DERLETH BRADBURY

BLOCH WELLMAN

* Frank
bv Owen
:

“THE LONG STILL STREETS OF EVENING* 4

 — .

An Instrument in the Hands of God . .

"As an instrument in God’s hands, Lister has changes or mysterious conditions set up by the
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 SEPTEMBER, 1944 Cover by A. R. Tilbume
NOVELETTE
THE SHADOW FOLK * . . Edmond Hamilton 6
A land where we, the normal, are strange and terrible,
called fearfully —
by Them The ^Others!

SHORT STORIES
THE LONG STILL STREETS OF EVENING Frank Owen 18
After midnight when the long streets are hushed all men are
brothers whether they be kings or thieves

THE SEVEN SEAS ARE ONE Allison V. Harding 26

The Captain knew that somehow, some day his fate was coming out —
of the seaand the wind!
BANG! YOU’RE DEAD! Ray Bradbury 35
The kid thought war was a game and that death and bullets
were only make-believe
THE DEVIL’S TICKET Robert Bloch 42
The old man wanted a portrait of a human being; one that
would capture the very soul!
PACIFIC 421 August Derleth 52
The rails were rusted, weeds grew between the ties, yet every week a
train ran here — over a track not used for years
SORCERY FROM THULE Manly Wade Wellman 58
The enchantment calls for a spear of peculiar name and history; a spear that
strikes in the night and comes back covered with hot blood

THE WAYWARD SKUNK Harold Lawlor 66

Skunks are like people. They form attachments and get mad —only
when a skunk gets mad . . .

THE WEIRDS OF THE WOODCARVER Gardner F. Fox 76

Man is but a parasite on the keel of the planet as it soars in
perpetual journey through the void of eternity
MONSIEUR BLUEBEARD Emil Petaja 83
Gruesome crimes were his hobby; he’d made a meticulous study of a certain
infamous Baron of the Middle Ages

VERSE
THE PATH THROUGH THE MARSH Leah Bodine Drake 51
RATS Glenn Ward Dresbach 75
TO THE MOON Stanton A. Coblentz 82

SUPERSTITIONS AND TABOOS Irwin J. Weill 65

THE EYRIE AND WEIRD TALES CLUB 90

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. ' 7S

Title registered in U. S. Patent Office.

BRINTED IN TUB U. S. A. Vol. 38, No. 1

D. McILWRAITH, Editor. LAMONT BUCHANAN, Associate Editor,

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 1 to C^iome
"Jlie ^Shape oj?

THE DWELLER IN DARKNESS

A Great New Novelette by AUGUST DERLETH
.
. for those to whom a new thrill of unutterable ghastliness is

the chief end and justification of existence

{jJEARCHES after honor haunt

strange, places. They
THE BAT IS MV
far
climb to the moonlit towers of
BROTHER ruined Rhine castles, and falter

Robert Bloch down black cobwebbed steps be-

neath the scattered stones of for-
gotten cities in Asia. The haunted
wood and the desolate mountain

DARK MUMMERY are their shrines —and most of all

the lonely farmhouses of the back-

Thorp McClusky woods; for there the dark elements
of strength, solitude, grotesqueness
and ignorance combine to form
the perfection the
THE JAR of hideous.

Ray Bradbury

There are other top-notch stories

WEIRD TALES
For November
in your November issue
Out September First
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 ^^2/hudow Folk
T WAS a spring morning when word the towering High Sierra peaks whose snow-
came through the mountains that the caps were already very small.

I Others had come back. Khar brought

the word, and Nura was the first to hear
“It warm early this year,” he said.
is
“That is why they have come so soon.”
the terrifying news. Nura dropped her berries. “My father
She was gathering berries in a sun-dap- is with the tribe now,” she told him. "I’ll

pled thicket that fringed the dark, solemn go with you.”

Sierra forest, when she glimpsed a misty
flash of movement and saw the figure run-
ning toward her.
Nura reached for her spear and then re-
membered she had left it by the stream in
the nearby valley of alders, after a fruitless
attempt at fishing. But she relaxed when
she saw that the runner was one of the
Shadow Folk.
For, to Nura’s eyes, he had that strange,
semi-transparent appearance which to her
was normal. She could see the trees through
him, as though he were a running, living
figure of glass.
“What now, Khar?” she demanded a
imperiously as he came up. "I thought
little

you were hunting with Lan and Skuro.”

She thought nothing of the kind. She
thought that Khar had slipped away from
his comrades to continue his vain courtship
of her.
But Khar looked as though he had other
things on his mind, now. He was a big
man, biggest of all the Shadow Folk. A
shock-haired giant in a leather tunic, carry-
ing a heavy deer-spear, both his clothing and
weapons were as semi-transparent to her eyes
as his body.
“I’ve got towarn the tribe,” he panted.
"The Others have come back.’’
Nura felt the sharp shock of a terror that
a thousand generations of surreptitious liv-
ing had bred into her folk.
"The Others?" she gasped. “But they
never come back into the high mountains so
early as this.”
Khar waved a hand toward the spring-
green meadows and budding woods, and

Heading by BORIS DOLGOV

6
 By EDMOND HAMILTON
Khar did not slacken his haste as he ran low?” she asked resentfully as they ran.
—
with her through the woods nor did he "They have all the rest of the world for
have to. Nura’s slim, lithe figure, shadowy their own.”
and half-transparent to his eyes as he to hers, Khar shrugged massive shoulders. "I
concealed a strength and endurance that was don’t know. It has always been so.”
bred early into all the Shadow Folk.
Her mind was filled with alarm and dis-
may as she ran. The safe, happy season of
winter was gone, now. The months when
THAT was the answer the Shadow Folk
always gave to the wondering questions
of their children. But Nura felt rebellious
heavy snows blocked the high trails were now.

These high, remote peaks were

the last refuge for the strangest
race of humans in all the world

months of freedom for her people, for then lt wasn’t fair! The Others had crowded
the Others never came. them into this last refuge, and now even
Now, so soon, had begun the long sum- this was being taken away. Every summer,
mer months of anxiety and watchfulness, more of the Others came even into these
the season when her people must walk with high, remote peaks.
care each moment and post sentinels on She and Khar emerged from the forest in
every trail, and lower their voices to whis- front of a blank cliff beyond which rocky
pers. crags shouldered the sky. He swung aside
"Why don’t the Others stay down be- the big rock that cunningly masked the
Z
8 WEIRD TALES
mouth of a crack-like chasm in the prec- west of the alder valley, until we had time
ipice. to send sentinels,” put in Khar.
She had to follow behind Khar, the chasm Nugor nodded. "That was well done. We
was so narrow. But soon it widened into a might have been caught by surprise. Never
blind canyon, of considerable width and before have any of the Others come so
with precipitous sides. early.”
On
the ledges on one side w'ere the caves The flurry of activity was followed by the
inwhich her tribe had their homes. But realization of what the coming of the Others
now most of the Shadow Folk here were meant.
down in the warm sunlight of the canyon "We have not yet finished the spring
floor. food-gathering in the farther woods!” pro-
The glassy, semi-transparent figures that tested a tribesman anxiously. "The fish have
Nura’s eyes beheld were not strange to her. not been smoked, and the deer-skins are not
This was home, her people. Children played all tanned.”
along the banks of the foaming little creek. "We
shall have to get along with less un-
Women worked industriously at the dyeing tilnext winter,” Nugor said firmly. "From
of skins and old men shaped spearheads or now on, only those on urgent errands may
gossiped in the sun. go into the farther forests.”
Dismay circulated among the tribe at the

T HE oldest men sat in a little group

around Nugor, the chieftain. Nura ran
prospect. It meant a longer period of
watchfulness and worry, and it meant a
much scanter food supply until winter finally
toward him, bursting to tell her father the
news. But Khar got it out first. came again.
"The Others have come! We saw them at One young hunter voiced a spirit of re-
the small house in the valley of alders. I bellion. "There are only two of the Ctuiero.
came on ahead to warn you.” If they were not here, we could continue
Nugor’s aging, bearded face showed to gather our food as before. It would be
sharp alarm. "How many of them are easy for us to kill them.”
there?” he asked quickly. A gasp of horror went up from the older
"Only two,” Khar said. "One I have seen men and women, yet a few of the bolder
before. He is the trapper who built the spirits among the young hunters voiced
little house. The other one, I have never agreement.
seen.” Nugor’s voice was loud with anger. "Are
The tribe had quickly gathered around. you mad to suggest such a thing? You know
The gravity of the news was mirrored on the law!”
every face. They had expected the Others, "The law will not fill our children’s
of course. But not so soon. stomachs this summer,” muttered one of the
Nura a little pride in the way they
felt rebellious ones.
all looked to her father. Khar might be the Nugor spoke flatly. "The law has kept us
greatest hunter in the tribe, but it was still alive all these ages. And the law says
to old Nugor that the Shadow Folk turned "Never must the Others know that we ex-
for guidance. ist! Never must one of the Shadow Folk

"Who of our people are out of the valley let them suspect our presence!”

now?” he wanted to know. "If you killed these two, more of the
A half-dozen voices babbled answer. A Others would come searching for them.
woman’s husband had gone to set a fish- Where then would we take refuge?”
trap. Some half-grown boys were seeking That silenced them. The tradition of
material for arrows. There was a party of the law was too ingrained to permit any of
three women who had gone out after cer- them to voice further objection,
tain roots. "From henceforth until the snows come,
"Send to warn them at once,” Nugor none is to go near the farther woods without
ordered. "And post the sentinels on all the permission,” Nugor declared. "I know that
trails.” you have all been careful as ever to leave
"I told Lan and Skuro to watch the trails no traces of us anywhere.”
 —

THE SHADOW FOLK 9

Mura, listening, felt a sudden pang of ability to understand that language had
guilty remembrance. Her spear! She had meant escape from discovery.
left it at the stream in the valley of alders The older Other, the whiskered trapper
— and that stream was very near the house who had built the cabin, was speaking.
of the Others! "If it’s peace and quiet you want, you’ll
sure get ’em here, Doctor Grant,” he was
HE was appalled. It had been an inex- saying. "It’s so early there ain’t a soul in
S cusable oversight, twice inexcusable in these mountains yet.”
a chieftain’s daughter. She had meant to go "I don’t want to see people,” the younger
.back for the spear when the berries were man replied in a tired voice. "Now that the
picked, but had forgotten it in the excite- war’s over, I need to rest and getmy bear-
ment of Khar’s news. It had been sheer ings for a while before I can live down in
carelessness. the city.”
She dreaded her father’s wrath if he He looked as tired as his voice, Nura
learned of it. Yet the spear must be recov- thought, this young stranger called Doctor
ered at any cost. If it should accidentally Grant. His face was thin and lined, his
be found by one of the Others, the very na- shoulders sagged as from long fatigue.
ture of the weapon would betray the whole "Well, I’ll bring you up some grub when
secret of the Shadow Folk’s existence. I come back,” the older man said. "I’ll be

