Weird Tales v38n04

BEDFORD-JONES Lords Of the
Ghost lands
SEABURY
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MARCH, 1945 Cover by A. R, Tilbume
NOVELETTE
LORDS OF THE GHOSTLANDS Seabury Quinn 8
To be jerked out of the quiet restfulness of your grave and shipped across four
thousand miles of water . . . but then any mummy might be called unlucky!
SHORT STORIES
IN THE BEGINNING H. Bedford-Jones 24
Did you ever hear of an office safe that contained a link with the
philosophers, magicians and soothsayers of past ages?
A BIRTHDAY PRESENT FOR TOMMY . Charles King 33

The way to conquer horror isto bring your fears out into the open;
but you can’t bring THEM out into the open. . , .
THE PERIPATETIC CORPSE Harold Lawlor 38
The funniest part about a corpse walking into the morgue by
itself is that it just couldn’t happen could it? —
THE SHONOKINS Manly Wade Wellman 48
Precautions against the Shonokins are not like precautions
against anything else in this world or out of it
PLEASE GO WAY AND LET ME SLEEP Helen W. Kasson 56

The family was gathered just as it would have been gathered in
any other room . only . . this was the crypt
ALANNAH Stephen Grendon 64

Any sensitive, imaginative child lives in a world of make-believe
" make-believe ”
—
at least is what the prosaic mind calls it
THE TOMBSTONE Ray Bradbury 72

"No dead man’s going to rest easy with strange folks
sleeping right on top of him”
SECOND CHILDHOOD Jack Snow 76
As one approaches the end of life’s long journey
memory becomes brilliantly clear and vivid
A SIP WITH SATAN Roger S. Vreeland 80

fust one old man alone in a place big enough for a hotel.
And the THINGS he did, well, what do you think?
VERSE
QUEST UNHALLOWED . Page Cooper 3
BEWITCHED Willard N. Marsh 32
WIND WALKS NOT ALONE Dan Kelly 55
SUPERSTITIONS AND TABOOS . Irwin J. Weill 63
THE EYRIE AND WEIRD TALES CLUB . 93
Except for personal experiences the contents of this magazine is fiction. Any use
of the name of any living person or reference to actual events is purely coincidental.
Published bi-monthly by Weird Tales, 9 Rockefeller Plaza, New York 20, N. Y. Reentered as second-class matter
January 26, 1940. at the Post Office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Single copies, 15 cents*
Subscription rates: One year in the United States and possessions, 90<£. Foreign and Canadian postage extra.
English Office: Charles Lavell, Limited, 4 Clements Inn, Strand, London, W.C.2, England. The publishers are not
responsible for the loss of unsolicited manuscripts although every care will be taken of such material while in their
possession. Copyright, 1944, by Weird Tales. Copyrighted in Great Britain. 173
Title registered in U. S, Patent Office.
PRINTED IN THE U. 8. A. Vol. 38, No. 4
D, McILWRAITH. Editor, LAMONT BUCHANAN, Associate Editor<

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Thrall to phantom lips that sear you,

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For the angels, eyes whose lonely glory
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Stumbling through your finite paces

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<_5<
/ords of the Ghostlands
T ULES DE GRANDIN passed the misfortune, Monsieur, but the vieux cognac,
I brandy back and forth beneath
sniffer he are priceless, to lose her are a calamity,
bouquet of the
his nose, savoring the no less!”
fine champagne with the keen appreciation "You’re not just saying that!” Dr. Taylor
of a connoisseur. He took a light, prelimi- answered grimly. "That’s the last bottle of
nary sip, and his expression of delight be- Jerome Napoleon in my cellar, and heaven
came positively ecstatic. "Parbleu,” he mur- only knows when I’ll get a replacement.
mured, “as my good friend Francois Rabel- These things always seem to run in threes.
ais was wont 'Good wine is the living
to say, This morning at breakfast I upset my coffee
living spirit of the wine,’ and

—
soul of the grape, but good brandy is the cup, this afternoon nearly dropped a bit of
I
absolutely priceless papyrus in the fire, now”
"The devil!” Dr. Taylor broke in as a —he—broke off with a grimace of self-dis-
nervous movement of his elbow dislodged gust "Ihope I’ve completed the cycle.”
the bubble-thin inhaler from the tabourette "One understands, Monsieur,” de Gran-
beside his elbow and sent it crashing to the
floor.
din
times
nodded commiseratingly. "It is the
— the strain of war, the
—
,!
Quel dommage —what a pity!” consoled "We can’t blame this on the war,” Taylor
de Grandin. "To lose the lovely crystal is a denied. "I hate to confess it, but I’ve been
Heading by A. R. TILBURNE
8
By SEABURY QUINN
jumpy as a bit of popcorn in a popper for de Grandin. I wish it were. The fact is that
the past few days. My goat’s gone.” though I’m not superstitious I’ve had a bad
’'Comment?” de Grandin’s brows went case of the jitters since last week when they
up the barest fraction of an inch. "He was brought out a new mummy at the Museum.
a valuable animal, this goat of yours, Aion- It had been greatly delayed in transit due to
sieur?” the war, and when it came it took us all by
Despite himself our host gave vent to a surprise. Several of our younger men have
short laugh. "Very, Dr. de Grandin. Unless joined the services, so I took it in charge. I
I get him back again I shall — oh, I’ll not wish I hadn’t now, for unless I’m much mis-
pull your leg. To lose one’s goat is an —
taken it’s what’s called 'unlucky,’ and well,
American idiom meaning to become utterly as I’ve said, I’m not superstitious, but .’
. .
demoralized. It’s that dam’ mummy that is "I should think that any mummy might
driving mealmost to distraction.” be called unlucky,” I put in rather fatuously.
This time de Grandin was not to be "To be jerked out of the quiet restfulness of
caught napping. "Translate, if you will be your grave and shipped across four thousand
so kind, Friend Trowbridge,” he begged.
“Is it another of his idioms —
is the mummy
miles of water, then exhibited for people
whom you’d call barbarians to gawk at —
to which he refers a genuine cadavre, or
perhaps a papa’s wife, or a mother—”
"No!” Dr. Taylor held explosive laugh-
ter in by main force. "This is no idiom, Dr.
M Y FAINT attempt at humor was com-
pletely lost on Dr. Taylor. "When an
Egyptologist refers to a mummy as unlucky
Hoe ancient gods of Egypt have the power to punish those disturbing
the tombs of mummies
9
10 WEIRD TALES
and three of these associates died within a
year or so of the opening of the tomb. Colo-
nel Herbert and Dr. Evelyn-White were
among the first to enter the tomb. Both died
within twelve months. Sir Archibald Doug-
lass was engaged to make X-rays of the
mummy. He died almost before the plates
could be developed. Six of the seven French
journalists who went into the tomb shortly
after it was opened died in less than a year,
and almost every workman engaged in the

excavations died before he had a chance to
spend his pay. Some of these people died
one way, some another. The fact is they all :
died.
"Not only that: Even minor articles taken
from Tut’s tomb seem to exercise malign
influence. There is proof absolute that at-
tendants at the Cairo Museum whose duties

keep them in or even near the room where
Tutankhamen’s relics are displayed sicken or
he has reference to its effect on the living, die for no apparent reason. D’ye wonder
not to its peculiar luck or lack of it,” he cut that they call him an unlucky’ mummy?”
in almost sharply. "Call it nonsense if you "Bien, Monsieur. Et puis?” de Grandin
will — —
and probably you will but the fact is prompted as our host lapsed into moody
there seems some substance to the belief that silence.
the ancient gods of Egypt have the power to "Just this,” responded Dr. Taylor. "This
punish those disturbing the mummies of mummy I’ve had wished on me is dam’ pe-
people dying in apostacy. Such mummies are culiar. Eighteenth Dynasty work, that
It’s
referred to in the trade as 'unlucky’—un- much is plain, but unlike anythingI ever
lucky for the people who find them or have saw before. There is no face mask nor fu-
anything to do with them. Tutankhamen is nerary statue, either on the mummy or in
the classic example of this. He was a noted the coffin, and the case itself is bare of writ-
heretic in his day, you know, and had given- ing. The old Egyptians always wrote the
great offense to the 'Old Ones’ or their titles and biographies of the dead upon their
which in the long run amounted to
priests, coffins, you know, but this case is just bare,
the same thing. So when he died, although virgin wood; a beautiful shell of thin hard
they gave him an elaborate funeral, they set cedar to which not even varnish has been ap-
no image of Amen-Ra at the prow of the plied. Most mummy case lids are held in
boat that ferried him across the Lake of the place by four little flanges, two to a side,
Dead, and the plaques of Seb, Tern, which sink into mortises cut in the lower
Nepthys, Osiris and Isis were not prepared section and are held in place by hardwood
to go with him into the tomb. Notwith- dowels. This case has eight, three to each
standing his belated efforts to be reconciled side and one at each end. They must have
with the priesthood, Tutankhamen was little wanted to make sure that whoever was fas-
better than an atheist according to contem- tened in that coffin wouldn’t break out. Fur-
porary Egyptian theology, and the wrath of —
thermore and this is more than merely un-
the gods followed him beyond the grave. It usual, it’s absolutely unique —
the bottom of
was not their wish that his name be pre- the coffin is strewn four inches deep with
served to posterity or that any of his relics spices.”
be brought to light. "Spices?” echoed Jules de Grandin.
"Now, just consider contemporary hap- "Spices. Yes. We
haven’t analyzed ’em
penings: In 1922 Lord Carnavon located all yet, but so far we’ve identified clove,
the tomb. He had four associates. Carnavon spikenard, cinnamon, aloes, thyme and gin-
LORDS OF THE GHOSTLANDS 11
ger, mustard, capsicum and common sodium

chloride.”
De Grandin pursed his lips in a soundless
whistle. "This are unusual, vraiment,” he
conceded. "And have you unwrapped him
or perhaps X-rayed her?”
"Well, yes and no.”
"Comment? Out et non? Is this perhaps
some of the famous double talk of which
one hears so much?”
"Not exactly,” our host grinned. "I
meant to say that I’ve unwrapped the first
layer of bandages, the crust or shell that’s
plastered with bitumen, you know, and sub-
mummy wrapped in
jected the
bandages, to the fluoroscope
— its inner
?”
"Yes? And Monsieur
then, de Grandin
prompted as Dr. Taylor paused so long it
seemed he had no more to say.
"That’s just it, Dr. de Grandin. It isn’t
well at all. What I’ve found confirms my
first suspicions that I’ve an unlucky’
he had to, and finally smuggled the thing
mummy on my hands. out disguised as a crate of Smyrna sponges;
"Woeltjin, Dr. Oris Woeltjin, found this got it as far as Liverpool, and died.
mummy in a cleverly hidden tomb between "The mummy knocked around the
Nagada and Der El-Bahri, on the very east- wharves and warehouses at Liverpool for al-
ern border of the Lybian Desert, territory most two years, the war kept it there still
given up as thoroughly worked over years longer, but finally it arrived, and—believe it
ago. While they were excavating two of his

jallaheen were bitten by tomb spiders and
or not! — our shipping department actually
took it for a lot of sponges and let it lie
died in terrible convulsions. That in itself around our storeroom almost two more
was unusual, for while the Egyptian tomb years. The curator discovered it purely by
spider’s an ugly-looking brute, he’s not par- accident last week. Well, with that back-
ticularly venomous; I’ve been bitten by ’em ground, what I found yesterday just about
half a dozen times and not suffered half as confirmed my suspicions that the thing’s un-
much as when stung by a scorpion. This lucky.”
must have impressed the rest of his work-
men, too, for they deserted in a body, but ULES DE GRANDIN leaned forward in
Woeltjin stuck it out, and with the help of
such neighborhood men as he could hire for
J his chair. "Non d’un million moustiques
pestiferes, Monsieur what was
,
it you dis-
double wages he finally reached the funerary covered?” he demanded. “Me, I am con-
chamber. sumed with curiosity.”
"That was only the beginning. He had Taylor smiled a trifle grimly. "The fluoro-
the devil’sown time getting down the Nile scope revealed the bony structure of the
with it.Half the crew of his dehabeeyah chest had been broken. Either she had died
came down with some sort of mysterious from an injury in what corresponded to the
fever, several of ’em died and all the rest
went overside, so it was almost two weeks took a sip of brandy
— —
modern traffic accident, or” he paused and
“she suffered death
before he’d finished a trip which in ordinary by a ritual roughly corresponding to the
circumstances would have taken five days at peine forte et dure of the medieval English
most. The Egyptian government doesn’t let criminal courts —
crushed to death beneath a
you take a mummy out these days, but great pile of rocks, you know.”
Woeltjin was an old hand at the game. He "But it might have been an accident,” I
wheedled where he could and bribed where objected. "Those two-wheeled chariots of
12 WEIRD TALES
hear unlucky mummies talked of, but any
ancient days weren’t very stable vehicles,
and it would have been quite possible
— Egyptologist can cite instance after instance
"Possible, but not probable, in view of of 'accidents’ occurring to those who come
what the papyrus says,” Dr. Taylor cut in. in contact with the mummies of those who
"I found the sheet of writing tucked be- died under interdict.”
tween two layers of bandages surrepti-— "What else did the papyrus say or have —
tiously, I’d say — just after I’d
fluoroscopic inspection.”
completed my you gotten any farther?” I asked.
"Humph, The farther I get into it the
De Grandin tweaked the needle-points of more I’m puzzled. You know something of
his small wheat-blond mustache, "liens. Egyptian medical ideas?”
Monsieur, why do you torment us thus, mak- "A little,” Jules de Grandin admitted,
ing a long story still longer? What did it "but I would not presume to discuss them
say, this twenty-times-accursed papyrus of with you, Monsieur.”
yours?”
"Plenty,” Dr. Taylor answered. "I
haven’t finished translating it, but even its TAYLORpliment.
smiled appreciation of the com-
They
beginning has an air of eerie mystery. She "They had some odd notions.
describes herself as Nefra-Kemmah, servant thought, for instance, that the arteries con-
of the Most High Mother, the Homed One, tained air, that the seat of the emotions was
the Lady of the Moon —
in fine, a priestess the heart, and that anger generated in the
©f the Goddess Isis. You get the implica- spleen.”
tion?” "Perfectly,” de Grandin nodded.
I shook my head; de Grandin leveled one "But they were far in advance of their
of his unwinking cat-stares at our host, but contemporaries, and even of the Greeks and
made no answer, Romans, for they had partly grasped the
"The priestess of Isis, unlike the servants truth that reason resided in the brain. Re-
of all other Mother-Goddesses of ancient member that, for what comes next ties in
days—Aphrodite and Tanith, for instance — with it.
were vowed to chastity and were as com- "The Egyptians were probably the " first
pletely celebate as Vestal Virgins or Chris- great people of antiquity to formulate a defi-
tian nuns. If one of them forgot her sacred nite idea of immortality. That was their
obligations even to the small extent of look- reason for mummification of their dead.
ing at or speaking to a man outside the They believed that when three thousand
priesthood the consequences were decidedly years had passed the soul returned to claim
unpleasant. If she, as the saying goes, 'loved its body, and without a fleshy tenement to
not wisely but too well,’ death by torture welcome it, it would have to wander bodi-
was the penalty. This might take several less and homeless in Amend, the realm of
forms. Burial alive, wrapped and bandaged the damned. As the Priestess Nefra-Kem-
like amummy, but with the face exposed to mah lived during the XVIIIth Dynasty —
permit breathing, was one form of inflicting roughly somewhere between 1575 and 1359
the punishment. Another was to crush her B.C., she should now
be about ready
—
erring heart to pulp beneath a great pile of "Ah?” murmured Jules de Grandin. "Ah-
stones. ...” ha? You think—”
"
Parbleu de Grandin murmured. "This "I don’t think anything. I’m only puz-
nates
—
poor one, then, v/as one of those unfortu- zled. Instead of praying to the gods to guide
her wandering ka or vital principle back to
it. She was a priestess,
"All signs point to her waiting body, Nefra-Kemmah asserts
vowed to chastity on pain of death; her ribs states positively —
she will rise again with
have been crushed in; her coffin bears no in- the help of one who lives, and by the power
scription, not even so much as a brush mark. of the brain. That is absolutely unique.
It seems not only death, but oblivion had Never before, to, my knowledge, has such a
been her potion. Nov/, perhaps, you under- thing been heard of. Even those who died
stand why I’m inclined to be jumpy. It’s all apostate sought the pity of the gods and
right to say 'stuff and nonsense’ when you begged forgiveness for their sin of unbelief.
beseeching divine assistance in attaining their sentence to oblivion she would rise
resurrection. This little priestess declares again, she interests me.”
categorically she will rise again with the
help of a living human being and by the T MUST have been toward three o’clock
power of the brain.” He drew an envelope I when the persistent ringing of the tele-
from his pocket and scribbled a notation on phone awakened me. The voice that came
it. across the wire was agonized, almost hysteri-
"Repeatedly I found these idiographs,” cal, but doctors get used to that. "This is
he told us as he held the paper out for our Granville Taylor, Trowbridge. Can you
inspection.
"The first one signifies ’arise,’ or, by ex- .”
—
come right over? It’s Vella she’s had some
sort of seizure. . .
tension,7 shall arise,’ and the second means "What sort?” I intempted. "Does she
almost, though not quite, the same thing. complain of pain?”
’Awake,’ or 7 shall aivake to life.’ And
always, she repeats that she will do it by
"I don’t know
She’s unconscious —
if
perfectly rigid, and
—
she's in pain or not.
the power of the brain, which complicates "I’ll be there just as fast as gasoline can
the message still farther.” bring me,” I assured him as I hung up and
"How’s that?” I asked. fished for the clothes which years of prac-
tice had taught me to keep folded on a bed-
a TT7HY, if she’s a mummy she can have side chair.
» ' no brain. One of the first steps of "What makes, mon vieux?” de Grandin
Egyptian embalming was to withdraw, the asked as he heard me stirring. "Is it that
brain by means of a metallic hook inserted Monsieur Taylor has met with the accident
through the nose.” he feared — •”
"She surely must have known that,” I "No, it’s his daughter. She’s had some
began, but before our host could answer we sort of seizure, he says —
she’s rigid and un-
heard laughter on the porch, a key clicked in conscious.”
the front door, and Vella Taylor swept into "Pardieu, that pretty, happy creature? Let
the drawing room with an unusually good- me go with you, my friend, if you please.
looking young soldier in her wake. "Hullo, Perhaps I can be of assistance.”
Daddy-Man,” she greeted as she planted a Her father had not overstated her condi-
quick kiss on Taylor’s bald spot. "Good tion when he said that Vella was rigid.
evening, Dr. Trowbridge —
Dr. de Grandin. From head to foot she was as stiff as some-
This is Harrock Hall, my most ’special-par- thing frozen; taut, hard as a hypnotist’s as-
ticular boy friend. Sorry, I couldn’t be here sistant in a trance. We
could not chafe her
for dinner tonight, but Harrock’s ordered hands for they were set so stiffly that the
away to camp early tomorrow, so I ran flesh was absolutely unyielding. It might
around to his house. It wouldn’t have have been a lovely waxen tailor’s dummy
seemed fair to have taken him from his over which we bent rather than the happy,
mother and father on his last night home, vibrant, vital girl to whom we’d said good-
and I knew I wanted to be with him just as night a few hours before. Treatment was
—
much as possible, so what’ re you folks futile. She lay as hard and rigid as if petri-
drinking? Cognac?” She made a face sug- fied. As if she had been dead, her tempera-
gestive of vinegar mixed with castor oil. ture was exactly that of the surrounding at-
"Vile stuff! Come on, treasure,” she linked mosphere, the uncanny hardness of the flesh
her hand in the young soldier’s. "Let’s us persisted, and she was unresponsive to all
see if we can promote some Benedictine and stimuli, save that the pupils of her set and
Spanish brandy. That’s got a scratch and
tastes good, too.”
"You will inform us of developments?”
de Grandin asked as we prepared to go.
"This so remarkable young lady who had
courage to defy the priests who had con-
demned her and declared that in spite of
14 WEIRD TALES
staring eyes showed slight contraction when De Grandin was regarding her intently
we There was prac-
flashed a light in them. with that fixed, unwinking stare which I
ticallyno pulse perceptible, and when we had seen him hold for minutes when we
drove a hypodermic needle in her arm to were in the amphitheatre of a hospital and
administer a dose of strychnine, there was a piece of unique surgery was in progress.
no reflex flinching of the skin, and the im- He waved an irritated hand at me, but
pression we had was more like thrusting a neither spoke nor shifted the intentness of
needle through some tough waxy substance his gaze.
than into living flesh. As far as we could The flow of senseless words grew slower,
see vital functions were suspended. Yet she thinner, as though the force behind the
was not paralyzed in the ordinary sense of twitching red lips were lessening, but the
the term. 'Of that much we were certain. weird soft chant continued its four soft
"Is — is it epilepsy?” Dr. Taylor asked minor notes slurred endlessly. Now her
had a brother enunciation seemed more and
—
fearfully.
who
“Her mother
most without
perfect,
effort we could recognize a
al-
"Non, calm yourself, my friend,” soothed phrase that kept recurring: O Nefra-Kem-
de Grandin. “It is not the epilepsy, of that I —
mah nehes Nehes, O Nefra-Kemmah!”
can assure you.” To me he added in a whis- "Good God!” exclaimed Dr. Taylor.
per: "But what it is le bon Dieu only “D’ye get it, gentlemen? She’s chanting,
knows!” Nefra-Kemmah awake Arise, O Nefra-
'
,
—
The dawn was brightening in the east Kemmah!’ Nefra-Kemmah was the name of
when she began to show signs of recovery. I told you of last night,
that priestess of Isis
The dreadful stiffness, so like rigor-mortis, remember? In her delirium she’s identify-
gave way gradually, and the set and horrified ing herself with the mummy!”
expression of her eyes was replaced by a "She probably heard you talking of it
look of recognition. The rigid, hard lines "I’m hanged if she did. You were the
faded from her cheeks and jaw, and her only two to whom I’ve mentioned it outside
slender bosom fluttered with a gasp of res- the Museum. I knew de Grandin has a taste
piration as a little sigh escaped her. The for the occult, and you were to be relied on,
words she spoke I could not understand, for Trowbridge, but as for mentioning that
they were uttered in a mumbling undertone, —
mummy to anybody else no! D’ye think I’d
strung together closely, like an invocation want my daughter to think me a supersti-
hurriedly pronounced, but it seemed to me tious old fool, or would I court the pitying
they had a harsh and guttural sound, as smiles of other outsiders? I tell you she
though containing many consonants, utterly
unlike any lanuguage I had ever heard be-
—
never heard that cursed
yet
mummy’s name,
fore. "S-h-sh, she awakes,” de Grandin warned.

Now the whisper gave way to a chant, Vela Taylor looked from Jules de Gran-
sung an eerie rising cadence with a
softly in din to me, then past us to her father.
sharply accented note at the end of every "Daddy!” she exclaimed. "O, Daddy, dear,
measure. Over and over, the same meaning- I’ve been so frightened!”
less jargon, a weird and wavering tune "Frightened, dear? Of what?” Taylor
vaguely like a Gregorian chant. One single dropped to his knees beside the bed and
word I recognized, or thought I did, though took her hands in his. "Who’s been trying
whether it really were a word or whether my to scare my little girl?”
mind broke Its syllables apart and fitted
them to the sound of a more or less familiar HE smiled a ruefully. "I
little I don’t —
name I could not be sure; but it seemed to S quite know,” she confessed, "but who-
me that constantly recurring in the rapid ever set out to do it surely got away with it.
flow of mumbled invocation was a sibilant "I think if must have been those horrible
disyllable, much like the letter s said twice old men.”
in quick succession. "Old men. Mademoiselle?” de Grandin
"Is she trying to say 'Isis’?” I asked, rais- echoed. "Who and where were they, one
ing my eyes from her fluttering lips. asks to know? Tell me and I shall have
(lords of the ghostlands 1?
great pleasure in kicking their false teeth moonlight, almost as bright as day. It was a
out — long, wide, lofty collonaded building. I
“Oh, they weren’t really men at all, just thought at first from what I’d heard Daddy
dream-images, I suppose. But they seemed say that it must be a temple of some sort,
terribly real, and oh, how dreadfully afraid and in a moment I was sure of it, for I could
of them I was!” hear the tinkling of sistra shaken in unison,
"Tell us of it, if you please, ma belle. and the low, sweet chanting of the priest-
You have suffered a severe shock. Perhaps it esses. They knelt in a long double row, those
was the result of nightmare, perhaps not; at sweet, slim girls, all gowned in robes of
any rate, if you can bring yourself to discuss white linen, with bands of silver set with
the painful subject — ”
lapis lazuli bound about their brows. Their
"Of course, Talking of it may help
sir. heads were bowed and their hands raised
sweep my memory clear. Harrock left a and held at stiff right angles to their wrists
little after you he had to catch an
did, for as they sang softly. Presently a young man
early train this morning, and I came right came into the temple and walked slowly to-
upstairs and cried myself to sleep. Sometime ward the altar-place. Despite the fact his
this morning —
I don’t quite know when, but head was shaven smooth, I thought him ut-
it must have been a little before three, for terly beautiful, with full red lips, a firm,
the moon had risen late and it was very strong chin and great, soft, thoughtful eyes.
bright when I awakened —
I woke up with a He kept his gaze fixed on the tiles as he
dreadful sense of thirst. It must have been walked toward the altar, but just before he
that crying made me feel so, I. can’t account put aside the silver veil that hung before the
for it otherwise; at any rate I was utterly de- face of Isis he glanced back and his eyes fell
hydrated, and went to get a glass of water with a sort of sad reproachfulness upon the
from the bathroom tap. When I came back kneeling girl nearest him. I saw a flush
tomy room the first thing that I noticed was mount up her throat and cheeks and brow,
that a single shaft of moonlight was slanting and she bent her head still lower as she
through the window and striking full upon sang, but somehow, though she gave no
the mirror,” she gestured toward the full- sign, I knew a thought-message had passed
length glass that stood against the farther between them. Then slowly he passed be-
wall. “Something, I don’t know what, yond the veil and was gone.
seemed urging me to go and look into the "Suddenly to the chanting of the priest-
glass. When I stopped before it, it seemed esses was joined the heavier chant of men
the moonlight had robbed it of its power of singing in a sort of harsh harmony. Instinc-
reflection. I couldn’t see myself in it at all.” tively I knew what was transpiring. The
"Ah?” de Grandin nodded. "You cast no young man I had seen had gone into the
shadow?” sanctuary of Great Isis to become one of her
"None at
all, sir. Instead, the mirror priests. He was being initiated into her mys-
seemed be glossed over with a layer of
to teries. She would flood him with her spirit,
opaque silvernot quite opaque, either, but and he would be hers for eternity. He would
rather irridescent. I could see small points put away the love of woman and the hope
of light reflected in it, and somehow they of children, and devote himself whole-
seemed moving, whirling round and round heartedly to the service of the Great All-
each other like a swarm of luminous midges, Mother. The priestess I had seen blush knew
and burning with an intense blue, cold it,too, for I could see the tears fall from be-
flame. Gradually the glowing pinpoints of neath her lowered lids, and her slender body
light changed from their spinning to a slow, shook with sobs which she could not control.
weaving pattern. The luminous sheet they “Then slowly, as if steam were forming
spread across the mirror seemed breaking on the mirror, everything became cloudy,
up, forming a definite design of highlights and in a moment the scene in the temple was
and shadows. It was as if the mirror were completely hidden, but gradually the vapot
a window and through it I looked out upon cleared away and I was looking out into
another world. bright daylight. The sun shone almost daz-
"The place I looked into was bright with zlingly on a temple’s painted pylon. In the
16 WEIRD TALES
forecourt sacred birds were feeding, and
-the as one of those magicians the Greeks call
jets of water glinted jewel-bright from a polyphonists,who make a stick or stone of
fountain. A
woman walked across the court- brute beast seem to talk because they have
yard toward the splashing fountain, the the power of voice-throwing?’
priestess I had seen before. She was robed "Once more the scene shifted, and I
in a white linen shift that left her bosom looked out upon a moonlit night. The stars
and her ankles bare. Sandals of papyrus seemed almost within reach overhead, and
shod her slender henna-reddened feet, and there blew such a soft perfume on the moon-
jewels were on her arms. A band of silver drenched air that you could almost see it
set with lapis lazuli crowned the hair which take shape like dancing butterflies. In the
she wore cut in a shoulder-length bob. In deep blue shadow of the temple pylon
one hand she held a lotus bud and with the crouched the priest and priestess, clinging to
other she balanced a painted water pot on each other with the desperation of denied
her bare shoulder. love. I saw her rest her curling shoulder-
length-cut hair upon his shoulder, saw her
^QUDDENLY, from the deep shadow turn her face up to his with eyes closed and
kJ by the high temple gate, an old
cast lips a little parted, saw him kiss her brow,
man He was very feeble, but his
tottered. her closed eyes, her yearning, eager mouth,
rage and hatred seemed to impart power to her pulsing throat, the gentle swell of her
his limbs as wires moved a marionette. By bare bosom .then like a pack of hounds
. .
his red robe and blue -turban and his flowing saw the Hebrews
that rush in for the kill, I
milk-white beard, no less than by his fea- pounce upon him. Knives flashed in the
tures, I knew him to be a Hebrew. He moonlight, curses hard and sharp as knife-
planted himself in the girl’s path and let blades spewed from their lips. 'Apostate
forth a perfect spate of invective. Of their swine, turncoat, backslider, renegade!’ they
actual words I could hear nothing, but sub- called him, and with every bitter curse there
jectively I seemed to know what passed be- was another biting stab. He fell and lay
tween them. He was reviling her for upon the from
sands, his life-blood spurting
proselyting his son from the worship of the a dozen mortal wounds, and as his murder-
Lord Jehovah, for the Jewish youth, it ers turned away I seemed to hear the patter
seemed, had seen her and gone mad with of bare feet upon the tiles, and half a dozen
love of her, because her vows made it impos- shaven-headed priests of Isis came running.
sible for them to wed, he had abjured his 'What passes here?’ there leader, an old
race and kin and God to take the vows of man, panted angrily. 'Thou Jewish dogs, if
Isis, so that he might be near her in the thou hast —
-temple and commune with her in common "The leader of the assassins interrupted
worship of the goddess. with a scornful laugh: 'Naught passes here,
“The little priestess heard the old man old bare-poll, all is passed. We
took one of
through, then turned away contemptuously your priests and priestesses red-handed in
with a curt, 'Jewish dog, thou snarlest infidelity. The man we dealt with, for afore-
fiercely, but wherewith hast thou teeth to time he had been one of us; the woman we
bite?’ and the old man raised his hands to leave to thy vengeance, ’tis said thou hast a
heaven and called a curse on her, declaring way of treating such.’
she should find no peace in life or death “I saw the priests seiz,e the poor, stricken,
until atonement had been made; until she trembling girl and lead her unresistingly
burned against the heathen gods she wor- away.
shipped and bore testimony to their down- “Then once again the mirror clouded, and
fall through another’s lips. when it cleared I was looking full into the
"
'How sayest thou, old dotard?’ asked the little priestess’ face. She seemed to stand
girl. 'Our gods are powerful and everlast- directly behind the glass, as close as my own
ing. We rule the world by their favor. Is it reflection should have been, and she held
likely that I should turn from them? And if out her hands beseechingly to me, begging
I did, how
could it be that I should speak me to -help her. But my power of under-
through the lips of another? Shall I become standing was gone. Though I saw her lips
move in appeal I could make nothing of the barring my way. I turned toward the bed
words she strove so desperately to pro- and they shrank back toward the comers of
nounce, although she seemed repeating the room. Then I lay down and closed my
something with a deadly, terrible insistence. eyes. 'I’ll count up to a thousand,' I said,
"Then suddenly I felt a dreadful cold 'When I’m done counting I’ll open my eyes,
come in the air, not the chill of the wind and they’ll be gone.’
from the opened window, but one of those "But they weren’t. In every corner of the
subjective chills we sometimes have that room they hunched and crouched and
make us say, 'Someone is walking over my panted, waiting the moment to pounce.
grave.’ Instinctively I felt the presence of "I felt stark panic hammering at me; ter-
another person in my
bedroom. Someone ror yammered at my will, abysmal fear
no, something had come in while I watched ripped at my and when I tried to
nerves,
the changing pictures in the mirror. call to Daddy I could make no sound. A
"I turned to look across my shoulder dreadful weight seemed pressing on me, so
and there they were. I think that there were heavy I could not endure it; I felt it crushing
five of them, though possibly there were out my breath, cracking my ribs, breaking
—
seven old men in long white robes with every bone in my body. My eyes seemed
dreadful masks upon their faces. One wore starting from could feel my
my face, I
a bull’s head, another a mask like a jackal, tongue protruding from my mouth, and .
another had a falsef ace -like a giant hawk’s “Yes, Mademoiselle, and then?” de
a lion’s face
—
head, and still another wore a headdress like Grandin prompted as she ceased talking
with a shudder.
“If they were masked how did you know "Then I saw you and Dr. Trowbridge and
they were old men?” I asked. my own dear Daddy standing by me, and
"I kneiv Their eyes were bright with a
it. the terrible old men had gone away. You
fierce, supernatural light, the kind of gleam won’t let them come back, will you?”
that only those who are both old and wicked "Be assured, Mademoiselle, if they come
have in their eyes, and the flesh of their back while I am here they shall indubitably
forearms had shrunk away from the muscles, wish they had not. Now it is time for you to
leaving them to stand out like thick cords. get some rest and gather bade your strength.
Their hands and feet were knotty and mis- "Will you prepare the hypo, good Friend
shapen with the ugliness of age, and the Trowbridge?” he asked me.
bones and tendons showed like painted lines
TVYE what Vella saw was the
against the skin.
"They grouped behind me in a semi-
circle, staring at me menacingly, and though
<S
U realize
Infernal Assizes of
Taylor whispered as we
Old Egypt?” Dr.
tiptoedfrom the
they made no sound I knew that they were bed chamber.
threatening me with something dreadful if "The Infernal Assizes?” I repeated.
I acceded to the little priestess’ entreaty. "Precisely. When a man died the Egyp-
"
you are dreaming,’ I told
‘Vella Taylor, tians believed his soul was led by Thoth and
myself, and closed my eyes and shook my Anubis to Amend, where it stood trial be-
head. When I opened them again the hor- fore the Judges of the Dead. These included
rible old masked men still stood there, but it hawk-headed Kebhsnauf, ape-headed Tau-
seemed to me they had come a step nearer. matet, dog-visaged Hapi, cat-headed Bes,
“The priestess in the mirror seemed to see and, of course, ox-headed Osiris. Similarly,
them, too, for suddenly she threw her hands when a living person was accused of here-
up as if to ward off a blow, made a frenzied sey, a court of priests made up to represent
gesture to me as if to warn me to escape, and the infernal deities tried him or her. The
turned away. Then she disappeared in Priestess Nefra-Kemmah must have stood
vapor, and I was left alone with those ter- trial before just such a tribunal.”
rific, silent shapes. ''Ah?” de Grandin murmured. "Ah-ha?
"
'I won’t be bluffed by anything so ut- Ah-ha-ha?”
terly absurd,’ I declared, and started toward "What is it?”
tire door. The masked men drew together, "I am persuaded, Frien4 Taylor, that
18 WEIRD TALES
what your daughter saw was more than The body that came gradually in view
'such stuff as dreams are made on’ or, to be— beneath the blue-white glare of the electric
more explicit, just such stuff as that of lights was not technically a mummy, though
which a dream is compounded, namely, the aromatic spices in the coffin and the
thought-force. Just what it is I do not know, sterile, arid atmosphere of Egypt had com-
but somewhere there is an influence running bined to keep it in a state of almost perfect
from the mummy of the Priestess Nefra- preservation. The feet, first parts to be ex-
Kemmah to Mademoiselle your daughter. posed, were- small and beautifully formed,
The poor, misfortunate priestess seeks her with long straight toes and narrow heels and
aid, the ghostly old ones would prevent it. high-arched insteps, the digits as well as the
The daylight quickens in the east, my friend. whole plantar region stained brilliant red
Soon it will be full day. We shall arrange •with henna. There was astonishingly little
to have a nurse attend Mademoiselle Vella, desiccation, and though the terminal ten-
and if you will be so kind we shall repair dons of the brevis digitorum showed promi-
to the Museum and inspect this precious nently through the skin the effect was by no
mummy of yours." means revolting; I had seen equal promi-
"H’m, that’s a bit irregular,” Taylor de- nence of felxor muscles in living feet where
murred. the patient had suffered considerable emaci-
And by damn-it, was it
“Irregular, ha? ation.
not irregular for Mademoiselle your daugh- The ankles, were sharp and shapely, the
ter to be vouchsafed a glimpse of the old legs straight and well turned, with the lean-
times, to watch the unfolding of the ro- ness of youth rather than the wasted look of
mance of those so sadly unfortunate lovers, death; the hips were narrow, almost boyish,
and to see the olden ones from the parapets the waist slender, and the gently swelling
pf hell come trooping into her bed chamber? bosom high and sharp.
Parbleu, I damn think yes!” "Morbleu, Friend Taylor, you had right
when you she had suffered grievous
said
W
crossed
ITHa precision rivaling that of a jew-
Dr. Taylor cut away the criss-
eler,
bandages of yellowed linen that
hurt before she died,” de Grandin mur-
mured as the waxed sack slid over the body’s
shoulders.
swathed the mummy of the Priestess Nefra- I looked across his shoulder and gulped
Kemmah. Yard after endless yard he reeled back an exclamation of horrified amazement.
off, finally coming to a strong, seamless The slimly tapering arms had been folded
shroud drawn sackwise over the body and demurely on the breast in accordance with
tied at the foot with a stout cord. The cloth Egyptian custom, but the humerus of the
of which the bag was made seemed stouter left arm had been cruelly crushed, resulting
and heavier than the bandages, and was in a compound comminutive fracture, so that
heavily coated with beeswax or some cera- an inch or more of splintered bone had
ceous substance, the whole being, appar- thrust through the skin above the deltoid at-
ently, both air- and water-tight. tachment. The same cruel blow that crushed
“Why, bless my soul, I never saw a thing the arm had smashed the bony structure of
like this before!” exclaimed Dr. Taylor. the chest, the third and fourth ribs had
'‘Monsieur, unless I am more greatly mis- snapped in two, and through die smooth
taken than I have any right to suppose, I skin underneath the breast a prong of bone
make no doubt there are at least a dozen protruded. "La pauvre!” de Grandin mur-
things in this case which will be novelties to mured. "Fi done! By damn-it, if I could but
come to grips with those who did this thing
you,” de Qrandin answered rather grimly.
"Come, cut away that seventeen-times- I should
— ” He paused in mid-word, pursed
damned sack. I would see what lies within his lips as if about to whistle, then whis-
it. pered half-thoughtfuily, half-gleefully,
"Ah-ha?” he exclaimed as with a gentle "Nom d’un pore vert, e’est possible!”
twitching motion Dr. Taylor worked the “What’s possible?” I demanded, but his
waxed bag upward from the mummy’s only answer was a shrug as he diverted his
shoulders. "Que diable?" gaze to the face exposed as Dr. Taylor drew
LORDS OF THE GHOSTLANDS
the sack away. The features were those of a and bones while retaining their contours had
woman in her early youth. Semetic in their been reduced to something less stable than
cast, they had a delicacy of line and contour talcum powder. Now, beneath the impact of
which bespoke patrician breeding. The nose the fresh damp air and Dr. Taylor’s gentle
was small, high-bridged, a little aquiline, handling the triturated body-substance be-
with slim, aristocratic nostrils. The lips gan crumbling. There was nothing horrify-
were thin and sensitive, and where they had ing in the process. Rather, it was as if we
retracted in the process of partial desiccation witnessed the slow disintegration of a lovely
showed small, sharp teeth of startling white- image moulded in sand or chalk-dust.
ness.The hair was black and lustrous, cut in "Sic transit bellitas mundi murmured
a shoulder-length bob that seemed amaz- Jules de Grandin as the shape before us lost
ingly modern, and bound about the brows its human semblance.- "At least we’ve seen
was a circlet of hammered silver set with her in the flesh, which is a thing those
small studs of lapis lazuli. For the rest, a wicked old ones never thought would hap-
triple-stranded necklace of gold and blue pen, and you, Alonsieur still have the coffin
enamel, armlets of the same design, and a
narrow golden girdle fashioned like a snake
and her priceless ornaments for souvenirs.
They are decidedly worthwhile, and
—
composed her costume. Originally a full, "Damn her coffin and her ornaments!”
plaited skirt of sheer white linen had been Dr. Taylor cut in sharply. "What frightens
appended to the girdle that circled her slim me is what this devilish business may do to
torso just beneath the bosom, but the fragile my girl. She’s already partially identified
fabric had not been able to withstand the herself with Nefra-Kemmah and saw a vi-
years of waiting in the tomb, and only one sion of the priestly court that condemned
or two thin whisps remained. her to be crushed to death beneath great
"La pauvre belle creature!” de
—
Grandin stones. If that vision keeps recurring isn’t —
repeated.
"I think
it were only possible
"If
we’d better wrap the body up sion
—
there some way we can break up this obses-
truth. I’m just a little nervous

