and ancient statue. Fighting uick!” and die whips the door open and
soon be all filled with nice fresh A-1 formal- "Where did you put the ashes?” she cried,
all the way. . a aras it shut back of you so no man in black

dehyde.” He laughed nervously. "Out mor- horrified. "Come alive, damn ye!” shouted Aunt can ever slip in behind you. Then she es-
*
tician is alsoperforming a brief autopsy to The mortician only smiled imperturbably Tildy to herself. "Raise up a bit.” corts you in and pours you your cup of coffee
determine the cause of death.” and puffed. The body half rose, fumbling inside the and shows you her latest tokted sweater for
Auntie was on her feet, burning. "Cut- The committee finally decided. Harring-
dry wicker. the boys overseas. She’s not as fast as she
ting me, is he?” ton Number One represented the others. "Get to your kgs, woman!” used to be, and can’t see as good, but she
"Y-yes.” "Madame, we need this vestibule to carry The body rose further, blindly groping. gets along.
"He can’t do that. Only coroners are on out business. We need it badly. Now, in "See!" shouted Aunt Tildy. “And, if you’re especially good,” Aunt
all fairness, you wouldn’t throw us out on
allowed to do that.”
"Well, we sometimes allow a little
— the street to continue our services, would
Lighf«nteted the web^d blind eyes.
"Feel!” urged Aunt Tildy.
Tildy declares, setting her coffee-cup to one
side, 'Tilgive you a little treat."-
"Young man!” you?” The body felt the warmth of the room, “What’s that?” visitors will ask.
"Yes'm?” the sudden presence of the preparations "This,” says Auntie, pleased with her
"You
into that
that
are going to march plumb straight
room now and you are going to tell
Gutemup to pump all that nice New
A untie

at all.”
looked the vultures over.
wouldn’t mind. No, i
"Oh,
wouldn't mind
I
table against which to lean, panting.
"Mjve!”
The body took a creridngly unsteady step.
little uniqueness, her litlie joke.

Then with modest nioves of her fingers

she will unfasten the white lace at her neck
England blue blood right back into that fine- Harrington wiped sweat from his cheeks. "Hear!” she shouted. and chest and for a brief moment show
skinned old body, and if he's taken anything "Our proposition is this. You can have yout All the noises of the place came into the what lies beneath,
out of that body, for him to attach it back in body back.” dulled ears. Opening up to let them in. The The long blue scar where the autopsy was
so it’ll function proper, and then you’ll turn "Ha!” shouted Auntie. Then, with cau- harsh, expectant breathing of the mortician neatlysewn together.
that body, fresh as paint back into my keep- tion: "Intact?” •SIi3”thewhimpering Mr. Harrington, “Not bad sewing for a she allows.
ing. You hear, you HEAR!” "Intact.” "Walk!” she cried. "Oh, some more coffee? There."
“There’s nothing I can do. Nothing.” “Without formaldehyde?”
"Awright then, snigger-britches. Tell you "Without formaldehyde!”
. WHAT. I’m setting here on this spot for "With blood in it?”
the next two hundred years. You hear? And "Blood. Yes, yes, oh, my God, yes, if
•
every time anyone comes in I’ll spit ecto- only you'll take it and go.”
plasm right square in their left nostril!” Auntie nodded a prim head. "Fair
. Carrington fumbled that thought around enough. Fix it up, and it's a deail”
 ”

about it. Hardly believe it myself, when would have given a burnt-out dgat butt
I (xtine to think of it. It was the dog- for his chances. And there he was, joking
gonest case you ever heard of.” up to the last minute; eating a hearty Iweak-
He paused long enough to light a ciga- fast, and all. Usually they begin to look
rette;then resumed. a little downhearted about this time; lots

"Twenty-five years ago it all happened, of 'em get morose. But not Scar-Face.
but I remember the poor devil just as You’d of thought he was being honored,
plain as if I met him yesterday. A little the way he smiled when we led him off to
sawed-off guy, wilii a round head and the execution chamber. ’What’s the mat-
funny popping big black eyes. There was ter with the guy? Is he dippy?’ I wcHi-
an old scar ffiat ran down from his left dered. . . . Made a little speech when they
temple to just over his right eye. It didn’t asked if he had any last word; cracked a
make him look what you’d call pretty. lot of jokes, and ended with, 'Well, boys,
Perkins or Parkins or something like that see you all in Kingdom Come!’ Speaking
was his name, but we all called him Scar- of coolness —
he had a cucumber backed
Face. Just a common no-good; tried to plumb off the map!”
hold up a bank with three other thugs, and
a clerk got killed. Always swore he didn’t
fire the shot, but what ie hell’s the dif-

ference? Law says he’s guilty whether he

W E ALL
Carrigan, as
sat

took out his handkerchief and

about,
if
voiceless;
re-living the scene,
mopped un-
while

fired or not, don’t it? Jury wasn’t out one easily at his bullet brow.
hour!” "Actually helped us blindfold hint,