Nura quickly determined to retrieve the cornin’ up often to look at my traps.”

spear herself without mentioning it to any- Nura saw the old man mount his horse
one. and start down the trail. She understood
With that purpose in mind, she slipped then that the young, tired-looking one of the
away in the flurry of activity and went back Others was going to stay alone in the cabirr.
out of the canyon. The old trapper rode by within six feet
Anar was posting sentinels outside the of where Nura stood. She remained per-
masked entrance of their valley. "Where fectly still and unafraid. He could not see
are you going, Nura?” he wanted to know. her, she knew.
"I know where Skuro’s wife and the That was the one great advantage of the
others are gathering roots, and I am going Shadow Fork. They could see each other,
to warn them,” she told him, and hurried as semi-transparent figures. But the Others
away. could not see them at all. Their eyes were
Her heart was pounding with excitement somehow different.
and apprehension as she ran through the Her confidence was justified. The trapper
foresttoward the valley of alders. Suppose rode whistling past her and disappeared
one of the Others had chanced upon the down the trail. The young Other turned to
spear already? enter the cabin.
She came into the valley, moving warily. This was Nura’s chance. She slipped
In the distance, she could see through trees across the trail to the little creek that ran
the log cabin with its stone chimney the — through the valley of alders. Stepping into
house of the Others. And she could see the its icy, shallow waters, she started softly

two Others standing on its porch and talk- wading upstream.

ing. "Leave no tracks for the Others to see!”
They were instantly recognizable as That was one of the prime command-
Others. For they were opaque and solid- ments of the law. It was why she had taken
looking and non-transparent, unlike the to the stream in her search for the spear.
Shadow Folk. And they wore the strange, Her eyes nervously searched the bank.
tight-fitting clothing which Others always There had been a little point, where she had
wore. crouched hoping for a big trout
Nura poised, listening to them. She could
understand.
years of spying
Her people, through their
on the Others, had learned
the language and taught it to their children.
THE
It
spear was there! She felt a throb of
relief as she saw it, lying on the bank.
was semi-transparent as her own body
They had done so because, more than once. and clothing. The Others could not see it.
 ” ” ”

10 WEIRD TALES
but they might have stepped on it and dis- tactwith her warm flesh. He yelled in in-
covered its invisible existence. credulous surprise.
She waded eagerly to the bank and then Nura was frantically trying to pull the
reached for the spear. Something gave under spear out of his jacket for another stab.
her foot, there was a jarring click, and a But its barb was caught in the tough leather.
vise-like agony seized her left ankle. She succeeded only in pulling Grant off the
Nura went to her knees in the shallow bank upon her.
water, with a muffled cry of agony and sur- His weight flung her backward into the
prise. Her ankle was still held in the ago- shallow stream. Her head struck the flat
nizing grip. She had stepped into one of stones beneath the few inches of water, and
the traps tire old Other had set! Nura felt blackness explode inside her brain.
"What’s that?” She awoke, when consciousness returned
Grant had turned from the cabin he was to her, with the swiftness of alarm. She was
entering, and now was staring nervously lying on the bank of the stream. And the
along the stream and trail. He had heard Other was bending over her, his face ludi-
her. crous with stupefied amazement as his hands
Nura instantly stiffened into complete im- touched her soft hair and her face.
mobility. A fear icier than the waters in "My God, a girl!” he was saying thickly.
—
which she knelt paralyzed her body. "A totally invisible girl! It’s crazy
She could see the Other looking perplex- Nura shivered to a horror greater than
edly. Nura felt panic as he started down she had ever known. She had committed the
the trail, puzzledly staring along the stream. unpardonable sin again the law. She had
She dug her hands into the water and let one of the Others know that the Shadow
frantically sought to free herself from the Folk existed.
trap. The heavy steel jaws resisted her Not within the living memory of ajiv in
strength. And she had to stop, for she was the tribe had such a thing happened. It
flurrying the water. was the ultimate disaster, always feared and"
The Other had noticed that flurry! He always guarded against.
was coming along the bank toward her. And
he was chuckling in nervous relief.
"I’m either
hoarsely, "or else
—
mad,” Grant was saying

"So that’s it! One of tire old-timer’s traps Nura bounded up with a frantic effort
has nabbed a muskrat already.” that flung him aside. She threw herself
Nura felt a chill of horror. The man was away in panic flight.
going to examine the trap. It meant dis- The trap was still on her ankle. And its

covery, for her and for all the Shadow Folk. chain, tautening as she leaped, brought her
She reached and frantically snatched up down. She uttered a little cry.

her spear. She had to kill the Other, now.

There was no way out of it. She crouched,
ready to drive the spear upward into his
heart as he bent over the bank.
GRANT there
spectacle of
jumped toward
had been nothing
the steel trap
her. To him,
visible but the
flying to the
Grant owed his life to the trap he was length of its chain and then stopping short.

stooping to examine. As he grasped its His groping hands found her again, but
chain to pull it up out of the water, Nura instantly she was clawing wildly at him.
stabbed. But the hold on her ankle twisted
her aim awry, and the spear stabbed through
"Wait!” he said hoarsely. "I’m not going
to hurt you, whoever you are
—
Grant’s jacket instead of through his breast. Nura was beyond reason, in her panic
"What the devil!” Grant exclaimed and horror. She fought him like a wildcat.
hoarsely, recoiling. He finally succeeded in pinioning her
There was nothing before him, yet he arms. Her strength seemed to be waning
had felt the savage rip of something through as the agony of her ankle increased, and
his suede jacket. And a slitted hole had she lay limp in his arms as he picked her
suddenly appeared in it beneath his armpit. up.
His hands, striking out in an instinctive He unsnapped the trap-chain from its
gesture to repel the unknown, came into con- stake, and started toward the cabin. Inside
 THE SHADOW FOLK 11

it, he locked its door and then put her down Grant turned, startled by the crash. He
on a bunk. started toward the bunk, then tripped over
"Listen, I’m not going to harm you!” her as she tried frantically to regain her
he pleaded earnestly. "I just want to help feet. ^
you. I don’t know whether you’re really Nura was in too much pain to resist as
invisible or whether I’m out of my head,
but
— he awkwardly groped and picked her up,
and carried her back to the bunk. She felt
Nura found her voice. She could not es- hopeless.
cape this man by use of her strength. The "Now listen to me,” he said earnestly.
very touch of the alien Other inspired her "You must not try that again. I’m a doc-
with a terror that gave her voice. tor, and you can believe me when I say you
"Please let me go!” she gasped, in his can’t possibly walk on that ankle for days.
own language. "Please!” Just who you are or why I can’t see you,
"I’m not crazy, then, if you can talk,” I don’t know, but no one is going to harm
Grant said dazedly. His hand reached, and you.
She shuddered at the
touched her face.
contact. "But invisible
— Nura, looking up into his
slight lessening of her despair.
face,
This Other
felt a

He seemed to get a grip on himself, and seemed sincere. She was much less afraid
spoke more steadily. "I can’t let you go like of him now. But the one agonizing anxiety
this. Your ankle’s crushed, you won’t be in her mind persisted.

—
able to stand, let alone walk.
friends near
If you have "You will not tell any more of the Others
about us?” she asked pleadingly.
"About us?” he repeated. "Then there

THAT brought the fear sharply back into

—
Nura’s mind the fear for the tribe that
are more of you, invisible like yourself?”
Nura was appalled at her slip of the
was instilled into all the Shadow Folk. This tongue. He sensed the dismay behind her
Other had found her, but he must not dis- silence,and spoke reassuringly.
cover the tribe. "Don’t be afraid. I promise not to tell a
"I have no friends!” she flashed. And soul. No one else ever comes here except
then, again, "Let me go!” old Johnny, the trapper, anyway.”
"Not with that trap on your ankle,” The promise comforted her a little. She
Grant said determinedly. "This may all be knew that she shouldn’t put any faith in one
just a daytime nightmare, but the trap is real of the Others, for they were alien and un-
enough.” knowable. Yet she did, somehow, believe
He tried to pry open its jaws and could in this one’s assurance.
not. Then he remembered and reached un- "Can’t you tell me about yourself?” he
der the bunk for the steel clamp he had asked her. "Have you always been like this,
seen the old man toss there. completely invisible?”
"This will hurt you,” he told the girl "Yes, of course,” said Nura.
he could not see. "But we have to get the Grant shook his head. "My reason tells
thing off.” me I’m up here having hallucinations. But
As the jaws were pried loose, Nura felt I’m hanged if I believe my reason."
an exquisite agony. For the second time, Presently he brought her food. Much of
she lost consciousness. it was strange to her, but she liked it.

She awoke more slowly, this time. She He sat, watching her eat. He seemed
was still lying in the bunk. Her ankle stunned by the fact that the food became
throbbed with fiery pain. invisible as she ate it.