—
again,” Dr. Taylor broke in. "To tell the "By blue, there is, Monsieur,” de Gran-
din assured him. "Precisely as a phobia may
“You fear,” de Grandin did not ask a be overcome by showing him who suffers
question, he made an assertion. “You fear from it that it has no basis, so we can clear
the ancient gods of olden Egypt may take the vision of those wicked old ones from
offense at our remaining here to speculate your daughter’s mind. Of that I am per-
upon the manner of this poor one’s death
or murder, one should say.” dox
—
suaded. But die treatment will not be ortho-
"Well, you must admit there’ve been "I don’t care what it is. D’ye realize her
some unexpected things happening in con- sanity may be at stake?”
nection with this mummy —
if you can call it "Perfectly, Monsieur, Have we your con-
that, for technically it’s never been’ em- sent to proceed?”
balmed at all, just preserved by the aroma- "Of course-—”
tics sprinkled in the coffin, and
— "Tres bon. Tonight, at your convenience,
"One understands and agrees,” de Gran- we shall call at your house, and unless I am
din nodded. "There have been unexpected far more mistaken than I think, we shall
happenings, as you say, Friend Taylor, and give battle to and wrest a victory from those
unless I’m more mistaken than I think, there shapes that haunt the darkness. Yes. Cer-
will be more before we finish. I should say tainly. Of course.”
— gran Dieu cles pommes de terre, observe
her, if you please!”
As Dr. Taylor had reminded us, the body
had not been embalmed but merely pre-
A
phone
LL day he was
a bluebottle
as
fly.
busy and as bustling as
Calling on the tele-
repeatedly, swearing poisonously im-
served by the spices strewn around it and probable French oaths when he found our
the almost hermetic sealing of the coffin and Friend John Thunstone had been called
waxed shroud. It had been dehydrated in away from New York on a case, rushing to
the years since burial so that blood, tissue the Library to consult some books the libra-
20 WEIRD TALES
rianhad never heard of, but managed to dig bling red liquid from his thermos bottle, he
up from dust-hidden obscurity at his insist- traced a double interlaced triangle across the
ence; finally dashing to the wholesale poul- tiled floor and placed four chairs inside it.
try market to secure something which he "Now, Mademoiselle, if you will be so
brought home in a thermos bottle and kind,” he invited with a bow to Veila.
placed with loving care in the sterilizing She dropped into an armchair, hands
cabinet of the surgery. At dinner he was al- folded demurely in her lap, head lolling
most silent, absent-mindedly forgetting to back against the cushions.
request a third helping of the lobster cardi- The little Frenchman took his stand be-
nal, a dish of which he was inordinately fore her, drew out a small gold pencil and
fond, and almost failing to refill his glass held it vertically in front of her face.
with Poully-Fuisse a fourth time. "Mademoiselle,” he ordered, "you will
“You’ve figured everything out?” I asked please be kind enough to look at this at its —
as we began dessert. very tip, if you will. So. Good. Excellent.
"Corbleu, I' had,” he an-

only wish I Observe him closely.”
swered as he raised a forkful of apple tart to Deliberately, as one who beats time to a
his lips. "I used brave words to Monsieur slow andante tune, he v/ove the little gleam-
Taylor, Friend Trowbridge, but just being pencil back and forth, describing ara-
tween the two of us I do not know if I am besques and intricate interlacing figures in
right or wrong. I grope, I feel my way, I the air. Vella watched him languidly from
stumble in the dark like a blind man in an under long black lashes, but gradually her
unfamiliar street. I have an hypothesis, but attention became fixed. We saw her eyes
it cannot yet be called a theory, and there is follow every motion of the pencil, finally
not time to test it. I warn you, what we do converge toward each ocher until it seemed
tonight may be dangerous. You can ill be she made some sort of grotesque grimace;
spared to suffering humanity, my friend. then the lids came down across her great
The sick and ailing need your help. If you dark eyes and her head moved slightly side-
prefer to stay at home while I give battle wise as her neck muscles relaxed. Fler
to these olden forces of evil I shall not feel folded hands fell loosely open on her velvet
—
offended. It is not only your privilege, it is
almost your duty to remain away
dad knees, and she was, to all appearances,
sleeping peacefully. Presently the regular,
"Have I ever let you down?” I broke in light heaving of her bosom and her softly
reproachfully. “Have I ever stayed behind sibulated, regular light breathing told us she
because of danger — •”
had indeed fallen asleep.
"Non, par la barbs d’un bouc vert, that De Grandin returned the pencil to his
you have not, brave comrade.” he denied. pocket, put his fists upon his hips and held
"You may not be a. trained occultist, but his arms akimbo as he regarded her steadily.
what you lack in training you make up in “You ca.n hear me, cannot you, Mademoi-
courage and loyalty, dear friend. You are selle?” he demanded.
one in twenty million, and I love you, "I can hear you,” she repeated drowsily.
vieux comrade, may the devil serve me hot "Bien. You moment, then, as
will rest a
with sauce bordelaise for his dinner if I do the inclination moves you, say whatever
not!” comes into your mind. You understand?”
“I understand.”
HORTLY after nine o’clock that evening For something like five breathless minutes
S we gathered in the recreation room of we waited in silence. I could hear the great
—
Dr. Taylor’s house. Vella, looking little clock in the hall above: "Tick-tock tick-
worse for her attack of the night before, was tock!” and the soft hiss of a green log burn-
wearing a black velvet dinner dress, quiet ing in the fireplace, then, gradualy, but cer-
and unadorned, save for a great intricate tainly, for no reason I could think of, the
gold pin which emphasized by contrast the room began to grow colder. A hard, dull
ivory of her complexion and the dark misti- bitterness of cold thatseemed to affect the
ness of her black hair. well as the body pervaded the at-
spirit as
De Grandin set his stage precisely. Drib- mosphere; a biting, searing cold suggestive
LORDS OF THE GHOSTLANEQ 21
of the limitless freezing eternities of inter- "Behold me, awesome judges of the liv-
stellar space. ing and the dead, am I not a woman, and a
!”
" Ah-ha I heard de Grandin’s small woman shaped for love? Are not my mem-
strong teeth click sharply, like a pair of bers beautiful to see, my lips like apricots
castanets. "Ah-ha-ha\ It seems you did not and pomegranates, my eyes like milk and
wait a second invitation, Messieurs las beryl, my breasts like ivory set with coral?
Singe ries.” How they came there I had no Yes, mighty ones, I am a woman, and a
idea, but there they were —
a semi-circle of woman formed for joy.
old men in flowing robes of 'white linen, "Was it my fault or my volition that I
masked with headgear simulating hawks, was pledged to serve the Great All-Mother
jackals, lions, apes and oxen. They stood in or ever I had looked upon the daylight? Did
a grim, silent crescent, looking at us with I abjure the blissful agony of love and seek
dull, lack-luster eyes, the very embodiment a life of sterile chastity, or was the promise
of inhibitory hatred. spoken for me by another’s lips?
"Mademoiselle,” de Grandin whispered, "I gave ail that a woman has to give, and
"the time has come for you to speak, if you gave it gladly, knowing that the pains of
callAnd the words.” death, and after death the torment of the
The sleeping girl moaned softly, tried to gods awaited me, nor do I deem the price
articulate, then seemed to choke upon a too high a one to pay.
word.
The semi-circle of grim silent watchers “yE FROWN. Ye shake your dreadful
moved a step nearer, and the cold that -i-heads upon which rest the crowns of
theretofore had been a mere discomfort be- Amun and of Kneph, of Seb and Tem, of
came a positive torture. The nearest of the Suti, and Osiris’ mighty self. Ye whisper
shadowy masked figures reached the point one to other that I speak sacrilege. Then
of one of the interlaced triangles, paused hear me yet awhile: She who stands in
irresolutely a moment, then shrank back. chains before you, shorn of all reverence as a
"Sa-ha, Monsieur Tete de Singe, you do priestess, stripped of all honor as a woman,
?”
not like him, hein de Grandin asked with tells ye this to your teeth; knowing that ye
a short spiteful laugh. "Have patience. cannot do her greater hurt than she stands
Monsieur Monkey-Face; there is to come prejudged to endure. Your reign and that
that which you will like still less.” He of those ye serve draws to 'a close. A little
glanced across his shoulder at the girl. while ye still may strut and preen yourselves
"Speak, Mademoiselle. Speak up and fear and mouth the judgments of your gods, but
no evil!” in the days to come your very names shall be
"Lords of the Ghostland,” came a voice forgot save when some stranger from an-
from Vella Taylor’s lips, but it was not her other time and place drags forth your with-
voice. There was an indefinable and eerie ered mummies from the tomb and sets them
undercurrent to the tone that sent a shiver up to make a show of. Aye, and the gods ye
tingling up our spines. Her words were serve shall be forgotten. They shall be sunk
slurred and langorous, yet strangely mechan- so low that none shall be found in the world
ical, though an unseen hand were play-
as to do them reverence; none to call on their
ing a gramaphone: names, not even as a curse, and in their
"Revered and dreadful judges of the ruined temples there shall not be found a
worlds of flesh and spirit, ye awful ones who living thing except the fearful, whimpering
sit upon the parapets of hell, I answer guilty jackal and the white-bellied lizard.
to the charge ye bring against me. Aye, "And who shall do this thing to them
Nefra-Kemmah who stands, now before ye and ye? An offspring of the Hebrews. Yea,
on the brink of deathless death, whose body from the race of him I loved and for whose
waits the crushing stones of doom, whose sake I trod my vows of cold sterility into
spirit, robbed forever of the hope of fleshly the desert sand, from that race that ye
tenement, must wander -till time blends into despise and hate shall come a child and
eternity, confesses that the fault was hers, unto Him shall be all glory. He shall put
and hers alone. down your gods beneath His feet and spoil
22 < WEIRD TALES
them of they shall become but
all respect; light draft from the open fireplace where
shadow-gods of a forgotten past. the logs blazed, and —suddenly they were
"My name ye’ve stricken from the roll gone.
of priestesses of the All-Mother; no writ- " Fini —triom phe—acheve— parfait!” de
ing shall be graven on my tomb or coffin, Grandin drew a silk handkerchief from his
and I shall be forgotten for all time by cuff and wiped his brow. "Ye were strong
men and gods. So reads your dreadful and hateful, Messieurs les Revenants, but
judgment. Jules de Grandin he is strong, too, and
"Ye hoary-headed fools, I hurl the lie when it comes to hating morbleu, who
into your teeth! Upon a day in the far knows his power better than you?”
future men from a strange land shall delve
into the tomb where ye have laid me and
take forth my body from it, nor shall your
spite and hatred stop them till they’ve
W HAT was that stuff you sprinkled on
the floor of Taylor’s recreation room
before we began tonight, and why did it
looked upon my face and seen my broken hold back those dreadful shadowy forms
bones and heard the story of my love for while Vella spoke?” I asked him as we
theHebrew who for my sake abjured his drove homeward.
God and became a shaven-headed servant He broke off the tune he 'hummed with
of the great All-Mother. I swear that I shall a laugh. “It was pigeons’ blood, my friend.
tell the story of my love and death, and in I got it from the marchand de volatile this
another age and land strange men shall afternoon. As to why it held them back,
hear my name and weep for me but your — tnorbleau, I am as much at sea as you. It
names they shall never know. is one of those things we know without
"Ye think to cast me to oblivion? I tell understanding.

ye I shall triumph in the end, and it is ye “You know, by example, that in all an-
Who shall be utterly forgotten, nameless as cient religions the priest was wont to purify
the sands the wind pursues across the the altars with the blood of the sacrifices .
desert. — of the goats, lambs, doves or bullocks

"Pile your stones of doom upon my
now offered to the god?”
heart and still its fevered beating. To “Yes, I’ve heard that.”
death I go, but not from out the memory "And for why? Not that the blood is
of men as ye shall. I have spoken.” cleansing.Mais non. Blood is simply liquid

The girl’s voice ended on a weary little and very messy stuff indeed. Why,
tissue,
sob,
laughter
and de Grandin’s shout of
slashed the silence as a
spiteful
sword
then? Because, my friend”
——
he tapped me
solemnly upon the knee, "the blood con-
might slash through flesh. tained some secret, potent power to hold
"Andhast thou heard, thou animal-faced the god in check. He could not pass beyond
1
fools?” he asked. "Who prophesied the a circle traced in it. That kept him in his
truth, and who was caught in the web of place and kept him in control as one might
his own conceit, old monkey-faces? Take say. He could not swoop down on the con-
now your pale and breathless shades back gregation past that barrier of sacrificial
to that shadow-land from whence they blood, as long as that stood between him
came. Ye tried your evil best to keep her and them they were safe from his wrath
from revealing her story, and ye have failed. or spite or his capricious wish to do them
—
Go go quickly to oblivion. In nomine Dei,
I bid ye begone now and henceforth!”
hurt and injury. Yes. Of course. Very
good. The priests of Isis wet her altars with
He took a step toward the half -circle of the blood of doves. I secured a similar sub-
masked forms, and they gave ground before stance and with it traced a pentacle about
him. Another step, and they fell back an- us; the votaries of Isis, like their mistress,
other pace. They were wavering now, be- could not pass by that barrier; within it we
coming less substantial, more shadowy; as were safe. And then, pardieu, when Made-
he raised his hands and took a third step moiselle Vella had delivered Nefra-Kem-
toward them they seemed merely nebulous —
mah’s message to us shown those olden
gray vapor swirling and eddying in the ones their cruel and wicked judgment had
—
been set at naught then, morbleu, they he hummed. "Make haste, Friend Trow-
were completely undone. They had not bridge.”
strength nor spirit to oppose me when I "Why, what’s the hurry?”
ordered them to begone. Parbleu, I literally "It is dry work, this battling with those
laughed them out of existence!” He olden dusty ones, and just before we left
drummed gloved fingers on the silver knob for Monsieur Taylor’s I saw a man put a
of his short military cane: bottle of champagne in the frigidaire.”
Sucre de nom, “A man
Ron, ton, ron. aire?” I echoed.
put champagne
"Who — in our frigid-
La vie est breve,

— C est —
mot- I am the man, my friend,
La nuit est longue and mart d’un rat mort, how I do thirst!”
Skape of- Olirii$5 to Come ii!inni§!Uii£
THE MAN WHO CRIED “WOLF!

A great new horror novelette
by Robert Bloch
“The Shining Land” by Edmond Hamilton
Stay Harold f¥L W.

Bradbury Lawior Wellman
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WEIRD TALES iii!im!i!mu!iisiiiiHiim!i;
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I FOR MAY I
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By H. BEDFORD'JONES
ASPER CGNKLING is not a queer fel- toward the occult and that was all. Prob-
low at all. He is head of Conlding & ably he took me for a hard-headed un-
J Strauss, importers, a pretty

ness man, and like most men
keen busi-
who have at-
believer.
He was right about that.
I am.
tained sixty or so, knows a good deal that When he broke this story to me,I thought
he doesn’t broadcast. he had gone off his nut.
at first
As his lawyer and fairly intimate friend, "What would you say,” he began, "if I
I was aware that he had a certain leaning told you that my office safe contained a link
Heading fey A. R. TILBURNE

IN THE BEGINNING 25
with the philosophers, magicians and sooth- at work —though cannot yet explain its
I
sayers of past ages?" workings. I hope to do so later. If you’d care
“It’s entirely possible," I rejoined. He to take the notes I have regarding its origin
fingered his white goatee and mustache, and expand them into suitable form, you
smiled slightly, and his brilliant, piercing may do so.”
eyes twinkled at me. "Very well,”I said, to humor him. As a
"But if I went further and said that this client, his account was worth a large sum
link was articulate and could relate its history annually, I was not fool enough to
and
and experience in such a manner that these chuck it up.
could be made into coherent stories?” "But mind you,” he added gravely, "while
mind was slipping,” I
"I’d say your agile perhaps these memoirs cannot be substan-
some drugstore spook-
replied, "or else that tiated, the existence of this cup is a historical
chaserhad you under his thumb, which fact, as far bade as the sixth century ADat
amounts to the same thing.” the very least. Here are the notes; you weave
Hechuckled. "My boy. I’m going to sur- them into a yarn as you like.”
_
prise you. I’m telling you cold facts. Also, I took the bulky envelope of typed pages
they will be supported, or at least credited, he thrust at me, and when I got home laid
by the thousands of people who today are in them aside and, for a few days, forgot them.
more or less constant communication with Jasper Conkling’s talk of plain, practical
the other world.” things rather tarnished the gloss of illusion;
I relaxed. "Bosh! Jasper Conkling, have had he declared this to be arrant black magic,
you become converted at your age to the curiosity would have tempted me to jump
inane mouthings and doubletalk of spirit into it.
mediums and street-corner charlatans?" But the moment came when I opened the
"You misapprehend,’’ said he, with a envelope and delved into the typed pages,
quiet earnestness that was impressive. "I and from the very first sentence, the lure
grant you that professional mediums, spirit- took hold of me. "It is gainful knowledge
ists and so on are the bunk. I’ll go farther to make dead men speak the truth.” Curious,
and say that anyone, anyone, who exploits almost sinister words!
the occult for gain of any sort, is a rascal. If
he had some occult power in the first place, F —
THAT cup spoke the truth and I say
as many have had, and used it to these ends, I —
"spoke” advisedly what a strange link
itwas withdrawn from him. That is the first it made with Greek and Roman fumblings
law of the supernatural.” at the occult, with Gothic and Saracen necro-
"What the devil do you know about the mance, with wizardry of old France and Ger-
supernaural?” I demanded. He chuckled. many! The pages to hand dealt only with
He chuckled again. its origin. This was two thousand years ago,
"More than you’d imagine. On the other in the day when the sage Apollonius lived
hand, there are countless people today, and in Tyana and was world-famed as the master
always have been, who do possess occult of all wisdom, and beneath the shady old
knowledge or powers, unsuspected by any fig-tree by the harbor mouth sat deep-eyed
around them. They keep their mouths shut, Cleon, architect of the new temple being
wisely, about it. They have no dealings with built in honor of the earth-mother. A pleas-
the false prophets who chase the dimes and ant man, Cleon, an athlete until a falling
dollars of the credulous.” block of marble crushed one foot in youth;
“What do you mean? Can you rattle off now he limped, walking with a stick, and
some incantation and call up a ghost?” the Greeks who worshipped beauty turned
"My boy. I’m speaking of plain, common- their eyes from him, and the woman whom
sense, practical things, like the brass cup now he loved was forced to see him no more.
in my office safe. I can give you the notes Helen was her name, and Agias her father
of its memoirs, if I may so term them.” was president of the city council and a
“A cup?” I echoed. "Did you say a cup?” merchant whose ships traded to lands afar.
“I said a cup. A
brass cup.” His shrewrd If she could not see Cleon, at least she
blue eyes were twinkling again. "Later, if could and did go to Apollonius, the master
you’re interested. I can show you this object of healing, who was called a wizard because
26 WEIRD TALES
in his search for medicinal art, then thought But itwas too late; the hour had already
to be magical, he had traveled over the struck. Even -while they talked here, the
known world and had pierced the secret heavy-browed Agias and two other elders of
mysteries of all people. He was the only the council had been visiting the temple con-
Greek, other than Plato, to have passed the struction,
veil of Isis and gained the secrets of the Cleon received them hospitably, gave them
Egyptian masters, and now he was an old, seats in the shade of the wide fig-tree, and
old man who healed without fee and loved discussed his plans with them. He was sur-
all men, and was loved by them. prised by the friendliness of Agias; instead
Helen came to him and clasped him about of his usual hostility, the merchant showed
the knees, after themanner of .a Greek sup- confidence and warm approval of the work,
pliant, and broke into tears. She was a slim complimenting him highly.
golden creature, too slim for beauty the — "I would like your opinion on something,”
Greeks liked ’em plump but she had a — Agias said to him. "One of my ships, as you
way with her. When they called her Helen, know, has just arrived from Egypt she’s —
which meant "taker,” they were right. not yet unloaded. Well, Cap’n Hiram had a
“Help him, Apollonius!” she begged. chance to pick up several pillars from the
"Cleon is your friend; help him! They’re temple of Demeter at Tanis; that’s the Greek
plotting against him —my father, and that colony near Alexandria, you know a very —
rascalThyrax who hopes to marry me, and ancient city.”
Captain Hiram, the Sidonian shipmaster who "Oh!” exclaimed one of the councillors.
.serves my father.” "He brought them for our temple of Demeter
"What are they plotting?” demanded the here, did he?”
sage, blinking at her. Agias laughed. "That was his idea; but
"I don’t know. I can’t find out; but they can they be used?” He’s due at my house
mean to have his life. Thyrax hates him now with his reports. Why not come along,
because I love him. My father hates him everybody? And you, Cleon. I don’t know
because he limps, and is not wealthy, and whether you can use those pillars here; if
loves me. Captain Hiram is a hard, evil you can, I’ll contribute them gratis to the
man who hates everything and everyone.” work. And, by the way, he brought some
"Is that the master whose big galley is excellent wine of Cyprus. I’d like you to
just back from Alexandria, and lies un- try it.”
loaded at your father’s wharves?”
"Yes, yes. Oh, you must help Cleon! No
one else can help him. You can do anything,
and you are his friend.”
N O ONE had to be asked twice, and the
party set off at once for the pleasant
villa ofAgias in the upper town. On the
"But I cannot heal his injured leg, child,” way, Thyrax met and joined them, so that
said Apollonius sadly. "Many things I can- they made a round half-dozen in all.
not do. Wisdom can help itself, but can Cleon was a trifle suspicious of the
rarely help others. Still, Cleon is a brave fel- merchant’s sudden cordiality, and was well
low and has a heart of gold, and is beloved aware of the feelings of Thyrax he re-
by the gods. I’ll see what I can do.” ciprocated them fully, having no love for
She rose, all tears and laughter, and Sung this coldly scheming man who aspired to
her arms around him in joyous gratitude. Helen’s love. Praise of his work had dulled
Apollonius kissed her cheek, not without a the sharp edge of caution, however, and
when Captain Hiram joined the party and
sigh, and patted her shoulder,.
"There was a time ” he said, and
— spoke with admiration of his architectural
checked himself. "Why, child, these arms skill, Cleon quite warmed to the dark Si-
of yours are muscled like steel!” he ex- donian. Also, A.gias brought out a precious
claimed in surprise. "You make me afraid.” silver goblet from Crete, and insisted on
“Ox what?” she asked, smiling. toasting the architect of the new temple,
"The future,” he answered darkly. His which was a pleasant honor.
wisdom had many secrets. Now he would That Cyprian wine was rich and heady,
say no more, but put her from him and bade and the slaves kept the cups filled, and by
her return home and trust to him. the time they got around to discussing those
IN THE BEGINNING 27
pillars, Cleon had put away more than he . can’t support his own notions? You do well
realized. Captain Hiram’s warm praises were to be afraid, you rascally upstart!”
pleasant in his ears, too. "That’s the price of a first-class slave,”
"There are four of the pillars,” said the said Captain Hiram, laughing. "Match it
captain after another drink. "Not large, and with yourself, Cleon! Wager your freedom
instead of being plain they are exquisitely against the purse!”
sculptured. They have neither capitals nor This, eventually, was just what Cleon did.
bases
to
— marble
just the They
pillars.
have been brought from Greece long
are said
ago,
Infuriated by Thyrax, his judgment ruined
by the wine, he cast prudence to the winds,
and to have been carved by Pheidias him- A scribe was called. The wager was duly
self.” written out and witnessed by all present.
"But they’re Egyptian, all the same,” The columns were to be so placed as to be
spoke out Thyrax. The Sidonian assented. approved by the council and the citizens;
"Yes, of course.” failing which, Cleon was to be sold as a
"Andit’s quite impossible to use Egyptian slave and the money handed over to Thyrax.
pillars in a Greek temple. It can’t be done,” Success meant that the purse of gold would
asserted Thyrax positively. "The proportion go him. The time element wr as extended
to
and shape to amonth, however.
"Why, that’s nonsense,” broke in Agias. Captain Idiram promised to deliver the
"I never heard of such a thing! What do four columns on the morrow.
you say, Cleon? You’re an architect.”
It was too good a chance to set Thyrax
back on his heels. Cleon jumped at it.
"How high are they?” he asked.
NEWS of the wager spread like wildfire.
While the city was ruled by the council,
every citizen had a voice, and civic pride ran
"About eighteen feet,” Captain Hiram high; council and citizens were to be the
replied. "But damned heavy.” judges, and a good thing too. There would
"You set ’em down at my temple con- be no spoiling the looks of this temple to
struction, and I’ll put ’em up in a week,” please an architect’s whim. The average
he said confidently. "I have the exact place citizen was a pretty good judge of art, as
for them —
to hold up the cornice on the east well.
front. No other pillars there, so they won’t Yet the very thought of incorporating in
have to match anything else
”— this temple four pillars from the famous
"You’ll ruin the whole work!” exclaimed old city in the Nile delta, and said to have
Thyrax vehemently. "You’ll spoil the entire been carved by the hand of Pheidias himself,
temple and make the city ridiculous! I tell hundreds of years ago, was inspiring. Public
you it can’t be done!” sentiment was fairly balanced. No one cared
A
violent argument burst forth, consider- a hang whether the wager -were won or lost;
ably heated by the Cyprian wine. The city all that mattered was the temple, but this
councillors were in alarm lest the temple be mattered vitally, because heavy taxes had
ruined; Cleon was overjoyed to have Agias been levied to pay for it. The excitement
on his side against Thyrax, and stuck to his began to rise daily.
contention. Apollonius, who had been called over to
Captain Hiram could give no description Samos to help combat an outbreak of plague
of the columns, except that they were there, came back home to find a despairing
marvelously carved. note from Helen asking why he had not in-
Cleon tried to keep his head, but came tervened. He read it, heard the news from
close to blows with Thyrax, who finally his slaves, and shook his head. Donning a
threw a heavy purse on the table. clean white chlamys with scarlet border he —
"Five hundred pieces of gold says it can’t was not above a trifle of vanity in his old
—
be done and the city council to be the age —he took staff hand and stumped
in
judges!” said he furiously. downtown, his white hairs and venerable
nothing to match it
—
"That’s a fortune,” rejoined Cleon. "I’ve beard blowing in the breeze.
As usual, quite a crowd tagged after him,
"You have brains,” Thyrax countered for he was easily the most famous man in
mockingly. "What! The famous architect the city, and whenever he went abroad peo-
28 WEIRD TALES
pie thronged around begging for charms or For an hour, the matter was argued ©n
miraculous cures or bits of wisdom. every side. Apollonius told of how Helen
.
But today he sent them all packing, and had begged his aid; but now, as he said
made way to the new temple, where
his frankly, he was powerless to give any. The'
Cleon’s table was set beneath the shady fig- ingenuity of the trap was deadly. There
tree. The table was heaped with sketches was no escape from it. No possible way
and writing materials, and Cleon sat staring appeared in which those pillars, with their
at nothing. He jumped up as the sage ap- spindly narrowing bases, could be placed.
proached. "And yet,” said Apollonius thoughtfully,
"Pardon, master— I did not see you com- "Pheidias placed them and made them, and
ing. Here, take my stool.” he was the greatest sculptor and artist of
"You look like a stricken man, my the ages!”
friend.” “Then let him how,” said Cleon,
tell us
"So am I, by my own folly,” said Cleon. with a despairing laugh. "I’m done. So
'Tm a fool!” far as I can see, the thing’s impossible. I’ll
"No; you walked into a trap,” rejoined become a slave for life, and serves me right
Apollonius. know
about the wager; 1
“I for being a fool.”
tried to warn you, but it was too late. Tell The old man started slightly, at those
me the rest.” words.
Cleon walked over to one of the four “My son, Pheidias might indeed tell us,”
columns, laid nearby and covered with can- he said gravely. "There is a way.”
vas. He laid one of them bare. It was a "I’m not jesting,” snapped Cleon.
beautiful shaft of marble, barely six inches “Nor am I. I have never used this way,
thick at the bottom, rising and swelling this means, to talk with the dead; yet it is
until, halfway up, it became the figure of .
gainful knowledge to make dead men speck
the goddess Demeter, whose uplifted arms the truth! I heard from the priests in Egypt
were ready to support a cornice above. of the method. If you like, we may try it.
“Look at it!” he said bitterly. “The But first I must warn you.”
others are similar- —tiny shafts at the base, Cleon, startled, regarded him with com-
widening into full figures above.” prehension. "Do you speak of magic?”
"I see nothing wrong with it,” said Apol- “So it is called; whenever people do not
lonius. "Indeed, it seems exquisite. Of understand a thing, they call it magic. Yet
course, I am no architect. I can discourse I must warn you,” went on Apollonius ear-
of medicine, of healing herbs, or philoso- nestly. “A penalty is attached to the use of