"So he was sentenced to be hanged?’’ would you believe it? The last I saw of
irree, hanged by the neck till he those funny popping black eyes of his,

didn’t waste any sympathy on they seemed to be sparkling—yes, by God!

bums, believe me. Just the same, I Sparkling just asif he was enjoying a joke

to admire the fellow’s spunk, when on us! Eton’t that just beat hell? Well,
the time came round. Was game as a I never mentioned it to anybody before,
fighting cock. Smiled and laughed; you’d but a sort of spooky feeling came over
The official State executioner had one story to tell of thought he was going to a party. Why, me, like something was holding back my
he was not likely ever to forget. . . .
he turned out to be such a good sport I hands and didn’t want me to execute that
was sort of sotcy when the morning came fellow. I think the reporters and specta-

for springing the trap.” tors felt it, too; it was like a wave that
STANTON A. COBLENTZ "Maybe he expected a pardon from the went through them, and they all trembled
Governor?’’ I suggested. together. Sounds daffy, don’t It? But

H
^

e was a burl7 man with a chair, gave his mat of grizzled hair a vio- Carrigan flicked out the ashes from wait till you hear what happened!”
beaked nose, and hard, cold, glit- lent toss, and stroked his bony projecting his cigarette with a contemptuous toss of "Well, what did happen?”
tering eyes. For thirty years he chin. one hand. “Nothing you’d of looked for. Acting
had been the official State executionerj and, "Well, nobody ever broke out of the "Pardon? Like hell! Who was Scar- sort of against my will, I got ever>'thing
consequently, he had interesting if grisly what you mean,” he
death-cell, if that’s Face, anyway? Didn’t have the influence ready. The prisoner climbed the gallows,
stories to tell.There is one of his yarns answered, slowly. "But one fellow did of a gutter-rat! No, sirree, old Governor and was all strapped up in the proper
that I am not likely soon to forget. get away, just the same.” Horton wasn’t the man to be wasting ink place. All I had to do was pull the lever,
"Did anybody ever get away from you.?” All of us leaned forward eagerly. on such curs. The poor brute knew and the trap would give way, and he'd
one of us put the inevitable question. And "Yes, sirree, one fellow got away, but damned well he wouldn’t get a pardon!" fall and break his blasted neck. Guess
Carrigan flung himself far back in his you wouldn’t beUeve me if I told you “Then some confederate
— I’d done it fifty times before if I’d done
"A whale of a lot any confederate could it once, so there wasn’t any reason to hold
Heading by A. B. TILBURNB t WWWdMWMW WWW
I I do! I tell you, there wasn’t none of us back, was there?”
82
 84 WEIRD TALES
I THE MAN WHO WOULDN’T HANG
"None that I can see.” time we were examining it, we could hear
did the Governor take it?” that dieated the gallows. But dieie’s &
"None that anybody could see. Just the Scar-Face complaining—no, not complain* >0

"How do you think he took it? Set np sequel to the story. Five or six years later
same, I did hold back. Must of been all ing, kidding the dickens out of us.
'Why a member of his old gang died, and swore
of ten minutes. Made all sorts of fishy don’t you fellows get a move on? a hell of a row. ’Threatened to fire me.
. . .
^ But I had plenty of witnesses, so he finally on his death-bed Scar-Face ^dn’t have
excuses. Just couldn’t get myself to pull What you keeping me waiting for? ... I anything to do with that bank killing
blamed
'*
set a new execution date, and came dovm
tliat lever. It was like .something got an important appointment, and you’re
himself, with three members of the State wasn’t even around when k happened.
was dragging back my arms. I must of making me late!'
prison board, to see matters done right and There was a new Governor then, and
been about paralyzed till I heard the pris- "Well, finallywe made up our minds
We had a new gallows ali rigged after looking into the facts he issued a
oner himsdf talking or, at least, I — the trap had work this time. Just sim-
to
proper.
But diink pardon. So far as I can make out, Scar-
thou^t it was him. 'What the hell you up, too, guaranteed fool-proof.
ply .had to. So we hauled Scar-Face up-
waiting that made any difference?” Face has led a decent life ever since.”
for.^’ But he didn’t sound angry stairs again, and got ready to finish him
or impatient—not the least. Swear to "Should have,” I ventured. We all shifted uneasily in our seats,
off. I was getting sort of riled at him
by "’Ihen you’ve got another guess coming. glancing by turns at the eerily flickering
God, it was just like the guy was daring now, for not hanging decent and proper.
Why, I never saw four more surprised fire and at the bard, grizzled face of tfie
me!” But when I pulled that lever again ^you
— looking fellows in my life than Governor narrator.
"So then you opened the trap?”
"Ves, ‘so iien I opened the trap.”
can blast me to perdition if I lie nothing — Horton and the prison directors. We tried I do not know which of us it was that
happened. Nothing at all! That trap still
Carrigan’s fingers seemed to be quiver- the trap first, of course, and it was beauti- asked:
wouldn’t open!”
ing, as he took out and lit another ciga- ful to see the way it worked. Then we "Have you any theory, Mr. Carrigan, as
"Must have been bewitched,” someone
rette.. put Scar-Face on. He seemed to think it to why Scar-Face wouldn’t hang?”
threw out, facetiously.
"By I thought that was the
Christ! was a great joke; bowed to the Governor A
slightly furtive, almost a frightened
"You're damned right! Bewitched is
end. By I before we tied him up, and said, *I don’t look came into the executtooer’s eyes. He
the rules of the game, Scar-
all the word. That’s just how it looked to us.
Face should of been dead. But he wasn’t.” t mind so much getting hanged, friends, shuddered; and then hesitantly, in slow,
Weil, we went over the whole rotten con-
"You mean,” one of us L now that it’s coming to be a habit.’ But grave tones, replied:
gasped, "when traption again, so carefully you couldn’t
s we bundled him up good and fast, and I "Well, yes, folks, I have got a theory.
the trap didn’t kill him?”
fell, it
miss a bolt. Seemed in A One order.
much time about pulling that
didn’t waste Don’t know as you’ll follow me —matter
“No,” returned Carrigan, slowly and Every time we down
solemnly, "I mean the trap didn’t fall.”
let
nobody in it, it worked like a charm.
the — — ,
JqvpT. hoping it’d be the end of Scar-Face of fact, I’ve never let on to a soul. Still,