It was night. The Other was bending over "By heaven, it’s against all the rules of
a fire across the room, with his back toward physics, chemistry and biology,” he mur-
her. mured.
Nura lowered herself from the
softly Later he spread blankets for himself in
bunk and toward the door. At the
started the far corner of the cabin, and then told
first step, way under
the injured ankle gave her: "I want you to make a promise in re-
her ana she sprawled on the floor. turn. Don’t try to leave here. You can’t
 ”

12 WEIRD TALES
possibly go more than a few steps anyway, like —
them they feared them. And they
and you’ll only hurt yourself.” drove them out, seeking to kill them.
Nura reluctantly promised. She would "So the invisible ones gathered together
not have done so but that her experience in their own tribes of Shadow Folk. They
had taught her she could not escape. kept as far as possible away from the Others.
For the next few days, she stayed in the When the Others came into a country, my
cabin not unhappily. Grant carefully tended people Avould leave it and go further into
her ankle, and she learned now that he was the wilds.
a healer among the Others, and that Doc- "But you Others have always come, and
tor was not his name but his title. always we have had to find new refuge. For
Never had Nura dreamed that she could our safety was in not letting you know of
feel liking for an Other. But she did. This our existence. Now the last tribes of us
young, tired-looking man with the wise ways in this land have, for three generations
of healing and the oddly gentle touch soon dwelt only in these high mountains.”
won her complete confidence. Grant asked a question. “But Nura, how
So much so, that she told him of the do you make things like your leather tunic
Shadow Folk who were her people. He had and your spear invisible?”
guessed their existence anyway, she knew. "We dye them,” she answered simply.
Grant listened with incredulous amaze- “The secret of the dye is as old as our
ment. "And you say that your people have people. It is made of certain herbs to which
lived here for centuries, invisible? Good a small quantity of our blood is each time
Lord, a whole different species of man, added.”
completely unsuspected by the rest of us!” He began to understand. "Then I was
"The legends of my people say that long, right. The chemical agent of invisibility re-
long ago there were no Shadow Folk,” Nura sides in your radioactive blood.”
told him. "Everywhere then, all the people He speculated excitedly. "And- Jt-mtG
were like you Others. Then to those people be that same powerful chemical agent that
were born a few children, here and makes your eye-retinas sensitive enough to
there, who were invisible to the rest of see each other a little by ultra-violet, and
the people.” also makes your food disappear as soon as
Grant frowned thoughtfully. "What you you eat it. Lord, how all this would upset
are describing is known as a mutation. There the scientific world!”
could have been strange mutants in prehis- She grasped his arm anxiously. "Grant,
you will not tell? You promised!”
toric human times, I suppose.
who were invisible
— But mutants
He patted her hand soothingly. "I won’t
"It was their blood that made them so,” tell, Nura. Do you think I want you hailed
Nura affirmed. "Our blood is different from as a freak, mobbed by curiosity-seekers?
the blood of the Others. We know that is Your people’s secret is safe.”
true.” She became happy in that assurance.
Grant started. "So that’s it! I thought And during the next days, as her ankle
your blood was weirdly different when I slowly healed, she felt no pang of home-
tested a drop from your wound. It was sickness.
radioactive blood.” She knew the Shadow Folk must be mys-
tified by her disappearance, that her father
E REFLECTED aloud. "That w as the r
and the others would be terribly worried.
mutation, humans with the power to That was the only cloud upon her happi-
assimilate radioactive matter into the blood. ness.
The chemical contagion would pervade the Grant too was happy. He told himself
whole body with its and cause a polar-
force, that it was a crazy kind of happiness, that
ization of every cell and atom to the point he was insane to fall in love as he was do-
of perfect transparency.” ing with this shy, sweet girl whom he could
Nura did not understand his speculations. not see.
She went on with her tale. "The Others to One evening, sitting beside her, he made
whom the invisible ones were born did not an impulsive request. "Nura, I want to
 THE SHADOW FOLK 13

know what you really look like. Will you will find me sooner or later. You must
let me?” let me go back to them."
He had
put his hands to her face. His "Let you go? No!” he declared. "If we
fingers, the sensitive fingers
of a surgeon, go back to my own
can’t stay here, then we’ll
explored her clear features. home in the city.”
"Why, you’re beautiful, Nura! Or you She said hopelessly, "You know that I
would could see you.”
be, if I cannot. How can I live among the Others?”
His hands lingered. He suddenly bent "I have an idea, Nura,” he replied. "You
forward and kissed her. It was strangely, wait and see.”
uncannily sweet, kissing the soft, parted lips
he could not see.
Nura gasped. For a moment she strug- THE old trapper from
rented the cabin came back the next
whom he had

gled. Then he felt the shy returning pres- day. Nura remained silent and unseen in a
sure of her lips. corner while Grant gave the man a list of
"Nura
mered.
—good Lord, I love you!” he stam- the things he wanted.
"My wife going to join me here,” he
is

She sobbed suddenly. "It is impossible. I explained. "She’ll need those things.”
belong to the Shadow folk, you to the The old fellow went away. He returned
Others.” two days later with the things that Grant
"And that makes not a spark of differ- had ordered.
ence!” he asserted, tightening his arms Nura looked at them puzzledly. There
around her. were a dress, shoes, stockings, and a number
He decided. "We can stay here together. of small bottles and jars.
I won’t go back to the city.” "Nura, would you mind if you had to be
For a week, they knew unalloyed happi- he asked her earn-
visible like us Others?”
ness. But the end of that happy period estly. "If it meant we could stay together?”
came swiftly. "I would not mind then,” she said won-
deringly. "But how could you do that?”

NURA looked forth from the

the cabin one morning to see a glassy,
semi-transparent figure crossing the trail
window of Grant’s plan was simple. He had her put
on the
When
dress, the opaque stockings, the shoes.
this was done, she looked weirdly
outside. It was Khar. And she knew from like a headless, armless woman.
his bearing that he was searching for her. He used smooth cosmetic cream on her
She clutched Grant’s arm. "My people are face and arms and hands, and over it put
still searching for me! One of them is out flesh-tinted powder and lipstick. The white
there now!” tooth-paint used in motion-picture make-up
He stared from the window. He could made her fine teeth visible. A dark stain
see nothing, and said so. for her hair made that also visible as a
"Of course you cannot see him,” she black, glossy mass.
whispered. "But he is there. He is looking Dark glasses to hide Nura’s eyes, which
—
along the valley. Wait now he is going!” could not otherwise be changed, completed
Grant felt an uncanny chill. There had the make-up. She looked like any normal,
been something terrifying about the visita- visible girl.
tion. But he tried to soothe her fears. "Nura, to all appearances you’re one of
"They’ll give up the search. And even the Others now,” he said. "Can you stand
if they do find you, couldn’t you explain it for a while?”

about us?” She smiled. "I don’t mind it. And now
"No!” Horror was in her voice. "They you will be able to see me, Grant.”
would kill you for knowing about them, He kissed her. “We’ll leave tomorrow.”
Grant.” They started the next morning, riding
"But nobody can see you down
—
way ” he began, and then remembered.
to find you, any- the
had brought.
trail on the horses
A mile down
that the trapper
the trail, Nura
"The Shadow Folk can see me, as easily as received a shock as they rounded a curve.
I see them. If I stay here with you, they Khar and Skuro were coming up the
14 WEIRD TALES
trail! The twohunters, completely invisible pretty bride in dark glasses was really one
to Grant, instantly darted to the side of the of the Shadow Folk?
trailand waited there silent and motionless Nura was happy in the little house. The
for the Others to pass. nearness of Grant compensated for the
After they had ridden by, Nura was trem- strangeness of everything else.
bling with apprehension. To Khar’s eyes, "You’re sure that you won’t ever want to
she surely must have looked only like a girl go back to your own people?” he asked her
of the Others. But if he bad recognized earnestly.
her She shook her head. "I want to stay with
For her she could not help looking
life, you always. I do not want them to take me
nervously back at them. Khar and Skuro away from you.”
were staring after them. And she saw Khar Grant smiled at that recurring fear. "They
start in excitement, and run forward as he will never find you, Nura.”
perceived her looking back at him. He
too was happy as he had never been
Too late, Nura realized her mistake. By before. Her warmth and love and laugh-
looking back at them, she had shown that ter seemed to have washed his mind dean
she was aware of their presence —
and only of those dark years of war and loneliness
one of the Shadow Folk could see them. She thathad driven him for refuge to the moun-
had betrayed herself. tains.
"Grant, ride faster!” she cried wildly, and fie mused, many times, on the thunderous
spurred the horse. sensation that would be created if he dis-
The two mounts clattered down the steep closed the existence of the Shadow Folk and
trail. Khar and Skuro were soon left from showed Nura as a living proof. But he
sight behind. But when they reached the was never in the slightest tempted to astound
lowlands two hours later, Nura was still the world by doing so. He knew it would
trembling. mean the end of their secret happiness
"They knew it was me, Grant! I know and he had promised her that he would not.
they did, when they saw me look back at But one day, Grant was a little troubled
them. And they’ll follow us!” when he came home to the little house and
"There’s no chance of that,” he reassured she was not there. He called her name, but
her. "How could they follow all the way there was no answer. Then a hand out of
down to the city, and find us?” nothingness touched his face, and gay, de-
"The Shadow Folk can go through any lighted laughter rang in his ears.
city,”Nura answered frightenedly. "And "Nura, is that you?” he demanded, star-
though they almost never do, they will now tled. “You’ve taken off your make-up, made
because they think I have betrayed the secret yourself invisible again?”
of their existence to you. They will want "You are not angry, Grant?” coaxed her
to kill you before the world learns of them voice. Her invisible figure snuggled in his
from you.” arms. "It was only an impulse.”
He made light of her fears. More light She had, he learned, put on the invisible
than he felt, for that uncanny chill had re- leather tunic shehad brought with her from
turned to him when he learned how he had the mountains, and had wandered for hours
passed within arms’ reach of the hunters in the nearby park.
without seeing or suspecting them. "I wanted to feel like I used to, for a
little while,” she confessed.