phy and the wisdom of the gods.I deal with this method to serve personal ends, as in this
the clouds, not with stones.” case.”
'Tve been working over it for days, all "Anything’s better than slavery,” said
Cleon gloomily. "A pillar or
in vain,” said Cleon. “Even death. I’m not afraid of
column cannot rest upon so tiny a base death; but I dread slavery.”
there must be a pedestal of some sort. It "Death, to the uninformed, is always a
looks like a bottle upside down. Here, heavy thing, but the wise man smiles at it,”
glance at these sketches —
I’ve tried in every said the sage. “Have you any knowledge of
conceivable way to make the things look graving in metals?”
proper. It is impossible. No one knows "Every architect must have such knowl-
how they were placed in that temple in edge,” said Cleon.
Egypt. . . "Very well. Search in the shops for a
He raked over his countless sketches, cup of brass, good solid brass. It must be a
making the point clear. He had sketched span across the top, and at least a span
bases of every imaginable kind for those deep.”
four columns, and in every case they looked “Easily found,” said Cleon promptly.
grotesque. Apollonius suggested inverting "Ah, but you must work upon it! Inside
them; this was all very well, except that the this cup, a third of the -way down from the
figures would then be standing on their rim, you must engrave the letters of the
heads. alphabet, so that they run clear around the
IN THE BEGINNING 29
cup. And one outer edge of the rim, at-

to walls held cases of manuscripts. The house
tach a small brass ring. That is all. Do had been decorated by a Cretan artist, and
this, bring it to my house tomorrow evening, everywhere were seen the strange painted
and I shall furnish the rest." sea-monsters such as ranged in the palace of
"Master,” said Cleon, wide-eyed, "surely King Minos at Crete.
you do not deal in sorcery?” In the inmost chamber, an austere room
"You fool, haven’t I more sense, at my lighted by a tall bronze Etruscan lamp, was
age?” barked the philosopher. "I must see waiting Helen. She started up as Cleon en-
Agias now and arrange to have Helen come tered; he set down the cup and folded her
to my house also; she must take part in this in his arms —
a meeting of silent, tense emo-
work. Sorcery, magic, mumbo-jumbo, wiz- tion too deep for words.
ardry —
call it what you like. You have an "Where is Apollonius?” he asked at
educated brain and should know better. I length.
suppose you think I can mumble some in- "With my —
father oh, yes, he insisted on
cantation and pluck a demon out of the air! coming. Apollonius will manage him. I’m
Well, perhaps I could. At least, it can be supposed to be quite ill.” She laughed a
done.. But how am I to explain natural laws little and drew back. "Cleon! Is it ail true,
to idiots? This is merely natural causa- what Apollonius told me? Yes, of course it
tion. . . is —and —
yet, so strange, so incredible! But
Snorting in his beard, he seized his staff here he comes —
I hear his staff
and stumped away, still growling. Cleon The sage himself strode into the room
stared after him, then broke into a laugh. and greeted Cleon with a growl.
"Magic or not, what’s the difference?” he "Well! Agias is safe for the present.
said. "He’s lending his help, which is the Let’s see that cup.” He unwrapped the
main thing. Talk with the dead, indeed! brazen cup and inspected it. "Well enough.
I’d talk with the gods themselves or the Sit down, you two, at the table under the
Lord of Hades if it would get me out of lamp. Now don’t pester me with questions.
this trap!” Obey me, and fear nothing.”
Just the same, it was a trifle startling to The table-top was empty. A jar of water
talk in that matter-of-fact -way about speak- stood nearby, and taking it, Apollonius
ing, with the dead. What to Apollonious filled the cup partly full, until the water
was pure matter-of-fact, to others was apt was nearly up to the graven letters. He set
to be somewhat hair-raising. the cup carefully on the table, then pro-
Little Cleon cared; his faith in the sage duced a cord and a short rod of brass.
was absolute. And the prospect of seeing The base of this rod he fitted into the
Helen was heartening. He had not ex- ring on the lip of the cup, which held the
changed a word with her for weeks past, so rod upright. The top was bent over in a
strictly did Agias keep her guarded by curve and was fitted with a ring, through
slaves. So he went to work at his assigned which he slipped one end of the cord. This
task hopefully. was a heavy three-fold cord of silk. He drew
It was not difficult to obtain such a cup it through to the end, which was fastened
as was desired; he got a handsome, heavy to a light brazen circlet or ring. Thus, the
cup that stood solidly on three feet, made cord with its ring was suspended directly
fast the ring as ordered, and set to work on over the cup. He lowered the ring until it
the alphabet. This required nicety of crafts- was inside the cup and almost touching the
manship, and was not finished until sunset water, then seated himself.
of the following day. "Now,” he said, separating the loose ends
of the cord into three parts, "each of you
HE daylight died, the stars came forth. hold, with me, one of these strands. Cleon,
T The cup wrapped and under his arm,
Cleon made his way to the house of Apol-
have you writing materials?”
Cleon produced a wax tablet and stylus,
lonius, going to the rear entrance. A slave and laid them ready.
admitted him and led him to the private "No went on Apollonius gravely.
talk,”
apartment of the sage, through rooms whose "Fasten your eyes and thoughts on the ring
30 WEIRD TALES
hanging inside the cup. I’ll do any talking "Very well,” said the sage. "First, with
that’s necessary.” whom are we speaking?”
To Cleon, the whole performance looked Gradually the cord picked up motion, the
silly. He did not know what to expect; ring sv/ung, and began to strike the side of
and assuredly there was no necromance at the bowl. Helen was watching, wide-eyed,
work. The light was bright; the gods were startled, as those letters were touched. All
not invoked; there were no incantations or three were spelling the words as they came
other indicia of wizardry. He was rather —no need of the tablets now.
disappointed, and it was hard to fasten his "The guard!” said Apollonius. "Very
mind upon that brass ring, with Helen so well, guard. We wish to speak with Phei-
close. His foot found hers beneath the dias the sculptor or with one of his master-
table, and her blue eyes danced at him. workmen. Can he speak with us?”
The silence became heavily oppressive. Almost at once the cord moved, the ring
Nothing happened. Apollonius sat gravely swung. Came only one word: "Wait.”
intent, his massive features like rock. Cleon
shifted position restlessly, until Helen’s foot
touched his, and her smile warmed his heart,
and he quite forgot what he was here for.
THEY
other.
relaxed, stealing glances one at an-
Apollonius smiled grimly as
Cleon bent dark brows upon him in unut-
He knew from her words that Apollonius tered questions.
had talked with her regarding this work and "Ask me not,” he said. "Even to a
no doubt had extended his vague warnings. Magus, a seer who knows all the mysteries,
He stiffened suddenly her face blanched.
as there are things too simple to be explained.”
Following her startled gaze, he looked at "Youdid not pull the cord,” said Helen,
the ring inside the cup. It was moving. wondering. "I watched. Nor did I. Nor
The cord on which it hung was swinging. Cleon. Who did, then?”
His eyes darted to their three hands, holding "Perhaps all three,” said the sage quietly.
the three strands of the cord; not so much as "What does it matter, if answers come to
a finger was twitching, and only a decided what we ask? In the other world is no time
pull could have moved the cord but the — or space, as we know them. Now take down
ring was swinging, swinging, circling ever the letters as they come, Cleon, for we shall
wider and under. . . . need to refer to your tablets later. What is
"Ting!” With gentle tinkle, it struck the said will not be repeated. . . . With whom
side of the cup. are we talking?”
"Write down the letter it touched,” said The ring was swinging, gathering mo-
Apollonius. mentum, and this time it began to strike the
Cleon obeyed. The cord was spinning cup more rapidly, with greater force. Came
again, the brass ring was again in motion; the answer: "Pheidias is here.”
it touched another letter, and continued its "We ask information,” Apollonius said,
course. How did it move and why? There as though to some other person before them.
was none to answer. There was nothing to "In the name of the gods! Four pillars have
been brought here from Tanis, to be erected,
explain.
"Very curious,” said Apollonius mus- and yet
—
ingly. "I never played with this toy before. He broke off, as the ring swept into mo-
How the Egyptian priests could have used tion and interrupted him. Cleon sought in
it, I cannot say, with the abundance of char- vain to pierce the mystery of this motion.
acters in their hieratic script. have only We That he was not causing it, he well knew.
twenty-four letters in Greek, yet they have Nor was Helen, for she did not know how
barely enough space on that cup. Cleon! . . . to write. Yet words came, and came fast.
What is written? What is the word?” Apollonius, then? Those strong, beautiful
The cord had ceased its motion, the brass old fingers were absolutely quiet; there
ring spun a little and hung quiet. Cleon could be no trickery here.
looked at his tablets. "I know,’ came the words on the tablets
’
"Ask!” he said, impressed in spite of of wax. "I understand your problem. The
himself. "Just the one word — ask!” answer is simple indeed. Each column needs
IN THE BEGINNING' 31
a pedestal in the form of a lotus-blossom, proportioned to receive it, he knew that the
the petals rising to a height of four feet, information given him was most exact. Be-
the column rising from tire center. Try it, fore sunrise, he had drafted the pedestals,
Cleon. Make the sketch now, while I wait.” to be made in sections; every bit of his paper
The ring fell motionless. work was completed. An hour later he and
For the first time, Cleon felt a tingle of a dozen stonecutters and apprentice sculptors
—
awe, of terror drowned in a great wave of were at work. The brass cup was laid away
comprehension. Of course, of course! and, temporarily, forgotten.
Feverishly he sketched an outspread lotus
TWO
bud, half open, with the pillar rising from days later, he informed the council
it — the lower tapering base concealed by the that the pillars would be unveiled for
petals. The result was perfect. inspection at the end of a week. Fie worked
“Magnificent!” he cried. "Look! It is day and night, toiling like any slave, at the
the solution!” hidden behind great canvas curtains
task,
The ring moved, the words came in re- which let no one observe what was going
ply. "Not quite. One petal too many.” , on. In the midst of this, he learned of the
"We
thank you, Pheidias,” said Apollo- grief that had smitten the whole city —
nius. A bedewed his wide
light perspiration Apollonius, the Magus, the sage wise man
brow. "We thank you humbly for coming.” famous throughout the whole world, was
For the last time, the ring moved and stricken and dying. Cleon rushed to his
struck. house, to find that Apollonius had passed
"All effort is progress. You have ac- away.
complished a thing, but whether for good or Now he flung himself even more furi-
ill I know not. Weare only men like you; ously into the work. Three columns were
death is but stepping through a door. Fare- up, the fourth was ready to be swung into
well.” place; on the morrow was to be the unveil-
The ring spun idly and fell into rest. ing. Night came, and with a slave-gang
There was a dull sound, as Helen fell half Cleon labored until the fourth column was
across the table, senseless. Cleon sprang to in place. The work ceased. Cleon bathed,
her side. and flung himself down on a pallet behind
"Leave her be; she is not harmed,” said the canvas curtain. He slept, and dreamed
Apollonius, wiping the sweat from his face. of clashing weapons, and in his dream the
"It is only loss of energy. Well, you have wraith of old Apollonius came and looked
your answer! Here, let me have charge of sadly upon him, and passed on, silent.
her. You have your own work. Go to it Fie wakened suddenly. Someone was be-
at once; time enough for love when success side him; it was Helen.
is won.” "Up, up!” she was crying, tugging at him
With sudden, unexpected show of to waken him. "Quickly —
there is no time!”
strength,Apollonius lifted Helen in his Bewildered, he sprang up. In the star-
arms and bore her from the room, calling light she stood with sword in hand and
his slaves. shield on arm; he thought her a goddess at
Cleon hesitated. He snatched up his wax first.
tabletsand pouched them. Impulsively, he "I have weapons —

acre is a sword for
wrapped up the cup again, and with it the you, here another shield,” she panted out.
rod and cord and ring, and departed. He "I broughtthem from my father’s house —
had implicit confidence that Helen was safe quickly! They are coming—Thyrax and
enough, since the sage so declared. As a Captain Hiram and some of my father's
matter of fact, he took the apparatus with slaves —one of your workmen talked, said
him in order to examine it more closely for that your work was done and would cer-
some sign of trickery. He could not believe tainly ——
win approval they are coming to kill
what had happened. The wonder of it —
you no time to escape
stupefied him. She was gasping for breath. Already the
Yet, working far into the night, sketch- shuffling of sandaled feet echoed from the
ing each of the four columns with a pedestal stones. Cleon leaped forth from behind the
32 WEIRD TALES
canvas wall, and a yell greeted him; they ever,” I said,- "this mentions the Greek al-
were already rushing forward, there was not phabet as having twenty-four letters. 1 al-
an instant to spare, ways understood it had twenty-six.”
Helen moved out beside him, and the He got a book and looked it up. Very
stabbing, shouting killers closed in. The early Greek had sixteen; Greek of the period
steel swung and clashed; man after man fell in the story, twenty-four. Later Greek, here
away, hurt or maimed or dead, as the swords and there, had twenty-seven.
struck home —but
before the noise of the “Anything else?” jasper Conkling asked,
tumult roused the town, the work was done. with disagreeable triumph.
A spear struck Cleon down, and that was "Yes. Do you claim that these notes
his death-wound. None knew Helen to be were supplied in the same manner used in
a woman, none knew her for what she was the story —
the dangling ring, and so forth?”
—and she, too, fell, her arms reaching for "Certainly,” he rejoined. "And the other
him They lay thus together when
in death. notes also — those dealing with the entire
the guards arrived and the slayers fled. history of the cup, down to the time of
And they were buried thus together, in a Albertus Magnus.”
tomb near the wondrous columns which "Then kindly explain the trick.”
made the city famous and caused men to He regarded me gravely. "You have
come from afar to behold the temple and its turned this first batch of notes into a story.
pillars, like no others in the world hereto- You have here the words of Apollonius
fore. And when they were laid to rest, the himself. Are they not sufficient?”
cup in its wrappings was laid with them, for "No.”
no one knew what it was and yet all guessed He shrugged. "Then, my friend, you
it to be some treasure of the dead architect. must wait. You shall see the thing at work,
This was the story that came from the you shall judge for yourself. Meantime,
notes, and Jasper Conkling nodded with de- take with you the second chapter of these
light as he read over the pages I handed memoirs, which deal with the days of the
him. It was not a happy story, and I said so. Emperor Valens, and the references to his-
"Bosh!” said Jasper Conkling. "Truth is torical works which actually mention the
seldom happy. You call the story unhappy, cup, and weave the next story in the chain.
because the actors die. Well, doesn’t every- Will that be satisfactory?”
body die?” It was not, but for the moment it had
I let it pass to save argument. "How- to be.
Bewitched
By WILLARD N. MARSH
HIS
T timeless garden, like a thing diseased
Has flung a green veil round its leprous face
And deathless evil blooms are tightly squeezed
Within the unkempt vine’s obscene embrace.
In other days this setting must have heard

The cloven hoofs of Pan, and as he spun
The witching harmonies that lured the bird
From flight, its growing for a time was done.
now the whisper of a magic pipe

filtered through to me from yesterday:
ancient, half -forgotten dream is ripe
caught, I grope and cannot find the way.
Birthday Present for Tommy
By CHARLES KING
no parents, no home, not really; such a strange little girl.
Aren’t you curious. . . . ?
AM a little girl. People say that I am "How do you do, sir.”

small, even for my age. Sometimes "Dear me. But you are a polite little 1
I when I walk in the park nearby to my

house, well-meaning strangers will ask me
girl....”
"Thank you, sir.”
if I am not afraid to be alone. I always an- "How old are you, my dear?”
swer "No,” and it is the truth. "How old do I look, sir?”
Maybe it isn’t the complete truth because "Ha! Ha! Bears out my contention that a
I am
sometimes afraid at night. That is, un- woman’s a coquette no matter what her age.
less Ihave company. Tlive by myself and To please you, child, I’d say you were abont
the house does get kind of scary without twelve. And very pretty.”
company. I like company very much. , . . I made believe that I saw a friend of mine
"Hello, little girl.” and went away. It is always about this time;
Heading fey BORIS DOLGOV
33
34 WEIRD TALES
that they start talking about my parents. "Why?”
That makes me very uneasy because I have "Because you ran away and I didn’t see
no parents. And I just know that if I told you.”

grownup there would be trouble.
that to a "But I only was chasing my ball. . .
There would be more questions. And if "Don’t you know that there are bad peo-
they ever found out that I live alone . . . ple who boys?” steal little
.”
well, I just know they would take me away "B-but I was only . .
from my house. I would not like that. It "That will be enough, Tommy. On top
does scare me when I am alone, but some- of making me worry myself sick, you give
times I have company. And that is nice. I me silly excuses. Little boys should always
remember Tommy. He was very nice. I tell the truth.”
will tell you about him. , . .
"I am not little! I am almost seven years
old, and ...”
T WAS about a month ago. I think it was, "... and you are being very nasty to me.
I a month. Time is funny. It is not al- You you are making me very un-
. . .
ways easy to remember. happy. ...”

I was walking along one of my favorite You must agree that grownups are pecu-
paths in the park. On a sunny day you can liar. Tommy’s governess was worried about
always find children there. It is fun to play him. She said so. But when she found him
with them. I can forget so many, many she became angry. This has always been a
things when I play with them. But, even at grownup sort of reaction that has been very
my happiest, it is always saddening to know hard to understand ... for a long, long
that I will see some of them for so very time. . . .
short a time. Even so, I must not depress Do you see what I mean?
myself. I promised to about Tommy,
tell "Who is this little girl?”
and I will. A ball came rolling along the "She gave me back my ball.”
walk. . . .
"That was very kind of you, my dear.”
"Here your ball, little boy. .
is .
"Thank you. I like to do nice things for
"Hull. I’m not so little!” other people like Tommy.” . . .
"I’m sorry, I guess you’re a pretty big "Oh, you know his name?”
boy.” "Not till now. You just mentioned it.”
"Sure, I am. And I’m strong, too.” "What is your name?”

"You must be. You threw that ball very
far.” WAS
a simple enough question. And
"I bet that girls can’t throw like that.” sometimes the simplest of questions
yet,
"No ... we can’t. We learn different are hardest to answer. Haven’t you
the
things....” found it so? Things that are hard you can
"What kind of things?” somehow fight through, but, unless some-
This would have been a very hard ques- thing warns you, it is the simple word that
tion to answer. There are many things you causes the most worry; makes you press your
can tell little boys; there are so many things hands against your ears and pretend that you
that one cannot. I have known many of never heard the question. Bless little
them . . . very many and yet each one
. . .
Tommy. He spoke up bravely as he could:
thinks a little bit differently. That is where "She is my friend!”
•
(he danger lies. One cannot give the wrong "Of course, she is, Tommy. Let’s all go
answer because then they never trust you back together and have her meet the rest of
again. And one must have company. It
yet the children.”
is all quite tiring and confusing.. . . . . . I was a bit worried. There were bound to
I was wondering just how to answer be grownups as well as children, and grown-
Tommy, when his governess ran up. She ups always get around to asking one’s age.
seemed most worried. And then she saw us And though I have been answering that
together. She smiled, I suppose in relief, question for a long, long time, I am always
and then grew quite angry. thinking that some day I will be called a
"Tommy! You are a bad, bad boy!” liar . . . and that somebody will start to in-
,
A BIRTHDAY PRESENT FOR TOMMY 35
vestlgate. The truth? Oh, no. I could never at once. They can make me do anything.
tell that. The scaly, three-cornered head was swaying
There were little babies in carriages, and close to mine. Some of the eyes on the ends
that also worried me. Babies are always of the wobly tentacles were closed; but
frightened when they see me. Even those enough of them remained open, blinking at
very new ones, that cannot see as yet, thrash me. Enough, I mean, to keep me from
their little limbs about when I am near. moving.
Sometimes they go into convulsions. Maybe "What are you afraid of, Little One?”
it is because they have come only recently. "Of people finding out about about . . .
Perhaps, in the world they left, they had me.”

much knowledge; and they haven’t been in "Ah! You almost expressed fear that
this world long enough to forget everything. people would find out about us!”
They are dangerous. . . .
I left quickly, as soon as the
began to wail. But i promised

first
Tommy
baby
I FROM behind a picture hanging crook-
edly on the wall, a lot of thick, grayish
liquid dripped down to the floor. It shiv-
would play with him tomorrow.
ered a little bit and then changed into a
A
to
S I walked up the steps
began to feel afraid. It is hard for me
describe this fear. It isn’t just what
to my house I hairy, ropy, horrible thing. It scuttled
soundlessly across the floor and joined us. I
tried not to look at it. I kept silent while
grownups call an emotion. It is ... it is .. .
they talked.
like something solid. I can feel this fear. I "Is the Little One becoming dangerous?”
always have. I kept hoping that, this time, "No. She cannot. You know that.”
they would let me alone. "We built her so long ago that sometimes
It was no use. As I walked into the house I forget.”
they all started talking at once. "We built her well —

for our purpose.”
"Where is our food?” "But have we blocked ourselves by our
"You know we are hungry!” own cleverness? The Little One is a weal:
"We haven’t eaten in weeks!” vessel at times.”
was frightened. I always am because
I "That is because we made her so. If she
they have so much power. I tried not to is to mingle with humans then she must ap-
look at them as I answered: pear to them as such. She must share their
“It is very dangerous to feed you so often. weaknesses.”
The last time I nearly got caught.” I tried not to listen. They had talked this
—
They began again but not talking this way many, many times. My eyes kept slid-
time. It was much more horrible. I will call ing to a pile of dirt in the corner. I should
it "laughing”, even though it didn’t sound be used to it, by now; but my heart jumped
at all like any of the different kinds of with fright as a huge, red eye, dragging '
laughter you have ever heard. They do not some disgusting threads of flesh, suddenly
know what laughter means. In fact, they rolled out of the dirt. It joined the others. I
have no idea of most of your emotions. They could get used to the way they constantly
once knew, of course, but that was a long change their shapes; it is just that they are so
time ago. Now they just regard others as quiet.
being useful. Like myself. Even with a whole roomful of them talk-
"Behold! The Little One is frightened.” ing at once, their voices cannot be heard by
"She is always frightened.” anyone but me. That is the truth. And now
"I am hungry!” the three of them were speaking in their
One of them uncoiled from the high soundless voices.
chandelier and dropped to the floor. The "It is too bad that we must depend upon
floor was uncarpeted but the great body the Little One for food. .” . .
made no sound. I have seen this happen "But we must. It is part of the agreement
thousands of times but I never get used to with him.”
it. —
“Yes I know. And sometimes I think
I closed my eyes; but had to open them he got the best of the bargain,”
36 WEIRD TALES
"How can you tell? After all, the agree- was not surprised when the moonray was
ment is but a few thousand years old.” cut off. They simply blotted it out.
"You are right.” I suppose the reason is to save my emo-
"And you must remember — in justice to tions for the feasts. All my emotions are
—
him that our method of eating gives us wanted then; for, at those times, they relish
wondrous enjoyment. He tacked that on to and savor my thoughts and feelings as much
the agreement.” as the food I eat. You would find it very
"True. The vivid ecstasy of tasting food, unpleasant to watch them the times that I
while somebody else eats, is a never-ending eat. I think that you would go quite mad.
source of new pleasures. ...”
“And do not forget that the Little One,
who eats for us, not only transfers the de-
lightful sensations to us but enhances . . .
N
see me.
EXT
the park.
day
And
I
I
walked to the same spot
Tommy was very happy
was happy to see him.
in
to
our gratification with her sensations!” "Hello, Tommy.”

"Hm-m. Perhaps we did get the best of "Hello gosh. . gee!”
.
. .
.
the bargain.” Tommy was so excited that he kept hop-

"All this talk has made me hungrier than ping from one foot to the other He just
ever. ...” couldn’t keep his little body still. He tried
I wanted so badly to run away. Wanted it to speak again, but spilled his words out so
more than anything. Because I knew what fast that it was impossible to understand
was coming. him. So I spoke to him. I had to, anyway.
"Listen well, Little One.” There was so little time until tonight; and I
"I listen. . . had so much to do.
"And?” "What are you so excited about,
"... obey!” Tommy?”
"Good. You will feed us tomorrow He couldn’t help himself. He kept wig-
night.” gling and wiggling. He hopped up and
.
"Tomorrow night?” down. Then, finally he blurted:

"Yes. There must be no failure on your "I’m seven years old!”
part.” "No. Really?”
”
"But "Honest. It’s my birthday today. I’m
’’Yes?” every bit seven years old.”
"N-nothing. I was just thinking. I met I had to think very hard. This would
someone today. . .
.” make things much more difficult. But I
"Excellent, Little One. That will make knew I daren’t fail. No. They wouldn’t
your task so much the easier.” like it. Even thinking of it made me feel
I tried to go. But I couldn’t. It meant weak.
they were not through talking to me. I al- "Let’s play catch, Tommy. I want to learn
ways feel funny when I hear their voices. It how to throw like you do.”
is because their voices do not make any "Sure, I’ll show you. It’s easy.”
sound. "Thank you, Tommy.”
"Do not forget what we enjoy best, Little "Aw shucks. You’re my friend, aren’t
One.” you?”
"I ... I will not forget.” "Yes,Tommy.”
"That is well. You once made a mis- "Then why shouldn’t I help you?”
take. ...” I kept throwing the ball in such a way
"But that was long ago. So very long that we drifted apart from the other chil-
ago.” dren and grownups. It was important. Dear
"We have not forgotten. Remember little Tommy was very patient. Ele kept
that!” showing me what I was doing wrong. Over
This time they let me go. As I turned, my and over. When we were far enough away
eye caught a pretty shaft of moonlight com- from the others I whispered to him:
ing through the window. They knew, im- "Do you know what’s most fun to do on
mediately, that I enjoyed what I saw. So I birthdays?”
A BIRTHDAY PRESENT FOR TOMMY 37
"No. What?” "Why are you walking so fast?”

"Surprising people.” "So that we can get back quickly.”
"What do. you mean?” At the house Tommy stopped. He bent
"I mean playing tricks. Suppose we take his neck to one side. Then to the other. He
a little walk and then come back to them was peering so hard that his eyes squinted
from another direction.” up.
"Oh boy! They wouldn’t know where we What s the matter, Tommy?”
came from. ...” "I don’t like this house. It’s funny.”
"That’s right. Wouldn’t that be fun?” "But I live here. It’s a pretty house.”
His face fell. "My Mummy wouldn’t "I don’t care. It’s funny.”
like it. She always tells me never to go far In another minute Tommy would go chas-
away from my nurse. ...” ing-pell-mell down the street, back to the
"But, Tommy, you’re not a little boy any- park. I quickly looked up and down the
more. You’re seven years old. And besides quiet side-street. It was absolutely deserted.
we won’t go very far.” It came so fast that Tommy was only,
"You promise?” capable of an astonished squawk. I twisted
"Of course. And then I’ve got my own one of his arms behind him and shot him up
surprise for you—” the steps and into the room.
tr
A present?” And then he saw them.
I him because it wasn’t
didn’t answer His mouth opened. Shocked surprise left
necessary. His mind was completely occu- his eyes to be replaced by blank, unreason-
pied with thinking about what I was going ing terror. A
pulse in his temple began beat-
to give him. ing like a tiny hammer. Saliva started run-
ning out one corner of his mouth.
AND now time was getting short. I knew

that in a few minutes Tommy would
be missed; and they would begin looking
And then they were on him.
The room was filled with their shoutings
and gigglings. But I knew that nobody out-
for him. By this time we were on the lane side could hear them. Only I can hear them.
that leads out of the park and onto the ave- Tommy was going fast. He was now in a
nue. A light breeze carried along a fright- corner, one hand held up before his eyes.
ening message. Someone was already calling His body was jerking faster and faster and a
for Tommy. thin, steady whimpering fell from his wide-
As we left the park Tommy started to open mouth. Suddenly he fell. It was all
hang back. over.
"We’re going too far.” I knew what I had to do.
"No, Tommy. We’re only going to get I hauled him to the center of the floor.
your present. My house is very near.” Then they gathered around me in a circle.
"And then we’ll go right back?” The room was filled with their noisy, hun-
"Right back” gry yelling. And yet the room was abso-
"Good. I wouldn’t want nurse to worry lutely soundless, 'they were now ready to
about me.” His face was all lit up with enjoy Tommy through me.
eagerness as he trotted along next to me. It was for me to begin the feast. . „ «
By HAROLD LAWLOR
HAD it bad. these Hibernian death throes —which was

My friends accuse me of enjoying why I was in fine form the night Great-
these periodic black Irish moods, and uncle Judson again came into my life.
that may be, but when I have ’em, I suffer. For Tim Murray was sitting opposite me
Noisily. I admit it makes it better when on the sofa, and I, slumped despondently in
there’s somebody around to watch me in my red leather lounge chair, yet had spirit
Heading by BORIS DOLGOY

38
THE PERIPATETIC CORPSE
enough be giving a line performance.
left to But the incident didn’t seem so terribly
"You see before you,” I groaned oratori- weird to me.
cally, "One-Shot Eddie Walsh, the boy "Well,” I said, "it’s simple. A couple in-
Maugham. I’m gonna knock myself off.” ternes with what they think is a sense of
"What, again?” said Jim, making the ice humor got hold of a stiff some place and
clink against his glass. planted it there for a joke.”
Try sympathy out of a doctor. Just
to get Jim shook his blond head stubbornly.
try. Especially when he’s young and still "Show me the internes who’d do that, and
serving his intemeship at the County Hos- keep their mouths shut afterward. The story
pital, as Jim was. would leak out somehow, and I’d have
I ignored him. I moaned, "What good is heard it. No, that corpse got in there
a writer .who can’t write?”
Jim sighed. "In fact, what good is a
through some other agency granting that —
it didn’t walk in by itself. And, of course,
writer period.” it couldn’t have walked in by itself.”
"Oh, you can laugh,” I said darkly. "But I was beginning to be interested. "Was it
I’m through, finished, washed-up. Or I will a man’s body or a woman’s?”
be if I don’t write another story soon, be- "A man’s,” Jim said. "About seventy
fore editors forget me. If I could only think years old, I’d say. Funny thing, he’d been
of an opening, will you? Doesn’t anything embalmed, too. Rouge on his cheeks, lip-
weird ever happen down at that charnel stick on his mouth. You know the way
house you work in?”. undertakers duke ’em out.”
And that was what started it. "What are they going to do about him
down
ring to the County
—
For Jim began grandly," If you’re
” And then he broke
refer- there?”
Jim shrugged. "Try to trace him, I sup-
off, a strange expression on his face, and set pose. If they once get a line on him, he
his glass down very carefully on the coffee oughtn’t to be hard to identify. Not with
table (where it would leave a ring.) He those birthmarks.”
started again. "Birthmarks?”
"As he said thought-
a matter of fact,” "M-h’m. .Three V-shaped red ones, like
fully, "something peculiar did happen down birds in flight.”
there last night. What could you do with "Well, for God’s sake!” I shouted crab-
this? A corpse walks into our morgue, evi- bily. "I bit nicely that time, didn’t I?
dently likes the looks of the place, lays him- Though how you
self down in Drawer Eight, pushes the uncle Judson’s
— ever learned about Great-
drawer shut, and apparently prepares to But Jim was standing on his feet shouting
—
spend the rest of his life I mean, death crabbily at me. "You mean to tell me you
right there.” know who he is!”
I looked at Jim out of the corner of my I wasn’t getting this at all. Jim seemed to
eye. "Again?” be deadly serious. I went on more quietly,
"I’m not clowning,” Jim said. "That’s "Listen, are you nuts, or am I? I’m talking
Just what happened, evidently. have a We about my Great-uncle Judson Worthen.”
corpse down there that must have walked in "I didn’t even know you had a Great-
by itself. Because it wasn’t there at five uncle Judson Worthen.” Jim. was still
yesterday afternoon, but it was in Drawer crabby.
Eight this morning at nine. And nobody "Well, I did. And he had birthmarks —
knows how got there. Nobody signed the
it good-sized V-shaped red one just above his
body in. There’s no record of it at all.” left nipple, a smaller one above that, and a
"Have your fun,” I said generously. yet smaller one on his left shoulder. They
"It’s the truth,” Jim said earnestly. "I looked just like three redbirds flying in for-
swear it.” mation.”
Jim sank onto the sofa. "Then the body
ND
A
known
tent
I believed him.
that
corpse found
there
At
actually
down
least to the ex-
was an un-
in the morgue.
in the morgue is your great-uncle.” He de-
livered his decision with an air of great
authority.
40 WEIRD TALES
But was shaking my head. "No.”
I floor and through a heavy steel door that
"You mean he’s still living?” Jim asked. clanged shut behind us with a decidedly un-
"Nh-nh. But he’s been under six feet of pleasant sound of finality.
earth, out in Sleepmount Cemetery, since a "Are you sure we can get out again?” I
year ago last September. I know, because I asked. Not that I was nervous, but my heart
was at his funeral.” seemed to be playing hopscotch in my chest.
"Look,” Jim said irritably. "Sure, we "Sure. It doesn’t lock.” Jim grinned.
have a corpse at the morgue. But it couldn’t "You superstitious Irish!”
be a year-and-a-half old corpse, for God’s "I’m not superstitious,” I denied, not
sake!” very convincingly. "I just don’t believe in
"Well, you brought the subject up!” I going around, slapping the face of Fate.”
was waxing peevish myself. “Of course, the Big Jim wasn’t listening. He was intro-
corpse in the morgue can’t be Great-uncle ducing me to the morgue attendant, Pete. If
Judson. It’s ridiculous!” My
voice trailed the old codger had ever had a last name, it
away. Then I added tentatively, "just the was lost in the mists of antiquity. He looked
same
—
“Just the same
— ” Jim agreed.
as if he’d been down there since Lincoln
freed the slaves. At any minute, you felt, he
There such a thing as consuming curi-
is might crawl over and lay himself down on
osity. So, although
it was eleven o’clock of one of the marble slabs forever.
a sweltering July night, Jim and I started "Geez, what a cheerful place,” Lbreathed,
for the morgue. looking it over.
"You get used to it,” Pete assured me.
YOU know, it’s all very well to be light-

hearted and flippant and Irish when
you’re sitting in the safety of your own liv-
—
He went on chewing his gum, making
thucking sound in the awful stillness.
a soft
Jim and I stood there a minute, looking

ing room, surrounded by all the accustomed around. It was an old story to Jim, of
familiar things of daily living. course, but I was goggle-eyed.
But there’ssomething about a morgue — Here in the morgue itself it was brightly
We didn’t have any trouble getting in, lighted from a row of unshaded bulbs over-
even somewhat unusual hour, because
at that head. The plaster walls were painted white,
they knew Jim, of course. There was a cir- where they weren't taken up with the square
cular steel staircase winding down into dim- black numbered faces of the vaults. The
ness. On the left was a bride wall
—
painted
once scabrous now; on the right, a steel
— place reminded you of the locker room in an
athletic club. Only not for one little minute
handrail. Both felt wet and slimy to the did you think you were in the locker room
hand. of an athletic dub. You knew darned well
After that first touch, I jerked my hands where you were.
away and folded my arms, and walked di- "How do you stand the smell?” I asked
rectly down the middle of the stairway be- Pete, sniffing. The heavy odor of decompo-
hind Jim’s broad shoulders. Better to risk sition was cut through by the sharper one of
breaking a leg, I thought, than touch that disinfectants.
chill —
dampness again so suggestive of "Smells all right to me,” Pete said de-
death and the grave. fensively. Evidently I’d hurt the old boy’s
The farther down we descended the pride.
colder it grew. After the sultry heat up- "Where’s the smoke who got his neck
stairs,the clamminess here was enough to carved?” Jim asked at a tangent.
lay me out. The place was air-conditioned "Three,” Pe.fe said succinctly.
of necessity for the preservation of bodies. Jim went over and pulled out drawer
I shivered. I remember I was wondering three. I guess I must have shut my eyes for
sourly what my curiosity would get me into a minute. If there was anything I didn’t
next, when we reached the bottom of the want to see just then, it was a man, black or
steps. I slipped there, and would have white, with a cut throat. But when I opened
fallen, but Jim’s hand steadied me in the my eyes again I saw that Jim was only hors-
dim light. Then we went across the concrete ing around. Drawer three was empty, and
THE PERIPATETIC CORPSE 41
Jim was eyeing me. And he and Pete were