what I saw, the last time I put Scar-Face

The fire by
time had burnt low, and
this you what I did then. Had myself tied by — A
'1

-•
and ^1
:v^=wouIdn’t be.”
trouble. But somehow I knew
—
on the gallows guess it was what old
our host had risen to stir the embers and ropes around the middle, and my assistant
..

add a log. It was a minute before the "So he still didn’t hang?” Horton saw, too, before he commuted the
pulled the lever, letting me down through
narrator could resume. sentence.”
the trap. Of course, it didn’t hurt me "What did you see?”
"No, by heaven!” he testified. "The much except for the jerk.”
'1ARRIGAN turned and spat disgust-
trap didn’t fall! It was the first time that "But did it work?”
( edly into the fire, which was blazing Carrigan drew a long breath, almost
ever happened, and we couldn’t figure out with uncanny fitfulness. like a sigh.
"Work? You bet it did! If it ud had
what was wrong. I pulled the lever again "No, curse him! Right there before the "Nothing you could describe very well.
me round the neck, you wouldn’t see me
—
and again no resuh! So we brought here today, boys! ’Ihere wasn’t anything Governor, he wouldn’t hang. That ‘trap At first it was like a pale, shining mist.

But after a while it seemed swear to —

Scar-Face down from the gallows, and was balkier than an army mule. The Gov-
then tried the trap without him. I’m a
wrong with that trap, the way it let me
down! But what do you think happened ernor, I tell you, went pretty near white God, boys, I wasn’t dreaming seenwd —
blinking four-eyed jackass if it didn’t work when be watched me trying time and again. that mist took form. The shape was like
next time we tried it on Scar-Face?”
They say he had a superstitious vein in two hands. At one end they reached to
perfectly!” We remained silent. couldn’t
"Whatever was wrong must have fixed him, old Governor Horton. After a while a big shadowy something that I
"Well, the pesky thing just gave a sort
quite make But, at the other end
out.
itself automatically,” I suggested. of rattling, like it didn’t know how he got up and said, Twaint no more use
to
"That’s just what we thought. Still, we trying, Mr. Carrigan. I commute his sen- I tell you the hair on my head prickled
went over the whole shooting match with
make up
you, boys,
its mind, and stayed shut.
we were plumb
I tell
tence to life impriscMiment.’ And then he when I saw it— ^the fingers were tugging
tuckered out
a fine comb before trying it again with got out so fast you’d of thought somebody at the trap, holding it shut!”
by then. Just had to give up. So we
the prisoner. There wasn’t so much as a was chasing him.” The beads of perspiration that came out
-hauled Scar-Face back to the death-cell,
screw out of joint. No reason under the and sent word to the Governor we couldn’t The ex-hangman shifted his long bulky on Caitigan’s brow, and the glaring,

sun why it wouldn’t work. But all the another cigarette, and went on. haunted look in his eyes, testified th.at be
hang him.” legs, lit

"So that’s the only man I ever knew- was re-living a terrible experience.
 lADY MACBETH OF PIMLEY SQUARE
Macbeth of Pimley Square an hour, it was perfectly dear to him
that meant that Mrs. Jenks had a spli peisoi^-
he was dealing with a case of dual person-
ity.He shook his head seriously and implied
Icmg-stand- that it would take time and money to cu«
By AUGUST DERLETH alia ondoubt^ly rising out of a
the condition. 'The symptoms were all too
ing frustration which only the utmost
p^eoce would cure. Dr. Wi^tman, of common — fits of depression
anything exhilarated,