W HEN they came down to the city below

the mountains,
Never had she dreamed
Nura was bewildered.
that there, were so
Grant was troubled. Later that evening,
when Nura had again become like the
Others, he reverted to it.
many of the Others, nor that they possessed "Nura, you’re sure that you’re not home-
such strange buildings and vehicles. sick for the mountains?” he pressed.
Grant took her to the little suburban house She answered frankly. "A little. I like
that had always before seemed to him an the free forest-wandering better than cities.
oppressively lonely place. They were mar- But do not worry. I will never leave you
ried at once, and who was to guess that the to go back there.”
 ” ” ” —

THE SHADOW FOLK 15

Grant was reassured. For he had always He thought wildly of telephoning the
a haunting fear of losing her, of being thrust police. And then he sickly realized the fu-
back into the black loneliness of the former tility of such a course. What could he tell

years. —
them 'that a band of invisible men were
In all, four weeks had fled by when the besieging his house? What could he show
sudden shadow of disaster came upon them. them?
On that afternoon, driving with Grant
LASS somewhere
through the crowded central part of the
city, Nura saw the Shadow Folk.
There were two of them, whom she re-
G shattered
of the house. He
that direction, his pistol raised.
started
in the back
on a run in

cognized as Lan and Skuro, standing just Heheard the thud of feet on the floor,
beside a crowded corner and eyeing the but the lighted dining room and kitchen
passing throngs. No one of the Others could were empty. Then Nura screamed.
see those two tall, spear-armed hunters, of "Khar, no!"
course. But to her, their figures were glassily Grant heard the rush of feet and heavy
visible. breathing, and threw himsdf desperately
"Grant, go from here quickly!” she cried. aside. He felt an unseen spear graze past his
He turned the car. And then she saw sleeve.
along the adjoining street there were other His hair bristled on his neck at the horror
of the Shadow Folk, other hunters search- of this hopeless battle against men he could
ing- not see. It was like a fight against ghosts
They were adroitly avoiding contact w ith
r
ghosts who could kill.
the passing Others who never dreamed of
their presence. She thought she recognized
Nura was crying wildly to him. "Grant,
get away! Quick, before they
—
Khar. She was cut off as unseen hands gripped
"And
"They
I fear they saw
will follow and find us
—
us,” she cried. her. Grant, springing to her rescue, caromed
into a solid, leather -clad body.
Grant’s chin set. "Even if they did, I He smashed out with his fists and bruised
wouldn’t let them take you away from me.” them against unseen flesh and bone. But
Nura’s voice had agony in it. "It is not other hands were gripping him from behind.
only that. They will surely kill you, Grant. He was held by the arms, and his wild
No Other may be killed unless he knows struggles were useless
of the Shadow Folk, and then he must die. Aman’s heavy voice rang out in com-
It is the law.” mand from the far side of the room. "Kill
She would not let him go out of the house the Other quickly.”
all that day or the next. She watched con- "Father, no!” screamed Nura. "If you
stantly from the windows. kill Grant, I will not go back with you. I
And that next night, looking out into the will take my own life!”
moonlit garden around the house, she ut- There was a pause of silence for a mo-
tered a frightened cry that brought him run- ment.
ning to her side. A spear-point was pricking Grant’s
"They have found us, Grant!” throat, and he knew that the man who held
He drew the pistol he had kept in his it stood directly in front of him, though the
pocket all day, and looked forth with her. electric light poured down on nothing. —
But he could see nothing but the moon- Old Nugor was speaking wrathfully to
lit lawn and trees, peaceful and silent. the girl. "Then you have fallen in love with
"Are you sure, Nura?” this Other?”
"There are several of them around the "He is my mate,” Nura flashed. "If he
house,” she said, terrified. "Listen, they are dies, then Itoo will die.”
no!” Grant exclaimed. "You
trying the door!”
Grant felt a cold apprehension make ice
"Nura,
can’t save me
—
around his heart. What could he do with She paid him no attention. She was speak-
any kind of a weapon against men he could ing to her father.
not see? "Father, I will go back with you to the
 ” ”

16 WEIRD TALES
tribe. But only if you leave Grant alive and seemed to hesitate. "No tricks. Other!’*
unharmed here.” warned the old chieftain’s voice. "You can-
cannot be!”
"It exclaimed Nugor’s not escape with Nura from this house.”
heavy, troubled voice. "The Other knows "I give you my word that I’m not going
of the Shadow Folk’s existence and so he to try,” Grant answered.
must die lest all the Others come to know. His sincerity convinced them. For they
It is the law.” released him and let him go with Nura into
"But he will not tell anyone else of us,” the small room that was his office.
Nura pleaded. "He promised me he would Nura came into his arms, warm, breath-
not,
had
and he has kept that promise. If he
would not the Others by now al-
told,
ing and invisible. She was sobbing.
"It is goodbye, then, Grant. I wish
—
ready have searched out our tribe?” "Not goodbye yet,” he interrupted tense-
"It seems that it is true he has not told,” ly. "Nura, I have an idea that may prevent
muttered Nugor. our separation. If it succeeds, we can be to-
The strong voice of Khar, from directly gether always. But if it fails, it means
in front of Grant, asked, "Shall I kill?” death.”
Nugor’s answer was slow. "No, do not Her unseen hands gripped his arms. "I
kill.We leave the Other here alive if he will try anything, Grant! I am not afraid of
swears never to speak of the Shadow Folk death.”
and never to come back to the mountains.” He had not told her that it was bis death,
Grant burst out furiously. "If you take not hers, that would result if his wild
Nura with you, I’m coming after her.” hypothesis was a failure.
"Grant, do not say that!” begged the girl. Feverishly, Grant rummaged among his
"It would mean death if you came.” medical equipment, rapidly assembling in-
Her voice had a heartbroken quality as struments.
she went on. "It is as I feared from the be- "Lie down upon this table beside the
ginning. You are of the Others, I of the couch, Nura. Let me have your arm.”
Shadow Folk. Our happiness could not en- The invisibility of her made what he was
dure.” attempting a difficulttask. But the fingers of
Grant felt a despair that choked him. It a surgeon work as much by touch as by
seemed to him that all the new light and sight.Grant deftly made the incision he
warmth in his life was going out like a needed in the girl’s unseen arm.
snuffed candle with Nura’s departure. He made a similar incision in his own
Ahead of him stretched a sick vista of lonely flesh.
years. The clamps and tubes and pump went
into place, connecting the incisions. He
H WOULDN’T let her be taken from
E
him! The fierce resolve unleashed in
his mind an idea upon which he had often
started his apparatus.
"Grant, what are you doing?” came her
startled question.
speculated. He saw it now as the only pos- "Nura, it’s the radioactive quality of your
sible solution of his tragic dilemma. blood that makes you Shadow Folk trans-
Nura had been removing the make-up parent and invisible,” he said tautly. "I’m
and clothing that made her look like one of sure of that, for even a tinge of it enabled
the Others. She had put on her own former you to make the dye that renders any or-
leather garment, had become wholly invis- ganic matter as invisible as yourself.
ible again. "I believe,” he said, "that a transfusion
"It is well —you
Shadow Folk,” approved Nugor’s
are once again of the
voice.
of your blood will introduce the radioactive
contagion into my bloodstream also. And if
“Now let us go.” it succeeds in doing so, I will become like
"Wait!” Grant begged. "Nura, ask them you.”
if they won’t give you a little time alone "You will become one of the Shadow
me before they take you. Tell them Folk?” cried the girl. She was dazed. "You,
with
is to say goodbye.”
it

an Other
—
When Nugcr and the others heard, they He smiled haggardly at her. "The differ-
 —

THE SHADOW FOLK 17

ence between us, the barrier between us, wiil "The Other —he has become one of the
be gone forever if it succeeds.” Shadow Folk!” cried Khar.
He did not tell her of the risk it meant. Grant nodded. "I am going back with
The strange blood might kill him instantly. —
you and Nura.”
Or its radioactive content, as he hoped,
might cause it to so transcend the ordinary UNSET gilded the mountain trails as
rules of blood-group affinities, that his wild S Shadow Folks climbed a steep
the six
attempt would succeed. pathway. Far above and ahead of them
He felt a rapid, growing sickness as loomed the high peaks that were their goal.
Nura’s blood flowed into his veins. By the The plain and its cities was receding
time he was ready to stop the transfusion, below.
he was so shaken and sick that he could Grant walked with his arm around Nura.
hardly remove the clamps and tubes. He was wearing his own clothing, which the
"You are still the same, Grant,” came dye of the tribe had made as invisible as his
her fearful voice. body. He was very happy.
He tried to answer, but could not. His From Khar, in the lead, came a whisper
veins seemed to be on fire, his brain explod- of warning. "Other’s are coming.”
ing, as the radioactive contagion spread like They stepped to the side of the trail and
flame through every cell of his blood and stood quietly as the Others came down,
body. noisily chattering. There were a dozen of
It was to 'be death, then? Well, better them, hikers returning from a tramp in the
death than the long loneliness and despair foothills.
"Grant, you are jading!” came the girl’s They went past within a yard of the six
awed voice. silent Shadow Folk, looking through them
He head weakly, looked down
raised his unseeingly. When their voices had died
at himself. He felt an incredulous wonder. away, Khar nodded.
His hands were becoming slowly semi- "Now we can go on.”
transparent, glassy, phantom-like. Already Grant remained a moment, looking back
he could vaguely see the sides of the room down to the plain upon which the white
through them. towns and the distant city glittered »n the
He turned, in wild joy. And he discov- sunset.
ered that as his own body
faded from solid- "You are not sorry to be leaving your
ity, he was increasingly able to see Nura’s people?” Nura asked him anxiously.
hitherto invisible face and figure. The radio- He smiled, and shook his head. "I had
active contagion was sensitivizing his eye- no ties to hold me there. And I am glad to
retinas too, as he had hoped. be one of the Shadow Folk.”
Transparent, shadow-like, still he could Nura was eager. "You have the wisdom
see her. He stumbled weakly to her side and of the Others, and you can help my people
held her in his arms. very much. Yes, you will be chieftain of us
By the time Grant and the girl came out all some day.”
of the little room, the process was com- Grant too had had that vision, of the aid
plete. He felt no further ill effects. His body his skill and knowledge could bring to this
was completely invisible. shy and secret people. With Nura’s warm
And he could now see Nugor and Khar hand in his, he went up with the other
and the other two men who waited. They Shadow Folks into the gathering twilight,
stared at him wildly. and he did not again look back.