!
found him this morning. They took it off

purple with suppressed mirth. I suppose I’d and covered him with the sheet.”
turned white as a sheet. There was something pathetic about that
"For gosh sake, Jim!" I protested weakly. defenseless body. I felt a growing anger in-
"Let’s see this unknown corpse you were side. I said, "It’s ridiculous to think he got
over here by himself. Some ghouls must
talking about, and then let
"Say, Doc,” Pete put in.
me out of here.”
"Will you hang
—
have dug him up, the ” I choked. "They
around for a while, so’s I can go up and get might have let him rest in peace.”
a beer?” Jim nodded again, but absently. "What’s
Before I could stop either of them, Jim that rope in his hands? We left it there, but
nodded and Pete was gone. We’d have to it puzzled us.”
wait until he came back. I gave Jim a dirty I knew what he meant. "It’s a Chinese
look, but he didn’t see it. He was walking prayer string. Something like a rosary, you
over to Drawer 8, and reluctantly I followed know, only with knots instead of beads. I
him. put it in his hands myself at —
at the time
I even managed to keep my eyes open he was laid out.”
when he pulled out the drawer. We left the drawer open, and walked
over toward the steel door by which we’d
W ELL, it was Great-uncle Judson

Worthen, all right. But it was any-
body’s guess as to how he’d pushed up six
entered. We were both trying to think, and
I suppose the idea of walking was auto-
matic and natural. We stood there, with our
feet of heavy clay and hied himself eight backs to Uncle Judson Worthen’s corpse.
miles across town from Sieepymount Ceme- "Strange the body’s in such a perfect state
tery to take up his abode in the County of preservation,” Jim muttered. "It’s un-
Morgue. Personally, if I were Uncle Judson natural.”
I’d 'have stayed where I was. There was "The thing is,” I said helplessly, "what’s
nothing about the County Morgue, that I to be done now?”
could see, to give anyone a sentimental at- Jim rubbed his forehead. "You’ve identi-
tachment to the place. fied him. I suppose in the morning you’ll
I was thinking nonsense, of course. The have to get a burial permit and rebury him.
fact is, though I was trying to bear up nobly Though how we’re going to explain all
under Jim’s gaze, I was scared stiff. And this—”
my feelings were harrowed, my sense of the I didn’t know myself. It was the strang-
fitness of things outraged. I remembered est set-up I’d ever encountered. But the
that interment, so many months before the — worst was not yet. The worst happened im-
slow descent of the casket, the desolate thuds mediately.
of those first handfuls of earth tossed into Some movement behind me, perhaps,
the yawning grave. Burial should be the caused me to turn my head. And I think the
final end, and the grave itself held inviolate. only reason I didn’t start screaming like a
But now, inexplicably, here was the body siren was because the breath was completely
of Great-uncle Judson once more! knocked out of me by what I saw. My hand
I didn’t like any of this. I didn’t want clawed at Jim’s shoulder and he, too, turned.
any part of it. My hair felt as if it were try- We both turned stiff as any body in one of
ing to stand up vertically, and icy chills were those lockers.
leaping up my spine and seemed to be spray- For the corpse of Judson Worthen had
ing out fan-like over my head. I was sur- somehow got itself up from the marble slab
prised Jim couldn’t see them. upon which it had been lying, and was
I looked down at the cadaver. It was nude standing now beside the open drawer!
where we’d pulled down the sheet to see the What’s more —it started walking!
three redbirds flying across the withered
f
—
Walking if you could call such horrible
chest. progress that.
"He was wearing a biack suit when he Asemi-circular sway backward; a lurch
was buried,” I said. as the right leg described another half -circle,
Jim nodded. "He had it on when we back to the front; a thud as the naked right
42 WEIRD TALES
foot finally landed on the cement floor. "Come on,” Jim said finally. "Let’s get
Each movement took long seconds. Then out of here.”
the left leg began its dreadful mechanical He sounded as exhausted as I felt. As we
stagger. opened the heavy steel door, we heard Pete
Sway, lurch, thud!
Sway, lurch clattering down the steps.
The cadaver had taken
three of these ter- "Better not tell Pete what we’ve seen,”
rible strideswhile Jim and I stood, shoul- Jim warned.
der to shoulder, frozen to the cement floor. But he needn’t have said it. I wasn’t
Sheer panic terror gripped us then, and we sticking my neck out by telling Pete what
both turned on one impulse to flee blindly we’d witnessed. "Not,” as I pointed out rea-
from the horror that was coming at us. sonably, "when the Psychopathic Hospital
But before we could yank the heavy metal is only a stone’s throw away.”
door open, reason re-asserted itself. We Jim nodded solemnly.
stopped, and looked in each other’s eyes. “Whew!” I said, after I’d gratefully
And behind us the awful footsteps thudded gulped the third double-brandy. We’d
on. driven to a tavern Jim knew of, a few blocks
We said it together. "We’ve got to stop away. "Now what was that all about? Do
him.” you suppose Uncle Judson isn’t — isn’t
dead?”
T WASN’T easy to put that resolve into "The Jim said, injured.
hell,” "What
I execution. But we didn’t even wait for kind of doctor do you think I am? I know
the corpse to approach us. walked We a corpse when I see one.”

slowly toward it, our hearts banging like I knew I was raving. Hadn’t I, myself,
trench mortars. Jim’s breath was sobbing attended the burial of Uncle Judson, a year
wheezily through his nostrils; I could hardly ago last September? Of course, be was dead.
see for the cold sweat that was pouring "Maybe we didn’t see it. Him walking, I
down from my forehead. mean.” I was gibbering and I knew it.
We didn’t know what would happen. "Could those bright lights have hypnotized
Great-uncle Judson’s eyes were open now, us, kind of, so that we dreamed it all?”
staring fixedly at a point above our heads. "Maybe you were dreaming,” Jim said.
As before his blank gaze, were held up
if, " was wide awake.”
the alluring picture of the destination he Well, there it remember thinking
was. I
was trying to reach. And he kept on walk- dazedly that it was no wonder writers
ing toward us as though his legs were obey- steered away from something that happened
ing the injunction of some fearsome, de- in real life when they tried to plot a story.
tached intelligence. Fiction, straight, was believable. Actual
He paid no attention to us, seemed not to events were often incredible. Here was
see us at all. Perhaps it was this that gave something which, if I tried to write it, no
us courage. one would believe. I wouldn’t believe it my-
Gingerly approaching him on each side, self. Only it happened to me!
Jim and I each took hold of one of his arms. "What kind of man was this great-uncle
It wasn’t that Uncle Judson tried to resist; it of yours?” Jim broke info my harried pre-
was, rather, that he kept on walking irresist- occupation with my thoughts.
ibly. Or attempted to. But we were too "I hardly know myself.” I circled my
much for him. Though we could feel the glass on the bar nervously. "We -weren’t
body exerting a steady pressure against our very close, even though I was his only heir.
restraining hands, we half-carried, half-led He was very wealthy when he was young.
it back to Drawer 8. We lifted it to place Traveled all over the world. Had his own
it on the marble slab it had so recently va- yacht in those days. He was hard, selfish,
cated, drew up the sheet again, and closed uncompromising. Very introverted. I doubt
die drawer. if anyone ever knew him well not even his —
We
stood there for minutes, half-expect- wife. Although he was her brother, my
ing, I think, to see it open again. But it grandmother used to say the only decent
didn’t. Not then. thing about him was that he never broke a
promise. If he made one he kept it re- vampire in reverse. (They slept days, or so
ligiously, at no matter what cost or effort to I’d been told.)
himself.” But the more I thought of this theory, the
"What happened to his wife?” Jim asked. more reasonable it seemed. And if the house
"She died?” was his ultimate goal, there was nothing to
shrugged. "My grandmother told me
I prevent me from going out there myself in
only a little. But she was supposed to have search of any possible clue I might find as
run off with Uncle judson’s secretary. They to what was drawing him there so irre-
say she was very beautiful. Her name was sistibly.
Yasmini.” I turned over on my side then, determined
"Yasmini!” Jim was owl-eyed. to wait for what the morning would bring.
“I know.” I nodded. “It all sounds im- The morning brought murder.
possibly romantic. He was on his third
cruise around the world, and picked her up
some place in Asia Minor. They’d only been
home three months or so when she ran
T HE sound of a bell woke me at nine. I
reached sleepily for the alarm, but it was
the phone. —
sharp, unlike his
Jim’s voice
away. After that he never spoke of her, or —
normal tones shocked me into complete
permitted anybody else even to mention her wakefulness.
name. "Get down here right away! I’m at the
He just went on living alone in that hospital.” And he hung up before I could
house he finally left to have
me. You may ask him what v/as the matter.
—
seen it that place that looks like a Chinese I found him in the lobby of the County
tenement, sprawling all over the hill north Hospital, pacing impatiently, but he steered
of town?” me out again almost before I’d got through
"You mean that’s yours now? I’ve seen the door.
it. I thought it was an abandoned asylum "We can’t talk here,” he said. “Come
of some sort.” on.
»>
"It’s a rabbit warren,” I admitted. "I We went to a place, half-restaurant, half-

wouldn’t live in it myself, and nobody in his tavern, deserted except for ourselves at this
right mind would buy it. There must be hour of the morning. We
sat in a torn
fifty rooms in it. Before he went broke, leather booth at the rear, and ordered coffee,
Uncle Judson was always adding new wings before Jim said anything. Then his face
and additions to it.” haggard, his eyes bloodshot, he said, "Pete
—
"But why if he lived there by himself?” was murdered some time last night.”
"Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe "Pete?”
because it gave him something to do after — "The morgue attendant,” Jim said. "He
Yasmini ran away.” was strangled.”
I stood up. I felt as if I hadn’t slept in a My spoon hit the linoleum table-top,
month. We separated, with a promise to bounced to the floor. "Go on,” I said. I
meet in the morning. Then I’d have to do knew that wasn’t all. There was something
something about Great-uncle Judson’s body, in Jim’s face.
unpleasant as the whole thing might be. "Drawer Eight was found open,” he said
I must have lain awake till four or five slowly. "And your uncle’s body is gone.”
o’clock that morning, my mind going in "Who’d steal a body from the morgue?”
crazy circles. I said irritably. "Or strangle Pete to do it?”
Why was Unde
Judson wandering But Jim was eyeing me carefully. “I don’t
around? going? The ceme-
Where was he think anyone did.”
tery was south of town, the morgue in the t got it, then. What he was driving at.
middle, and Unde Judson’s former home "You think Uncle Judson
—
outside the city limits on the north. Had he J im nodded. "From the marks on Pete’s
been heading for there, for some unex- throat, it looks as if he was strangled with
plained reason? And if so, why should he that Chinese prayer string. The pressure
stop over at the morgue? Unless, at night- was so great that the skin was broken and
fall, he had to be with his own kind — like a blood was drawn. Tire prayer string is gone.
44 WEIRD TALES
And —
something else the black suit
there’s nymph. I remembered her from an earlia:
your uncle was wearing originally is miss- visit.She had stood at the foot of the stairs,
ing.” holding a string of electric bulbs aloft. But
"I see.” I moistened my dry lips. "You now she was fallen from her marble pedes-
think Uncle Judson started walking, and — tal and lying prone on the dusty floor.
Pete tried to stop him. And Pete was old Jim pointed to the door and I nodded.
and little and no match for — Long parentheses in the dust showed where
Jim nodded. “But that isn’t what’s both- Uncle Judson’s lurching feet had passed.
ering me most. Wait till the police learn, as The statue must have stood in the way of
they surely will, that we were the last ones his swaying progress and been knocked
down there with Pete.” down. Or so we reasoned, from the signs
I thought about that for a while. We before us.
could never explain or make anybody be- We went into the drawing room. Here a
lieve what we’d seen. Then something else delicate gilt chair was on its side, its dust
occurred to me, and I drew in my breath cover awry. Smaller pieces of furniture lay
sharply. "Jim, where is Uncle Judson now? toppled over. A
huge terra cotta jardiniere
And what if somebody else tries to stop him and the teakwood table which had held it
from walking?” were smashed beyond repair. At the far end
So there it was. We couldn’t very well of the room, a portiere was half-dragged
tell the police such a preposterous yarn. But from its rod.
we certainly couldn’t sit idly by while a We followed the trail, through room
murderous corpse ran amok. Yet what were after amazing room, bringing up at last in
we to do about it? the barn-like kitchen. Here a door leading —
- 1 told Jim of the theory I’d evolved dur- to the cellars, evidently, from the dank air
ing my sleepless night, but if he was en- that blew upward —
stood open.
thusiastic about it he hid it well. Still, since While Jim waited, I went back to the car
there seemed nothing better to do and he for a flashlight. Then, slowly, we descended
had the day off from the hospital, he agreed the steps leading to the cellars.
to go out to Uncle Judson’s place with me. And here we drew a blank. For the floor
of hard-packed earth betrayed no footsteps,
HE house must have covered acres, and and the vast reaches of the place itself were
T was the craziest mixture of unrelated discouraging. But we didn’t give up. We’d
architectural styles you ever saw. The main gone this far and we’d seen what we both
facade was red brick, and went on from believed to be definite proof of Uncle. Jud-
there— stucco, half -timber, fieldstone, son’s recent presence.
frame, or what have you? Wherever Uncle Doggedly, we searched for hours. The
Judson had felt the urge to make an addi- cellars, like the house above, were divided
tion he made it, using whatever materials into rooms —some small, some so huge that
the contractor of the moment had at hand. the far walls of the room evaded the rays of
I’d never been entirely through the place the flashlight and remained in inky gloom.
myself, and Jim, having his first close-up But, except for the usual debris of such
view, was frankly flabbergasted. places, the cellars contained nothing that
"Looking for a clue in that,” he jerked seemed significant.
his head at the sprawling mass, "is going to Where was Uncle Judson? And what had
take months.” led him here?
Secretly I agreed with him, but the thing It was Jim, at last, who all unknowingly-
was to prove simpler than we’d feared. solved the problem.
For Uncle Judson had left a wide trail. Pausing in the search long enough to
We left the car under the porte-cochere light a cigarette, Jim leaned back wearily
and entered the hall. The furniture had not against an empty tier of shelves lining the
—
been removed only covered with dust wail of the main room. And the shelves
sheets. The furnishings were as fantastic as swung inward on a pivot.
the house itself, and the first thing we saw Jim fell flat on his back. I think he
as we entered was the bronze statue of a was stunned for a minute by the suddenness
of it all —
I know I was — —
but he scrambled — the sides that would face the skeletons
quickly to his feet. Together we propped —
when they were closed were painted in red
the door open with a heavy case, passed letters the words
through, and entered what seemed to be a "When 1 am dead, Yasmini, then you
long tunnel carved out of solid white lime- shall he free.”
stone. Jim saw the words, too. "Yasmini!" he
I remember we stood there just inside the —
whispered. "But the other?”
tunnel, while played the flashlight around
I I knew. It took no great wit to know. I
on the and floor. All seemed
walls, ceiling, said slowly, "I’m afraid Yasmini didn’t run
to be dripping with moisture, but the air away with Uncle Judson’s secretary. Or, at
was fairly fresh, indicating shafts some place least, not very far. Uncle Judson must have
leading to the outer air. grown suspicious, and he took his own re-
Somehow, I felt tunnel was
that this venge.”
going -to lead to something unpleasant. But For surely this was his doing, these were
Jim and I exchanged glances, and there was his words here on the doors —
a cruel an-
in both our faces a grim determination to see swer, perhaps to Yasmini’s frantic plea for
this thing through to the end. freedom?
Westarted down the tunnel, slowly, be- By the flashlight’s rays, I saw that the
cause the rough limestone floor made our upper half of the man’s skelton was bent
footing precarious. I don’t know at just over the other, as if he’d tried to shut out
what point the conviction seized me, but from her eyes with his own body the horror
it wasn’t long before I knew we were no of the fate that was slowly to overtake them,
longer under the house. there in the lighted tomb. Perhaps to shut
"I hope the flashlight doesn’t go out,” out, too, the promise of Uncle Judson’s
Jim whispered once. mocking there in its letters of fire:
The same thought had just been occurring "When I am dead, Yasmini, then you
to me. But neither of us suggested turning shall be free.”
bade. We kept on. A taunting promise. But a promise. And
Until at last we came end of the
to the Uncle Judson had never been known to
tunnel, came to where it broadened out, but break a promise.
not very much, into a chamber hewn from Jim and I stared at the tiny, once-lovely
the solid rock. Two huge steel doors that, hand of Yasmini still clasped in the man’s
when closed, could shut the chamber off larger one. And I was hoping desperately
from the rest of the tunnel were folded back that she had died before him, that she had
now against either wall. And there, facing not lived on, perhaps for hours or days,
us, was yet another segment of what seemed alone with the body of her dead lover, and
to be a patternless puzzle. — terror.
But, though the scene was macabre in the
J I turned away to examine the
im and
flashlight’s yellow glow, I knew no feeling doors. The huge lock that had been used to
of terror. Only a sick pity. fasten them on the outer side was covered
—
Two skeletons obviously, from their with mold of a brilliant emerald-green color.
size, those of a man and woman sat to- — And there was no key. But the doors were
gether on a stone ledge jutting out from the open now. Yasmini was free.
far wall facing us. Rusty chains ran from One last glance into the death chamber,
their handcuffed wrists through iron rings subdued and a little sickened, then we re-
in the wall behind them. From the ceiling traced our steps back through the cellars, the
of the chamber depended a naked electric house, to the car.
light with a pointed bulb of the old-fash-
ioned variety, long since burned out. DON’T understand,” Jim said numbly,
I swung was only
the flashlight around. It X in the car. "I don’t understand.”
then that noticed the doors. Those doors,
I Neither did I. But then who could? Who
I reasoned, that up until a few short hours does know anything of the mystery that lies
before, had been sealed and locked for beyond life? Of the forces that operate
many, many years. On their inner surfaces there?
46 WEIRD TALES
seems obvious enough,” I said, "that
"It It was then —weary, defeated— that I
Great-uncle Judson made a promise. And finally made my request. A request I firmly
came back to keep it.” believed would be denied, but surprisingly
“But why wait till now?” Jim added. "He was not.
died nearly two years ago. Why did he wait "You want us to exhume the body of year
until now?” great-uncle?” Lieutenant Fitzjames asked
Icould only guess, of course. But so deep softly. After what appeared to be a moment
was my conviction that I was right, that I of startled thought he smiled thinly, and
wouldn’t have called it guesswork at all. stopped tapping his pencil against the thumb
“Perhaps, ordinarily, no one could come of his left hand. "Okay, we’ll get in touch
back from the grave to unlock that door. with the coroner’s office.”
Perhaps, though, the desire to do so was so
strong in Uncle Judson that it became a live
I
really
was incredulous. "You mean
beginning to believe me at last?”
— you’re
thing, an animus, a living spirit strong Lieutenant Fitzjames' continued to smile

enough to re-animate the body and sent it unpleasantly. "I’m giving you rope enough
here to fulfill its promise.” to hang yourself, buddy. You and your pal.
But Jim was haggard now. He was
less Either we’re going to find your uncle’s
the hard-headed realistic doctor once more. grave disturbed and indications that you re-
He stared at me, disgusted. "And then
again, perhaps we didn’t see that corpse there, or else
—
cently planted some incriminating evidence
walking. Perhaps it wasn’t the body of your "Or Jim and I said it together.
else?”
Uncle Judson. If it was, where is he now?” "Or
else we’re going to find your uncle’s
I didn’t know. But I thought I could body in a normal state of decomposition—
guess. which will knock your nutty story into a
"Perhaps,” Jim finished. "Perhaps we’re cocked hat.”
crazy — suffering from an hallucination more But by that time I w as too dull and numb
T
real than life itself.” to be alarmed. God knows what I expected

The police, as we were so soon to learn, Uncle Judson’s grave to reveal when I made
agreed with him. my request for an exhumation. But the
thing had started there, and if it was to have
— —
F UR,
morgue.
as
learned of our
Jim had feared, the
last night’s visit to
And when they were unable to
police
the
find
any ending any hope of salvation for us
it seemed reasonable, even in my present
state of despair, to believe it was there that

us that day, because we’d gone to Uncle we would find it.
Judson’s house, warrants Tor our arrest were And I remember on that ride to Sleepy-
sworn out. They thought we’d committed mount Cemetery, all I could think of was
murder, then fled. the steel doors of Yasmini’s living tomb,
And here, they reasoned now at our reap- and the relentless lock that had held them
pearance, were tire fugitives returned to give closed, covered with mold of a venomous
themselves up. brilliant green. A color that would be to me
Questioning, then. Endless hours of it, always the color of death.
led by a lieutenant from the Homicide
Bureau, Fitzjames. They questioned us sep-
arately
our story.
and together, but they couldn’t shake
Nor could we convince them we
L ieutenant
shaft
we as
little
fitzjames
stood under the granite
marking the grave of my Great-uncle
smiled a
were speaking the truth. Judson Worthen. Smiled, for the ground
A corpse murdered Pete? A walking quite evidently had never been disturbed
corpse? You wouldn’t try to kid us, would since the interment, nearly two years before.
you? "Well,” Fitzjames said grimly, "it won’t
A detailwent out with us to Uncle Jud- be a question of planted evidence. Nor
son’s house, and found that part of our grave-robbers.”
story true as we’d described it —
the tunnel, One of the men examined the sod care-
the chamber, the skeletons. fully. Cemetery workers thrust a spade into
And so what? What did that prove? the solid earth.
THE PERIPATETIC CORPSE <47
digging here for months,” was the

"No his handkerchief, then, wiping the sweat
verdict. The grave had never been dis- jerkily from his forhead.
turbed since the burial. They’d swear to it Great-uncle Judson’s face, serene and
in any court. quite unblemished, was revealed in the light
of the dark lantern. He was decently dad
OITZJAMES was satisfied. "Dig!” he or- once more in his black suit. And did I
-i- dered. imagine it, or was there a smile of content-
I couldn’t watch those busy spades. Once ment on those thin lips?
I looked at the stars. Another time I stole I remember Fitzjames removing the Chi-
a glance at Jim’s haggard face, and read in nese prayer string from the stiff fingers. Re-
his hopeless eyes what I knew must be in member him muttering, "We’ll check the
mine. bloodstains at the laboratory.”
The fear that all this would lead to I knew it would prove to be Pete’s blood
nothing that could help us, that whatever (as later, in fact, it did.) And I knew that
we’d seen last night in the morgue had not Jim and I were free, for no earthly power
been the body of Uncle Judson. could have insinuated that recently used
And then at last the cement burial vault prayer string into an untouched grave.
was raised. And there was a grim look of But now none of this mattered.
satisfactionon Fitzjames’ face as the seal For Jim and I were staring at that other
was broken. It had not been tampered with, thing in Uncle Judson’s hand that great —
until now. The casket lid, next. The crowd- key covered with mold of a brilliant venom-
ing forward of witnesses. —
ous green a color that would always re-
Lieutenant Fitzjames was fumbling for mind me of death.
Coming from ARKHAM HOUSE!

SOMETHING NEAR, by August Derleth
The first of six new books for 1945, Mr. Derleth’s second collection contains 20 stories, two
of them novelettes. Here are The Thing That Walked on the Wind, The Metronome,
Ithaqua, The Satin Mask , An Elegy for Mr. Danielson, Carousel, Mr. Ames’ Devil, Beyond
the Threshold, Mrs. Corter Makes Up Her Mind, and 11 others. Jacket by Ron Clyne.
Ready in early Spring. $3. GO the copy.
WARNING TO THE FANS! Just as we have done before, we are serving notice that
our 1944 books are going fast. Less than half the only edition of Wandrei’s THE EYE
AND THE FINGER, and approximately half the only editions of Whitehead’s
JUMBEE AND OTHER UNCANNY TALES, Smith’s LOST WORLDS, and Love-
craft’s MARGINALIA remain for sale. Derleth’s SLEEP NO MORE has sold out
its first edition, is in its second; but there will be no second editions of Arkham
House books.
G R ÊR_TOD A Y_ _
ARKHAM HOUSE
Sauk Ci4y«, Wlscouslra
Please send me the following books, for which I enclose payment in full:
copies of SOMETHING NEAR at $8.00 (to be delivered on publication)

copies of THE EYE AND THE FINGER at $3.00
copies of JUMBEE AND OTHER UNCANNY TALES at $3.00
copies of LOST WORLDS at $3.00
copies of MARGINALIA at $3.00
copies of SLEEP NO MORE! at $2.60
Name „
Address
By MANLY WADE WELLMAN
"IT ESS than five persons have ever seen which she had asked him to meet her. A
John Thunstone frankly, visibly few snowflakes spun around them, settling
t and less than two have
terrified, on their dark coats. "I say that you are in
lived through subsequent events to tell about more than mortal danger,” she repeated
it. Fear he knows and understands, for it breathily. "I would not have dared re-
is his chief study; but he cannot afford it call myself to your attention for anything
very often as a personal emotion. less important.”
And so he only smiled a little that after- "I believe that,” smiled Thunstone, re-
noon in Central Park, and the hand at which membering when lastthey met, and how he
Sabine Loel, the medium clutched was as had, demonstrated to her complete satisfac-
steady as the statue of Robert Burns under tion the foolish danger of calling up evil
Heading by BORIS BOLGOV

48
THE SHONGKINS 49
spirits without being ready to deal with side his own door as cautiously as though
them. Not one ounce of his big powerful about to assail an enemy stronghold.
body seemed tense. His square face was He bent dose to the panels without
pale only by contrast to his black eyes and touching them. Earlier in the day he had
black mustache. Not even his restraint closed and locked that door from outside,
seemed overdone. and had dripped sealing wax in three places
"Whatever you think of my character, you at juncture of door and jamb, stamping the
know that I’m sensitive to spirit messages,” wax with the crusader’s ring he habitually
she went on. "This one came without my wore. The wax looked undisturbed, its im-
trying for it. Even the spirit control that press of the cross of Saint John staring np
gave it was in horror. The Shonokins are at him.
after you.” With a knife-point he pried the blobs
"I might have known that,” he told her. away. They had not been tampered with
"After all, I acted with what they might in the least. Inserting his key in the lock,
consider officious enmity. I stopped them, he let himself in and switched on the lights
I hope, from a preliminary move back to- in the curtained sitting room.
ward the world power they say they held At once he started back against the in-
before human history began, A Shonokin ner side of the door, setting himself for
died, not by my hand but by my arrange- action. His first thought was that two men
ment, and his body was buried at a place were there, one prone and one standing
where I want them never to come living — tensely poised. But, a hair-shaving of time
Shonokins, it seems, avoid only dead Shono- later, he saw that these were dummies.
kins. Their very nature forces them to strike The reclining dummy was made of one
back at me. But thank you for the warn- of Thunstone’s suits and a pillow from the
ing-” bed in the next room. It lay on its back,
"You think,” ventured Sabine Loel, "that cloth-stuffed arms and legs outflung. A
I want to be your friend?” tightly looped necktie made one end of the
"You though your purpose is prob-
do, pillow into a headlike lump, and on this
ably selfish. Thank you again. Now, I had been smudged a face, crudely but rec-
never had any malice toward you so, for — ognizably that of John Thunstone. Ink
your own safety, won’t you go away and from the stand on the desk had been used,
stay away? Avoid any further complica- to indicate wide, stupid eyes, a slack mouth
tion in —
in what’s to happen between me —
under a lifelike mustache the expression
and the Shonokins.” of one stricken instantly dead. The other
—
"What precautions ” she began to ask. figure stood with one slippered foot on the
"Precautions against the Shonokins,” ex- neck of the Thunstone effigy. It was smaller,
plained Thunstone patiently, "are not like perhaps a shade under the size of an aver-
precautions against anything else in this age man. Sheets and towels and blankets,
world or out of it. Let them be my problem. cunningly twisted, rolled and wadded to-
Good-by.” gether, made it a thing of genuinely artistic
Going,, she looked back once. Her face proportion and attitude. Asheet was draped
was whiter than the increasing snowflakes. loosely over it like a toga, and one corner
Thunstone filled his pipe with tobacco into of this veiled the place where a face would
which were mixed one or two rank but be.
significant herbs. Long Spear, the Indian "Substitution magic?” said Thunstone un-
medicine man, had told him how much such der his breath. "This is something that’s
things did to fight ill magic. going to happen to me. ...” He turned
toward the desk. "What’s that?”
THUNSTONE was living just

very comfortable, very ordinary hotel
He entered the
then in a On the desk seemed to crouch a little
pixy figure. Made from
like a clever little
a handkerchief,
impromptu toy to amuse
north of Times Square.
lobby confidently enough, and rode up in a child, looked as though it pored over
it
the elievator without seeming to be appre- an open book, the Gideon Bible that is an
hensive. But he paused in the corridor out- item in every hotel room. Stepping that way,
50 WEIRD TALES
very careful not to touch anything. Thun- trusted allies, each envelope inscribed To
stone bent to look. be opened only in the event of my death —
The book was open Prophet Joel,
to the John Thunstone. The knowledge that such
second chapter. Thunstone’s eye caught a collections existed was a prime motive of
verse in the middle of the page, the ninth some of Thunstone’s worst enemies to keep
verse: him alive and well. There was Sabine Loel’s
warning, for instance. . . . Sitting down well
They leap upon the city; they run upon away from the grotesque tableau, Thunstone
the wall; they climb up into the houses; glanced over his own grouping of known
they enter in at the windows like a thief. and suggested facts about the Shonokins.
Those facts were not many. The Shono-
HUNSTONE has read many books, and kins were, or said they were, a people who
the Bible is one of them. He knew the had been fortuitously displaced as rulers of
rest of the frightening second chapter of America by the ancestors of the red Indians.
Joel, which opens by foretelling the coming A legend which they themselves insisted
of terrible and ungainsayable people, before upon was that ordinary human evolution was
which no normal creature could stand. one thing and Shonokin evolution another.
"They enter in at the windows like a thief,” They hinted here and there at tokens of
he repeated, and inspected his own win- long-vanished culture and power, and at a
dows, in the sitting room and the adjoining day soon to come when their birthright
bedroom. All were closed, and tire latches would return to them. To Thunstone’s car-
still bore blobs of wax with his seal. bon were appended the copy of a brief article
These phenomena had taken place, it re- on the "Shonokin superstition” from the
mained to be understood, without the agency Encyclopedia of American Folkways; a let-
of any normal entry by normal beings. ter from a distinguished but opinionated
Movement and operation by forces at a dis- professor of anthropology who dismissed
tance —
telekinesis was the word for it, the Shonokins as an aboriginal myth less
fondly used by Charles Richet of France, and well founded than Hiawatha or the Wen-
tossed about entertainingly by the Forteans digo; and Thunstone’s own brief account
and other amateur mystics. Thoughts crossed of how someone calling himself a Shonokin
Thunstone’s mind, of broken dishes placed had made strange demands on the Conley
in locked chests by Oriental fakirs and taken family on a Southern farm, and of what had
out mended; of Harry Houdini’s escapes and befallen that same self-styled Shonokin.
shackle-sheddings, which many persons in- Finishing the study of his own notes,
sisted were by supernatural power; of how Thunstone again regarded the grouped dum-
the living body of Caspar Hauser had so mies, which he had thus far forborne to
suddenly flicked into existence, and of how touch.
the living body of Ambrose Bierce had so The standing figure, with its foot on the
suddenly flicked out. There were a variety neck of the Thunstone likeness, had hands
of other riddles, which many commentators that thrust outfrom under its robe. They
purported to explain by the overworked had been made of a pair of Thunstone’ s own
extra-dimensional theory. Somebody or. gloves, and on closer scrutiny proved to be
something, it remained, had fashioned a strangely prepared. The forefinger and
likeness of his own downfall in his own middle finger of each had been racked in
sitting room, without getting in. Again ap- at the tip, so that the third fingers extended
proaching the desk without touching the longest. The only Shonokin that Thunstone
Bible or the little figure crouched beside it, had ever met had displayed third fingers of
Thunstone drew out a drawer and produced that same unnatural proportion. Thunstone
sheaf of papers. nodded to himself, agreeing that this was
The top sheet was a second or third car- plainly the effigy of a Shonokin. He turned
bon of his own typescript. Other copies his mind problem of why the images
to the
of this sheet were sealed in various, en- had been thus designed and posed.
velopes with equally interesting documents, A simple warning to him? He did not
placed here and there in the custody of think so. The Shonokins, whatever they
THE SHONOKINS 51
really were and wanted, would not deal in A quiver ran through the room, as
little
—
warnings not with him at least. Was the though a heavy truck had trundled by some-
group of figures then an actual weapon, like where near. But no truck would be operat-
the puppets which wizards pierce with pins ing in the sealed closet.
to torture their victims? But Tbunstone Thunstone lighted his pipe again, gazing
told himself that he had never felt better in into the gray clouds of smoke he produced.
his life. What remained? What reaction, What he may have seen there caused him to
for instance, was expected of him? retain his smile. He sat as relaxed and
He mentally put another person in his motionless as a big, serene cat for minutes
place, a man of average mind, reaction and that threatened to become hours, until at last
behavior. What would such a person do? his telephone rang.
Tear up the dummies, of course, with right- “Hello,” he said into the instrument.
—
eous indignation starting with that simula- "This is John Thunstone.”
tion of the Shonokin with a conquering foot "You danger yourself," a voice told him,
on its victim’s neck. Thunstone allowed a voice accented in a fashion that he could
himself the luxury of a smile. not identify with any foreign language group
"Not me,” he muttered. in all his experience.
Yet again he went to the desk, and re- "And you are kind to warn me,” replied
turned the paper to the drawer. He opened Thunstone with the warmest ak of cordial-
another drawer. Catching hold of the Bible, ity. "Are you going to offer me advice,
he used it to thrust the little handkerchief- too?”
doll into the drawer, closed and locked it "My advice is to be wise and modest. Do
in. Then, and not until then, he approached not try to pen up a power greater than hurri-
the two full-sized figures. They were ar- canes.”
ranged on a rug. For all its crumpled-fabric "And my advice,” returned Thunstone,
composition, the simulated Shonokin seemed "is not to underestimate the -wit or determi-
to stand there very solidly. John Thunstone nation of your adversary. Good day.”
knelt, gingerly took hold of the arm of his
HUNG
own image, and with the utmost deliberation
and care eased it toward him, from under
the foot of its oppressor. When he had
H E up the receiver, reached for
the Bible, and turned from the Prophet
Joel to the Gospel of Saint John. Its first
dragged it clear of the rug, he took hold of chapter, specified by the old anti-diabolists
the edge of the rug itself and drew it weak-
as a direct indictment of evil magic’s
smoothly across the floor. The Shonokin gave him comfort, though he was read-
ness,
shape rode upright upon it. He brought ing for perhaps the four hundredth time.
it
it to the door of the empty sitting room The telephone rang again, and again he
closet, opened the door, and painstakingly lifted it.
edged the thing, rug and all, inside. "I deplore your bad judgment in chal-
This done, he closed and locked the door. lenging us,” said the same voice that had
From the bedroom he brought sticks of spoken before. "You are given one more
sealing wax, which he always kept in quan- chance.”
tity for unorthodox uses. After some min- "That’s a lie,” said Thunstone. "You
utes, he had sealed every crack and aperture wouldn’t give me a chance under any cir-
of the closet door, making it airtight. He cumstances. I won’t play into your hands.”
marked the wax here and there with the He paused. "Rather unusual hands you have,
Saint John’s cross of his ring. Finally re- don’t you? Those long third fingers—”
turning to his own likeness, he lifted it con- This time it was his caller who hung up
fidently and propped it upright in a chair, suddenly. Musing, Thunstone selected from
and sat down across from it. He winked at his shelf of books a leather-bound volume
the rough mockery of his own face, which These Are Our Ancestors. He leafed
entitled
did not seem so blank and miserable now. through it, found the place he wanted, and
Indeed, it might be said to wink back at began to read;
him; or perhaps the fabric of the pillow-slip
was folded across one of the smudgy eyes. Stone-age Europe was spacious, rich
52 WEIRD TALES
and uncrowded, but it could acknowledge dead. The hunter’s wise eyes narrowed.
only one race of rulers. Something dark and shaggy crouched be-
Homo Neanderthdensis —
the Nean- yond it, seeming to drag or worry at the
derthal Man — must have grown up there carcass. A bear? The javelin lifted in the
from the dim beginning, was supreme big tanned the bearded mouth shouted
fist,
and plentiful as the last glaciers receded. a challenge.