M
"But she seems if
course, reassured Mr. Jenks, collected a re-
rs. ABERNETHY JENKS was after due consultation with his older brother,
tainer, and out for the house with him protested Jenks.
one of those vain, silly women Repley, who lived with them in the house "Yes, the other extreme,” agreed Wr^-
to pay his respects to his patient.
who fancy themselves great (if in Pimley Square, felt called upon to seek Mrs. Jenks was a slender, hatahet-faced
man suavely.
thwarted) actresses, and when the Pimley the services of a psycliiatrist.
woman, wkh license dark eyes and unruly
WIGHTMAN called several times
Square Community Players, of wiiich she
was a member, presented Macbeth with her-
self in the role of Macbeth’s lady, she
So Dr. Wightman was sent for.
Dr. Wightman was a man of some little
reputation, achieved largely by shrewd guess-
dark
whh
hair; she was not at all bad-looking,
the kind of looks which at first do not
D r.
to see Mrs. Jenks, and, because he
listened attentively, he began to leam a
poitkiilarly attr^ men, but end up almost
achieved such a minor success that it- went ing and only incidentally by genuine Imowl- interpreting
anpossible to be forgotten by men. She was deal about her case. Correctly
to her head in a most distressing fashion. edge. That is not to say that he was not but seemed what he heard, however, was another matter.
not a ve^ dominant personality,
In short, she began to develop genuine illu- without sense; indeed, he was not. He had -
ultra-refined, quite a Iktie of teis being the -It
seemed that Mrs. Jenks believed ^ery
sions about herself and her role, and these grown wealthy literally on his wits, and,
veneer of conventioimlity adopted to conceal timp she lay down to rest or sleep, a "part
grew with such persistence that her husband. after listening to Abernethy Jenks for half
her natural shortcomings, and was, witiial, of” herself slipped out of her and wertt
pleasant enough to deal with. Moreover, she
prowling around in the guise and semblana ~
Macbeth. Privately, Dr. Wightman
seemed to be normal, save for her unusual of Lady delu-
Hoiv do you solve murder committed by a person who wai tiiis a si )temely ridiculous
of occasionally quoting Lady Mac- considered 5
manifeilly somewhere else? from the play, and Dr.Wi^t- but he was mudi too wise to say as
sion,
beth’s lines
man was quite favorably impressed. He much. He asked where she went. Oh,
fn^de a maital estimate of how much it was about setting the stage, replied Mrs.
would take to cure the lady that is, in— Jenks naively.
_ matter of his fee, purely —and had some It did not occur to Dr. Wightman
to in-
quire for what she was setting the stage. He
„.tfee
^ersatioii with her.
I He burned her parlance was that of the tbe^re,
was in keeping with her role.
I •
.
i.'iis
and envisioned somebody ^fting wings
'
^ked her point-blank whether she consid-
ered herself ideal for the role of
Lady and scenery. Nevertheless, Dr. Wigbtman
Macbetti. was sufficiently enlightened to root around
"Indeed, I do,’’ she responded, thinking in (he background a little, and thus he hap-

he had something to do with the theatre,

'Since he had not been introduced as a psy-
chiatrist.
E d upon the fact that the Jenks hous^
represented a Macbeth- pattern in
miniature. That is, Repley Jenks, the older
brother, was absolute master of business,
He encouraged her to talk about herself.
It appeared that not only was she
con- and Abernethy was but the junior partner,
vinced she had a calling for the stage and whose rise to control was resolutely thwarted
particularly the role of Lady Macbeth,
but by Repley as a matter of self-preservation.
was Mrs. Jenks, naturally, chafed at the
Sie had the persistent illusion that she
imposed upon her Abernethy,
two people-4ierself, and the character she frustration

had so successfully played. though Abernethy himself was far from

"In what way, two people?” he asked. minding, since the assumption of major re-
sponsibilities by Repley left him free.
Hav-
"Well, sometimes I am convinced that
she is with me, too. A part of me.
As if ing got so far in his casual investigation,
my astral self had become Lady Macbeth. k was a pity Dr. Wi^itman did not see fit
Do you understand?” to go just a little farther. But he did not.

Dr. Wightman certainly did not under- He did, however, suggest to Abernethy
stand, but fortunately he had his own way Jenks that he sponsor another presentation
of pigeon-holing information, important or of Macbeth, and arrange for Mrs. Jenks to
get scathing reviews. This, he thought,
not, and when he saw Abernethy Jenks he
imparted to him his grave conclusion that would rock her back on her heels and give
Mrs. Jenks was schizophrenic. This was a her a different perspective on the stage in
Heading by BORIS DOLGOV
little beyond Jenks, so he explained that
he her life. Abernethy was enthusiastic, and.
 WEIRD TALES LADY MACBETH OF PIMLEY SQUARE 89

usual consultation -with Repley, he

&e did, too!” Saying vdiich, he produad the upon by a rather diatby individual who in- . Dr. Wi^tman’s opinion of Abrams was
tfter
key from his pocket. tfoduced himself despite the psydiiatrist’s censorable, lost no time in seeing
and he
agreed to do just what the doctor had sug-
The two men went up the cold superiority as a "doctor of s^itual- him out. The
psychi^rist thought that he
gested. Tlie arrangements were made, Mrs. quickly stairs