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Vhee r ong Still Streets of Evening

EFORE ringing the doorbell of the and rather good-looking. Handsome would

B *
house on the Avenue, Ives
great
Cranston gazed furtively about him.
The street was almost deserted although the
evening was still young. Gay automobiles
be too strong a word but he was not -unat-
tractive.
Again he gazed
the street.
furtively up and down
Then he shrugged his shoulders.
hummed past and occasional buses lum- Evidently he had arrived at some sort of a
bered down toward the Square. Across the decision, for he rang the bell. It boomed
street was Central Park like a peaceful green out sonorously through the rooms as though
carpet spread out in the throbbing turmoil searching for the dwellers hidden beyond
of the city. those massive walls.
Ives Cranston was fastidiously dressed, Almost immediately the door was opened
not flashily but in perfect taste. He was tall by a Chinese servant who was attired in

Heading by A. R. TILBURNE

jewels are like people, no two are alike—no two have the same secrets

18
 THE LONG STILL STREETS OF EVENING 19

Occidental formal evening dress. He bowed down in them, asthough at the command
low as he bade the visitor to enter. of his will they had been banked, leaving
A suggestion of burning pungent incense them sombre and brooding. He was fault-
made fragrant the great halls. lessly attired in a Tuxedo suit. His hands
"I believe the Honorable Chang Kien is were thin and expressive. On one finger he
expecting me,” began Cranston. wore an amethyst which glowed like a
"My master is in the library,” was the purple sunset. In his own country he was a
reply. powerful mandarin.
"Will you acquaint him with the fact that After greetings had been exchanged,
Ives Cranston of Chicago awaits the pleasure Chang Kien motioned his guest to be seated.
of an interview?” "I was just drinking a cup of pearl-orchid
"My master has instructed me to lead you scented tea,” he said, "perhaps you might
into his presence at once.” The man al- care to join me. There is no more charming
though undoubtedly Chinese spoke as easily method of binding friendship than for com-
and as fluently as though he were native- panions to quaff tea together.”
born. As he spoke he poured out a tiny cupful
He led the way down a wide spacious of the amber fluid.
hall, a hall carpeted in velvet and dimly "Small though the cup is,” he mused,
lighted by iridescent yellow-orange lamps. "the strength it contains is vast.”
At the end of the was a doorway hid-
hall Ives Cranston lifted the fragile cup to his
den by soft rich curtains. The servant, whose lips and sipped the tea. It was odd, slightly
name was Shung Kung, held the draperies sweet in taste but not unpleasant. As
aside as Ives Cranston entered. The room Cranston slowly consumed the beverage
in which he now found himself was very Chang Kien plunged into a discussion of
long and very wide. At one end was a literature which was distinctly charming.
massive open fireplace, a fireplace so huge His enunciation was perfect and the tone
that it seemed capable of holding a trunk of his voice was like rare music. He talked
of an entire tree at one time. There was no of the charm of single words, of groups of
fire burning although a great log lay upon words and tiny verses and quoted snatches
the irons ready to be consumed by the flames of songs from old Chinese poets.
whenever necessity demanded. The room
was cozy and comfortable, there were many The wind blows. The inn is filled with
books spread about on the tables and also the scent of willow flowers.
many lamps. Near every chair there was
a lamp and near every lamp there were a She sits all night by the cold lamp until
quantity of books. Scattered about the room the moon melts into the dawn.
were vases with flowers, wistaria,
filled
roses, carnations and sweet jasmine, whose The sages and worthies of old times
fragrance hung like a caress on the air. Have left not a sound,
Chank Kien sat in a great armchair be- Only those who drank
fore the fireplace. He rose as Ives Cranston Have achieved lasting fame.
entered. Cranston reflected that he had
seldom seen a man so handsome despite So he quoted on and on, bits of verse,
his evident Mongolian extraction. His face broken bits of sentences that aroused pleas-
although it had a yellow-olive cast, was urable thoughts within him. At first Ives
almost white. His lips were well-formed, Cranston was delighted with his drolleries
well-formed also was his aquiline nose but as the hours passed he commenced to
but it was his splendid eyes that were his grow uneasy.
chief attraction. They were dark, as dark Finally, when for a moment his host
as night shadows but they were more bril- lapsed into silence, he said abruptly, "I
liant than crystals in sunlight. They were could listen to you endlessly were it not for
extremely expressive, reflecting his every the fact that I am pressed for time. Litera-
mood except when he did not wish his ture has always appealed to me, and poetry
thoughts to be known. Then the fires died I have always adored. But I have come all
 — — —

20 WEIRD TALES
the way from Chicago to behold the Gobi to it. The expression of his face was like
Diamond which you have advertised for sale that of one hypnotized.
throughout the country. Legends about it Chang Kien gazed at him and smiled. It
are cropping up everywhere, even in the was foolish to go into such ecstasies over a
wind that blows through the wheatlands.” jewel. Now a perfect quatrain or an unpub-
Chang Kien rose to his feet. He was all lished poem by the immortal Li T’ai-Po
apologies. "Forgive me for forgetting your would be something quite different. But a
purpose here,” he said, "but when my mind jewel that contained no music.
is plunged in literature it is as though I walk He was interrupted in his musings by
in a sweet dream. Lovely words are jewels the voice of Ives Cranston. Chang Kien was
more gorgeous than any precious stone. They a manof moods. His mind w'as like the
enthrall me far more greatly. A stone de- sky, ever-changing, ever-charming. But his
lights the material eye, gorgeous words ap- opinions varied upon occasion. At the mo-
peal to the spiritual.” ment his mind was filled with wondrous
As he spoke he crossed the room to a poetry. At other times art and prose held
which is customarily
wall-safe, a simple affair him equally enthralled.
builded into the better-class houses. In a "What is the price of this Jewel?” asked
few moments he returned with a red velvet Cranston hoarsely.
box. "How can one put a price on perfection?”
Without a word he drew from it an replied Chang Kien quizzically. "In all the
enormous diamond which he placed upon world there is no other stone exactly iden-
the table before him where the electric lamps tical to that. Jewels are like people. No
gleamed upon it, causing it to flash and two are alike. Pearls, for instance, can be
scintillate with a wondrous fire. It was matched as to size and color and fire, but
blue-white like moonlight sparkling on a they are not duplicates any more than are
blue lake. two men of similar appearance. I do not
Ives Cranston gasped. He took a step say that this is the most marvelous diamond
forward. His face was flushed. It seemed in the world, but such as it is, there is no
hard for him to breathe as though he were other to absolutely match it.”
suffocated by its magnificence. His hands
trembled. They fluttered nervously about VES CRANSTON seemed surprised. "You
the diamond, afraid to touch it, yet caught I adveritsed the gem for sale,” he said.
in the web of its witchery. "Throughout the length and breadth of the
"Examine suggested Chang Kien,
it,” country strange tales and legends are being
"you can better then judge of its perfec- circulated about it. Its fame could not be
tion.” He was perfectly composed. Once greater if you employed a press-agent. Yet
more he seated himself in the great arm- now you refuse to set a price upon it.”
chair. He sipped languidly at his tea. He Chang Kien smiled. "I advertised it in
paid little diamond. He
attention to the twelve leading cities,” he explained. "An
thought of the written picture of Ho Shao- art treasure of this sort cannot be disposed
Ghi: of by confining oneself to a single locality.
I have had a constant stream of collectors

The single butterfly comes to view it. Some have come all the way
Goes from the Pacific Coast.”
Comes "If you refuse to put a price upon the
Returning as though urged by love. diamond,” persisted Cranston, "how do you
expect to sell it?”
The tea in. his cup was cold, so he took "Merely by bids,” was the reply. "If you
a fresh cup and filled it from the pot that care you may give the matter thought and
had been singing softly, kept warm by an mail me a bid. If it is satisfactory I shall
alcohol lamp. reply. If not, the interlude will be over. I
And now Ives Cranston held the glowing sometimes wonder after all whether I would
blue diamond in his hands. He caressed it not 'be disappointed if I succeeded in find-
as though it were alive. He crooned softly ing a purchaser.”
 THE LONG STILL STREETS OF EVENING 21

Long after Cranston had departed, Chang of his life had been spent in desert places.
Kien sat alone in the great room upstairs in He knew that his faithful valet, Shung
which he slept. It was a room of austere Kung had retired. They had come upstairs
simplicity, all the draperies were of purple together. Shung Kung w'as more than a
and dark blue. There were a few chairs servant. He was a trusted companion, a
scattered about, a great bed and an enormous friend. His faithfulness had been tested
with books. Chang
library table well stacked time and time again. He was the partner in
Kien considered that a house only was cozily all his master’s numerous enterprises.
furnished when there were books in every Chang Kien listened, every nerve tense.
room. He switched off the electric lights There was scarcely any sound but still he
and seated himself in a comfortable arm- knew that someone had stealthily entered
chair. Lazily he lighted a cigarette. It was the house. Slowly, cautiously he rose to his
the hour of the day which he enjoyed most. feet. He was no longer smoking. Elis
Each night he sat alone in the darkness cigarette had long since been consumed. And
before retiring. He liked to review the he was glad. The faint aroma on the air
events of the day. Usually they were worth might be perceptible to a keen sense even
musing over. His existence had always been above the pungent fragrance of the incense.
rather venturesome and exciting. He loved Fortunately the door of his room was still
to study faces. He thought of the people open, so there was no danger of its creak-
who had recently visited his house to view ing. He slipped off his slippers. Barefooted
the diamond. They had come from all walks he crept stealthily out into the hall. He
of life, all and conditions of men and
sorts was unarmed, nor did he make any attempt
several women, enough material for a hun- to secure a weapon. Step by step he crept
dred dramas. He thought of Gray Anthony down the stairs. They were carpeted in rich
and of Ives Cranston. There could be no velvet, heavily padded. Even had he worn
doubt that they knew each other. At least shoes his footfalls could not have been
Cranston knew Anthony, and yet he had heard. At last he arrived at the library door
denied it. Odd. But then Chang Kien had and peered eagerly within, taking every pre-
lived in China, in the Gobi Desert where caution not to be seen. Before the w all
r
safe
strange, unbelievable things frequently hap- was Ives Cranston. He had opened the safe
pen. He had schooled himself to be sur- and was just drawing the diamond from
prised, to be shocked at nothing. On the it as Chang Kien beheld him. He carried
other hand he trusted no man. How many no light for the moon was at the full. It
friends he had he neither knew nor cared. flooded the room in a soft, silver}' radiance,
His sole consideration was the exact number at least that partof the room that held the
of his enemies. That was a problem worthy wall-safe. It was
as though the very perfec-
of reflection. tion of the night had decided to help in the
How long he remained sitting in the robbery. Chang Kien watched Cranston only
chair he knew not. It was a moment of for a second. Then he made his way slowly
complete relaxation. He was off guard. He back upstairs to his room. There he found
was resting. If the mask slipped from his Shung Kung awaiting him. Shung whis-
face what did it matter? All of us wear pered to him softly as he entered. In a
masks. Expressions never reflect the true few brief words his master informed him
man. But they are as necessary as one’s of what he had perceived.
clothes to hide one’s nakedness. "Subterfuge,” he murmured, "is a ter-
He had been dozing but now he was rible thing.” Thus speaking, he sighed and
fully awake in an instant. He always slept lay down upon the bed.
like a soldier prepared for battle. The thing Meanwhile Ives Cranston had secured the
that aroused him was a feeling that some- diamond. He left through the open window
one was moving about dowmstairs. He did by which he had entered. He had found it
not know whether he had actually heard a unlatched when he arrived, so it was not
sound. Nor did he care. He had a sort of necessary to try to pick the door-lock. He
sixth sense that warned him of danger. Per- was jubilant. The gorgeous Gobi Diamond
haps it was purely natural, since many years was his at last. It was worth coming from
22 WEIRD TALES
Pittsburgh to secure. Of course, he had said secret of overcoming insomnia is never to
that he was from Chicago. It would never go to bed.”
do in an affair of this sort to give one’s real Ives Cranston sat in his corner. He was
fiome town. very dejected. How was he to rid himself
A
few moments later he was on the street of this garrulous old gentleman? He was
again. For safety’s sake he decided to cut probably mildly mad but harmless. At an-
through Central Park. Perhaps he could find other time he would have been amused by
a taxi. He had hoped to have a taxi waiting the old man’s prattle but not while he car-
for him. But at the last minute he had ried the wondrous Gobi Diamond in his
decided that to do so would be too risky. pocket. Not even Scheherazade herself could
As a rule he worked alone. No one had have interested him at that moment.
anything on him. In Pittsburgh he was He was in a quandary but abruptly he de-
known as a wealthy stockbroker. He was cided that he would be affable. The old man
well-respccted well-liked. His friends were was harmless. To insist on getting out of
numerous. They imagined he was extremely the taxi might create a scene. He was unable
rich and he was. After all is not a clever to gauge the exact degree of the old man’s
mind far greater in value than mere money? mania.
A taxi was ambling past. He hailed it. It "I wish to go to the Pennsylvania Depot,”
was fortunate that it was empty. He di- he said. "If you insist on going out of your
rected the chauffeur to drive him to the way to accommodate me, you may do so.”
Pennsylvania Depot. He had decided to take The old man called through the speaking-
the first train out of town no matter where tube to the chauffeur. He had hard work
it went. The main thing now was to get making himself understood.
away. After that he would hurry to Pitts- I guess,” he drawled, "you can’t get a
burgh as quickly as possible. Thus musing, license to be a chauffeur unless you are
he stepped into the taxi. To his consterna- slightly deaf. Anyway they all seem to be."
tion he discovered that it was not vacant. He drew a couple of cigars from his
He had made a frightful mistake. On this pocket. "Smoke?” he asked laconically.
one night of all nights when he wished to "These are excellent. A friend sent me them
avoid meeting anyone he had blundered into from Tampa. They are the only things from
a situation which necessitated quick think- Florida that aren’t over-rated.”
ing. The occupant of the cab was an old Mechanically
Ives Cranston took the
man, a rather tiny old man with bushy white proffered cigar.As he lighted it, he ad-
hair. Most of the time only his white hair mitted that excellence could not be de-
its
was visible but whenever they passed a street nied. Never had he smoked a cigar that was
lamp his jovial face loomed into view. more pungent to the taste. After all the
"Pardon me,” spluttered Ives Cranston. evening’s work was not ending in failure.
"I thought this taxi was empty.” Perhaps this was even a better way to get
The old man laughed heartily. "It prac- to the station than that which he had
tically is,” he chuckled, "for am as good
I planned. The little old gentleman sitting
as nobody. A garrulous old man whom no beside him, like an old jovial grandfather,
one takes seriously.” He arm of
seized the was the very best sort of a companion to di-
Cranston. “You must he went on
stay,” rect suspicionfrom him. He drew on his
quickly. His voice was "After mid-
decisive. cigar.It was surprising how rapidly it was
night all men are brothers, whether they be burning away. Within the cab it was de-
kings or thieves. At that time the long still lightfully comfortable. The chauffeur was
streets of evening take on a hush of magic. driving rather slowly as though he were
All honest folks are sleeping. Only million- drowsy. Cranston yawned. He was drowsy
aires, beggars and milkmen are prowling too. Time after time he yawned and once
about. Where do you wish to go? I’ll take he actually dozed. For a moment he forgot
you anywhere you say? If you wish I will where he was. This would never do. A
join you on a night’s adventure. I am cursed fortune depended on his keeping awake. Yet
with insomnia. For years it has clutched at the drowsiness persisted. His eyes kept clos-
my health. But now I have mastered it. The ing as though there were leaden weights on
 —