His bones have been found from Ger- At that the shaggy thing rose on two legs
many to Gibraltar, jmd his camps and to face him, and it was not a bear.
flints and fire-ashes. We construct his liv- Thunstone’s eloquent fancy had identified
ing image, stooped and burly, with a great the hunter with himself. It was as if he
protruding muzzle and beetling brows. personally faced that rival for the dead prey,
Perhaps he was excessively hairy not a — at less than easy javelin-casting distance.
man as we know men, but not a brute, It stood shorter than he but broader, its
either. Fire was his, and the science of shoulders and chest and limbs thatched with
flint-chipping. He buried his dead, which hair. Its eyes met his without faltering,
shows he believed in an after-life, prob- deep bright eyes that glared from a broad
able in a diety. He could think, perhaps shallow face like the face of a shaggy lizard.
he could speak. He could fight, too. Its earspricked like a wolf’s, it slowiy raised
When our true forefathers, the first immense hands, and the third fingers of
Homo Sapiens, invaded through the east- those hands were longer than the other fin-
ern mountain passes or out of the great gers.
valley now drowned by the Mediter- Thunstone rose from his chair. The fan-
ranean, there was battle. Those invaders cied landscape of long ago faded from his
were in body and spirit like us, their chil- mind’s eye, and he was back in his hotel
dren. They could not parley with the sitting room. But the' hairy thing with the
abhorrent foe they found. There could strange hands was there, too, and it was
be no rules of warfare, no truces or trea- moving slowly forward.
ties, no mercy to the vanquished. Such Thunstone’s .immediate thought was that
a conflict could die only when the last he had expected something like this. The
adversary died. Neanderthal man, says H. G. Weils, was
This dawn-triumph of our ancestors undoubtedly the origin of so many unchan-
was the greatest, because the most funda- cey tales of ogres, trolls, mantacors and sim-
mental, in the history of humanity. No ilar monsters. Small wonder that such a
champion of mankind ever bore a greater forbidding creature had impressed itself on
responsibility to the future than that first the night memories of a race. ... It was not
tall hunter who crossed, all aware, the coming toward him, but past him, toward
borders of Neanderthal country. the sealed door. Its strange-fingered hands
pawed at the sealed cracks.
HE book sagged in Thunstone’s hands. Thunstone’s pipe was still in his hand. It
T His eyes seemed to pierce the mists of had not gone out. He carried it to his mouth,
time. He saw, more plainly than in an drew strongly to make the fire glow, and
ordinary dream, a landscape of meadow and walked across the carpet to the very side
knoll and thicket, with wooded heights on of the hairy thing. When he had come
the horizon. Through the bright morning within inches, he blew a thick cloud of the
jogged a confident figure, half-clad in fur, herb-laden smoke into the ungainly face.
with his long blade hair bound in a snake- Even as it lurched around to glare, it was
skin fillet, a stone axe at his girdle and a dissolving like one scene in a motion pic-
bone-tipped javelin in one big hand. If ture melting into another. It vanished as
the frill of beard had been shaved from his the smoke-cloud vanished. The telephone
jaw, he might have been taken for John was ringing yet a third time.
Thunstone. Patiently he answered it.
—
He was trailing something the deer he "You are now aware,” he was told by
had waylaid and speared earlier in the day. the same accented voice, "that even your own
There it was up ahead, fallen and quiet and thoughts may turn to fight you.”'
THE SHONOKINS 53
"Any man may dismiss his own thoughts,” cut to ugly points. The Shonokin on
ficially
replied Thunstone at once. "I have a spe- the bed neither moved nor stared. Toward
cial hell to which I send thoughts that annoy him Thunstone made a gesture.
me. Can you afford to go on blundering? "I guessed more correctly about you than
Why do you not call on me in person? My you about me,” he said. "Your languid
door is unlocked.” —
friend yonder would it be tactless, per-
"So is mine,” replied the other coldly. haps to suggest that he lies there without any
"On the floor below yours. Room 712. soul in him? Or that his soul is upstairs,
Come down if you dare.” animating a certain rude image which I
"I dare, and do defy you for a villain,” have sealed carefully away?”
quoted Thunstone from Shakespeare, who "We,” said the seated Shonokin, "have
also made a study of supernormal phenom- never been prepared to admit the existence
ena. Hanging up, he took from his smok- of souls.”
ing stand a glass ash tray. In this he pains- "Tag it by whatever name you like,”
takingly built a gratelike contrivance from nodded Thunstone, "this specimen on the
paper clips, and upon the little grate kindled bed seems to be without it, and worse for
a fire of wooden match sticks. When it being without it. Suppose we establish a
blazed up, he fed upon it some crumbs of point from which to go on with our discus-
his blended tobacco and herbs, and when sion. You were able to fabricate, in my
these caught fire he poured on a full hand- room, a sort of insulting tableau. I, for my
ful of the pungent mixture. It took the part, was to enter, be surprised and angry,
flame bravely. He carried it across the room, and attempt to tear it to pieces. Doing that,
setting it in front of the sealed closet. The I would release upon myself what?” —
smoke curled up as from an incense burner, "You do not know,” said the standing
shrouding the entire wall from any magical Shonokin tensely. It was his voice, Thun-
intruder. Thunstone nodded approval to stone recognized, that had given the various
himself, went out, down one flight of stairs, telephone messages.
and knocked on the door marked 712. "Oh, it might have been any one of sev-
The door opened a crack, showing a slice eral things that hostile and angry spirits
of sallow brown face. A deep black eye can accomplish,” went on Thunstone with
peered at Thunstone, and then the door an air of carelessness. "I might have be-
opened. A hand with a too-long third finger come sick, say; or have gone mindless; or
waved as if inviting him in. He crossed the the cloth, as I loosened it, might have
threshold. smothered me strangely, and so on. Strange
you went in for such elaborate and sinister
HE room was dim, with curtains drawn when back might have
T and a single crudely molded candle burn-
attacks,
done as well.
a knife in the
You intend to' kill me, don’t
ing on a center table. Three Shonokins were you?”
there —
one motionless under a quilt on the He looked at one of his interrogators,
bed, one at the door, the third sunk in the then the other, then once more at the figure
armchair. They might have been triplets, on the bed. That Shonokins face looked
all slender and sharp-faced, with abundant as pale as paper under its swarthiness. The
shocks of black hair. They all wore neat lips seemed to’quiver, as if trying feebly to
suitsof gray, with white shirts and black gulp air.
but to Thunstone it seemed that they

ties, has been well established,”
"I think that it
were as strange to such clothing as if they Thunstone resumed, "that when a body
had come from a far land or a far century. sends forth the power that animates it, for
The door closed behind him. good or for evil, it will die unless that power
"Well?” he said. soon returns. But this doesn’t touch on why
The Shonokin by the door and the Shono- you dared me to come down here. Did you
kin in the chair gazed a± him with malig- dream that I wouldn’t call your bluff. For
nant eyes of purest, brightest black. Their it was a bluff, wasn’t it?”
hands stirred, rather nervously. Their finger- The eyes of the two conscious Shono-
nails appeared to be sharp, perhaps arti- kins were like octopus eyes, he decided. The
54 WEIRD TALES
Shonokins themselves might be compared "Shonokins do not die,” gulped the one
to the octopus people, whose natural home in die dark.
was deep in ocean caves,from which speci- “You have tried to convince yourselves
mens ventured on rare occasions to the sur- of that by avoiding all corpses of your
face when man could see and divide his kind,” Thunstone said, "yet now you are
emotions between wonder and horror. . . in dread of this dying companion of yours.
“Thank you for giving us another thought His life is imprisoned upstairs. Without it
to turn against you,” said the Shonokin in he strangles and perishes. I learn more
the chair. and more about your foolish Shonokin

ways.”
T HE dark room swam, swam literally, for

Thunstone it was as though warm
to
"You learn about us?” snapped the stand-
ing one. "We are ancient and great. We
rippling waters had come from somewhere had power and wisdom when your fathers
to close over his head. Through the semi- were still wild brutes. When you understand
transparency writhed lean dark streamers, that— ”
like a nest of serpents, their tips questing “Ancient?” broke in Thunstone. "Yes,
toward him. At the ends furthest from him you must be. Only an unthinkably old race
they joined against a massive oval bladder, could have such deep-seated folly and nar-
set with two eyes like ugly jewels. An oc- rowness and weakness. Do you really think
topus —
and a big one. Its eight arms, lined that you can swarm out again from wher-
with red-mouthed suckers, were reaching ever you have cowered for ages, to over-
for Thunstone. throw mankind? Human beings at least dare
By instinct, he lifted his hands as though look at their own dead, and to move over
in defense. His right hand held his pipe, those dead to win fights. You vain and
and its bowl emitted a twirl of smoke. blind Shonokins are like a flock of raiding
—
Smoke under water! -But this was not
—
crows, to be frightened away by hanging up
water, it was only the sensation of water, a few carcasses of your own kind
conjured out of his chance thought by Shon- "I have it!” cried the Shonokin who had
okin magic. As the wriggling, twisting stood by the door.
tentacles began to close around him, Thun- Weasel-swift and weasel-silent, he had
stone put his pipe to his lips and blew out a leaped at Thunstone, snatched the pipe, and
cloud of smoke. leaped away again. A wisp of the smoke
The room cleared. It was as it had been. rose to his pinched nostrils, and he dropped
Thunstone tapped ashes from his pipe, and the pipe with a strange exclamation that
and lighted it as before.
filled might have been a Shonokin oath.
"You see,” said the seated Shonokin, "Without that evil-smelling talisman,”
"that any fancy coming into your mind may said the seated one, “I leave you to your
blossom into nightmare. Is it a pleasant latest fancy —raiding crows.”
future to foresee, John Thunstone? You The room was swarming full of them,
had better go up and open that sealed black and shining and clatter-voiced. whir A
door.” of many wings, a cawing chorus of gaping
Thunstone’s great head shook, and he bills, churned around Thunstone, fanned the
smiled under his mustache. "Just now,” he air of the room. Then, of a sudden, they
said, "I am thinking of someone very like were swarming where?—
you, who died and was buried at the Conley "Now do you believe that your kind can
farm. Why not make him appear out of my die?” said Thunstone bleakly, his voice ris-
meditations?” ing above the commotion. "The crows be-
"Silence!” snarled the Shonokin who had lieve it. For they attack the dead, not the
opened the door. His hand lifted, as if to living.”
menace Thunstone with its sharp nails. "You

do not know what you are talking about.” HpHE crows, or the vision of them, indeed
"3ut I do,” Thunstone assured him gent- -L thronged over and upon the bed, settling
ly. "Living Shonokins fear only dead into a black, struggling mass that hid the
Shonokins.” form that lay there.
THE SHONOKINS 55
thought on purpose of carrion-birds,”

**I something had worn them and had shaken
said Thunstone. "Your power to turn them off. Thunstone carried them into his
’
thoughts into nightmares has rebounded. bedroom, then dismantled the image of him-
He spoke to the backs of the two living self. He telephoned for a chambermaid
Shonokins. They were running. He won- to make the bed and a tailor to press the
dered later if they opened the door or, by suit.
some power of their own, drifted through it. At length he departed to find a favorite
He followed them as far as the hall, in time restaurant. He ordered a big dinner, and
to see them plunging down the stairway. ate every crumb with an excellent appe-
Stepping back into the room, he retrieved tite.
his pipe and drew upon it. At the first puff When he returned to the hotel late that
of smoke the crows were gone, leaving him evening, the manager told him of the sud-
alone with the silent figure on the bed. den death, apparently from heart disease, of
Now he made sure, touching the chill a foreign-seeming man in Room 712. The
wrist and twitching up a flaccid eyelid, that man had had friends, said the manager,
the Shonokin was dead. He made a tour of but they could not be found. He was about
the room, in which there seemed to be no to call the morgue.
—
luggage only a strange scroll of some mate- "Don’t,” said Thunstone. "I met him.
rial like pale suede, covered with charac- I’ll arrange funeral details and burial.”
ters Thunstone could not identify, but he For a Shonokin corpse, buried in the lit-
pocketed it for more leisurely study. Out tle private cemetery on the farm he had in-
into the hallhe strolled, smoking thought- herited, would make that refuge safe from
fully. He was beginning to like that herb at least one type of intruder.
mixture, or perhaps he was merely grateful The manager, who knew better than to
to it. be surprised at Thunstone’s impulses, only-
Back in his own quarters, he opened the asked, "Will you notify his relatives?”
sealed closet door without hesitation. On "None of his relatives will care to come
the floor lay a crumpled heap of sheets, to the funeral,” Thunstone assured the man-
garments and other odds and ends, as if ager, "or anywhere near his grave.”
Wind Walks Not Alone

By DAN KELLY
A LL of the lights in the world are out,
-i Y. 'j'p.Q stars cloud-covered and lost;
Nothing alive can travel about,

Only the wind and the frost.
Only the wind can rustle the sand

And frost can whiten the coast,
But then, that wind and the corpse-pale
May be but the breath of a ghost.
Way and Let Me Sleep
qP,lease GoHELEN By W. KASSON
T WAS a room, just like any other room. the brewery off which his descendants lived
had walls and a floor and a ceiling
It —and nicely too! —
so the family traced
I— even a door. But no windows. In
Spanish it was called la tumba; in French
lineage back to
satisfied.
him and
Gramps was
stopped, completely
sufficient.
le tot?ibeau; and in English —
the crypt. Then there was Great Grandmother,
Anyway, the family was gathered just — Gammer, little and shriveled and rather the
as it would have been gathered in any other worse for lying almost a century in the
room —holding an indignation meeting. damp. And Grandpa and Grandma whose
There was Great Grandfather for whom the bones were not quite so old; and Mother
tomb had been built. (He was the most in- and Dad and Aunt Pansy who had never
dignant.) He had a long, patriarchal beard married and was quite withered even before
and was the first one dead and the head of she died; and little Willie who had died at
the family. While he had undoubtedly had the age of eight and was still something of
ancestors just like everybody else, no one a brat. Besides, there were a couple of poor
cared about them. Gramps had founded relations, in the crypt of necessity and on
Heading by LEE BROWN COYE
Can the living haunt the dead ? After a manner of haunting?

56
PLEASE GO WAY AND LET ME SLEEP n
sufferance and therefore not in a position to a curious warmth of affection for him.) "It’s
be as indignant as the real family. And the custom of the living to mourn its dead.”
there was one stranger — a sad and irretriev- "Custom!” Gramps snorted. "You may
able error which, for twenty years, the Col- well accept that custom. You’re the last one
lins dead had been bemoaning. dead and on the bottom tier. How can you
The name on his niche- read "Ned Col- hear him down there anyway? It’s on my
lins” but he was not Uncle Ned. He had head he tramples. It’s on ray coffin-top he
been Uncle Ned’s seat-mate when the train scratches around at an hour when decent
had run off the embankment and his bones people should be sleeping. I lived a long
had been so mixed up with Unde Ned’s that time and I’ve been a long time dead. I need
the people who sorted them out had done a my rest!”
bad job. He was partly Uncle Ned: the Gammer nodded. "You’re entitled to it,
right-hand little finger bone and the left and so am I. I’m on the top tier too. He
shank which didn’t, by any means, make him pounds on me as much as anyone.” Two
a genuine Collins. But he was mostly a tears rolled down her leathery cheeks. “I’m
stranger, and it hurt to know that he would awful tired. Pa.”
lie through eternity in the sacred Collins Gramps inched his bones a little sideways
crypt. Of course, it was not until a Collins and rattled his right hand for emphasis
died that he discovered the profane and against the wall. “Entitled to it, I am,” he
sacrilegious truth. Themourned at
living croaked. "It was promised to me. All those
the grave of Uncle Ned and knew no dif- days I went to church —
fifty-two Sundays for
ference. eighty years. Well over four thousand days
I spent listening to promises of the peace
BUT time, even in a crypt, knits bones to-

gether and Uncle Ned’s proxy was made
and rest I was going to get after I died. And
what comes of it? My only living descen-
dant maliciously spends one day a week try-
again of whole cloth, as it were. Often he
complained of the stiff and arbitrary action ing to deprive me of my eternal sleep!”
of his right-hand little finger bone and his
left shank and the Collins dead knew this you. What are you going to
—
"All right,” Mother said, "he disturbs
” The rest of
was the real Uncle Ned’s family pride ex- the sentence was drowned under the sound
tending even to his dismembered bones cry- of heavy banging. "Willie!” she screamed.
ing for his rightful place and resenting the “Stop pounding on that coffin. Do you want
presence of a stranger in the midst of the to break it?”
Collins clan. "Yippee! I'm a ghoul!” Willie shouted.
But tonight it was not about the stranger "I’m robbing graves. * Look at me! I’m the
in Uncle Ned’s grave that the indignation head ghoul!”
meeting was being held. Strangely enough "Well, stop it,” Mother said, "or I'll sick
all anger was directed against the sole re- a Vampire on you.”**
maining living member of the family. His
name was Ambie Collins and on earth he
was known as a good and worshipful man.
And again, strangely enough, it was this
GRAMPS disconsolately resumed the con-
versation. "I don’t know what I’m go-
ing to do, but something’s got to be done.
very goodness and worshipfulness to which —
That Ambie. He’s he’s haunting us!”
the dead in the family crypt objected. "Why don’t we haunt him?” Willie sug-
"Why can’t he leave us alone?” Gramps gested with the fresh viewpoint of one just
moaned. "Come every Sunday, rain or shine, eight.
there he is tramping on our heads, pounding In unison the family, including the poor
around to dig a hole to set his vase of relativeswho were in the crypt on sufferance
flowers steady. Crying and wailing up there and the usurper of Uncle Ned’s final resting
like a banshee!” place, turned admiring eyes on Willie.
"He means well,” Mother said. (Com- * Author’s note: Little boys learn an awful lot of
new
paratively to Death she still had mem- funny stuff after they die.
** It doesn’t hurt to frighten little boys after they’re
ory of the foibles of the living. Besides, she dead. You can give them all the psychoses you want.
They’re not going to grow up, anyway, thank good-
was Ambie Collins’ mother and so retained ness.
58 WEIRD TALES
"That’s it,” they said, in as near unison jealous. But this is the way it all came
as ten voices can make it. about.
"That’s it,” Gramps repeated as the foun- Ambie Collins was known as a good and
der, the head and the backbone of the fam- worshipful —
man -to the world. To his wife
ily — and, incidentally, as the first and only Charlotte he seemed faulty. He dropped his
Collins who had ever made a living for him- clothes where he stood at night, didn’t bathe
self. "That’s exactly it! He’s been haunt- quite as often as nice people should, cracked
ing.us—now we haunt him. Show him how his knuckles sometimes in a most annoying
it feels to be pestered by someone from way and, worst, he resented terribly any
another world! Maybe upset his life a questions which he believed infringed on his
little.” personal liberty.
"Not too much," Mother said quickly. Now, he wasn’t a rounder. Don’t think
"Don’t upset his life too much.” that! He spent his days in a conventional
"No, not too much.” Gramps looked and circumspect manner clipping coupons on
grim. "Only as much as he has upset our bonds bought with the money earned by
death. Perhaps we might make him feel the Gramps’ brewery (long since sold) and sit-
way it was when we were dying. Remem- ting in the stock exchange watching other
ber? people sweat as their investments swelled
"When you choked and couldn’t get an- or withered. It was only for half an hour
other breath and your bones were pulled during the day that he did anything Char-
.and pulled and pulled until the joints lotte might criticize, and that was when he
cracked. And that weight on your chest. left the broker’s office and went to the corner
Remember? When your ribs almost snapped drug store for an ice cream soda, just to keep
and broke? And that s-q-u-e-e-z-i-n-g his strength up, you know. And Charlotte
around your heart, that w-r-i-n-g-i-n-g, till did criticize that. With a vengeance!
you could almost feel it burst and break For she had happened to pass the drug
and the blood splash over whoever’s fingers store one day just at four and seen Ambie
it was who was doing the s-q-u-e-e-z-i-n-g. half-heartedly sipping an ice cream soda, but
And that icy trip with the Angel of Death, whole heartedly devouring the luscious Lulu
with his v/ings flapping and blowing frozen with his eyes. (It was near the beginning
air over your body. And crossing the river when Ambie and Lulu had just discovered
in all that mud and slime, with obnoxious their mutual preoccupation with spirits.)
reptiles waiting to grab you if you slipped From then on nothing could ever make Char-
from the boat. No, we won’t upset his life lotte believe Ambie needed that chocolate
too much. Just a little. Just enough to make ice cream soda to stay the pangs of hunger.
him know how it feels to die and how much Truthfully, Ambie didn’t. He needed Lulu
you need rest after you’ve accomplished to feed his soul, to stimulate his spirit, to
Death. Just enough to make him quit tram- speak with him of the realms of the Great
pling on our heads and leaving those in- Beyond. They both believed in Life Here-
fernal flowers every Sunday morning. after, they both knew they were psychic, they
That’s all.” both lived in hope of some night meeting a
Gramps grinned. It wasn’t much of a benevolent ghost who would, in cosmic
grin, but you knew what he meant. terms, explain a few things they were still
hazy about. And they were, in the very near
T WAS Friday night and Ambie Collins future, going to attend a seance together.
I didn’t feel so hot. Charlotte had been So Ambie’s days were worth the living
nagging him again —
-and about the same old and he resented mightily having the gaunt
thing: Lulu. Now, don’t get the idea there Charlotte interfere with them. To tell the
was anything wrong between Ambie and truth, he was a little afraid of her. In a
Lulu because there wasn’t. They did have a way he loved Lulu—in a very high-minded,
thing in common: they were both psychic. spiritual —
way but he never considered ask-
But there was nothing more. Nothing more ing Charlotte for a divorce. Besides, he
than a delicate spiritual affinity between them really had no good reason to divorce her. It
’bout which Charlotte had no right to be was only the intangibles that made them mis-
PLEASE GO WAY AND LET ME SLEEP 59
mated. The fact that he was psychic and Ambie threw down his napkin. “You are
she was not; that he had deeper, finer in- the liar,” he said.
stincts and she was about as spiritual as a "You beast!” Charlotte’s little black eyes
kitchen pot. flashed. "You monster! You betrayer of
"If Charlotte —
were to die ” The thought women! Don’t think it will get you any-
slipped into Ambie’s mind sometimes in the where. I’ll never divorce you. Never!”
dead of night when, he was sure, even God Ambie had always suspected that. Prob-
was too tired to listen. Then he’d be free to ably that’s why he had never asked. But
pursue his out-worldly interests with Lulu now that she had brought up the subject he
and life would be worth living both by day thought he had better plumb it further. "I’m
and night. Who knows? Perhaps with free, a good man,” he said. (Some slight ac-
untrammeled minds, he and Lulu might be quaintance had told him that once. Someone
able to raise a ghost. who didn’t know of the double life he was
leading between Luiu and Charlotte, who
HINGS were resting exactly at this point knew only of his Sunday pilgrimages to the
T the Friday night Ambie came home tired Collins’ crypt.) "But if you think that prob-,
and worn from a day of coupon clipping. He ably it would be better if we went separate
had had a chocolate soda and a frosted — ways.” He cracked his thumb knuckle de-
Lulu had been unusually interesting that cisively.
afternoon. So, though his mind was light Ignoring the knuckle-crack, Charlotte
and buoyant and his soul inspired, he had a changed tactics. She knew she’d never get
heavy weight in his stomach and was in no another man if she lost Ambie not with —
mood for dinner. Charlotte saw that im- her bony frame and close-set eyes. "Ambie!”
mediately from the way he picked at his She burst into tears. "How can you! How
food and, as usual, started picking at him. can you be so cool about breaking up out
(It was maid’s day out. She had cooked marriage, our life, our love?”
dinner herself and was terribly put out at the It was the word "love” that did it—
thought that Ambie might not do justice to turned Ambie from a mouse into a lion.
it. And all because of that — that nothing! The word was somehow an anacronism on
—that piece of
-
fluff! —behind the drugstore Charlotte’s thin lips.
soda fountain.) "Love!” he sneered. "You don’t know
"I suppose you had a chocolate soda this what the word means. You’re mass just a
afternoon,” she said acidly. —and
of flesh and bones and stomach! You a
"I did.” haven’t anything—not You’re no
anything.
"I suppose you were hungry.” deeper than — thana — a sirloin steak!”
"I was.” "And what has — that thing
that other
"So hungry that you drank the soda in got? That of nothing
piece drugstoreat the
complete silence and never raised your eyes —what has she know?”
got, I’d like to
from the glass.” Ambie smiled, a secret smile. His voice
Ambie raised his eyes now from the mess was when he spoke. "There
soft, nostalgic,
of food on his plate. "No,” he said coolly, are things,” he murmured, "of which you
"I didn’t drink it in silence. Why do you have no conception. There are other worlds
ask?” — worlds of the spirit, of the mind, of the
Charlotte’s cheekbones reddened. This soul. There is another life to which we
was worse than she suspected. Ambie had shall all go, from, which we have all come.
never before admitted he had spoken to the The dead walk and speak with the living;
luscious womanly bit behind the counter. the living sleep and speak with the dead.”
"I ask,” she said hotly, "because I have Charlotte stared as wide-eyed as the close-
always known there was something under- set slits could make it. This side of Ambie
handed about you. I have always known she had never encountered before. She knew
you were a liar and an adulterer and that — knuckle-cracking, ndn bathing, coupon clip-
you left the broker’s office every after- ping Ambie, but not the spirit, the psychic
noon for something besides an ice-cream Ambie. Was he mad? Had his brain been
soda.” harboring such thoughts all these years —
60 WEIRD TALES
or had it, this moment, snapped because of writhing on the Boor, kicking its legs and
her discovery of his perfidy with Lulu? fighting against —
absolutely nothing! (Be-
"There are ghosts,” Ambie continued, un- ing a sirloin steak is decidedly disadvan-
seen spirits who dwell constantly with the tageous at times.)
living. Who knows? Perhaps there is one
—
here now ” He stopped abruptly, gasping
and gagging. There was certainly nothing
to keep him from speaking, but somehow
F
turned
INALLY Ambie
again in
back
his
command
was on his feet
of his tongue.
on Charlotte and faced
and
He
he couldn’t get words out though Charlotte Gramps. "Well!” he said. "Now that your
could tell from his popping eyes that he little joke is over I’m certainly glad to see
was trying hard enough. you. And looking so well, too.”
She poured a glass of water and thrust (Gramps did look well, considering.
it at him. He got it to within half an inch Gammer had combed some of the grave
of his lips but it stopped there. Something mold out of his beard and his burial suit,
seemed to be in the way. But what? having been made before the war the Civil —
"Drink it,” Charlotte advised. —
War, of course when materials were really
"Glub!” Ambie said. good, had lasted surprisingly well.)
"What’s the matter with you?” Charlotte "It’s a wonder if I am,” Gramps said sul-
screamed? lenly. "I certainly don’t get any rest.”
Gramps said, and removed
"Tell her,” "I suppose things are busy there where —
his hand from Ambie’s lips. you are.”
it was Gramps, arrived just in time
For "Busier’n they should be,” Gramps said
to verify Ambie’s statement about unseen meaningly.
spirits and just too late to catch the first Charlotte was listening flabbergasted. Be-
part of the conversation about Lulu. ing unpsychic she could hear only Ambie’s
Ambie whirled. "Gramps!” he shouted. half of the conversation. "To whom . . .
"Is it really you?” . .are. you. . speaking?” she asked

. . . .
"Is it really who?” Charlotte asked. (You peremptorily.

see Ambie, being psychic, could see Gramps; Ambie jumped as if he had been pinched.
but Charlotte, being nothing but a sirloin He had. Gramps chuckled maliciously.
steak, couldn’t.) "That ought to teach you,” Gramps said.
"It’s Gramps, my great grandfather, "Teach me what?”
come back from the Other World. Oh, won- "How it feels to be haunted to be de- —
derful!Wonderful! Wait till I tell Lulu.” prived of rest.”
In his excitement, Ambie forgot that the For a moment Ambie thought Gramps
Other Woman should never be mentioned was resentful of his and Lulu’s interest in
before one’s wife. the Great Beyond, but on second thought he
"There, there, Ambie,” Charlotte said in was sure that couldn’t be it and decided to
a frightened voice. "Maybe you’d better ignore the matter. "Look, Gramps,” he said,
sit down.” "quit talking in riddles. How did you get
"Maybe I had,” Ambie said weakly. He here? Was it hard breaking through?”
bent in the right places, but the chair was "I’m not here,” Gramps said. "It would
gone before the right place reached it. take a Georgia chain gang to break through
Gramps had whisked it away. Ambie landed, that layer of stone. Double locks on the
in the wrong place, on the floor with a dull door, too,” he added petulantly. "You sure
thud. didn’t take any chances I’d escape when you
Then again he seemed to strangle. With built that crypt.”
nothing visible before his lips, yet he desper- "But you are here,” Ambie said. "I see
ately struggled to speak with no results. you.”
Nothing human sounding, anyway. "Kub Gramps looked annoyed. "I am not. I’m
ih ow,” he gargled, "Ah, Am.” Which
"Cut out. Stop, Gramps!”
translated meant,
still there, lying in
"But Gramps
—my coffin!”
But Charlotte couldn’t understand. She "Listen, Ambie. Bid you ever read Freud
saw only a maniac, an epileptic, perhaps, on Hallucinations?”
PLEASE GO WAY AND LET ME SLEEP 61
"Yes, but
— Not only that, Gramps was thinking of all
"Well, there you have it!” those Sundays he’d spent in church listening
Ambie took a deep breath. "But you and Gramps was
to promises of eternal rest,
couldn’t have read Freud. You died before remembering just how early Ambie wak-
he was translated.” ened him every Sunday morning. When he
"Didn’t say I did,” Cramps growled. recognized the back-side-to collar of the
"But you did. That’s all that’s necessary.” reverend he decided to get even for at least
"You mean,” Ambie said slowly, "that one of those Sundays.
you’re a hallucination, not a ghost?” Charlotte helped the reverend to his feet
"Are they different?” Gramps asked dis- while Ambie held the chair, firmly.
interestedly. "I donno. You read the book. "That’s enough, Gramps,” Ambie said.
You ought to know.” "Play your jokes on me, if you must. Leave
Charlotte refused to be ignored longer. our guests
—
” He stopped and gagged.
"Ambie,” she screamed “Stop talking to Gramps was taking him at his word.
yourself.” Suddenly there was the sound of a loud
At that moment the doorbell rang. Char- slap.
lotte was afraid to leave Ambie alone to "Ambie! Don’t crack your knuckles,"
answer it and Ambie was too busy staring Charlotte said.
incredulously at Charlotte to hear it, so Ambie had put one hand to his cheek.
Gramps went. When he removed it there were the marks
"Do you mean you can’t see Gramps?” of five bony fingers spreading out from his
Ambie asked unbelievingly of his wife. ear.
"Of course not. And neither can you!” "Gramps,” he pleaded, "stop. I don’t
"Nor hear him?” Ambie persisted. know what I ever did to”- — The sentence
"I’ve heard nothing all evening but your wasn’t finished. Neither was Gramps. Am-
insane mumblings.” bie was struggling to speak again.
"Wheee!” Ambie shrilled. "That means The reverend fastened his eyes on Ambie
I really am Lulu always said so.”
psychic. and drew back. "What is it, Mr. Collins?
At from Charlotte he turned to
a look Are you ill?”
find the minister, pale and shaken, leaning
against the wall and mopping his forehead.
” Who opened the front door?” the min-
ister whispered.
A MBIE decided not to attempt speech. He
shook his head and walked toward the
far side of the room. Midway his feet got en-
“I did,” Gramps said. tangled and he started doing something that
The minister being nothing but a sirloin looked like Shuffling Off to Buffalo, except
steak with a spiritual calling hadn’t been that he wasn’t shuffling off to any place. He
able to see Gramps at the door and wasn’t was 'merely standing in one spot and trip-
able to hear him now. Ambie saw that he ping over nothing. The carpet was perfectly
was waiting for an answer. flat and unwrinkled, his shoelaces were tied,
"I did,” Ambie said. his socks were caught up tight with garters
—
"But—but you were in here.” — to the naked eye there was absolutely
"A form of magic,” Ambie said airily. nothing in the world to impede his progress.
“My great grandfather taught me. The body Still, his progress was impeded.
is quicker than the eye and all, that stuff, “Ouch,” he yelled. "Take it away! What
you know. Sit down, reverend. is it?”
"Barbed wire,” Gramps chuckled. "The
HE On builders left it in the crypt. I always thought
T reverend sat.
way Ambie had a few moments before.

the floor, just the
it might come in handy.”
(Gramps, being an old guy, didn’t know "Well, take it back there. And get back
many new tricks. It is doubtful whether the there yourself.”
hot foot had been in vogue during his life- "I am there,” Gramps said. "So’s the
time. So to Gramps the whisking away of Remember, Freud on Halluci-
a chair just as a bottom descended was still
barbed wire.
nations
—
the height of humor.) "Get out!” Ambie screamed.
62 WEIRD TALES
"Really,Mr. Collins,” the reverend said. But somehow, today, Ambie couldn’t hear
"To whom are you speaking?” him. Maybe Ambie’s hallucinatory powers
Charlotte’s eyes were getting more and were weaker, maybe Gramps’ frail voice was
more frightened, but the germ of a thought not strong enough to penetrate the layer of
was growing behind them. "Ambie,” she earth and stone which separated them, to
said gently, "there’s no one here but us. say nothing of the worlds between, or may-
Come. Sit down and talk to the reverend be Ambie’s psychic deafness was due to the
while I mix up some lemonade.” fact that though he mourned verbally and
Ambie came. And sat. But he couldn’t loudly his mind was completely centered on
talk. Whenever he got ready to, Gramps —
Lulu and not in a spiritual way at all!
slapped an invisible hand over his lips and So, obvious of Gramps’ irritation, Ambie
Ambie couldn’t talk. The reverend did the continued his audible mourning. For this
best he could with a one-sided conversation. Sunday he was inordinately grateful to
He exhausted the weather and the parish Gramps. You see, Charlotte had left his bed
house and finally got around to what he had and board the Friday night of the haunting
come for collecting money to build an ad- and already suit for divorce was in progress.
dition to the church, from which money, Charlotte had weighed the facts and decided
incidentally, he expected to take a substan- no man at all was better than a crazy man.
tial squeeze. When he asked Ambie point- Then too, Ambie’s being crazy was suffi-
blank for a donation Gramps thoughtfully cient explanation of why he preferred Lulu
removed his hand from Ambie’s mouth long to her. So her pride was saved and she’d be
enough to allow him to say, "Yes.” able to live nicely on her alimony with no
The reverend got out a pledge and Ambie knuckle-cracking to distress her.
signed it for two hundred dollars. That So Ambie was overcome with love and
meant about twenty for the reverend’s pri- gratitude for Gramps who had made Char-
vate purse, which was about all he could ex- lotte want to divorce him. And he wailed.
pect from one parishioner, so he got up And Gramps shouted. And Gammer said
and left. He said he didn’t believe he cared she was getting an awful headache from
for any lemonade after all; it upset his diges- all the noise and what did they mean when
tion. Charlotte wasn’t making it anyway. they said, "Quiet as the Dead?” Finally
She was telephoning to her lawyer. little Willie woke up and jumped out of his
coffin and started to play Lampire Bat on