to try Mis. Jenks’ door. It was locked. lv£r. ism.” Dr. Wightman amid be offensive, was being very wise in keeping the story
Jenks was delighted at the opportunity to do
Jenks inserted the key, turned the knob, and indeed, and he had no use whatsoever for of Abrams’ visit strictly to himself; so he
herself proud once more, and everything
—
went off on schedule ^but not quite as it quietly entered the room. Mrs. Jenks was believers in spiritualism and the like. Never- imparted nothing of it to the brothers Jenks,

had been plaimed. sound asleep, just as he had left her. theless, Mr. Abrams, for such was his name, who were in any case busy with Repley’s
''How the devil did she do that?” he was nothing daunted by Dr. Wightman’s recovery and dieit joint concern about me
For Mrs. Jenks was a natural. Slie was
scorn, so poorly concealed that it might have peculiarities of Mrs. Abernethy Jenks.
so good in her role ffiat all the aitics who demanded of Wightman on the stairs.
had been paid to disparage her acting went "She managed somehow,” said the doctor been embarrassing to anyone less thick-
pompously. "There always an explanation skinned than the spiritualist. however, was annoyingly
to town and gave her rave notices, whidi, is
IVP^-
for a community playhouse, was virtually for these things.” 'He informed the psychiatrist that he was IVi persistent. He wrote Dr. Wightman a
udoelievable. Yet there it was. Mrs. Jenks, by way of being a '^student of occult mat- nasty little proper
note saying that unless the
t that propitious ters,” that die story of Mrs. Jenks had steps were taken at once, he was likely to be
said the sum total of the accounts, was an'
actress who merited a far wider stage
deed, the widest.
— in- A
kitchen,
both startled by a loud
moment, they were

and went thither without delay.

moan from the reached his ears, and that her case was as
plain as a pikestaff, and he could not under-
an unwitting aid to murder, though he ad-
mitted that locked doors were no barrier to
There they found Repl^ dragging hims^ stand why Dr. Wightman had not yet astrals, which had no substance. Wightman
V- Mr. Jenks was vexed.
Mrs. Jenks was in seventh heaven. from the floor where he had been'
to his feet ordered the woman confined in some safe ignored him, which was difficult to do, in
Mr. Repley Jenks observed very prac- lying; it took them a moment to discover
—
place though he openly doubted that such view of his insolence. ,

the whole affair seemed only to

tically that that the spot on his shoulder was not water, confinement would help now that the matter 2drs. Jenks in the cour se of tiie next few

have increased the dangers of Mrs. Jenks' but blood. Repley had been stabbed for- — had gone this far. days, had increasingly lucid periods, and her

condition. tunately, —
not fatally but he was in no con- "I am sorry to disagree with you,” said
Wdghtmaa stiffly, "but Mrs. Jenks’ is a most
solicitude for her brother-in-law was toudr-
ing. She could not keep him comfortable
Even Dr. Wightman was somewhat dis- dition to say what had happened. He had
mayed, but with the resilience of people who been busy mixing the diinks.hehadthou^t complicated case, not at all plain.” enough, it seemed, and this care and atten-
'