THE LONG STILL STREETS OF EVENING 23

the lids. A delightful feeling of content- room all But Cranston did not
smiles.
ment crept over him. If only he could sleep. smile. His tongue and lips grew dry, for
Sweet dreams beckoned. More than anything the figure that approached was that of
else in the world he desired sleep, that is Chang Kien.
more than anything but the Gobi Diamond. “I came quietly,” he said, "so that I
Surreptitiously he felt in his inner pocket would not disturb you if you were still sleep-
to see if the diamond were still there. He ing. He who arouses a guest is more of a
sighed with relief as his hand encountered scoundrel than he who destroys a wondrous
it. Now he could sleep, now he could rest. symphony. You must be hungry. I will
Even his memory was breaking away from order your breakfast to be served right
its moorings like a launch in a typhoon. He here.”
forgot everything, forgot his predicament, He walked across theroom and pressed
forgot the necessity to escape, forgot Chang a button in the wall. A few minutes later
Kien, yes, even the diamond itself. Tranquil Shung Kung appeared carrying a tray. On
sleep stole over him. The curtain of uncon- the tray were toast, a plate of cold chicken
sciousness softly descended. The thing
last and a pot of coffee.
he was conscious of was the calm even voice "For my own breakfast,” mused Chang
of the old man. "In the long still streets of Kien, "I always take tea but I am aware
evening anything and everything may that in this country coffee is given prefer-

happen.” ence. Eat and may you enjoy your break-

When Ives Cranston awakened he was fast. While you do so I will read a bit.”
lying in a soft bed in an attractive room. As he spoke he drew a slender volume
Tire sun streamed in through a stained glass from his pocket.
window. The room was not elaborately "This little book,” he continued, "is a his-
furnished but it was wonderfully restful. tory of the haikai form of poetry. It is
So quiet and peaceful it was, it urged one Japanese and although I prefer the poems
to slumber. He drew his hand across his of China, still I like to read the poetry of
eyes, striving to collect his memory. He other countries for comparative purposes.
felt remarkably well but all the happenings Chinese poetry is the oldest in the world. It
of the night preceding seemed like a dream. has mellowed like old wine with age. Japa-
Suddenly he thought of the Gobi Diamond. nese poetry is mostly imitative. Its roots

He sprang from the bed. He was extremely are buried in old China. Still there are

nervous as he took his coat from a chair and gems in the literature of Japan which are
felt in the inside pocket. After that he superb in their loveliness. What could be
breathed easier. He still had the diamond. more exquisite than:
He had no inkling as to where he was, nor
how he had gotten there. Although the "Thought I, the fallen flowers
room was serene he realized that his posi- Are returning to their branch;
tion was precarious to the extreme. Never- But lo! they were butterflies."
theless, he was able to think clearly.
He walked into the adjoining bathroom I think of all Japanese poems I like best the
and washed and brushed his hair. Then haikais of Matsuro Basho:
very deliberately he completed dressing. He
was in no hurry. In fact, he rather hesi- "I come weary,
tated to open the door that led from the In search of an inn
room. What lay behind it? It was a hard Ah! these wistaria flowers.”
question. Even after he had finished dress-
ing, he was loathe to leave. He sat down One would have to journey long to find
on a couch. The climax of this particular aught that exceeds them in perfection.”
adventure was upon him. Although Ives Cranston had no appetite,
Even as he thus reflected, the door opened he ate mechanically. He felt as though an
slowly. He gazed at it ominously until it unseen net was tightening about him. Chang
had opened wide. Then a man appeared Kien could not have been more cordial, but
upon the threshold. He advanced into the it was unnatural. Under the circumstances
 24 WEIRD TALES
he would have preferred him to show ex- You will perhaps pardon my bluntness but
treme anger. you have robbed my house. You have taken
At last he finished eating. The last drop from me a rare possession the Gobi Dia- —
of coffee had been consumed. He put down mond. Besides which you have given one
his cup and gazed questioningly at the face more jolt to my faith in human nature. I
of Chang Kien. But Chang was unper- could have you arrested.”
turbed. He continued reading: "Nothing of the sort,” declared Cranston.
"While it is true I am here in this room
"Between the hedges of two gardens you cannot prove that I have robbed you of
Floating, swaying, floating, anything. What proof is there that I took
A willow.” the Gobi Diamond? It would be your word
against mine. I am a citizen, a respected
Ives Cranston could stand the silence no member of society.”
longer. "Being a member of society can scarcely
"Would be presuming,” he asked coldly,
I be taken as a recommendation,” said Chang
"if I asked how I came to be here?” Kien. "As to proof, I saw you take the
Chang Kien laid aside his book. He diamond from the safe. So did the faith-
smiled. "As to that,” he said, "would I be ful, honest Shung Kung. The little old
presuming if I asked how the Gobi Dia- man with whom you rode about the city
mond came to be in the inner pocket of last evening is a famous and shrewd de-
your coat? We
will answer questions in tective. He brought you to this house. He
chronological order. Since the diamond dis- saw the Gobi Diamond in your pocket. He
appeared prior to your entrance into the knew that it belonged to me, for it was not
room, I do not think I am at fault in re- the first time he had seen it. I assure you I
questing some slight explanation.” am violating no trust when I say that the old
Ives Cranston seemed confused. What gentleman was employed to guard the dia-
answer could he give? It was bold-faced mond. Who shall find fault with him sim-
robbery and he had been caught. There ply because his methods of working are
was nothing to say and so he said nothing. slightly different to the established? I do
"You are guilty of sundry crimes,” not wish to spoil your day. The sun is far
mused Chang Kien. "To enter unlawfully too beautiful, the air too fresh. There is
the home of a man with whom you have poetry in the air. This morning I do believe
shaken hands in friendship is a grievous a lark was singing in my garden. Yet it

thing.” seems to me the evidence against you is very

"What are you going to do?” asked strong. I have no doubt that you are well
Cranston defiantly. thought of in Pittsburgh.”
"I scarcely know,” replied Chang Kien. "Who said I came from Pittsburgh?”
"Shall ring for more coffee or perhaps
I snapped Cranston.
you would prefer a cigarette? It has always "Pardon me if I presume,” was the reply.
seemed to me that the world would progress "I know you stated you were from Chicago.
if wars could be fought in gentlemanly However a gentleman from Chicago as a
fashion.” rule does not have his clothesmade in Pitts-
want nothing,” snapped Cranston.
"I burgh.Your hat too has a Pittsburgh label.
"That is the strangest request I have ever However it is of no consequence. It would be
had made to me,” drawled Chang Kien. quite possible, I imagine, for a man to be a
"Usually my acquaintances desire all sorts gentleman in either city. In my own country,
of favors and expensive extravagances. I I am respected. I trust I show no conceit
have often thought that a man must indeed when I state that my fame has spread
be fortunate to be able to afford many throughout the Gobi Desert. In my own
friends. Personally I prefer enemies. They country I am a magistrate. Countless are
are less expensiveand far more interesting the trials at which I have officiated. I rather
and diverting. So much for preliminaries. pride myself on my fairness. Justice to me
Now as to the matter in hand. There are is a divine thing. I am rather vain and for
several roads down which I might proceed. that reason I believe I will settle the present
 THE LONG STILL STREETS OF EVENING 25