T WAS Sunday morning in the crypt and Unde Ned’s proxy. Uncle Ned’s proxy bat-
I everything was quiet. Until nine. Then ted him away and cursed the day the people
there was the clatter of footsteps overhead got his bones mixed with Unde Ned’s and
and the sound of digging. A
little later there laid himhere. And Aunt Pansy, the spin-
was a heavy bump as the vase of flowers ster, wailed, "If I’d only married that man
found its Then Ambie started
resting place. — even if he wasn’t good enough for me
pacing up and down and meditating aloud maybe I’d have been buried in his family
on the virtues of the departed. crypt instead of here. Maybe I’d have gotten
"My mother,” he said, "and my dad. a little of that eternal rest I was promised.”
And my dear grandfather and grandmother The poor anything be-
relatives didn’t say
—
and Gramps who made all that money. cause, after they were in the crypt on
all,
And Gammer she always carried pepper- sufferance, what they thought was
but
—
mint drops for me and Uncle Ned who enough to raise the whole dan of Collins
used to dandle me on his knee.” He went dead.
down the roster —even including the poor But Ambie went on mourning from nine —
relatives who were in the crypt of necessity to twelve —
and then put on his black hat
and on sufferance and little Willie whom and got into his car and drove over to the
—
he had always loathed until finally Gramps drugstore.
could stand it no longer. He had a date with Lulu to go to a
"Get away from there, you idiot,” he seance, but he thought they’d call it off and
shouted. "Go away! Lemme sleep!” just park on the lake shore instead.
UPERSTIflONS
Sc Elmo's
FIRE APPEARS AS A
TIPOF LIGHT ON THE
MASTS OF SHIPS*
UNLIKE OTHER MANI-
FESTATIONS OF
ELECTRICAL FORCES
IN NATURE. THIS FIRE
DOES NOT CAUSE
ANY INJURY TO MEN
OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY
eurrr /s coAis/oggeo'
AN /£.£. OMSH SY
3A/I.OXS AN&, TFEFEFCRB,
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In the belief that they were making

ADEQUATE STORE FOR NEEDS IN THE OTHER WORLD, THE
ANCIENT EGYPTIANS FURNISHED THEIR TOMBS WITH MODELS
AND PICTURES OF THINGS USED IN THEIR EVERYDAY
LIVES. Twev EVEN INCLUDED MODELS OF SERVANTS
TO /Nsms T&mfSELVES OF MOT’S COMFORT /A/
TW£/% NEW STATE OF SE/A/GpT
lannah
Sometimes love is good; sometimes it is possessive, destructive, wholly evil
WAS never one to be hasty in my judg- Now that everything is over, there can be no
ment of others, but I do think that harm in setting down what I know about
I Mrs. Stewart might have paid a little
more attention to Maurice, she might have
what happened Mr. Stewart
at that house.
could not have done any more than he did;
given him the kind of affection he needed. he had his work, and sometimes he came out
By STEPHEN GRENDON
Heading by A. B. TILBURNE
64
'ALANNAH 6f,
from the Mrs. Stewart was

city pretty tired. That was a mistake, I know now. Some-
the one. She was that kind of woman times I wonder if the house was not respon-
lived for herself too much, and not enough sible for some of the things Mrs. Stewart
for others. I don’t say that a person did — or rather, didn’t do. I really don’t
shouldn’t live for himself —
but not alone have any prejudice against her, poor woman;
that. My grandmother used to say that it is she is what she is, just as I am what I am,
much better and richer to love than to be and Mr. Stewart, is what he is, and
loved. I thought of that often about Mrs. Maurice. . . .
Stewart; I always felt that she never knew

what it was to love. Yet I wouldn’t want to HE house was really a beautiful house..
say that she didn’t love her son;
knows what love is, and love is a great many
nobody T It was old, a low two-story stone house,
with a charming roof on which the moss
things to different people. Sometimes love grew green. The stone was yellow, but wet
is the most enriching thing in the world, — actually wet outside; that I -thought was
and sometimes it is not; sometimes it is good due brook that flowed past outside,
to the
and wholesome, and sometimes it is posses- for therewas a brook, a real Vermont brook,
sive and destructive and evil. Sometimes it and you’ve ever seen those crystal streams,
if
is strong enough to live after death, and if with their green-blue water, you will know
love lives after it, then surely hunger and what I mean. The brook came flowing down
terror and all the emotions of man, made from the hills, and right in the center of the
strong enough and great enough, live after- grounds around the house, though a little
ward, too. off side, beyond the north end and so behind
The Stewarts had taken the house in the the house, its former owmer had built a deep
Vermont hills when I joined them. That is, pool, with a fine brick and stone rim curving
they had moved in for that summer, and in an arc toward the brook from both banks;
they had been there for almost a month the brook flowed in one end and out the
when I answered their advertisement for a other. And there were trees all along the
governess. A great many women simply did brook, so that the pool was always shadowed
not want to take positions so far from the and dark, and one would have thought that
city, which meant, really, that they wanted there would be fish in plenty there, but,
to be in the city, because the Stewart house strangely enough, there were fish above thf
was only about twelve miles from the near- pool in the brook, lying under the grassy
est city, where Mr. Stewart had his law banks, and there were fish below, but there
offices, and from which he came home al- was not a fish or a frog or even a water
most every night to work over his briefs. spider in the pool, though lilies grew there,
Mrs. Stewart was not the type of woman I and their green leaves and yellow flowers
would have thought satisfied with such a made the water seem all the blacker, and
place; she was one of those women who, be- there was a curious illusion of bottomless-
cause they think always of themselves, are ness about it when you looked into the water.
apt to get very lonely if there is not someone —

They told me that is, Mr. Stewart, who
before whom they can perform all their interviewed me —
that Maurice was a "prob-
little vanities. lem” child, and I came prepared to deal
I know it sounds as if I were prejudiced with something like a thoroughly spoiled
against Mrs. Stewart, but I do not think I youngster. Maurice was then five, or a little
was. It’s only that if she had been a differ- older, and he was a singularly beautiful
ent kind of person, I don’t think anything child, with his grave blue eyes, which could
would have happened— at least, things sometimes be as merry as the blue water of
would not have happened as they did there. the brook racing over the sunlit sand and the
I ought to say that the very first time I saw rocks in its course, and curly blond hair, and
the house, I had the feeling that there was a sensitive, full-lipped mouth; his skin was
something wrong about it. I know people fair, with a good color, and he had an innate
will say, "Isn’t that just like a woman!” but understanding of neatness. All that first day
it is true, just the same. After I got to know I kept waiting for him to explode into mis-
Mrs. Stewart I just naturally thought that chief, but he did nothing of the sort; he was
she was what was wrong about the house. quiet, a little shy, he looked into books be —
66 WEIRD TALES
was precocious for his age, they told me the ash-can; so I asked him quite casually
and he behaved very well. I thought it about an hour later what had become of the
would come the next day, but it did not, and wanted to use it for some-
little dish, as if I
finally, somewhat mystified, I went to Mrs. thing.

Stewart and asked her bluntly in what way “I broke it, Miss Kerlsen,” he said can-
Maurice was a "problem” child. didly.
Mrs. Stewart was a dark-eyed, thin-faced
woman. She seemed to be always a little re- HAT puzzled me. I reasoned that if he
mote from the present, but she was very
clearly a most passionate type of woman, for
T were the bare-faced liar his mother said
he was, he would certainly have, lied about
she held her husband absolutely, and many the dish; he did not know I had seen him.
times he deferred his better judgment to It was very mystifying, and it grew more so
hers, though he never condoned error. She as the days slipped by. Until the sixth day
carried on a great deal of correspondence, that was Saturday, for I came on the Mon-
and telephoned friends in the city all day day of that week. That day Maurice came
long, and what I held and still hold against over to where I was resting on the low
her was that she never seemed to find much veranda on the south side of the house and
time for Maurice, even if he was her son. said that Alannah wanted to see me. Though
When I asked her, she seemed to be an- I had never seen Maurice with a playmate, I
noyed at once, just as if she should not have assumed that Alannah was someone from
had the duty of telling me. one of the farms nearby.
“Oh, didn’t Wayne tell you?” “Bring her here,” I said.
"No, Madam, he did not. I expected a "Oh, no. You’ve got to go to her,” an-
lively, mischievous lad, but I have not swered Maurice, and held out his hand con-
found Maurice at all mischievous.” fidently.
"No, if it were only mischief!” she "Very well,” I said, laughing, and took
sighed. “But it is something much worse his hand.
I suppose the best way it is to tell you that He led me around the house quite
he is endowed with an overabundance of proudly. I thought his playmate would be
imagination.” out in back, that is, on the up-slope of the
I said nothing. hill, but there was no one there. Neverthe-
“It is quite distressing for us, but he has less, Maurice led the way straight across the
most bare-
fallen into the habit of telling the yard; I looked all around quickly, but I
faced and Mr. Stewart and I feel that
lies, could see no one. Then we came to the
he must be broken of it. It is embarrassing pool, where Maurice was accustomed to
for us all to hear him speak before those of spend long hours dreaming, and Maurice
our friends who week-end with us, and the pulled atmy hand, and sat down, indicating
worst of it all is that there is no explanation that Iwas to sit down, too.
for it.” "But where is she?” I asked.
“What kind of lies, if I may ask?” “Do not say anything, please, Miss Kerl-
She waved one hand about half -vaguely, sen.”
half in a gesture of dismissal. “Oh, all kinds His fair face was flushed with excitement,
of lies, Miss Kerlsen.” and I thought his pulse had quickened a
I must admit that I have never liked peo- little. I put up my hand to -touch his fore-
ple who tell lies, though one expects a cer- head, to discover whether he had a fever,
tain amount of it in children. It was a shock but I had barely touched his skin before the
to me to hear that Maurice was addicted to most extraordinary thing happened. I felt
lying; somehow, we are always prone to as- as if my hand had been brushed aside. The
sociate goodness and all the virtues with impression was only momentary, it is true,
beauty, especially in children; and I resolved and at the same time Maurice leaned away a
that I would do all in my power to break little to look into the water; so that in a few
Maurice of prevaricating. The next day I seconds I decided that the illusion had been
even went so far as to test him. I saw him caused by the boy’s movement. I looked
break a little dish in the kitchen, and care- around to where the woods came down at
fully pick up the pieces to discard them in the far end of the lawn, half-expecting to
ALANNAH 67
see a little girl come running out; but there I went right downwhere Mr. and Mrs.
to
was no sign of anyone. Maurice continued Stewart sat, in a screened-off porch on the
to gaze into the pool, with a little smile
on west side of the living room, and asked
His eyes, though, were somewhat
his lips. them whether the boy’s imagination was the
anxious. thing that had caused them to think of him
Suddenly, without a word, he stood up, as a problem child.
offeredme his hand, and hurried me back "It is lies,” said Mrs. Stewart stubbornly.
to the veranda. He smiled quickly at me, "I would not
call them lies,” I answered,
and then hastened back around the house. just as stubbornly. "The boy is just lonely,
I was astonished by his action, and took the and he makes up these things.”
trouble to walk out from the veranda until Mr. Stewart looked up from his papers
I could look back into the lawn there to see and observed that it was surely not a healthy
where he had gone. Just as I suspected, he sign. He seemed genuinely concerned.
was sitting on the rim of the pool once "I don’t know what you mean by healthy,
more, looking into that dark water, reaching but it’s certainly normal enough.”
down with one hand. "No, no it is not,” said Mrs. Stewart.
That evening, as I stood beside his bed, I "That is just not my opinion alone, Mrs.
asked him, "And where was your Alannah Stewart,” I replied.
this afternoon, Maurice?” "I don’t care whose opinion it is. Maurice
"You didn’t see her,” he answered in a has got to be stopped from telling those —
curiously flat tone of voice, as if he were thosetall tales or whatever you want to call
disappointed. them.” Her eyes flashed at me. "We are
"No, I didn’t,” I answered. "How does depending on you to do what you can.”
she look?” "I shall do what I can, but I think it is the
"Oh, she’s pretty.” worst thing in the world to treat the boy as
"Is she as pretty as Mother?” if he were a liar. I will not do that.”
"Yes.” "We expect you to do things in your way,
"Where does she live?” Miss Kerlsen,” said Mr. Stewart.
"In the pool.” The issue, you see, was not cleanly forced.
It never was; Mrs. Stewart remained emo-
O AT last I understood what the Stew- tional about it, and annoyed; Mr. Stewart'
S arts meant by saying that Maurice was was too far from its daily manifestations,
a "problem” child, that he told bare-faced obviously. And I — well, I suppose you
lies. was not true that he told lies of all
It might say that if I had a more common-
kinds; of that I was certain. He had prob- sense attitude, I lacked imagination in al-
ably told his parents about Alannah, and most the same proportion as Maurice had an
they had not understood that a sensitive, overabundance of it. I suppose if I had had
imaginative child lives in a world of make- a little more of it, what happened would not
believe, and, lacking companions in the have had to happen.
flesh, very apt to conjure
is up imaginary As was coming up the stairs consider-
I
companions. At- the moment I did not say ably later that night, I saw Maurice coming
anything; I only smiled at Maurice, but I down the hall. The hour was almost mid-
was instantly resentful that his parents night, though it was a clear night, with a
should not have taken a little more trouble moon shining, and I wondered what he was
to find out that what Maurice needed more doing up at that hour. He could have got
than anything else was companionship. himself a drink in the bathrooom next to his
—
There was no one only his mother, the room; so it was not that. I concealed myself
cook, an old gardener who came over from and watched him go by. He went down and
a nearby farm, and myself, with his father out of the house, and I went after him, not
in the evenings, all far older than the boy making a sound.
no one his own age. And since there was no
likelihood of there being anyone his own JTE WENT right over to the pool and
age here for the summer, I knew that I JLJL crouched down on the rim in his white
would have to enter into his play-world with nightgown, and I heard his whispered voice
him as much as possible. calling, "Alannah! Alannah!” in hushed
68 .WEIRD TALES
tones. And
then suddenly a little rippling was all right. So I leaned forward, bracing
came on the water, a vapor that was not myself, and quickly opened the door.
there before. How it me! I felt
startled The instant I touched the wetness, I felt
chilled at the sight of it, but it was gone it again —
oh, the most heart-rending de-
again just as quickly as it had come; there spair, the most pitiful agony, the most utter
was nothing there, and I began to think my desolation!. Oh, the terrible wanting for
eyes had played a trick on me when Mau- someone, someone near, someone to love
rice came along with his hand held out and and adore, someone to belong to and to be-
up, just as if he were holding someone’s long to me! I clung to the door and looked
hand, the hand of an older person, and he in; but he was there, safe in his bed; and I
kept looking up from time to time, as if he pulled the door shut and drew away from
were listening to someone walking at his it, shuddering and gasping, for such a tear-
side. ing emotion I had never known, such a cold

I cannot describe my feelings as I saw isolation of the spirit, such a dread and ter-
that. It was uncanny. I saw him quite ror and emptiness. It was just as if all the
dearly in the moonlight, but there was abso- sorrows and griefs of a lifetime had come to
lutely nothing else moving across the lawn life anew and taken away all the memories
— only that curly-headed lad in his white of compensating pleasures, as if someone
nightgown. But when he went past me, were forever doomed to live out his years
where I stood in the shadow of an old tree far from his kind —
oh, it is impossible to
near the house, I felt his passage as if a cold describe it, it was terrible!
wind had brushed me, and once again that Whatever they may say of me, I am not a
feeling of unutterable chill, and something coward. I knew then that there was some-
of terrible emotional intensity rose up and thing horribly wrong about the house. De-
seemed to cling to me, like something alive; spite the c'rying out of every instinct against
so that I was frightened, almost terrified, by it, I forced myself to go back downstairs,
something could not see or hear, some-
I back out across the lawn to the pool. I sat
thing less tangible than the wind. That feel- down on the rim, and looked into that black
ing lingered until after Maurice had gone water, where now the moonlight lay like
into the house, and it was some moments silver, and I could see my face there looking
before I could bring myself to follow him. up at me out of that dark, moonlit water,
spectrally. It was beautiful there, with the
WENT straight to the stairs he had to go moonlight all around, and the brook talking
I upstairs to his bed—and the moment 1 put above and below the pool, and occasionally
my hand on the withdrew it as if
stair-rail, I the sound of a fish splashing. I sat there
I had touched ice. I might as well have done looking into the pool for five minutes, ten
so, for the rail was wet, wet and cold, oh, —
minutes I do not know what I expected to
how cold! And the moment I touched it, I see there. Certainly it was not what I saw
felt the most awful loneliness I ever knew, just as I got up to go —
that other thin face,
I felt the most dreadful solitude, as if I were a woman's face, with dark where her eyes
isolated in a place far, far from any human should have been, and light hair flowing
touch or voice, and I felt invaded by the wetly down beside her head, so sharp and
most tearing longing, the most moving de- strong that I thought it was someone look-
sire for someone to hold close to me, some- ing over my shoulder into the water, and
one to possess, to love! turned, but there was no one there, no one
It was awful! at all. And then there was nothing in the
I wrenched my hand away and fell bade water either, nothing but my own face look-
against the wall, shaking and trembling. I ing down. But there was something inside
put on the light, and, though I would not —
me again once more that terrible loneli-
touch the stair-rail again, I saw the wet ness, that poignant longing, that incredible,
gleaming on it all the way up, and I fol- hurtful wanting, that agonized desolation
lowed it; I saw the wet along the hall and which shook me and tore me and sent me
the wall and I saw it on the knob of the staggering away from that pool and brought
door to Maurice’s room. I did not want to me to my knees in tears, that strong it was,
touch it again, but I had to know that he that terrible and moving.
ALANNAH 69
house and was glad to be in

I fled to the She was canning strawberries that day, and I
my room, myself once more, save for the sat in the kitchenwith her, after telling her
trembling and the pity I felt for whatever who I Like most country people, once
was.
it was in such desperation out there. they have no reason to be suspicious of you,
she was very friendly with an ease of man-
THINK it was two days later that I ner that made it very pleasant to talk to
I found the letter. It was stuck in an old her. She took me for just what I was, and
album, put into where a photograph should only asked about the Stewarts in the most
have been, and left in a closet off my room. casual way, not prying at all, but just want-
It was ten years old, in a man’s handwriting, ing to know something about her neighbors,
and it was addressed to Mrs. Luella so that it was easy for me, at last, to come
Withers. It was not a nice letter. around to the subject of Mrs. Luella
Withers.
Lu Alannah: "Oh, yes, I knew her,” said Mrs. War-
I have tried all week to talk myself into ren. "Poor, poor woman!” She shook her
coming back and starting over, but it’s no head, and an expression of sympathy ap-
use. I'm too weak to do it, I never was peared in her warm brown eyes.
much on the noble side of things anyway. "Was she unhappy here?”
So I’ve taken passage on a tramp steamer "Unhappy’s not in it. She was terrible
for Singapore and the Malay States, lonesome. I never saw a woman nor a —
which makes it easy for you to get a —
man, either that lonesome. She would set
divorce on grounds of desertion. I want and eat her heart out. Her husband got
you to have the house; it is really yours, lost on a steamer somewhere. Nobody
you planned it and all. I am sorry there knows what made him up and take the trip
never was a youngster to share it with us in the first place. They didn’t have any
for the*-little while we were there to- children; so she was left alone. And how
gether. It was rotten luck, but it was our she wanted’ a child! I don’t know what it
was, but I think she was the one couldn’t
have children. Anyway, if a body took a
boy or a girl up along with her visiting
I put it back where I found it and went there, she never wanted the child to leave,
down to talk to Mrs. Stewart. I asked her she used to try to keep him there or coax
who had lived in this house before. —
him back why, it was something awful the
"A Mrs. Luella Withers, Miss Kerlsen.” way she carried on! They said the lone-
"What kind of woman was she?” someness just went to her head. It made
She shrugged. "I have no idea. She’s her thin and hungry-looking, and I reckon
dead, of course. The house belongs to some in the end it would have killed her.”
relative and we leased it through an agent.” "She is dead, then?”
She knew nothing at all about Mrs. With- "Oh, yes. Couldn’t stand it any more.
ers. I was half of a mind to point out to her I guess he left her the house, but there
that it was a curious coincidence to discover wasn’t much money; she tried to sell it,
that Mr. Withers had called his wdfe by the but she couldn’t; and she couldn’t go any-
same pet name that Maurice called his where else — —
no money, you see so one fine
friend. I should not have asked Mrs. Stew- day she up and drowned herself.”
art at ail; she said she thought it was not "In the pool,” 1 said almost involuntarily.
"proper” to inquire into the habits and the "Yes. They say it's deeper than a body
life of the previous tenant of the house. I thinks.”
should have talked to someone else right It me a queer helpless feeling to lis-
gave
away. As it was, it was three days after that ten to Mrs. Warren tell about Mrs. With-
before I managed to take a few hours one ers. "Tell me,” I said at last, "did you ever
afternoon while Maurice was asleep to walk hear her called Alannah?"
down the country road and pay a visit to one "That was his name for her. I reckon
of the neighbors. it’sa sweetening name. It’s not a name
Mrs. Warren was a farmer’s wife, well but he would say it the
that’s in the books,
along in years, but still a big, strong woman. way a man would talk to his sweetheart, and
70 WEIRD TALES
she would smile and her eyes would shine Maurice put down his fork precisely and
so I reckon that’s what it was.” sat back.
"Eat your breakfast, Maurice,” said Mrs.
A FTER that, I felt that the best

Maurice would be to get him away
from there. I thought it all over that night,
thing for Stewart warningly.
“I’m not hungry.”
“Eat.”
and the next morning, before Mrs. Stewart "I won’t.
left, I went downstairs and talked to them Mrs. Stewart looked up with flashing
both at the breakfast table. Maurice was eyes. "You see, first it is lies and then it is
still asleep. I said that I had been thinking disobedience,” she said to no one in par-
everything over, and I felt that Maurice was ticular. from bad to worse, and if
"It goes
not lying at all, that his loneliness was re- he is this way now, what will he be in a few
sponsible for his queer fancies. Perhaps I years from now?”
should have said that I was not sure they Maurice got up and went away from the
were fancies, but I knew that if I had, they table.
would have discounted everything I recom- "Come back here!” cried Mrs. Stewart in
mended; so I could not; I had to hold back a voice that was shrill with anger.
part of the truth. They w'ere somewhat put Maurice never said a word but simply
out, but I convinced them. walked out of the room.
Then I said, "If I may make a further Mrs. Stewart would have got up and gone
suggestion, I would most strongly recom- after him, but he held her back. He said
mend that Maurice be not told of your in- brusquely that telling Maurice had been a
tention to leave until it is time to go, or else shock, and it was better to let it work itself
he may brood about it.” out of him without any unnecessary pres-
"That is going too far,” said Mrs. Stew- sure. I was grateful for that, and Mrs.
art. "I will not have the boy growing up a Stewart, after brooding about Maurice’s be-
mollycoddle. He will have to karn now havior for a few minutes, resumed her
that life never gives anybody his way all the breakfast and grew quite cheerful again, as
time.” if she had forgotten the entire incident.
I said that the principle was a sound one, But I did not forget it. I watched Mau-
but in this case, I felt its application would rice carefully all that day, and I watched him
work adversely, and I begged them to recon- especially at the pool. I v/as short with his
sider, with such earnestness that Mr. Stew- lessons that day because I knew he would
art said finally theywould think it over, and want to go around and bid his favorite
there the matter rested —
until the day before haunts goodbye. He did not say very much,
they left. but I could see that he had something on
Mrs. Stewart had her way after all. True, his mind. People often think, particularly
they compromised. Mr. Stewart thought I adults who have grown far away from their
was right, but Mrs. Stewart thought she own childhood, that a child’s world is de-
was right; so they compromised by not tell- pendent upon the world of the adults; but
ing Maurice until the morning of the day this v/as never so and will never be true,
before they planned to return to town, and for a child always lives in his own world,
then they told him. no matter what his circumstances, and a sen-
We were all sitting at the table that morn- sitive child never completely forgets that
ing, and when they told him, I saw Ins face; world in his adulthood.
he went all white, and one hand clenched
tightly around his fork. WAS glad when Maurice fell asleep that
“I’m not going,” he said in a iow I night. He had spent a long time at the
voice. pool during the late afternoon, and I felt
"What was that?” asked Mrs. Stewart. sure that he had been bidding Alannah
"I’m not going,” he said again. goodbye; so I asked him gently that evening
"I don’t think you need more than a day whether he had.
to say goodbye to your friend.” said Mrs. "Yes. She doesn’t want me to go, and
Stewart coldly. I don’t want to go. Miss Kerlsen, I like
Mr. Stewart coughed. her better than Mum. Is that wrong?”

V” ALANNAH *71
"I don’t think so if you keep it your I was fully awake on the instant. I came
secret.” Itwas a difficult question to answer. out of my chair to my knees at the window
"Alannah loves me.” and called to him.
"Yes,” I said, with a catch in my throat. "Maurice! Maurice! Come back!”
‘
Yes, I’m sure she does. But you can come But he did not turn. He went straight
back some time and see her again.” over to the pool and he sat down on the rim
He looked at me gravely and smiled. of it, and I heard his voice, low and sooth-
"They always tell me I’m lying when I talk ing, as if he were comforting someone, and
about Alannah, but you don’t, Miss Kerl- then I saw that vapor again, like a long,
sen.” white woman’s arm come up out of the
"I believe you, Maurice,” I said. water and take his hand and pull him into
"Thank you,” he answered. the pool.
I screamed, stumbled to my feet, and ran
DID not leave him until he had fallen out of the room as fast as I could —
down the
I asleep. And then I sat up until one stairsand across the lawn.
o’clock in the morning. But I was too late. Maurice had gone
As it turned out, I did not sit up long under and he did not come up again until
enough. I was very tired, for I had helped he had drowned.
with the packing, and I fell asleep. It was Even while the others came running from
about two o’clock when I awoke, and the the house, therewas something else. While
waning moon had just reached about tree- I knelt there at that dark pool I felt some-
height in the sky. I do not know what thing come out of and go past me toward
it
woke me, unless it was the movement of the stone house behind, and I saw the grass
something before my eyes, closed as they move in the moonlight as if two people
were; that is an experience far more usual walked there. And what I felt was not
than is commonly supposed. I had fallen cold, it was not any more that terrible,
asleep before the window that looked down despairing loneliness —
no, it was warm and
to the lawn and the brook; the pool lay fulfilling, ineffably beautiful, as if the heart
within easy sight, and the object which had and soul of love itself had become briefly,
crossed before my eyes was Maurice in his briefly tangible there and touched me in
nightgown on his way to the pool. passing by.
Heading by BORIS DOLGOV
W ELL,
inside
Walter, her
first of all was the
there
long trip, and the dust poking up
her thin nostrils, and
Oklahoma husband, swaying his
lean carcass in their model-T Ford, so sure
of himself it made her want to spit; then
ately she
ness.
pretended to gasp, and thoughts
skipped through her head in devilish quick-
Her superstitions were something
Walter had never been able to touch or take
away from her. She gasped, drew back, and
Walter stared at her with his droopy eye-
they got into this big brick town that was lids hanging over his shiny gray eyes.
strange as old sin, and hunted up a land- "No, no,” cried Leota, definitely. "'Em
lord. The landlord took them to a small not moving in any room with any dead
room and unlocked the door. man!”
There in the middle of the simple room “Leota!” said her husband.
“What do you mean?” wondered
sat the tombstone.
Leota’s eyes got a wise look, and immedi- landlord. “Madam, you don’t — the
There’s some mighty peculiar things under a tombstone; some are dead and some
, . . .
72
THE TOMBSTONE 75
Leota smiled inwardly. Of course, she cold mornings, even. Or if someone spelled
name wrong on
didn’t really believe, but this was her only
weapon against her Oklahoma man, so "I
— his
them in the mail-box
his letters, he’d replace
marked no such per-
mean that I won’t sleep in no room with no son living here. Oh, he was a great one,
corpse. Take him out of here!” was Mr. Whetmore!”
Walter gazed at the sagging bed wearily, "That don’t paddle us no further up-
and this gave Leota pleasure, to be able to crick,” pursued Leota grimly. "Walter,
frustrate him. Yes, indeed, superstitions what’re you commencing?”
were handy .things. She heard the landlord “Hanging your silk dress in this closet;
saying, "This tombstone is the very finest the red one.”
gray marble. If belongs to Mr. Whetmore.” "Stop hanging, wo’-re not staying.”
“The name carved on the stone is The landlord blew out his breath, not
WHITE,” observed Leota coldly. understanding how a woman could grow so
"Certainly, that’s the man’s name for dumb. "I’ll explain once more. Mr. Whet-
whom the stone was carved.” more did his home work here; he hired a
"And is he dead?” asked Leota, waiting. truck which carried this tombstone here one
The landlord nodded. day while I was out shopping for a turkey at
"There, you see!” cried Leota. Walter the grocery, and
— when I walked back tap- —
groaned; a groan which meant he was not tap-tap I heard it all the way downstairs —
stirring another inch, looking for a room. Mr. Whetmore had started chipping the
"It smells like a cemetery in here,” said marble. And he was so proud I didn’t dare
Leota, watching Walter’s eyes get hot and complain. But he was so awful proud he
flinty. The landlord explained: made a spelling mistake and now he ran
"Mr. Whetmore, the former tenant of off without a word, his rent is paid all the
this room was an apprentice marble-cutter, way till Tuesday, but he didn’t want a re-
this was his first job, he used to tap on it fund, and now I’ve got some truckers with
with a chisel every night from seven until a hoist who’ll come up first thing in the
morning. You won’t mind sleeping here
.
ten.”
—
"Well ” Leota glanced swiftly around one night with it, now will you? Of course
to find Mr. Whetmore. "Where is he? Did not.”
he die, too?” She enjoyed this game. The husband nodded. "You understand,
"No, he discouraged himself and quit Leota? "Ain’t no dead man under that rug.”
cutting this stone to work in a defense He sounded so superior, she wanted to kick
plant.” him.
“Why?” She didn’t believe him, and she stiffened.
"Made a mistake.” The landlord tapped She poked a finger at the landlord. “He
the marble lettering. "WHITE’S the name wants his money, and you, Walter you want
here. Spelled wrong. Should be WHYTE, a bed to drop your bones on. Both of you
with a Y instead of an I. Poor Mr. Whet- are lying from the word ’go’!”
more. Inferiority complex. Gave up at the The Oklahoma man paid the landlord his
least little mistake and scuttled off.” money tiredly, with Leota chastizing him,
"I’ll be damned,” said Walter, shuffling the landlord ignored her as if she were in-
into the room and unpacking the rusty visible, said good-night and she cried
brown suitcases, his back to Leota. The "Liar!” after him as he shut the door and
landlord liked to tell the rest of the story: left them alone. Her husband undressed
"Yes, Mr. Whetmore gave up easily. To and got in bed and said, "Don’t stand there
show you how touchy he was, he’d percolate staring at the tombstone, turn out the lights.
coffee mornings, and if he spilled a tea- We been traveling four days and I’m
—
spoonful it was a catastrophe he’d throw it bushed.”
all away and not drink coffee for days! Think Her tight criss-crossed arms began to
of that! He got. very sad when he made quiver over her thin breasts, "None of the
errors. If he put his left shoe on first, in- three of us will get any sleep,” she said.
stead of his right, he’d cease trying and Twenty minutes later, disturbed by vari-
walk barefooted for ten or twelve hours, on ous sounds and movements, the Oklahoma
74 WEIRD TALES
man unveiled his vulture’s face from the heard, you heard?” excitedly. The Okla-
bedsheets, blinking stupidly. "Leota, you homa man put his feet on the cold linoleum.
still up! I said, a long time ago, for you to The voice below changed into a falsetto.
'
switch off the light and come sleep! What Leota began to sob, "Shut up, so I can
you doing there?” hear,” demanded her husband, angrily.
It was quite evident what she was about. Then, in the heart-beating quiet, he bent his
Crawling on rough hands and knees, she ear to the floor and Leota said, "Don’t tip
placed a jar of fresh-cut red, white and pink over the flowers!” and he cried, "Shut up!”
geraniums bdside the headstone, and an- and again listened, tensed. Then he spat
other tin-can of new-cut roses at the foot of out an oath and rolled back under the
the imagined grave. A
pair of shears lay on covers, "It’s only the man downstairs,” he
the linoleum, dewy with having snipped muttered.
flowers in the night outside a moment be- "That’s what I mean. Mr. White!”
fore. "No, not Mr. White. We’re on the sec-
Now she briskly whisked the colorful ond floor of an apartment house, and we got
linoleum with a midget whisk broom, pray- neighbors down under. Listen.” The fal-
ing so her husband couldn’t hear the words setto downstairs talked. "That’s the man’s
but just the murmur. When she rose up, she wife. She’s probably telling him not to look
stepped across the grave carefully so as not at another man’s wife! Both of them prob-
to defile the buried one, and in crossing the ably drunk.”
room she skirted far around the spot, say- "You’re lying!” insisted Leota. "Acting
ing, "There, that’s done,” as she darkened brave when you’re really trembling fit to
the room and laid herself out on the whin- shake the bed down. It’s a haunt, I tell you,
ing spring which sang in tune with her hus- and he’s talking in voices, like Grandma
band who now asked, "What in the Lord’s Hanlon used to do, rising up in her church
name!” and she replied, looking at the dark pew and making queer tongues all mixed,
around her, "No man’s going to rest easy like a blackman, an Irishman, two women
with strangers sleeping right atop him. I and three frogs caught in her craw! That
made amends with him, flowered his bed so dead man, Mr. White, hates us for moving
he won’t stand around rubbing his bones to- in with him tonight, I tell you! Listen!”
gether late tonight.” As if to back her up, the voices down-
Her husband looked she occu-
at the place stairs talked louder. The Oklahoma man lay
pied in the dark, and couldn’t think of any- on his elbows, shaking his head hopelessly,
thing good enough to say, so he just swore, wanting to laugh, but too tired.
groaned, and sank down into sleeping. Something crashed.
Not half an hour later, she grabbed his "He’s stirring in his coffin!” shrieked
elbow and turned him so she could whisper Leota. "He’s mad! We got to move outa
swiftly, fearfully into one of his ears, like a here, Walter, or we’ll be found dead to-
person calling into a cave: "Walter!” she morrow!”
cried. "Wake up, wake up!” She intended More crashes, more bangs, more voices.
doing this all night, if need be, to spoil his Then silence. Followed by a movement of
superior kind of slumber. feet in the air over their heads.
He struggled with her. “What’s wrong?” Leota whimpered. "Lie’s free of his
"Mr. White! Mr. White! He’s beginning tomb! Forced his way out and he’s tromping
to haunt us!” the air over our heads!”
"Oh, go to sleep!” By this time, the Oklahoma man had his
“I’m not fibbing! Listen to him!” clothing on beside the bed, and was putting
The Oklahoma man listened. From under on his boots. "This building’s three stories
the linoleum, sounding about six feet or so high,” he said, tucking in his shirt. "We
down, muffled, came a man’s sorrowful talk- got neighbors overhead who just come
ing. Not a word came through clearly, just home.” To Leota’ s weeping he had this to
a sort of sad mourning. say, "Come on. I’m taking you upstairs to
The Oklahoma man sat up in bed. Feel- meet them people. That’ll prove -who they
ing his movement, Leota hissed, "You are. Then we ’ll walk downstairs to the first
THE TOMBSTONE '
75
floor and talk to that drunkard and his wife. The tombstone, on its from
truck, rolled
Get up, Leota.” , the room, while Mr. Whetmore and the
Someone knocked on the door. Oklahoma man laughed, shook hands, and
Leota squealed and rolled over and over Leota watched with suspicion as the commo-
making a quilted mummy of herself. “He’s tion came to an end. "Well, that’s now all
in his coffin again, rapping to get out!” over,” grinned her husband as he closed the
The Oklahoma man switched on the door on Mr. Whetmore and began throwing
lights and unlocked the door. A very jubi- the canned flowers into the sink and drop-
lant little man in a dark suit, with wild blue ping tire tin cans into a waste-basket. In the
eyes, wrinkles, gray hair and thick glasses dark, he climbed into bed again, oblivious
danced in. to her deep and solemn silence. She said not
"Sorry, sorry,” declared the little man. a word for a long while, but just lay there,
"I’m Mr. Whetmore. I went away. Now alone-feeling. She felt him adjust the blan-
I’m back. I’ve had the most astonishing kets with a sigh, "Now we can sleep. The
stroke of luck. Yes, I have. Is my tomb- damn old thing’s took away. It’s only ten-
stone still here?” He looked at the stone a thirty. Plenty of time left for sleep.” How
moment before he saw it. "Ah, yes, yes, it he enjoyed spoiling her fun.
is! Oh, hello.” Tie saw Leota peering from Leota was about to speak when a rapping
many layers of blanket. "I’ve some men came from down below again. "There!
with a roller-truck, and, if you don’t mind, There!” she cried, triumphantly, holding
we’ll move the tombstone out of here, this her husband. "There it is again, the noises,
very moment. It’ll only take a moment.” like I said! Hear them!”
The husband laughed with gratitude. Her husband knotted his fists and
"Glad to get rid of the damned thing. clenched his teeth. "How many times must
Wheel her out!” I explain. Do I have to kick you in the head
to make you understand, woman! Let me
Mr. Whetmore directed two brawny
workmen into the room. He was almost alone. There’s nothing
—
breathless with anticipation. "The most "Listen, listen, oh, listen,” she begged in
amazing thing. This morning I was lost, a whisper.
beaten, dejected —but a. miracle happened.” They listened to the square darkness.
The tombstone was loaded onto a small A rapping on a door came from down-
coaster truck. "Just an hour ago, I heard, by stairs.
chance, of a Mr. White who was dying of A door opened. Muffied and distant and
pneumonia. A Mr. White, mind you, who faint, a woman’s voice said, sadly, "Oh, it’s
spells his name with an T