believe in themsdves very much, he boimded someone was in the room with him, he had "Oh, no,” said Abrams congenially, as tion, so alien to the Mrs. Jenks, RepI^ had
if to a fellow-studet^. “It’s plain that her always known, was both surprising and
bade in half a week’s time with otlier ideas. seen no one, but he had been stabbed ju^^
astral self is completely Identified with Lady pleasurable.. By this time, too, he had come
He came to the house one evening to the same.
expound daon, and sat talking them over "It was Mrs. Jenks,” said Dr. Wightn^P® Macbeth, and you look for the Mac- to look upon Dr. Wightman as an intimate
beth pattern to work itself out in some friend of her husband’s, and one evening
with the Jenks brothers in the living room. "The devil it was!” said Repley, now
They were not much impressed., They talked relaxing despite the pain in his shoulder —
form. Let me see it was Demean who she invited him over to dinner. It was the
while waiting for a certified M. D. to make stood in Macbeth’s way, didn’t he? And firstevening Repley was considered well
back and forth, over and across, but could
not seemingly reach much agreement. Mrs. bis appearance.
Lady Macbeth arranged to have him re- enough to come to the table for an hour or
Dr. Wightman was seriously disturbed, moved, ur^g her husband to murder, so, after which it was deemed advisable that
Jenks was, naturally, not present; she was
upstairs lying down. as well he might be. Mrs. Jenks was clearly Well, now, obviously Mrs. Jenks’ husband he return to his own room and relax once
is not the type to respond to such treat* more.
However, in the middle of their conver- becoming a menace, but until he could ex-
sation, when Repley had gone into the plain how she could have got out of that ment; so she will have to do it herself. As Mrs. Jenks was in good spirits, and, oiTe
I understand it, Repley Jenks stands in the she escaped that strange fhobia, she was vi-
kitchen to mix a few drinks, Mrs. Jenks room when her husband had, it appeared,
came glidings down the stairs, smiled the only key to its door, he could take no
way of Abernethy Jenks’ control of their vacious and cheerful, determined to make
obliquely at them, and went into that part steps to have her certifi^. Abeinethy and
business. An attack was made on Replqr — her guests at dinner feel at their best. She
I know thep tried to keep it quiet, but I had hired a cook for the occasion, and a
of the house where her brother-in-law was Repley were both perplexed and troubled,
clinking ice and glasses. In a little while and looked to Dr. wightman to solve the learned of it — and there, I ^tulate, is maid, too, so that the dinner was presented
she came out again, paused briefly, and said, mystery. But the mysteries of mind were the initial step.” with taste. She had made up the menu her-
'That attack has not been explained, Mr. self, and had given some direction to the
"Was the hope drunk, wherein you dress’d one aspect of detection, and those of mateiial
things were another, not in Dr. Wightman’s
Abrams,” said Wightman. “Mrs. Jenks was preparation of the food. Indeed, she put
yourself? hath it and wakes it
slept sirice,
locked in her room at the time.” herself out to such a degree to be agreeable
now, to look so green and pale at what it field. He could deal very well with the un-
"Oh, yes—her physical self. But not her that Dr. Wi^tman secretly complimented
did so freely?” and returned up the stairs, known, since allhe needed was an air of
"That’s what I mean,” said Abernethy. authoritativeness and some reason, which astral self.” himself on the talks he had had with bet
'The end of the first act.” wcwld serve very well to confound the lay-
•
"What do you mean by 'astral,' Mr. and, once she was out of the roewn, point-
man, whose knowledge of the unknown was Abrams?” edly referred to his "treatment,” as having
"Yes, I see,” said Dr. Wightman gravely,
no less profound than Dr. Wightman’s, save
"Why, her essential life stuff, Dr. Wight- helped Mrs. Jenks to a greater stability,
looking after her with puzzled eyes and
man. I don’t know that it could be put any which was manifest to all of them,
pursed lips. that he knew it not.
Meanwhile, the story of Mrs. Jenks’ curl-
more clear than that. It can arise and leave Nevertheless, there were certain annoy-
“By George! I thought I locked her door
her body in sleep, or ia coma, or in any ing little manifestations,
from the outside!” exclaimed Aberndhy,'" ous malady got around,
land of similar state.”, {Continued on page 91)
looking a little wildly at Dr. Wi^tman. "I One afternoon Dr. Wi^tman was called
 LADY MACBETH OF PIMLEY SQUARE 91

about the business. Better for^ Repley to

Lady Macbeth of Pimley do that; he’s a good hand at it.”
It ann^ed Dr. Wightman a little that
Square the psychic, Abrams, hsud been able to get a
{Continued from page 89) dearer picture of the Jenks household than
he had, but then, Abrams had had the over-
When Repley hesitated to help himself all view, and he had been concerned pri-
to some broccoli, for instance, Mrs. Jenks marily with Mrs. Jenks’ strange mania.
hastened to assure him that he might do Astral self, nonsense! The woman was a
so in safety, "it hath no poison in’t." She plain psychotic.
was observed at this moment to gaze at
him with a strange glittering in her ^_yes.
Dr. Wightman thought it a little unnerving,
but later contented himself with the reflec-
They had talked for about an hour,
when they were disturbed by what
sounded like a struggle in Repley Jenks’
tion that the whole thing was a miscon- room. There was a sudden eruption of
struction of a simple jest. sound, a muffled cry, and then a long, shud-
When Abernethy had occasion to hand dering moan, equally muffled.
his brother a carving knife, Mrs. Jenks "Good (^d!” exdaimed Abernethy,
observed gravely, shaking her head, "My "What was that?”
hands are of your colour, but I shame to Dr. Wightman, fully as startled as his
wear a heart so white. host, was unable to say.
This, of course, was pure Macbeth. Both men had come iristinctively to their
In a moment, however, Mrs. Jenks was feet, and were standing in that brief inde-