case to my own You have caused

liking. evening waiting to share once more his taxi
me much worry. You have made me lose with him.
an entire night’s sleep. This rest is lost. I In less than half an hour Cranston was
shall never be able to reclaim it. If you back again. Now his expression was as calm
have any suggestions to make I will listen and serene as that of Chang Kien. He too
to them. But bear this in mind. You will was able to control his emotions. He was
not escape until the scales of justice have a born gambler, a good loser. He bowed
swung into balance. The law must take its down before genius that was greater than
course.” his own. He counted out the money.
Ives Cranston could not help admiring "It is all there,” he said slowly. "And
the suave manner of Chang Kien. He knew now since our business is over I suppose

that he had met defeat. He also realized you have no objection to my leaving.”
that if this affair ever became known he "None whatsoever,” smiled Chang Kien.
would lose all the prestige which for years "Whenever you are in New York I should
he had labored so carefully to build up. be charmed to have you visit me.”
"Let us say,” he suggested, "that for last Cranston was anxious to get away. He
night I simply rented the diamond. For its still had the Gobi Diamond. In the con-
use I am willing to pay. What do you think fusion Chang Kien seemed to have forgot-
about a thousand dollars?” ten it. As he walked toward the door, Chang
"Not much,” said Chang Kien curtly. Kien called after him.
"This is an affair which I detest being mixed "One moment,” he said. "You may keep
up in. To a great degree I feel that it is the Gobi Diamond. It is only paste. The
beneath me. You
cannot bargain with me. one you viewed last evening was real but
My price is ten thousand dollars. Nothing always before retiring I remove it from the
less. And permit me to say, all things con- wall safe and place therein a rather splendid
sidered, you are getting off rather cheaply.” imitation. The chance of being robbed, you
Ives Cranston gasped. "I have not that see, entered into my calculations.”
amount of money with me.” Long after Ives Cranston had gone Chang
'I am sure of that,” was the reply, "but Kien still sat in his library reading his
I think under the circumstances I will per- slender volume of haikais by Matsura Basho
mit you to leave the house to get it. You who of all the Japanese poets is the most
have an account in a New York bank not interesting.
far from this house. If you take a taxi it
will not take you long. I do not think that "The evening’s cold
you will endeavor to get away. You would Touches the pallid lily’s skin
not in any case. Even at this moment, a Before it touches me.”
taxi is waiting for you at the door.”
As Chang Kien spoke he led the way Not he had read the last verses did he
till

downstairs. lay the book aside. Even then he did so

"I will wait for you in the library,” he reluctantly.Now his mind was free, free to
said. "I shall read a bit more of Matsura muse over the happenings of the last few
Basho while I do so.” hours. The interlude had been amusing and
After Cranston had gone Chang Kien also lucrative. He admired the excellent
settled down in a great armchair. He would manner in which Ives Cranston had accepted
liked to have seen Cranston’s face when defeat. He was quite honorable enough to
he found the jovial old friend of the past be a member of polite society
We /^>
<2/ even Seas Are One
By ALLISON V. HARDING
R. JOHN OGILBY opened his
front door in answer to the insis-
tent ringing. Outside stood an
aged, agitated little woman.
"Why Mrs. Ives,” said the doctor in sur-
prise. you abroad.”
"It’s rather late to see
Captain, Doctor,” fluttered the
"It’s the
woman wringing her hands. "Please come
with me. He’s not right again.”
“What do you mean 'not right’?”
"He’s talking queer, Doctor, and he’s
sitting up in his room with a loaded pistol
on his lap rolling his eyes and carrying on
to scare the saints. I get so worried!” The

little old woman looked as though she was

about to burst into tears.
"Sometimes I tell myself I should stop
housekeeping, but Captain Tyler needs me.
At any rate, he needs somebody.” Her hands
waved helplessly in accompaniment to the
oft-repeated tale.
Dr. Ogilby put on his hat and coat and
went out the door with her.
"Of course you walked, Mrs. Ives?”
"Nary a person would stop to give me a
lift.Doctor.”
"Well, we’ll take my car to go back out.
It’sgetting dark and a two-mile walk would
keep us away from him just that much
longer. How is his rheumatism, Mrs. Ives?”
Her brow puckered as she followed him
into his little coupe.
is the least of my worries
"Praise us, that
with queer talking he’s doing.”
all this
they started off down a back road of
As
little Clarksville, the small New England
town was even then, at nine o’clock, ready-
ing itself for the night.
The yellow glow from the headlights
probed forward along the desolate lane that
led to Captain Tyler’s. Mrs. Ives w-as silent
now, fatigued by her walk into town. Dr.
Ogilby sorted over in his mind what he
knew about the old seafarer. What he knew

Heading by BORIS DOLGOV

Distance and time are nothing to a dead man with his death to revenge!
2a
f THE SEVEN SEAS ARE ONE 27

indeed! It was next to nothing. Precious want to help you. Now tell me what’s the
little! matter.”
The old man broke at that and his hands
rpYLER was an old sailor. He
had been fell slackly at his sides.
-L master of his own ship and lived two Dr. Ogilby tactfully removed the small
miles outside town in a little house, the rent derringer and placed it on the bureau. He
for which was covered by his monthly retire- noted that Tyler’s face was white and bore
ment stipend. Mrs. Ives, a reliable character signs of strain.
of the town who, with her kin, had made "Come now, get yourself over here and
serving others their profession, kept the old I’ll examine you.”

sailor’s home for him, cleaning and getting Tyler hobbled over to the bed and
an occasional meal. Dr. Ogilby was neces- stretched out, muttering all the while to
sary because of the attacks of rheumatism himself.
that the Captain was liable to develop at any "It’s good you came, Doctor,” he gasped.
time. "It’s good you came. There’s been a bad
Dr. Ogilby remembered the first time he wind blowing around here lately. Mean’s
had seen Tyler. He was impressed with the trouble. I can feel it, ye know. I think
bigness of the man, the frank brutality of he’s coming. That’s what I been saying to
his weatherbeaten face. myself all day. I been saying to myself,
*7 get these pains, Doc,” roared the old ’Captain watch out. . . . He’ll be back soon
ship’s master. "My legs and my back. They now’.”
get hurting something awful. You’ll fix "Who’s he?” asked the doctor curiously.
me up, eh?” But Tyler’s answer was an unintelligible
And Dr. Ogilby said he’d be glad to do muttering punctuated by some more oaths.
his best. He noted at the first examination
that physically the Captain was as strong as
an ox.
Dr. Ogilby pulled the nose of his little
A FTER satisfying himself that there
nothing of a physical nature wrong
with Tyler, Dr. Ogilby urged a strong seda-
was

car into the driveway and braked to a stop. tive on the old man and went softly out of
With Mrs. Ives bustling along ahead, the the room. Mrs. Ives was waiting impatiently
physician stepped into the house. downstairs.
"He’s upstairs,” said the housekeeper. "What do you make out of all this, Doc-
Dr. Ogilby nodded silently and started up tor?” she said eagerly.
the flight leading to the top floor. There "Well, he seems very upset about some-
was a roar from above. thing. He doesn’t complain about his rheu-
"Avast there, you seacook, I hear you matism though, and I find nothing else
coming!” wrong with him. I think he’ll sleep it off.
Mrs. Ives trotted up the steps back of the Nothing unusual’s happened lately, has it?”
doctor. "No,” said the housekeeper thoughtfully,
"You see, that’s what he was doing all "except—”
afternoon. He seems to think somebody's "Except what?” said the doctor.
after him.” "Oh, I don’t think there’s any connection,
Ogilby reached the top of the stairs. The but he has two closets up in his room. One,
old seamaster’s room was directly before he keeps locked all the time. I was cleaning
him, the door to it open. in his room yesterday and I tried the locked
Seated in an ancient rocker just inside door absent-mindedly. He was sitting in the
was Captain Tyler, his clothes disarranged, room and he started to curse. Well, you
a mad light in his eyes, and a derringer lying know how he goes on. After I went down-
on his knee. As the physician stepped to- stairs, he locked the door to his room and
ward him, the seafarer made a move to reach I couldn’t help hearing that he went to the
for his gun. His hand closed excitedly over closet and opened it. He’s done this before
the stock of his weapon and he exploded and it always seems to upset him. I hear
some curses. him grumbling and cursing and talking as if
"It’s only me, Captain Tyler,” hurried the actually to somebody.”
doctor. "You’re not feeling well I see. I "He probably keeps a bit of rum in there,’*
28 WEIRD TALES
said Ogilby wryly, "although I must admit nice, else why would an unimaginative and
there’s no trace tonight that he’s been drink- resourceful man like Shipmaster Tyler wait
ing. You don’t usually stay here all night, for him with a loaded pistol and a white,
do you Mrs. Ives?’’ haunted face?
The elderly woman shook her head.
"I think if you could though, it would be
better.He should sleep right through until THE next day when Dr. Ogilby
Captain Tyler was his old gruff, bluster-
called,