instead of a 'Y\ you, Mr. Whetmore.”
I have just contacted his wife, and she is de- And deep down in the darkness under-
lighted that the stone is all prepared. And neath the suddenly shivering bed of Leota
Mr. White not cold more than sixty min- and her Oklahoma husband, Mr. Whet-
utes, and spelling his name with an T, just more’s voice replied: "Good evening again,
think of it. Oh, I’m so happy!” Mrs. White. Here. I brought the stone.”
o/econd Childhood
By JACK SNOW
UT t B— I
e HAS
Lucy
come back, John,” Miss
stated simply with a faint
and splotched leaves were
of a once lovely garden.
silent mementoes
I 1 smile. "All the way back over ‘'Is that what you wished to tell me, Miss
. all those years —what a bridge of memory Lucy?” I asked. The fragile body, withered
he has crossed!” as a leaf, leaned to me for support as we
The old lady sighed, her voice sounding walked slowly down the garden path.
thinly in the dying garden like the memory "Merely that memories of your childhood
itself of a voice, just as the ruined blossoms are growing stronger? That is not uncom-
We never really forget childhood playmates r nor they us. . . .
76
SECOND CHILDHOOD 77
mon, you know, with people of your age. “You mean they never saw Willie?” I
As you approach the end of your, long jour- asked.
ney,” I added, "memory becomes brilliantly "Oh, no! He was much too clever to al-
clear and vivid and you recall many child- low them to see him. He revealed himself
hood scenes that have lain buried for long only to me.”
years in the depths of memory.” I sighed ana faced the old lady.
. "Miss
"Yes, yes, I know,” answered Miss Lucy. Lucy,” I began, "do you mean to tell me
“But this is something more something — that this Willie of yours was nothing more
more, John, then just memory. Willie has than one of those dream children that
come back. He is just as he was when I was lonely boys and girls sometimes invent when
a little girl and we played in this very gar- they are deprived of human playmates?”
den through the long summer days. I see
him, John; I talk with him.” JWjflSS LUCY’S faded old eyes opened
"Just who is this Willie?” I asked pa- 1¥A wide with indignation as she replied
tiently, knowing that it was far better for stubbornly, "Now you are talking just like
Miss Lucy with me,
to discuss these fancies the others. I tell you Willie was very real
her doctor and friend of long standing, than — as real as I am. And,” she concluded
to close them away morbidly in her aging with triumph, "he has kept his word. He
mind. —
has done as he said he would he has come
“Willie was my childhood playmate my — back!”
only playmate. I was a very lonely child and "He told you he would come back?” I
lived a solitary life here in this huge old asked curiously.
house. There were only Father, my gover- "Threatened, rather,” the old lady re-
ness and the servants for companions, and plied, staring into the shadows. "I can re-
they were poor enough companions for an member the scene as clearly as though it
imaginative child.” Miss Lucy paused, fum- were only yesterday instead of seventy years
bling among her memories. "Of my mother ago. I was seventeen at the time. I had
I recall nothing. I know her only as she just met David and fallen in love with him.
appears in the painting which hangs in the It seemed that within the space of an hour
library: a forceful featured, stern-faced I had grown up, had stopped being a child
woman. Strange,” Miss Lucy went on mus- and had become a woman.
ingly, "that with all her strength she yielded "It was right here in this garden in the
so easily to death and died so young.” twilight of a far-away June night that I sent
Icould not help adding silently in my —
Willie away forever or so I thought. I
own thoughts, “And equally strange that was to go to a ball with David that evening,
this fragile wisp of humanity beside me and I was eager to begin dressing, so per-
should endure and persevere against death haps I was a little hasty and rude with Wil-
for so long a time.” lie. I told him he must go away, that I
"Was Willie the son of one of the serv- was no longer a child. Oh, he was furious!
ants?” I prompted. He accused me of forsaking him for David.
Miss Lucy glanced at me in surprise. —
And really he was almost pathetic so small
"No, no!” she exclaimed with a bird-like and so angry as he turned from me and ran
little chirp. "I do not know really who he down the garden shouting to me that he
was. I know only that my earliest memo- would go, but that he would come back.
ries are of Willie. He was always with me. There were actually tears in his black eyes
It is as though he had been bom or had —tears of rage,” she added absently.
entered this world at the same time I did "Then Willie did not grow as you did:
accompanied me. Father and the others he remained a small child?”
were at first amused when I told them about "No,” Miss Lucy replied, "Willie never
Willie. I was scarcely able to talk then. changed. He was then and he is now just
But as I grew older their amusement as I first remember him —
a boy about seven
changed to impatience and then anger. They years of age. He is dressed in the chil-
said I must stop all my foolishness about dren’s fashions of seventy years ago. Why,”
Willie. They never understood.” the old lady went on, the flicker of a smile
78 WEIRD TALES
haunting her face, "he still carries, that ugly T7TROM that time on I made it a point to
stone hatchet that he loves so well. He calls -L look in on Miss Lucy at least once a
it his tomahawk. It is the only toy he ever week. Not that she needed medical care. But
had. He used to play Indian with it here in I knew that I was her only visitor, and some-
this garden when I was a child. Poor little one from outside her own small world was
Willie, it was so long ago. At least he necessary to keep her from sinking too
has been faithful. The years meant noth- deeply into her dreams. To all outrvard
ing to him.” The old lady’s voice drifted appearances my aged patient remained un-
vacantly and forlornly into the thickening changed. And yet, I found myself disturbed
shadows of the garden. by something in her manner— a furtive rest-
For a brief time we were both silent, lost lessness, an unexpressed apprehension that
in meditation. Then, feeling the chill and lurked in her tired old eyes.
dampness of the garden as evening drew on, At last one day I asked Miss Lucy the
I escorted Miss Lucy to the house where I question, the answer to which, I felt sure,
left amild sleeping potion for her and cau- would explain the old lady’s uneasiness.
tioned Hannah, Miss Lucy’s housekeeper "Have you seen Willie lately?”
and companion, not to leave her charge too Miss Lucy started, then folding her thin
—
much alone melancholia and hallucina- hands, she regarded me quietly from pale
tions grow out of solitude and loneliness. gray eyes set in a lace filigree of tiny
With that I departed for my home where I wrinkles.
w-as long overdue for dinner. "Yes, John,” she murmured, "I see him
quite often now. He comes to me almost
—
A S I walked the short distance to my own
comfortable house, I reflected on Miss
Lucy’s unhappy life. As family physician
every day. And, John, he he is so very
angry with me!”
"Angry?” I asked. "Why should you im-
and friend, I had known Miss Lucy as long agine he is angry with you?”
as I had known anyone. Always everyone "Because I will not go away with him,”
had referred to her as "Miss Lucy” and as Miss Lucy stated simply. "Willie says that
"Miss Lucy” I, first as a child and then as he can make me a little girl again and that
a man, had known her. My earliest memo- we shall be able to play in the shadows in
ries of her were of but sad-faced
a beautiful the garden just as we used to so many long
woman in her early thirties. The
death of years ago ——
if if I will go away with him.
”
her sweetheart in a tragic hunting accident "But this is nonsense, Miss Lucy,” I said
a few days before the day set for their wed- firmly. "You
are letting your imagination
ding had blighted her entire life. She had run away with you.”
shut herself up in the gloomy house and "You do not know Willie,” replied Miss
lived out her days as a lonely recluse. And Lucy stubbornly. "He wants a playmate. I
now this was the end. She was turning back have kept him alone for a long time all —
to her childhood, seeking the companion- those years when I sent him away from
ship of that first friend —
an imaginary child me. He will not stay alone any longer.”
playmate. "But you really don’t believe,” I began,
"Truly,” I ruminated, as I walked swiftly and then broke off with a smile. "Come,
through the damp of that darkening Octo- Miss Lucy,” I said, adopting the conde-
ber evening to the beckoning cheer of a scending tone one uses with unreasonable
hearty dinner and a warm fireside, "this was children, "this imaginary child of yours is
a splendid example of the evolution of the claiming altogether too much of your atten-
life span,moving from childhood to adult- tion. You must think of other things.”
hood and back to childhood again the — Miss Lucy stared at me with empty eyes
completed circle.” As I stepped over my like a ghost.
threshold, and was greeted with the aroma "Imaginary? Other things? There are
of dinner waiting to be served, I forgot for no other thingsin my life,” she said hope-
the time all about Miss Lucy wandering in lessly."Willie is the only reality left.”
her dead garden with her pathetic imagin- And then she went on as though I hadn’t
ings. spoken. "You don’t know Willie,” she re-
SECOND CHILDHOOD 79
peated persistently. "Willie is not like of a second there flashed before my vision
other children. He is not good. There is the unmistakable forms of a small girl and
something strange about him —
something boy. The boy’s right hand clasped the left
I never could quite understand, although he hand of the girl. Both children were dressed
has tried to whisper to me about himself, in the clothing of generations ago; the boy
and then his manner and tone frightened in knee breeches and velvet jacket with lace
me so that I would not listen. The first time collar, while the girl wore a pinafore and
he tried to tell me I was only a little girl her flaxen hair was done in two tight little
and could not have understood. Neverthe- pigtails. In that split second in which I
less something of the evil of his words I glimpsed the figures, their backs were to
must have sensed, for I clapped my hands me, and they were running to the window
to my ears and burst into tears. No, Willie through which the rays of the last cheerless
is not like other children. I believe him. I sunlight of the short winter day poured. I
believe he can do what he says. He can experienced an overpowering and unforget-
take me away with him and make me like table sense of revulsion as the figure of the
—
himself if he wants to only, I am afraid.” little boy flitted before me. He was short
Miss Lucy’s voice had subsided to a whis- and squat, and his body in some manner
per as she finished this strange speech. conveyed a hint of deformity without actu-
I realized the uselessness of arguing with ally revealing any misshapeness. His child
the old lady in her present state of mind. clothing somehow did not fit properly as it
I recognized symptoms of cumulative hallu- would a normal child. It was as though
cination indicating extreme ageing, and — the garments were masking or cloaking
believed — dissolution of her mind. I con- some abnormality. His black hair hung
cluded by instructing Hannah to
this visit lankly down his back, and around his head
keep a close watch on her mistress. there seemed to hover a nimbus of evil. In
The occasion of my last visit to Miss Lucy his free hand tire boy grasped an ancient
found me making my way hastily to the old stone hatchet — his plaything. It flashed
Victorian mansion in answer to a phone call through my mind that he was more of an
from Hannah, saying that Miss Lucy had imp or gargoyle than a human child. While
not risen that morning as was her custom, my eyes blinked in amazement, the two
but had remained in bed all day. I had visions winked out of existence like dancing
been absent from my office making calls motes in the sun’s rays.
and had not received this message until Shaken by this apparition more than I
nearly evening. Hannah said Miss Lucy was cared to confess, I turned after a moment
in no pain. She was only very weak and to the bed. One glance told me that Miss
tired. From these symptoms I knew that Lucy was dead. She lay with her head turned
my patient was suffering from no other to a peculiar angle, and her right arm thrown
malady than old age. I knew, too, that the up across her forehead in a gesture curi-
end was near. ously suggesting defense.
Hannah met me at the door, asking me to Reaching with one hand under her head
go directly up to Miss Lucy’s room. Han- it on the pillow, I removed her
to straighten
nah had left her only a minute before and arm from her forehead with my other hand.
now hurried away to the kitchen to prepare As I did this, that happened which will
some warm broth for her patient. haunt me until my dying, day.
As I gently lifted Miss Lucy’s arm from
T WAS later afternoon of a damp, gray day her forehead, thin trickles of blood de-
I in early February. As I softly opened the scended like a red veil over her brow, and,
door to Miss Lucy’s room, a ray of winter as my other hand simultaneously sought the
sunlight fell chillily across the faded carpet. back of Miss Lucy’s head, the long, fine
Instantly I stopped, frozen in the doorway filaments of her soft, silver hair and the
with shock and amazement. What I saw delicate, parchment-thin scalp from which
was no trick of the wan winter sunlight, they grew came gently loose in my trem-
of that I was sure. For the merest fraction bling hand.
By ROGER S.
VREELAND
P~~E \ HERE were times when our little was next to ours, but his house, a four-
1 home was the loveliest spot on story freak of stone block, was hidden — all
sweet ramshackle home-

j| earth. A but the slate roof —
behind a thick wall of
stead off a dirt road, away from town, and hemlock. Poor old Marlowe, we used to
no close neighbors except old Everett Mar- think. Just one old man alone in a place big
lowe. Delia and I thought it was about per- enough for a hotel. During that first year
fect. the only times we ever saw him was when
We had been there only a year. As for he puttered about in his garden of herbs.
Marlowe, we didn’t mind him. His property I repeat, there were times when our home
rfiilKlilllllllllfiUBIlK
A strange-lookin g garden . . . some of the plants were ordinary; hut others ivere, I
well, just plain queer!
!r.!!BHE!i(S!iBII3IIBIIBI'BilEHBUCiiBnBI!iilBli«i!BilB!liiliBI!eil6ilIIIB!iE!lBhBliij||3ilBii9illhB!>BilSllS;!B!iB!lBl!Billi;BllBllB'iBIIB!illililBllll!lllBllS!!fiHBIlBMBiIBIil!IE!IGI!eifBii^
80
,
A SIP WITH SATAN 81
was lovely. But there were times when it startled he merely smiled and said, "Hello,
was not. Not that Delia and I didn’t get George.”
along. Nothing like that. We were in love. Since I had never seen him before (one
No, there was something else that at unpre- could never forget his face) for a moment I
dictable intervals shadowed our life there. I was set back. His appearance was definitely
wish I could explain it. unpleasant, but his provincial drawl was
All I can say is this: The atmosphere friendly.
would become heavy. Our spirits would "Why shore, take ’em,” he said. "I cain’t
sink. We would lie awake nights; become eat ’em. Only got three tooth!”
nervous. A heavy silence would fall over The of this was conspicuous. It
truth
the place. If only a cricket would chirp; if might be added that they were large and
only some water would drip, a mouse protruding. This first meeting was brief.
.
scratch. I liked the old fellow, and I didn’t. There

Delia would whisper: "There is some- was something repelling about him, not just
thing surrounding us! What is it, George?” that he v/as dirty and homely, but he had a
I felt it, too, but it was six months before manner that made me want to run and hide.
I admitted it. As for the apples, I gathered them all,
These periods lasted two or three days, and in the next few days my wife did up
not to recur in as many
weeks. At first I some applesauce. She suggested it would be
tried to think it was just the New England nice to give him a few quarts. I hadn’t told
weather, but —
well, there was no use pre- her of his negative effect upon me; didn’t
tending it didn’t bother me. Between times, want to upset her. I took the jars over,
however, we forgot about it, and the dreary knocked on his back door, and he opened it
periods seemed like dull dreams. quickly. A cold musty draft hit me. He took
We had moved there in October, when the applesauce and thanked me with mini-
the place was bathed in a mellow glory on a mum ceremony.
rise that received the sun almost all the day. Reciprocation was not what I expected,
The oaks then were nearly bare, and the but Marlowe proved he had some neigh-
maples were golden. We
had many fruit borly spirit. I’ll never forget the night he
trees and berry bushes, but oddly there were appeared at our kitchen door with a bulging
—
no apples save a few branches that hung brown bag in his hand. After inviting him
over from Marlowe’s property. No apple in I was placed in extreme embarrassment
trees — -that was all that I then had against by Delia, who was doing up the supper
the place. dishes.
This was the first time she had seen him
H ERE it was October again, and that

apple tree of Marlowe’s was loaded
with the most delicious Mclntoshes you
at close range. She dropped a plate, put
her hands to her face and uttered a shud-
dering cry. But I suppose it was natural for
could ever sink your teeth in. And my neigh- her to be startled, for his parched old face,
bor let those ruddy, sweet apples drop to uncouth beard and hair, those three teeth,
the ground and rot! and his gray lightless eyes composed a
This was what led to my first meeting frightening sight.
with Everett Marlowe, for I was aggressive But Marlowe took no notice. "It’s good
enough to go right over and tell him that if applesauce,” he said. "I already et some."’
he didn’t want those apples, I did. He paused, fumbled with the bag.
I had to sort of weed him out of his "You’re the first’ ns to show me kindness
garden of herbs. It was a strange-looking in many years,” he went on awkwardly.

garden, and meticulously cared for. Some "Here’s a l’l present for ynh,” and he held
plants were plain, some exotic, others ex- forth the bag to Delia.
ceedingly queer. Marlowe was on his knees "It’s herbs,” he mumbled. "I grow ’em.
in the midst of yard-high bushes, plucking Put ’em in a pot with some water and boil
odd turquoise berries into a tin cup.
little ’em. Makes good tea. Heh, heh, heh!” His
He didn’t hear me at first. I had to shout. voice was cracky under a forced laugh.
.When he did look up, instead of being I thanked him and he left abruptly, I
82 WEIRD TALES
threw the bag on a high shelf in the pantry torswere unknown to us. Besides that we
and forgot about it. were so tense that anything could frighten
us.
NOW that we had lived here awhile,

Delia and I began to cultivate friend-
ships in the town, about a mile down the
was a very feeble knocking, unrhyth-
It
mical, like
soft
someone patting the door with a
glove. I went quickly to the door,
road. We joined the church and grew swung it open. There stood Everett Mar-
friendly with the. minister and his wife. lowe. The first thing I saw in the darkness
Delia joined the Ladies Aid, I the Men’s was his three protruding teeth. But there
Club. It was the old-fashioned kind of life was something very uncertain about him.
we had always wanted. Delia uttered a short and high-pitched
Still, the cloud hung over. We never "Oh!” Then for a prolonged moment Mar-
mentioned those awful spells to anyone. In lowe and I faced each other in silence, while
fact it was a long time before we ever got cold and sleet blew into the house. Common
around to even speaking of Everett Mar- courtesy deserted me. The natural thing was
lowe. for me to invite him in, yet I didn’t want to.
One thing in our relations with the Marlowe wavered. The brim of his hat
townsfolk, however, we could not under- concealed his eyes. He was covered with
stand. None of them would ever come to glistening sleet. Then in his thin cracked
visit us. There was always an excuse for us voice he said: “Can I come in?” He sounded
to go homes.
to their pathetic, and I felt like a coward. At this
Thanksgiving passed. So did Christmas. point I began inwardly to recant. He was
We saw practically nothing of Marlowe — indeed gaunt and frightening in appearance,
just his form, briefly, now and then, about but I wondered if perhaps we had not been
his house. Bitt we could feel him. fools to think such weird things of him.
Then, on the night of January 29, there —
"Yes come in,” I said, and I closed the
was a windy storm. I remember the date door behind his shuffling steps. Delia stood
well. A fine sleet was glazing everything, back, shaking. Marlowe stumbled to a chair
and the wind was bending trees and snap- and fell into it.
ping branches. Delia and I sat close to our « “What is the trouble, Mr. Marlowe?” I
hearth fire and close to each other, reading, asked as steadily as possible.
looking up now and then as a dead limb He slouched forward and held his hands
crashed to the ground. The fine icy particles over his face.
gritted against the windows, and at inter- "Make me some tea, kindly,” he mut-
. . .
vals volumes of them slapped at the panes tered. "You still got some of my herbs, ain’t
furiously. yuh?”
Delia arose several times to look out. "Yes, but what has brought you here?”
Then, peering through the parted curtains, "Piece of tree blew down . hit me oa . .
she said: "George, I saw someone swinging head. Quick, fix some tea, you must . . .
a lantern.” I joined her and looked out to quick . . He groaned.
where the roadway wound up the hill to-
ward the front of the house. I could see a ELIA was still shaking, but she went to
few nearby trunks against the whitened
ground, and a fine outline of the tree tops,
D the kitchen and put on the kettle. I
looked at Marlowe more closely now. His
but nothing else. Delia insisted, neverthe- head and right shoulder were covered with
less, that she had seen a light. chips of bark. His forehead was bruised.
We made an attempt to resume our read- Then, as his head sank lower over his knees,
ing, although we were both too nervous to I saw blood trickling down the bade of his
concentrate. About ten minutes passed. neck. He kept on muttering: "Quick . . .
Then, at a sound, we both jumped. It was quick . just bring me my herbs ... a cup
.
.
A
barely audible, at first, but it unkeyed us. . . hot water
. .hurry
. . it’s the only
. . .
knocking at the door! thing to save me. ...”

Why should we be frightened by a mere He was, I now realized, hurt badly. First
knocking? It will be remembered that visi- aid rather than herb tea was my first
A SIP WITH SATAN ‘83
thought,, so I called to Delia to get cotton formy lantern. I couldn’t find it at first.
and bandages, a basin, and to bring me the When I did, my hand shook so that it was
water as soon as it was hot. several moments before I could get it
"No! No!” he cried weakly. "Bring me lighted. Without hat or coat, and with my
my herbs first!” lantern swinging at my side I ran out to find
His tea was prepared. Delia. There were her footsteps in the snow,
"Let me hold your hand, Delia, will leading toward the road. I followed the best
yuh?” he murmured. "It’s been so long — I could, while my hoarse cries in the storm
so long since a gentle hand has touched seemed to die at their source, meek and
mine!” futile. Straight down the road toward town,
She took his hand. Marlowe held it, they led, but the wind and falling snow was
—
squeezed it gradually his bony, dirty hand rapidly voiding them. Soon they were in-
enveloped the small soft one of Delia’s. visible, but I kept on until I came to the
Then he picked up his cup of foolish tea cluster of buildings comprising the town.
and put it to his lips. Resentment had risen All lights were out. But I got up Sheriff
by bounds within me, but I couldn’t speak Mawson. We had been somewhat friendly.
or move. Whether the storm suddenly be- I guess he thought I was crazy. There wasn’t
came quiet, or whether I just ceased hearing, much he could do then, but he made the
I don’t know. But, that dread silence and effort.
that indescribable feeling of depression was The confusion, the storm, and my emo-
smothering me. tional state had made the night such a weird
Marlowe sipped slowly, and closed his fantasy that I hardly remember what hap-
eyes. It must have been five minutes before pened. I know that when the gray skies re-
—
he drained the cup and he was very quiet. lightened I was simply obeying orders in
Finally the cup dropped from his fingers, an organized search for Delia. The snow
fell to his lap, and the dregs dripped to the had stopped, but the cold and the wind
floor. As though someone were opening a persisted. Removal of Marlowe’s body had
door again to the outer world, the sound of been managed without me. Although I was
the storm grew once more in my ears. Again asked a lot of questions, apparently they
the night howled. were satisfied for the present that I was not
Words can no longer serve to relate my involved in anything of a criminal nature.
feeling. O God, what a time! What an un- Delia’s disappearance, however, ended
holy event! The Prince of Darkness was in a strange sequence to the already per-
presiding over my house, and I was alone. plexing series of events. Word came that
Complete terror possessed me during those she had been found at an outlying farm-
few minutes. But I struggled to find my house coincident with the disappearance
voice. there of the farmer’s wife —
a Mrs. New-
"Marlowe!” I yelled. comb. Object of the search was then trans-
His face was the color of ashes. Marlowe ferred to Mrs. Newcomb, and Delia, in a
was dead! I didn’t merely suppose so. I highly nervous state, was returned home.
knew it. He was dead. That in itself wasn’t With her came Sheriff Mawson, the county
so bad. He was nothing to me. He was physician and a handful of other tawdry,
—
dead in my house I could forget that. badge-breasted busy-bodies.
But my wife! The look that came into her Delia was exhausted and dazed, although
eyes shattered what was left of my nerves. — so far as I could tell —
entirely rational.
She arose stiffly, looked at me with eyes I I insisted that she be put to bed before fur-
had never seen before, reached for the bag ther questioning. I made her some tea.
of herbs, calmly stepped across the room Sight of the cup as I held it toward her
and walked out into the night. I was speech- brought a low cry from her lips. "Now I
less. remember!” she whispered. "Mr. Marlowe
First I glanced at the corpse of Everett was drinking his tea!”
Marlowe, then at the door Delia had closed "Of course, dear, but what happened
behind her. All about me was haunting after that? Why did you go out?”
emptiness. Then with a surge of panic I ran "Go out?” She gazed at me search ingiy.
84 WEIRD TALES
Her eyes swept briefly the other faces in with my weight. The stoop itself sagged
the room. “Go out? I don’t remember.— away from the stone of the main structure,
1 don’t remember a thing after Mr. Mar- and warped wooden embellishment hung
lowe drank his . . . his stuff, and held my loose from the eaves. The door was massive
hand.” enough for the main portal of a fine house.
It pushed open easily.
W ILBUR FISHER was

in the next
an undertaker
community. Mts. New-
comb was reported found by Mrs. Fisher
The odor of the place was at once sick-
ening. Mustiness, sour plaster, and stale
food mingled with other smells. A short
in the living room of the latter’s home corridor led to the kitchen, apparently the
when she had returned from a visit about room Marlowe had lived in, for it con-
11 o’clock at night. Now Mr. Fisher was tained a cot with a pile of dirty blankets, a
missing. The routine was established. The table with unwashed dishes, food leftover,
undertaker was discovered the following a wood-cooking stove, stack of kindling,
night at the home of a neighbor. An 18- pots and utensils, and in a dark corner a
year-old lad from that home was next on sink and handpump. The house had been
the missing list. built for elegant living of its day, but
This went on for several days. Never decadency had ruled for many years.
was there an inkling as to who the next I slowly through other rooms on
moved
victim would be nor whence he would van- the first floor. They -were mostly bare. A
ish. At first no serious harm befell any of few pieces of old dusty furniture stood here
-these amnesia-like unfortunates. Then — and there. Probably Marlowe had chopped
one week after Marlowe’s death and Delia’s up the original furnishings for his stove.
disappearance — the Reverend Cubberly was Little by little, I imagined, he had stripped
gone. the house of things which must have been
There were some particular details I had beautiful and costly. Outlines on the walls
observed in connection with each disap- showed where paintings had hung, where
pearance, and I wondered if anyone else massive pieces of furniture had stood. All
had noticed them. After much thought I the rooms were gloomy, considering it was
decided to keep these observations to my- a bright morning, until I came to a wide
self, and to follow them through in com- and handsome drawing room. Here light
plete privacy. I didn’t even tell Delia except flooded through an immense bay window,
in a very general way. onto a sprawling array of plants more —
Resolving to visit the empty house of
Everett Marlowe, I chose the next morning
herbs
The
—
growing in flower pots and boxes.
floor was a mess from where he had
to do so. Sauntering from my bade yard, watered them and spilled earth.
past the apple trees, through a jungle of Even though I had had no association
bare briars, and under the hemlocks, I with the place, no reason for sentiment,
came into the shadow of the big forlorn something choked me as I went up the
house. It was forbidding enough in sum- grand stairway. It was this desolate empti-
mer, with a background of foliage to soften ness all around in a place that had been
it. But now it stood mean and stark. built for gaiety, where the warmth of hu-
As I paced apprehensively through old man sociality once had pulsed so strong,
Marlowe’s herb garden, the overhang of and now was a mausoleum for dead memo-
the thick slate roof moved over me as ries. Statuary, porcelain, glass and iron or-
though to crush me out. The black win- naments —
cold symbols of a past stood —
dows gave no evidence of what was within. about to haunt the silence. They alone sur-
The very walls of the house, lined with vived, I suppose, because Marlowe couldn't
cracks and brown creepers of ivy, frowned bum them in his kitchen stove. Everett Mar-
down at me. I paused curiously over herb — —
lowe miserable wretch scion of a proud
brush bearing winter berries, and noticed —
family what curse had left him to survive
green leaves under protective balls of glass. alone in these ruins?
Mounting the back stoop, I was sur- Through the rooms of the second floor
prised that the old boards didn’t crumple and the third floor Imoved. They were
A SIP WITH SATAN ‘'85
just empty rooms — only bits of evidence

were here and there of the luxuries they
had once known. Now that I was in the
house it seemed even higher than I realized.
And there was yet a fourth floor. As I ap-
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pointment was growing because I hadn’t

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This room, much larger than the other, |
Ci ty .......
was completely furnished and had been

much used. A glance and I knew that this
was what I had been looking for. There
were the untidy signs of work always a step
Help Kidneys
ahead of orderliness. The floor was car-
peted, there were comfortable chairs; shelves
If
Do you
Back Aches
feel older than you are or suffer from
lined with books filled one wall, and a great Getting Nights, Backache, Nervousness, Leg Pains,
Up
cabinet containing hundreds of bottles oc- Dizziness, Swollen Ankles, Rheumatic Pains, Burning,
scanty or frequent passages? If so, remember that
cupied the other side. The central piece of your Kidneys are vital to your health and that these
symptoms may be due to non-organie and non-sys-
furniture, however, was an old-fashioned tomic Kidney and Bladder troubles in suoh «ases —
rolltop desk. It was open, and on it stood Cystex (a physician’s prescription) usually gives
prompt and joyous relief by helping the Kidneys flush
an oil lamp and a brown book. out poisonous excess acids and wastes. Get Cystex
from your druggist today. Take it exactly as di-
This, specifically the book, was what I rected and see the results in your own particular
ease. Under our guarantee unless completely satisfied
hoped I might find. I picked it up, and you simply return the empty package and get your
the brown of its aged covering came off
money back. So get Cystex
today. Three guaranteed sizes:
powdery in my hands. The pages were dark Only 35£. 75 f, $1.50 at your
druggist.
and brittle. It had been exactingly bound,
and every word in it was hand inscribed.
Then I looked at the titles on the shelves, WEIRD BOOKS RENTED
read the labels on the bottles. All confirmed Books by Loveeraft, Merritt, Quinn, etc,, rented by mall. Sc a day
plus postage. Write for free list. WEREWOLF LENDING
what I anticipated. LIBRARY, 621 Maryland Dr., Pittsburgh. Pa.
DEPARTED then, with the book under

I my When I got home Delia was
arm. C Don’t Stop {Now!
and her white face was enough
at the door,
to warn me that something was especially
wrong.
"Wait a minute,” I said. "Don’t speak
(Buy
yet.”
I book to my room, locked
carried the
it in my washed my hands. When
dresser. I U. S. War (Bonds
I returned my wife was standing in the
living room, her hand to her forehead. and
"What is it?” I asked.
"Mr. (lubberly is dead.”
Stamps m
My stomach sank. "Tell me,” I urged.
86 WEIRD TALES
"He was found lying on the kitchen floor
— strangled.”
MEN
This Horseshoe
least
"Great heavens!"
we’ll get State —
I
thorities in here now. He was dead when

choked. “Well, at
perhaps federal au-
Ring, Handmade,
Hand - engraved, they found him?”
inlaid with simu-
lated pearl, is a
Delia nodded. j
KNOCKOUT! "Anyone missing now?”