——
conversing with the utmost naturalness, and cision preceding actioQ of what kind,
the incident was overlooked as but another neither had yet decided when Mrs, Jenks
brief halt on the way to her ultimate re- appeared at the head of the stairs, :,iooking
covery. The dinner proceeded smoothly; (^wn at them. She stood there but for a
there was considerable talk about the prog- moment; then she began to descend the
ress of the war and the prospects of peace, stairs,ignoring her husband’s wild question;
and by and by the dinner was over, Reple)' she came strai^t down at them, and was
Jenks retired to his room, and presently Mrs. observed to be rubbing her hands together
Jenks, too, made her excuses, saying she as if she were washing them.
must rest, and away she went to do so. At Abernethy’s repetition of his <pestion
Thereupon Abernethy, as he had done for about what had happened, she said withont
the past fortnight, took himself off up the "What need we
glancing in his direction,
stairs and lock^ his wife in her room. Then fearwho knows it, when none can call out
he rejoined Dr. Wightman, who began at power to account? Yet who would have
once to make some rather vague iuquiries thought the old man to have had so much
into the business In which Repley arid Aber- blood in him?”
nethy were engaged, thus discovering that Then she went on past the two men to-
if anyffiing happened to Repley, Abernethy ward the door opening to the outside.
would indeed come into a commanding posi- Abernethy ^anced fearfully at Dr.
tion, though he had no great inclination to- Wightman, who returned his host’s glance
ward it, and was for his partjquite content. with equal fear. As if the sudden thought
"It’s only that Mrs. Jenks keeps after which had entered their minds at that mo-
me," he admitted. ment were not enough, they had the folly to
"Has she always done so?" turn once more toward Mrs. Abernethy
"For many years. Sie has always seemed Jenks, who was at that moment engaged
discontented that I should not stir myself in a performance the like of which neiffier
and better my position. However, I’m quite of the gentlemen in her audience had ever
content with my position; I am by nature before seen or were ever likely to see again.
a simple man, and being in a sulwrdinstfe She was in the act of passing through the
position enables me to spend my leisure as door.
—
I see fit and I should not see fit to worry Abernethy blinked and looked again, but
92 WEIRD TALES

f
f
Voff
ags
the ftmafear and pref«e9lOBal
nrHnt Contains over S50 iUnstrations,
eharte and notes. ctTinc dotiUlod
*
^ was gone.

atiist thickly.

ley’s
dead
He
"Hallucination,’’
gazed at Di. Wigbtmaa.
muimured t±ie

was Jenks who led the way up to Rep-

It
room. They found the older man as
as a mackerel; he had been stabbed
psydii*

'
study of every part of the body. not once, but several times, and he lay in
a blood-soaked bed. Apparently a pillow
ENRIGHT CO., Dept. NS-2 had been held over his head while the deed
724M dune Street, Ferosi Hills, H. Y. was done. Without pausing to call the doc-
tor, Abernethy went to his wife’s room.
It was still locked; he had to use his key.
Entering, they found Mrs. Abernethy JenlsS
in what was either a deep coma or a catalep-
tic trance, for die was immovable in her
bed, and quite incapable of being aroused.
TKEHEWEUGOMPAHV
000 Ctavtnn Sta., St.
I”"*!?!
Uuls, Uo.
It was a very nas^ business. Man with a Room
Quite unknown to either Abernethy
“Facts about EPILEPSY." Jenks or Dr. Wightman, a young girl across
A NEWCOMER to our pages, Crawford
This most intecescing and helpful Booklet teill be the city, who had lain down to rest before Sullivan, who rents out "The Spare Room”
nailed to anyone while the supply lasts. I will send going on to play the role of Lady Macbeth in this issue, tells us how he came about doing
a flee copy to anyone who wtites foi it. in her school’s performance of Macbeth, this.

M. SIMPSON woke up feeling mighty strange indeed, Confesses Mr. Sullivan;

C.
Address Dept. F>25, 1840 W. 44th Street, Cleveland, "like another person,’’ as she s^equently I've been in the writing game for quite a
said, and went out upon the stage to play while, but this is the liret attempt I’ve ever
her role with such superb art that she made at a story of this type. Perhaps it’s be-
brought down the house. Unfortunately,— , cause I had an inspiration. Now, if most writers
immediately after the play she was seizM sat around and waited for a genuine inspira-
with such a drowsiness that she had to lie tion, they’d probably starve before the year was
WEIRD BOOKS RENTED down again, and from a short, deep sleep, out. As a matter of fact, a great many do. The
woke up with no knowledge whatever true inspiration that smkes you like a bolt from
about her perfromance. the blue does its smiting all too seldom.
—
Coincident with her waking while the - The inspiration for "The Spare Room” hap-
police were all over the Jenks’ hoiise, pened to be a chap who, perhaps like many
badgeiing poor Abernethy and putting Dr. readers of Weird Tales, sought an escape
Wightman through such paces tlut he began from this world of blow torches and riveting
JurwiTtrSttS nop 0«f ta- 'w to have serious doubts about resuming his machines by deliberately giving himself the
TOOur'e book todu am nlaabla "InnaUa BMoeiTt
form. A«
j BEBMAN
ll
)i
practise of psychiatry Mrs.— Abernethy creeps. After reading everything ghostly and
Jenks came out of her coma, .out of her ghastly he could lay hands on, after witnessing
^ im *lbe» Buiid^r* 8. P.
room, and, frightened by the police, tripped every horror movie ever made and.after listen-
~1 and fell down the stairs, breaking her neck. ing to every radio chiller the dials had to offer,
CURE It was the end of a great, if little appre- he became super-disaiminating. The conven- LASALLE EXTENSION university
dandruff: ciated, career. tional slab-faced zombie and slaver-flecked
werewolf left him cMd. Without moving an
know how I can ptepar* for post-war com-
eyelash, he could relax by the loudspeaker and
x>
. w
Send me your tree- Dooblet on field I have