Shoe and shank of Again she nodded. "Mrs. Cubberlyi”
everlasting Monel
Metal is At this stage I decided to get Delia away
GUARANTEED 2® YEM2M from all this. I went to town, telegraphed
Supply is limited rush your order! SEND
. . . NO my brother in the city, waited for reply, and
MONEY. Pay Postman only S3 .85, plus excise tax
and postage. Return for refund in five days i£ not put my wife on the next train. She hadn’t
delighted. State sire. Address:
H needed much coaxing to go, though she
AMERICAN JEWELRY CO., Wheeling, '
w'. Va.
wanted me to go with her. I promised to
join her in a few days.
ANY PHOTO ENLARGED The murder brought a small crowd of
Size 8 x 10 inches
on DOUBLE-WEISHT PAPER
newspapermen and detectives to the com-
..a price for foil length or
jt form, groups, landscapes, munity. Evading them, I went home, got
Bl
„_t animals, etc., or enlarge-
ments of any part of grot®
picture. ... the book, and delved into a subject unfit
Original returned vnth your ** £«*«£*
enlargement. «2> JUT for any mortal to read. I destroyed the
SENEJ NO MONEY Jnstman rh
negative or snapshot (any size) and receive your
. to ,
book, finally, but I cannot destroy my
enlargement, guaranty ad fadeless on beautiful
,
double -weight portrait quality paper. Fay

postman 57c plus postage—or send 5Sc with order memory. What hideous mind of the past
and we pay postage. Take advantage of this
your photos today, concocted it, whence he obtained his in-
standard art studies
200 East Ohio Street Dept. 605-B Ghicaga (1!). IIL formation, I had no way of knowing, but
of the latter I can surmise. It was difficult
END BOHPT
MISERY!
LIT THE
at first to attack reality
penned, carefully preserved scripts. The
to the carefully
CURSE OF DRINK language was old, the spelling obsolete, and

drive your loved ones to an
there were phrases in Latin, German, and
early grave or spoil your chances Greek. Though I hurried through some
for Money, Happiness, Health. portions, my attention pursued one idea, one
Write to the man who knows hoy/ to
break whiskey spell. Write
the tell me — train of thought, and the clue I sought slow-
your problem. NEWTON. Dept. NF2, ly unraveled itself.
P. O. Box 861, Hollywood, California. A new enigma surprised the community
the next day when Mrs. Cubberiy, the min-
Gas Pains
25c Home Trial Relieves Excess Acid
ister’s wife, failed to return; and equal sur-
prise when no report came of another dis-
appearance. Although Mrs. Cubberiy re-
in 5 Minutes or DOUBLE MONEY BACK
If you still suffer from suffocating* gas and heartburn due to
mained vanished, new disappearances
excess acid, chances are you’ve never tried Tablets. UDGA ceased. Gradually the town began to breathe
Now make this 25c double-your-vion&y-baek home trial. Yes,
in only 5 minutes the very first tablet may show how you more easily.
may gain happy relief from gassy excess acid pains. UDGA
Tablets, different from “candy” and baking soda, is a real Delia wanted to return, but I insisted
medicine, containing 8 fast-working ingredients. Udga
helps relieve in minutes. That’s why over 200 million have that she remain away until spring. I was
been used by victims of stomach and ulcer pains, sour upset
stomach, indigestion, burning stomach ache, due to excess
convinced that the evil spirit hovering over
acid. Ask your druggist for Udga Tablets today. us had not departed permanently, that one
Complete HOME -STUDY day before summer we would awake to a

Courses and self-instruc- new shock.
tion books, slightly used.
Rented, sold, exchanged. The winter lingered. I was not only lone-
All subjects. Satisfaction
guaranteed. Cash paid for some but extremely ill at ease. I subscribed
used courses. Full details and 92-page illustrated
bargain catalog Free. Write now.
to a city newspaper, however, and began a
little hobby. It was to collect certain small
NELSON COMPANY
321 So. Wabash Avenue, Dept, 2*23, Chicago 4, ill. items I discovered I could find in the paper
every few days. They came from various
A SIP WITH SATAN 87
parts of the country, didn’t rate much im-

portance in the city paper which used —
them chiefly as fillers.
These were notes of human disappear-
ances, in most cases attributed to amnesia,
such as are seen frequently in any paper.
Particular items I filed separately. Now I
discovered that if a line were drawn on a

map through the places from which they
were date-lined, a definite geographic con-
tour would result.
Early in May the line pointed directly
Everyone
our way, though still hundreds of miles who wears
plates will wel-
distant, f grew excited. Later the towns come this free offer.
CROWN DENTAL
became closer together and much nearer. CLEANER is an espe-
cially prepared antiseptic
preparation to keep your plates
And for the first time the papers carried a clean and help eliminate had
breath and foreign substances that
general story on a series of amnesia cases, I collect and cause discomfort.
at the same time recalling the events of
months earlier in our community.
TIGHTENS
NE moonlight night my vigil at the FALSE TEETH or NO COSTS
O Marlowe mansion was rewarded. I saw
something move near the corner of the house
HERE’S new
- -
amazing mouth com fort -without risking a single cent .
enjoy that feeling of having your own teeth again. Satisfy your desire
e at what you want.
K0
CROWN
RELINEli TIGHTENS
(!0ST PERFECT FOR PARTI A LS, LOW-
-
.
iaRto AND UPPERS Don’t suffer embarrassment and discomfort caused

I tried to stop breathing as I saw the figure _ by loose dental plates. Apply CROWN
ttgemqp liETJNER. In a jiffy your plate fits like
of a small man move out into the moon 8 *3? .If §if» 5 new and stays that ,way up to 4 months.
No old-fashioned heating to burn your
mouth. Just squeeze CROWN from tube
light. I jammed my pipe into my pocket and and put your teeth back in. They’ll fit an
snugly as ever. Inventor is a recognized
crouched into the deepest shadow possible. authority in dental field. A patent has been
applied for CROWN
EELINER to protect
As well as I knew that Everett Marlowe After you reline your
you from imitators.
Plato with CROWN, take you? false teeth
had died and been buried, I knew also that out for cleaning without affecting the
CROWN EELINER. CROWN RELINER la
this man was Everett Marlowe. He passed guaranteed
less. Has
. . . it's harmless. It’s taste-
that natural pink color. NOT
very close to me. He stopped now and then A POW-
DER OR
to look, around, as though spotting familiar
PASTE 2
DOES NOT !
BURN 03
I was afraid he would see me.
!
tilings. I R R I-
TATE. If for
he moved toward one of those glass
Finally
bells under which he grew strange plants.
He lifted the glass and felt some berries. cseww
No.3
SQUEEZE
not satis-
tied even
after &
months re-
I
CROWN
ur™ Iffa MONEY BACK/
Then he kneeled before the plant and spent FROM TUBE,
tube fork
full refuccS.
four or five minutes picking the berries and tM PUT PLATE

MPUTI!
dropping them into an envelope. He went EATS STEAK!
3. Clements of Algonac writes: “My
through the same procedure at several other plates were so bad they rattled
when I talked. Now I can <
bushes, then went into the house. steaks, corn on the cob.” E.
W. W., of Virginia, writes:
I saw light flickering through the win- “I found Crown Reliner to
be all you claim.” Many
dows. I knew what he was doing. I knew excellentmore attest to 6ame
results. Re-
your plates with
be was preparing his herbs. I waited, then lino CROWN RELINER
today.
walked to the door. SEND no MONET
You
"Come out, Everett Marlowe!’’ I called. lighted or nobe cost.
must 100 % 'de-
Try four
months and return for refund
I heard uncertain steps shuffling and grit- it AT YOUR DRUGSSST OR ORDER DIRECT.
ting on the boards. In a moment the man GROWN PLASTIC COMPANY. DEPT, SOM
appeared in the doorway. He didn’t look
[
4358 W. Philadelphia Ave., Detroit 4, Mich. 1
Send your wonderful Crown Dental Plate Kellner and include tile E
quite like the Marlowe I knew. I didn’t see free Crown Cleaner. I will pay postman ono dollar
mately 24c. postage
plus approsi-
*
on arrival. If I am not satisfied, after four X

those three teeth. The face wasn’t so with- months, I may return partly used tube for full refund.
ered. But —those same lighiless eyes!

\U
Name
I am enclosing one dollar in payment, same guarantee.)
*
*
"Who are you?” came a dull voice. Âddress

*
|
*
"You should know me,” I replied.

88 WEIRD TALES
He came slowly toward me. He did know
me. "Get out of here, George!” he said
menacingly.
"You’ll not drink your brew tonight,"
I said audaciously. "Marlowe, you will die
tonight. You have come to the end of your
unnatural roamings, spreading misery and
Tremendous opportunities! National Housing Administration 1
death.”
Survey reveals 12,600,000 homes needed. Vast shifts of industrial
population, government loans to returning veterans, widespread
urge to “buy something real,” higher incomes on farms, in “You know too much,” He didn’t speak
towns, cities —all mean tremendous expansion in real estate
with that colloquial drawl of former times.
business. Prepaid NOW to cash in on big You can learn profits.
— in spare time at home. No need to give up your present
Start in “on the side”—then build up good time business as full
job.
Clumsily, but steadily, he continued coming
your own boss; pleasant outside work," your own working houi-s.
Our practical home-study course prepares you for this money- toward me.
making, big-future business. No previous experience needed. Free
—
book describes course tells how you can quickly learn to make “Is your tea. ready yet?” I asked. "Not
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tion; no salesman will call. School of Real Estate Training . that care to partake of your hospitality!”
I
Dept. 52, 12 East h 6 St., New York 17, N, F.
How he took me so off guard is beyond me.
New Facts On —
But he made a lurch his fist struck my
temple, and
to the ground dazed.
I fell
Chronic Ailments When up he hit me again. In
I tried to get
Free Book —Explains Dangers a few moments he had me bound, dragged

Of Fifes — Troubles
CoSoei me into his kitchen.
carefully not too secure
He tied
and he allowed my
me to a chair,
arms free. Then with some concern he put

a wet cloth to my face and forced whiskey
down my throat. All this was through no
pity for me. When he was sure I was all
right, and that I was secure, he went back
to his work.
40-page FREE ROOK explains the Small heaps of dried leaves and berries
causes and effects of these ailments.
Write today — Thornton & Minor Clinic, were spread over the table. A pan of water
Suite C-202, 926 McGee St., Kansas
City, Mo. was heating. He became very occupied, but
every few minutes glanced toward me
nervously. After studying his little piles at
l the craving- for tobacco as

great length, making corrections, carefully
thousands have. Make yourself free sorting out little pieces, he dumped them
and happy with Tobacco Redeemer.
Write for free booklet telling of in-
jurious effect of tobacco and of a into a large bag, added some powders, and
eatment which has 53-
Saved many men. shook the bag vigorously. Then he with-
30 Years Kn Business
THE NEWELS? ©WfifiY
drew some and dropped it into the boiling
«M> Ctastra Sts,, Si. Louis, Mo, water.
I was thoroughly frightened. I knew
SONGWRITERS
Place your songs with us. Melodies supplied WITH-
what he intended to do with me, and that
if he succeeded I would be dead at the end
of another 24 hours. Finally he spoke;
OUT CHARGE by well known Hollywood composers,
“We record your song and make it presentable to the
publishers.Lead sheets and records furnished. Send "Why do you call me Marlowe?” he asked.
your song material for free examination. Write for "Do I look like the man you knew?”
details.
CINEMA SONG CO, “No. But you succeeded well in finding
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a man who resembled your former self. And
Learn Profitable Profession as you planned to return here, you thought
In QO
days at Home
50—Many Swcdis
it might help in case anyone saw you. Is
MEN AND WOMEN. IS TO$75 or even more pel
that right? Well, I’ll give you credit for a
& . Massage graduates make $50,
,,i week. Large full time incomes from doctors, hospital fair job at makeup.”
& sanstoritnns, chibs or private practice. Others raaki
#
9
•
wustb.
good money in spare time. You can win inde-
"You really have been nebbing into my
p en(j enco and prepare for future security by
training at borne and qualifyingfor Diploma.
Anatomv Charts and 82-page Illustrated Book :
affairs, haven’t you!” he growled. "And I
FRE!*-Now! THE College of Swedish Mas-
m'A sago. Dpt. 512B, S 00 E.OMoSt., Chicago It, 111. suppose you know what’s going to happen
to you —
now?”
A SIP WITH SATAN 89
"I know -what you would like the same —

as happened to my wife. Or I might better
say, as happened to Mr. Cubberly. You took
no chances with him, did you. ...”
"Ha!” he grimaced. "So you know about
NEW SULFA
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Mm, too! And do you think you can stop me HALTS
now?”
—
“You are already stopped
know
and don’t
it!” I blurted out in an angry bluff.
ITCHY
"No-o-o-o!” he cried in muffled but con-
fident tone. A scowl crossed his face — SKIN
scowl of demoniac triumph, of wicked ex-
ultation. “I shall never die! I have but
OR NO COST
begun to live. While now I must live but At last, the miracle discovery of SULFANILAMIDE is
most effectively available to sufferers of ITCHX
from day to day, my mind and spirit as one, SORBS, ATHLETES BOOT, PSORIASIS with PUS
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ailments made possible through the discovery of
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ATTACKS:
A TRUE
one night to the next, but until the next full
moon reaches its zenith.
External BLESSING
CONTAINS SCIENCE'S
Skin Troubles
CAUSED BY WONDER DRUGS
"Ah!” he went on. "The ways of Satan PUS-GERMS IN! OF THE
are subtle. The longer you serve Him the ECZEMA BATTLE FiEtD
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"So it was Satan,” I said, egging him on, FATHIAZOLE are recog-
ITCHY nized by the medical profes-
"Who gave you that evil book that was in SORES sion as a true blessing ... a
genuine gift of medical sci-
your fourth- floor study?” ence and research. All know
Marlowe turned toward me fiercely. of the marvelous job they have done in hospitals and
clinics, and the miracles performed in saving thou-
Deep in his dull lifeless eyes I saw wax- sands of lives of our boys in the armed forces. Now
the efficaciousness of this great discovery combined
ing a lurid glow. "What do you know with other elements comes to you as SULFA SAL-
VEBOL to help relieve you of your suffering, discom-
of a book of mine?” he demanded in savage fort and embarrassment. Imagine awakening the next
morning to find rapid improvement taking place and
guttural. infected areas responding to the powers of SULFA
"Much!” returned. "I have the book
I I SALVEBOL! Try it and be convinced at our risk. If
SULFA SALVEBOL costs you nothing.
from cover to cover and when — it doesn't help,
have read
you’re dead,
it
I shall burn it page by page!”
"Where is it!” he demanded, fury and

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.
His fingers worked as if in anticipation of trial or you can return for full refund of your purchase price. Bush
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reaching for my throat. "I would kill you rassing externally-caused sores, at once.
now — if I didn’t need you. . .

5
Research Drug Co.,
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Itic., Dept, a-232
11, N. Y.
”1
“Yes, I understand.” |
Send me of tubes SULFA SALVEROL
fl
He turned, disgustedly. Impatiently he at $2.00 per tube. I enclose herewith

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Money Order; Check; a
removed the pan from the stove and be- Send C. O. D. (plus approximately 35c postage). Unless satis- ®
fled with results after 10 days* trial, money will bj refunded
jg
to me in full upon return of tube with unused contents within
gan pouring the contents in a glass. This 14 days from date of purchase.
|
was my deadline for action. Desperately I | Mams g
readied into my pockets. The best I could a S?reef ...........
8
find was my pipe. Hurling it at him, I I CiSy Zone...., — SJate™ |

(Please print or write legibly.)
knocked the glass to the floor. Then with
sudden and great effort I pushed myself
90 WEIRD TALES
forward and tried to stand. Wood in the
chair snapped. I was on my feet, but the
broken chair was still tied to me. Marlowe
rushed toward me. I wheeled about timing
itso that he fell against the chair, and the
SIMPLE, EASY TO USE force nearly knocked me down, too. Grab-
Magic liquid takes only 2 minutes to bing the first thing saw—
I -a shovel leaning
reproduce any snapshot you have on to
Stationery, handkerchiefs, ties, scarfs,
etc. Won’t wash ol¥. Won’t hurt nega-
against the wall —and without taking time
tive or fabric it’s used on. Personalize to aim, swung it around. The flat of it
I
your belongings ! An ideal gift. Com- caught Marlowe against the head. He stag-
plete outfit with full colors included,
—
enough for 100 photos only $1,00 post- gered, dropped to his elbow, giving me a-
paid, Sent C.O.D. for $1.21,
" CHESTY PHOTO SUPPLY vitalmoment to disentangle myself from the
©ept. 512 2835 M. Centra!, Chicago
broken chair.
Lemon Juice Recipe

tics
Without wasting time I repeated the tac-
he had used earlier oa me. I searched
Checks Rheumatic for something secure. A vertical pipe ran
Pain Quickly through the room close to the wall. I tied
him to this, using what pieces of cord I
If you suffer from rheumatic, arthritis or neuritis
pain, try this simple inexpensive home recipe that . could find, and strips which I tore from his
thousands are using. Get a package of Ru-Ex Com-
pound, a t\yo-week supply, today. Mix it with a quart shirt. After he was secure 1 threw out the
water, add the juice of 4 lemons. It’s easy. No
trouble at all and pleasant. You need only 3 table- remainder of the baneful brew.
spoonfuls two times a day. Often within 48 hours
—
sometimes overnight splendid results are obtained.
The hour I judged was about 10:30 —
If the pains do not quickly leave and if you do not feel which meant one-and-a-half hours until the
better, return the empty package and Ru-Ex will cost
you nothing to try as it is sold by your druggist undex' ominous moment of midnight. Marlowe’s
an absolute money-back guarantee. Ru-Ex Compound
IS for sale and recommended by druggists everywhere. .
senses returned shortly. For a while he was
sullen. Then he tried to break loose with- —
Asthma Mucus out success.
But he moaned and he writhed, and
twisted his face. With strange words and
Loosened First Day incantations he petitioned the Devil. The
for Thousands of Sufferers air trembled with the unholy imprecations
If choking, gasping, wheezing', recurring attacks that spilled from his mouth. lie blasphemed
'Of Bronchial Asthma rob yon of sleep and energy,
accept tills liberal trial offer. Get Menctaeo, a doctor’s the Devil until he choked for breath; then
prescription, from your druggist; take exactly as di-
rected and see for yourself how quickly it usually he blasphemed God. The last time I looked
helps loosen and remove thick strangling mucus, thus
promoting freer breathing and refreshing sleep. You at him his face was black and his tongue
be the judge. Unless delighted and entirely satisfied
with results, simply return the empty package and protruding, swollen and green.
your money back is guaranteed. Don’t suffer another
night without trying guaranteed Menefscc only 60c, — Finally he was silent for a few seconds.
Then in a rasping, though more rational
— —
LEG SORES
^NiMrse Bexickctf’s Home 'Treatment.” This oimtmeont
voice but uncompromising he begged
"George!
every curse
my tea ... git it to me or
upon you I have ever learned!
I’ll loose
SffoMs soothing and palliative relief for leg sores, George!”

^
Does not interfere with dally work. Write
I backed away, raised my arm to hide my
W J&o B* fo r Free Trial without obligation. Thou-
VSHy&L
m s®
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—then lapsed into a continued wail that rose
and fell with a chill more penetrating than
STUDY -AT HOME for Personal that of a mourning hound. Marlowe had
Success and Larger Earnings. 35
over — gone mad.
years expert instruction
108,000 students enrolled. LL.B. The room was murky with a greenish
Degree awarded. All text material
furnished. Easy payment plan. vapor. The yellow light from Marlowe’s
Send for FREE! BOOK— “Law and lamp was all but stuffed out. What evil forces
1
Executive Guidances’ 3 &50W3
were contending I could not know. But of
AMERICAN EXTENSION SCHOOL OF LAW
Dept. 50* N* 648 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago 18* •*»« this I was sure: I was alone
an existence in
dominated by another dimension.
\
A SIP WITH SATAN 91
It must have been within a very few min-

utes of midnight. Marlowe shrieked like a
tormented ioon. I felt my own sanity being
put to the test. The house from its founda-
tions vibrated as if to the discord of great
Organ pipes of the deepest pitch.
I could stand it no longer. I ran out into
the open. The moonlight and lighter air
You can collect $100 a month for sicknesa
were a relief for a moment. I looked up to ©r accident. $3000 for loss of limbs or sight.
$3000 for accidental death. a day insures
the moon in time to see it blotted out by a any man or woman. 16 to 76. MEDICAL NO
sudden dense cloud. Darkness engulfed me, EXAMINATION. Get this policy for 10 days
without risking a penny. Send coupon below.
—
everything everything except the house. 1 AREADSA MUTUAL CASUALTY CO.
AMERICAN SENTINEL INSURANCE AGENCY
T
turned toward that awful edifice of evil— 176 W. Adams St., Chicago 3, 911^ Dept. 723 1
Tellme how to get yonr policy for 10-day inspec-
whence the weird screaming of Marlowe tion, No Agent will call.
came unabated. A
green aura was giving off Name«,
from the building, the same sickening hue a Address.
I had seen inside. It palpitated slowly, like
j City,
the pulse of some gruesome organism. •BacEKausbesH
Suddenly there was a rushing of wind, ac-

companied by a thousand tiny singing
voices, a conglomeration of sharps
like
and plucked from the highest strings of
flats
a harp. With it came a shrouding black-

ness, sweeping toward the house from all Many are finding
welcome relief through the gentle
sides as though bursting in to fill a void. vibration, adjustable soothing heat, anil
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Before was merely dark. But this was the
it A modern, scientifically designed instru-
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green luminosity of the house. And for a ©sting booklet on Prostatitis fiuX
THE DILA-THERM CO., INC.
moment I lost all sense of feeling. 2302 E. Colfax Ave., South Bend 24,
Marlowe’s screaming stopped abruptly.

D I L A - T HE R M
ALONE knew that the curse of our com-
I munity now was lifted; that Everett
Marlowe never
ment. I alone
really
knew
had died
that there
until this
was a man
mo-
in
POEMS WANTED For Musical Setting '
g
Mother, Home, Love, Sacred, Patriotic, Comic 9
there, where Marlowe, slowly return-
I left or any subject. Don't Delay —
Send us your I
ing to consciousness, who soon would won- Original Poem at once —
for immediate ex- Sg
I amination and FREE Rhyming Dictionary. 1
der where he was, what had happened to 27
Richard Brothers JKRarsSK
him.
And I alone knew the ancient sorcerer’s Try Page's Palliative
secret that Marlowe had invoked through PILE PREPARATIONS
the wicked concoction of his brew of herbs, If you are troubled with itching, bleed-
the nocuous recipe and its sinister conse- ingprotruding piles, write for a
or
—
quences its drug potency that could per-
FREE
sample of Page’s Palliative Pile
Preparations and you may bless the day
you read this. Don’t wait. WHITE TODAYIi
meate the very seat of life to separate the
metaphysical threads that bind body and E. R. PAGE CO., Dept. 488X-6, Marshcil, Mich.
soul. Only I knew that this elixir could

thus, at the culmination of its alchemical High School Course
power, literally free spirit from body; that at Home 'Many Finish in 2 Years
the liquid a moment after being consumed Go as rapidly as your time and abilities permit. Cours®
—
I
I equivalent to resident school work prepares for college

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business and industry and socially. Don’t be handicapped ail yoar
mere touching of another person, to transfer |
[
life. 1 Bo a High School graduate. Start your training now. urea
’
Bulletin on request. No obligation.

his spirit to tire other body where it could
|
AmcrioanSchoM, Best. H-23S. Qrexel at 53th, ChieasoW

overpower and subdue the victim spirit. And
92 WEIRD TALES
Ihad learned, of course, that this was why
do you WOKKYf Marlowe had wanted to hold my wife’s

hand while he drank the tea that awful
night.
Why worry and suffer any
longer if we can help you? Yes, I had learned so much since that
Try a Brooks Patented Air
Cushion. This marvelous night!
appliance for most forms of —
Now as I before the invisible
stood
house—
reducible rupture helps hold
nearly every rupture securely the air screamed all about me, there
—
and gently day and night
was a quality reminiscent of that night.
at work and at play. Thou-
sands made happy. Light,
neat-fitting. No hard pads or stiff springs to chafe
So, I waited —
and waited the only mortal —
,cr gouge. Made for men, women and children. aware of the forces that had been battling
Durable, cheap. Seat on trial to prove it. Never
sold in stores. Beware
of imitations. Write for hereabout the natural order of things.
Free Book on Rupture, no-risk trial order plan, and
proof of results. All Correspondence Confidential. True, there was a catch to Marlowe’s evil
Brooks Compas?, 152-H State St, Marshal!, MSek. trick —
one that he had sought to overcome.
The power of one draft of his brew was
limited until the next sun-at-nadir. If after
sundown the parasite spirit did not transfer
Pile Sufferers to another body, he was doomed to die at
FREE BOOK — Tells Facts midnight.
Had Marlowe ever availed himself of his
power previous to the time he was forced to
Avoid
dangers
— so desperately' —
when he borrowed the
Delay body of my wife? That is unanswerable.
But since then I now had the evidence that
he had gotten his unnatural existence down
The McOeary Clinic, 221 Elms Blvd.,
Excelsior Springs, Mo., is putting out to a good system.
a 122-page FREE BOOK
on Piles, Fis-
tula and other rectal or colon troubles. But now, awaiting the end of the sinister
Write today.
demonstration the blackness and suspense
continued.
UIH AT SHOUIBj Heaven and hell may have been con-

tending for this spot of earth. I might
VOU— INVENT
Our FREE BOOK fells you what today’s Snventlvo
market wants how to put down, patent and sell your
1
not live to see the light of another day. But
—
no it all ended very suddenly. The moon
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broke forth again, and the air turned dean
crn demand for inventions—-our Jong experience as
Registered Patent Attorneys will help you. Get our
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i? and fresh, and the bigness of the house once
more loomed before me. For a moment I
M cMORROW & BERMAN, Patent Attorneys couldn’t move. It seemed as though I had to
I29-A Atlantic Building, Washmston 4, D. 0.
wait for my blood to recommence its circu-
lation.
YOU ARE UNDER ARREST! Determined, and at the same time timid, I
Help Crooks to Through
Bring Justice Scientific went back into the- house. I felt along the
CEtiftlg DETECTION! damp walls of the hallway until I reached
I have taught thousands this exciting, profitable, pleasant pro-
fession. Let me teach .you in your own home. Leom Finger
Printing, Firearms Identification, Police Photography, Secret Serv-
theopen door to the kitchen. great square A
ice Methods thoroughly, quickly, at small cost. h8% of all Amer-
can Bureaus of Identification employ I. A. S. students or graduates. of moonlight beamed through a window,
i can prepare you for this fascinating work, during spare time.
Write today. Stating age, for “Blue Book of Crime-,”
onto the place where I had left the man who
B8IHUTE0F APPLIED SCIENCE, 1520Suoiiys!de**e,,Desl 1562, Chicago®!. 111.
had been the temporary Everett Marlowe.
The form was heaped over, but it stirred.
“Facts about EPILEPSY” "Are you all right?” I asked.
This most interesting and helpful Booklet will be Amild groan.
mailed to anyone while the supply lasts. I will send I freed him and he tottered uncertainly.
a free copy to anyone who writes for it. “Where am I?” he queried dazedly.
C. M, SIMPSON Whoever he was, he would find out, but
Address Depf. F-33, 1S4B W. 44fh Street, Cleveland, Ohio never why!
- i f mm nan. « —
THE EYRIE v93
V INDEMNITY
.IFS
POLICY
INSURANCE
PAYS MAXIMUM BENEFITS
2-
3-
4-
5-
Policy Costs Only $ 1.00 a Month
Provide for those you
love this wise, easy way.
Only a few pennies a day PHOTECTION
Vill pay for TRIPLE IN-
Pays for
DEMNITY LIFE INSUR-
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Reserves. Old reliable drte to
Pioneer
Life Insurance S-NatealCauses...
Companyoffers this as- All Sicknesses ...
Not Beast Nor Man sured protection without
restrictions as to your
Ordinarjf Accidents
Auto Accidents .. .
Occupation, Travel or
FOR
Travel Accidents.
sometime we have pestered Manly Wade Stesidence and includes
Wellman for more information about that Stated m Incontestability Clause
the policy. Men,
_
— as plainlyM
all
women and children
Jrom
"Myth” that may not be a myth, the one con- Tape —NodayMedical
1 to 70 years of age No ReS
Examination! Pull details sent
A& eEt '
eligible.
will call. Write at once

cerning the Shonokins. for PR.ee inspection offer. DON’T DELAY g
Manly Wellman is taking his own time to PIONEER, E.IF.E .INSURANCE COMPANY
8442 Pioneer Building ® Rockford, Illinois
reveal the sinister natureand macabre ambi-
tions of the Shonokins through the eyes and
experiences of John Thunstone.
LOOSE DENTAL PLATES
RELSNED & LIGHTENED AT HOME
However, he did pass along the following NEWLY IMPROVED DENDEX KE-
LLNER, a plastic, builds up (refits)
loose upper and lower dentures. Really
to us: makes them fit as they should with-
out using powder. Easily applied. No
To those who have been kind enough to heating required. Brush it on and
wear your plates while it sets. It
ask for “real information” on the Shonokins, adheres to the plates only and makes
a comfortable, smooth and durable
I can only point to the very, very meager surface that can be washed and
scrubbed. Each application lasts for
dossier that Thunstone himself reveals in the months. Not a powder or wax. Con-
tains no rubber or gum. Neutral pink color. Sold
current account. The few beside Thunstone on MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE. Not sold in stores.
Mail $1 for generous supply, brush and directions
who have ever heard of the Shonokins by and we pay postage. Charges extra
7th Year National Wiail Order sales
on C.O.D. orders•
name are apt to dismiss them as a "myth.” SENDS CO. 2714 S. Hill St Dept 62-G.laS flngslss 7, Calit
The only people who know the truth about

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Our ancestors who fought before history’s
dawn against creatures that were not beast nor
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time when they established the rule of their , Save money by ordering
—
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own home.
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a fairly thorough study of remains. What about

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Manly Wade Wellman

94 WEIRD TALES
Lured from “Retirement!”
TALfl 10 GOB S
Tales and
OME
months ago we got a several-page
our offices commenting on Weird
letter in
its contributors. At the end the
One year ago .was miserable, deep in
I
author, Jack Snow, modestly admitted that
debt. Then I discovered an amazing new
way to actually talk to God. From that he had once sold two little shorts to Weird,
day, my troubles began to fade away. in 1927 and 1928. Naturally our curiosity
Today I have money, property, automo- was aroused, we looked him up and found him
biles, the luxuries of life. You, too, can ensconced just across the street from- us (liter-
talk to God, I will show you how. let- A ally), a writer with the National Broadcasting
ter or postcard to New Life Fellowship, Company.
Box XL- 1429, Hollywood, California, In the course of subsequent conversations
will bring you this amazing message of we said half-humorously that since he knew
help, instantly, free of charge. somuch about "weird” tales (he really does)
why didn’t he. sit down and write one? Which
Mil ¥0UR PILES? is just what he did and the result—well, you’ve
read, or will read, "Second Childhood” your-
Of course you can’t shoot Piles, hut within a few minutes
after the first application, China?Roid usually starts fight- self.
ing the agonies of Piles in 3 ways: 1. Soothes and eases
pain and itching. 2. Helps shrink sore, swollen tissues. Here is what Mr. Snow has to say about
3. Promotes healing by comforting irritated membranes himself
and alleviates nervousness due to Piles. Has helped thou-
sands while they worked and enjoyed life in greater com- Earliestmemory goes back to a day before
fort. Get Chlrsea-ilold from your druggist today under posi-
tive guarantee of complete satisfaction or money back. I could walk or talk when my grandfather, a
Don't suffer another day without fighting your Pile misery
with Chmcs-RsidL Tear this out: take it to your druggist .
dentist, fascinated me with a saucerful of
'Be sure to get genuine, guaranteed China^Rotd, a Knox
Company Quality Product. If he is sold out, ask him to
quicksilver. A little later I used to watch for
order it for you. Only 7S$. the wagon which appeared
ice-cream each
afternoon rolling down the street from a point
.What Ye 6® For Paisss of
Three blocks where I could dimly dis-
distant,
AUTHRITSS cern a pole the North Pole then, and logical

origin of the ice-cream man. Later it became
a barber pole. Life has been like that ever
Try This Free since.
In early 1920’s worried family to death by
If you have never used “Rosse Tabs’* for pains of arthritis,
neuritis, rheumatism, we want you to try them at our risk. clambering over the roof erecting radio
We will send you a full-size package from which you are to antennae. Began writing a radio review col-
tsae 24 Tabs FREE. If not astonished at the palliative re-
lief which you enjoy from your sufferings, return the umn for a newspaper while attending Central
package and you owe us nothing. We mean it! SEND
HO MONEY. Just send name and address and we will High School at Piqua, Ohio —hometown I
jfttsh your Tabs by return mail. ROSSE PRODUCTS CO., proudly share with the Mills Brothers and ace
Dept." 198, 2108 Farwell Avenue, Chicago 45, Illinois.
Don Gentile. Sold two shorts to Weird Tales
several years later and have not missed reading
more than a half-dozen issues of the magazine
Banish the craving for tobacco as
thousands have. Make yourself free
and happy with Tobacco Redeemer.
!;IIIII!£illl[Ii!Il!l!Ilt!E!!IIIIIlliil!iSilfl!Ei(ll!BtIf IIE!IBI!III!!l!l[lll!llilllBllK!!lilBi.i£;
Write for free booklet telling of in-
jurious effect of tobacco and of a
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30 0as?ness
the
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mm
Years fli
compshy
j
Ciayfrin Sta., St. ioiiES,

&g$OI£
LSE 2J
Mo.
I
=
=
LORDS CF THE
GHOSTLANDS
A LAN MAH
A birthday present
FOR TOMMY
1 IN THE BEGINNING
= THE PERIPATETIC THE SHONOKINS
ANY BOOK Delivered at your door.
IN PRINTI
We
pay postage. Standard
?
|
CORPSE
PLEASE GO V/AY AND
LET ME SLEEP
THE TOMBSTONE
SECOND CHILDHOOD
A SiP WITH SATAN
authors, new books, popular editions, fiction, refer-
ence, medical, mechanical, children's books, etc. = Here's a list of ten stories in this issue. Won't you
— alS at Guaranteed savins®.
Clarkson's 1944 Catalog.
Send card now for = let us know which three you consider the best? Just 2.
place the numbers : 1, 2, and 3, respectively, against your 5

K? Write for our great illustrated book catalog, g
= three favorite tales— then clip it out and mail it £
short course in literature. The buying
guide of 300,000 book lovers. The answer to your Christ-
= in to us. E
mas gift problem. FREE if you write NOW TODAY! — WEIRD TALES
| f
,1.
jjjj
9 Rockefeller Flessg New York City g
Slflf!llliI[B!i«UIUI!lft!HlliK((l!IRUE!!Kf(BIIS!fll!SH6!3SiiBlll!Ulltll!in«llS)tBt!liiSbEB
THE EYRIE 95
,
since its inception. Worked for various radio

stations, landing at NBC in 1943 afterTour-
feen months in the Army. A lifelong admirer
of L. Frank Baum and his 02 books, I have
a huge collection of first editions and have
gathered photographs, scrap books, personal
letters, etc., which will become a part of a
forthcoming Baum biography. Have written
a new Oz book, now published, and hope to
do one each year in the Baum tradition.
Baum, Walter de la Mare,
Favorite authors are:
Arthur Machen, Frank Owen, Seabury Quinn
and Ray
1
Bradbury.
1 T , „
jack Snow
Offers Big Money—-litdepentSeisc®
—
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CHECKED IN A JIFFV
Sufferers from the torturing itcfc
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BEDFORD-JONES Lords Of the

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living spirit of the wine,’ and

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THE MAN WHO CRIED “WOLF!

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no parents, no home, not really; such a strange little girl.

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AM a little girl. People say that I am "How do you do, sir.”

I when I walk in the park nearby to my