listen adamantly to the shrieks of an unfor-

ForemaneDIp
tunate young girl about to be dissected by a BoakfeeepiBg
TrstSc Maoag
tusked fiend. He could take it. He had become LawsLL.B. De
a case-hardened horror addict.
• ARTHEiTIS - NiURITIS « In spite of his addiction, he remained a
Get Mendenhall's Number 40 (torn youo. quiet, pleasant-mannered little guy who would
droggist or by mail posipaid for $1.25.
not willfully step on a snail.
Money back i( ftist bocile fails to sacisty.i
All of which brought to my dinial mind
. I. C. MENDENHAU MEDICINE CO.
Soph 4 EvwisvUfo, Indeas the question: What would happen if, one fine
94 WEIRD TALES
day, a supernatural creature —a vampiie, sty,
Fistula Facts— Free re^ly walked into his bouse?
ASSOCIAHD AILMENTS EXPIAIKED Well, you’ll have to read "The Spare Room”
to find out what might have happened. Maybe
I’ll have another inspiration sometime.
Crawford Sullivan.

Writer and Character

We’ve got the idea that this chap, John
Thiinstonewho is making regular appearanres
49-page Back—teiU facts about in Weird Tales these days, is something like
Fistula, Kectal Abscess. Plies and other
rectal and colon disordeTS; also related
another guy named Manly Wade Wellman,
aliments and latest coccectivetreatinents- who, just incidentaUy, happens to be the author
IThornton & Minor Clinic, Suite C-G02,
S26 McGee, Kansas City, Mo. of the Thunstone yarns.
Wellman was bom of an old American
ANY PHOTO ENLARGEO family deep in Portuguese West Africa ^^diich
is a nice beginning for a writer of fantasy and
adventure. His enthusiastic interest in occult-
ism survived two university degrees and brief
terms of working as farm hand, bouncer, actor,
soldier, archivist and newspaper man.
line, so tit we can enroll ;
icTU".?. club See For Yourself Hoiv
roster, and publish your name and adless in the
Physically, Wellman is big and heavy. In magazine.
a footballer, a boxer and a
ITroirYoi; it Home'-'
school he was • A membership card carrying the above de-
fencer. Despite the fact that he was turned sign-personal token of your fellowship with the
down for combat. duty in the present World
weird and the fantastic —
whi be sent on request
(A stamped, addressed envelope should be ea-
Be a RADIO Techiiiciii
War he looks to us capable of Thunstone feats closed.)

POEMS WANTED today.

All this, of course, is about Manly Wade
niii min,ui8iMHinnmmmm»mmiimiijiinnui
Wellman; not Thunstone. one thing, But NEW MEMBERS
we’re sure they have in common. Both
men look for adventures and would pr<rf> ^ a Allen, 7n Ba.st MUani St, Mexia, Texas
27 WOODS BUILOIHO
iliGKARD Brothers ably rather experience them than tell about
them.

READERS’ VOTE
GUARD IN THE DARK
THE SPARE ROOM
THERE WAS AN OtO
WOMAN
INHERITANCE THE MAN WHO
PLANE AND PANCT WOULDN'T NANG
STRANGER IN THE LAOr MACRETH OP
PIMLET SQUARE
Here’s a list of nine stoTles in this Issue Won’t
yon let us know wbicli three yon consider the
best? Just place the numbeis: 1. 2, and 8 re-
spectively against your three favorite tales—
then clip It out and mail It in to us.

ttooDFoRBon
u .... missourn,
iJoriuitorles,
M
Bast

'k

BEJY WAB BONEȤ

A re the tales o( strange human powers
False? Can the mysterious feats per*
formed by the mystics of the Orient be ex-
mote dependable, which you are NOT using
nowl Challenge this statementl Dare the Rosi-
crucians to reveal the functions of this Cosmic
plained away as only illusions? Is there an mind and its great possibilities to you.
Intangible Erand ‘with the universe beyond
which draws mankind on? Does a mighty Let This Free Book Explain *

Cosmic intelligence From the teaches of space

Take power into your partnership.'
this infinite
ebb and Row through the deep recesses of the
mind, forming a river of wisdom which can You can use it in a rational and practical way
without interference with your religions beliefs
carry men and women to the heights of per-
or personal affairs. The Rosicrucians. a wodd- i
sonal achievement?
wioe philosophical movemertt, invife you to use
Have You Had These the coupon below, now, today, and obtain a
free coi>^ of the fascinatirrg book. "The Mastery
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that unmistakable Feeling that you'have

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ment. The sudden realization that the silent- I
iKisunseen, vital power wliisdi can l>e used in aesiui
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your own counsel^not to speak words on the without cost, the bo,^. "^e Master' of Ufe." whk
lip of your tongue in presence of another.
Tiiat something which pushes you forward
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These urges ate the subtle in/fuence which
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The ROSICRUCIANS
(AMORC)
—
There IS a source oF intelligence within you as
natural as your senses of sight and heating, and (TTie Rosicfociaiia ate NOT a religious otgastf saBon >
\

Please oientloa Newssiand Piction Unit witea answering adveicisemeals