tomorrow and I have every anticipation that ing self with seemingly no remembrance of
he’ll be all right when he wakes up, but a the preceding day. He was hardly civil to
man of his age shouldn’t be completely Ogilby, and before the physician could say
alone —
when he’s so upset no matter what much, the Captain had headed off down to-
the cause. I wouldn’t mind telling him that ward the shore. Mrs. Ives reported nothing
I suggested you stay and I’m sure he'd pay unusual and Ogilby went away thinking that
you for your time.” all was well.
"Oh, it isn’t that at all, Doctor,” said But it was only a week later when Ogilby
Mrs. Ives hastily. "I don’t mind when a received another hurry call to come out to
poor soul is sick, but it’s kind of lonely out the Tyler cottage on the seacoast. This time
here and his strange talk today made me a messenger brought word, Mrs. Ives not
feel sort of creepy. There’s so much dark- wanting to leave the old man.
ness around this little cottage. It’s lonely. When the physician arrived, he found the
There’s woods all around us except the side housekeeper highly perturbed downstairs.
where the sea comes in. Oh, I’ve been here "He’s fired that gun off,” she expostulated.
a few nights, you know. One time, you re- "Gracious, but I think he’s right out of his
member, when he was very bad with rheu- head.”
“
matism.” ’Long as you’re all right, Mrs. Ives,"
The doctor nodded. said the doctor hurrying up the stairs.
"He’s not a very sociable old codger, I This time the door to Tyler’s room was
guess.” shut —
and locked, the doctor soon found
"All there is is the sound of the sea and out. He rapped sharply on the panel and
the wind.” Mrs. Ives shuddered. "Still if a hoarse guttural sound came from within.
you think I ought. ...” "Captain Tyler, it’s Dr. Ogilby!”
"I do,” said Dr. Ogilby. "And if you can, There was a curse and the sound of some
I’d feel better about it.” furniture knocked over.
He took two white pellets out of his bag. "Go away,” roared the old sailor.
"If he wakes up in the night and you hear "Now, now, Captain,” soothed Ogilby
him, give him these.” The doctor closed his from outside.“Please let me in. I’m sorry
black bag with a snap and headed toward you’re want to help you.”
ill. I
the car. Finally there was the sound of the lock
"I’ll drop by sometime tomorrow, Mrs. and Captain Tyler flung the door open. As
Ives.” the panel slid aside, Ogilby found himself
Then he was gone and the sound of his facing a pistol.
car finally receded into the distance, leaving "Put that thing down, man.”
only sighing wind and the sound of the Tyler still retained enough of his senses
nearby sea lapping at the sun-baked summer to recognize the doctor and allowed the
earth. pistol to be taken from his hand. Even so,
Mrs. Ives made very sure of the windows Captain Tyler stepped to the door and called
and doors of the cottage before she lay down downstairs to Mrs. Ives.
on the couch. Almost laughing at herself, “Ahoy below there! Keep a sharp eye out
she took the heavy poker from the fireplace for strangers. Keep things battened down!”
and placed it on a chair at her side. Then With that he closed the door, locked it,
with the light off, she tried to relax, staring and turned to Ogilby almost pathetically.
up at the ceiling and wondering about the "Didn’t see nobody around when you
old man upstairs who had kept insisting that came, did you, Doc?”
"he” was coming. The housekeeper thought The physician shook his head.
with a chill that "he” was probably not very “But why, Captain? Tell me what’s It all
 THE SEVEN SEAS ARE ONE 29

about. Do you have reason to believe some- staving off the effects of his near drowning.
body wants to make trouble for you?’' After getting him in bed and giving the
TTie old sailor smiled at that. proper medications, Ogilby went downstairs
"Trouble you say, Doc? Well now, I where a tall gangling lad of about seventeen
wouldn’t say quite trouble. He means to was waiting with Mrs. Ives.
kill me.” "How is he, Doctor?” said the house-
"What!” said Dr. Ogilby, shocked. "Who keeper.
is this person? And why do you think he’s "Oh, he’ll be all right,” said Ogilby.
after you?” "He’s got tremendous strength, you know.
With that the bulky figure turned away. How did this business happen?”
"Reckon it’s nobody’s business but mine.” Mrs. Ives spread her arms wide. "It was
"But Captain, is it one of the people in Harley here who found him.”
Clarksville?” The medical man turned to the young
But Tyler shrugged and would say no lad. "What happened?”
more. The boy was still upset by his experience
"Think he’s a mite touched, Doctor?” and his words came haltingly.
said Mrs. Ives later downstairs. "You see ... I was walking down by the
Ogilby frowned. "It’s hard to pass judg- coast. I got some lines set off shore and I
ment on a thing like that. He acts perfectly was checking them when I came up to the
normal most of the time?” little beach on the Captain’s property and I
"Oh, he treats me fine,” answered Mrs. saw him walking along waving his hands
Ives hastily. "Paysme well, he does. Treats and talking as though somebody else were
me kind. Short and irritable sometimes, you there with him. Naturally I watched. He
understand. But he’s a reasonable gentle- started walking away from the water toward
man, I always say. Of course he swears, but his cottage . then all of a sudden his
. .

menfolks .do that, especially sailors.” hands come out like somebody was about to
"He’s got no people, has he?” mused the wrestle or fight. Honest, it looked as though
physician. he was about to fight with somebody. And
"Not so far as I’ve been able to find out,” then he goes staggering down the beach
replied the housekeeper definitely. like he was drunk or somebody’s pushed
"Well,” the medical man concluded, "at him, and in a twink he’s in the water up
least his rheumatism isn’t bothering him to his shoulders, clothes and all.
much these days. By the way, you haven’t "Then I see him go under, only he doesn’t
been able to find out who this person is he come up again. Naturally I don’t like to
thinks wants to harm him?” interefere in the beginning, but when I see
"No,” said Mrs. Ives. Then as an after- this, I think he’s in some trouble so I run
thought, "Maybe he’s possessed.” as fast as I can out there and go in after him
Ogilby smiled. "Well, Mrs. Ives, if the and pull him up on the beach. He weren’t
Captain needs me, just get in touch any in very long, but long enough to get a lot
time.” of water into him and it’s coming out of his
mouth and nose. He was unconscious so I

THE days
Captain needed Dr. Ogilby just three
later.
yelled and finally Mrs. Ives heard me and
came down. She took one look and said,
'He’s dead’ and I got thinking first maybe
"He’s dead!” screamed Mrs. Ives over a
neighbor’s telephone to the physician. "He he was. He looked so cold and so white. But
drowned himself out there on the shore. I did like we were taught in the Scouts.”

Lord ’a mercy, we never would’ve found The boy made pushing movements with
him if it hadn’t been for the neighbor’s his two hands.
"
boy. Least I think he’s dead.” Pause. "Oh, ’Course at first even if you think the
Doctor, hurrry, hurry! They say he’s got guy’s dead, you should work on him.”
some warmth in him yet.” Dr. Ogilby nodded in approval and
Ogilby raced out in his car and found slapped the boy on the shoulder.
Captain Tyler an unconscious cold white "Between us, we dragged him up to the
form. His heart was still beating though, house and then Mrs. Ives ran over to my
and the old sailor’s iron constitution was place and called you. Then he got to
30 WEIRD TALES
breathing a bit
all right.”
on his own. I’m glad he’s
—
Ogilby shook his head impatiently. "If
you don’t care to tell me ’’ he started.
"You did fine, Harley,” commended the The Captain rolled eyes dilated with fear
doctor. toward him.
The boy enjoyed the praise but then "Sure I’ll tell you, Doc. A tale that’ll
looked worried. "There was something aw- make your hair stand on end, and it’s true,
ful funny about the way he carried on, bless me, every word of it.”
though.” Ogilby laid a soothing hand against his
Mrs. Ives frowned. patient’s shoulder.
"When you’re the Captain's age, maybe "Now, take it easy, Tyler,” he said. "You
you'll take a couple of drinks sometimes. went through an ordeal this afternoon.
Better be running along home, Harley. I’m Maybe this isn’t the time.”
going to tell your mother what a good smart "Maybe it is!” roared the old man and he
lad you are.” cursed vehemently for a few minutes, "then
The boy winked and grinningly departed. you can see the sort of weather I’m headed
"I don’t want it getting around that the into.”
Captain’s a crazy man,” said the housekeeper Ogilby saw that it would upset his patient
indignantly, "if only for my sake. I don't more to oppose him than to let him get the
want anybody to think I work for somebody yarn off his chest. Anyway, he felt a natural
possessed by demons.” curiosity.
"I’m going to go up and have another talk "All right, let’s have it.”
with him,” said the physician. "I think The ex-skipper dug his elbows into the
we’ve got to find out what’s preying on his bed and hitched himself a notch higher.
mind.” "It was on my last trip, Doc. We were
Mrs. Ives shrugged. "Sometimes it’s a coming back from South America with a
mistake to look into these things too closely, mixed cargo. My ship was poorly manned
Doctor. If there’s strange forces at work, that trip and I had a bad one for my first
if the Captain hears and sees things that we mate. He didn’t like me and I didn’t like
don’t, that’s the Almighty’s work and we him from the first day we sighted each other
don’t want to butt our way into it.” in Savannah Harbor that’s when he
. . .

"I’ll be very careful, Mrs. Ives, you may joined up with me.
be sure,” reassured the medical man head- "Weii, you don’t always like the men that
ing upstairs. serve under you and they don’t always like
you, but this time it was more than that. I

C APTAIN TYLER’S eyes followed Dr.

Ogilby across the room from door to
Drawing up a chair close by, the
think the fates meant us to hate each other,
sort of a foreshadow of what was going to
happen.
bedside.
physician seated himself, reached over and "At Montevideo we picked up a few
patted one of the sailor’s huge hairy paws. passengers, six of them were women. All
Some color had come back into his patient’s w'ent well until we were about three-quarters
face but the man’s eyes were feverish and of the way up the South American coast
troubled. when one of the worst storms I’ve ever seen
"Just what happened to you, Captain?” in that part of the world blew up. Still I

said Ogilby. w'ould have bet on the old Betsy Mae. that
The ex-seafarer bared his teeth in a ghoul- was her name, riding out almost anything,
ish grin. when we had to go and drop a screw. Then
"Aye, and don’t you know it’s him, Doc? the first mate went crazy and without orders
I knew he’d come back and he’s here. He from me, turned the Betsy Mae toward
almost got me today too, didn’t he?” where the coastline was fifty or sixty miles
"Now, man, you’ve got to stop this talk away. Before I could countermand his
about ’him,’ Who is he? If somebody's orders, we had taken the full weight of the
bothering you, let us know. There are laws sea across our beam and the Betsy Mae
against that sort of thing.” sprang a dozen leaks all at once.
"No laws, Doctor,” the old man wagged "Even as I cursed the mate and set the
his head. helmsman right, I knew from the way the
 THE SEVEN SEAS ARE ONE 31

old girl rode now was doomed.”

that she "Then he got a grip on the front of
fist

Captain Tyler wrung his giant hands to- my jacket. I cursed the strength of that
gether as though he were still standing on master’s coat I had always been so proud
the bridge that fateful night. of, cursed as he held on, his fingers hooked
"I had Sparks send out distress signals around a button and some of the cloth. One
but we found there was no ship within six of the women, with frenzied strength,
hours of us. I knew that in that heavy sea helped me wrench his one hand loose from
we stood only a slim chance in open boats the side, but it was I who struck him on
and rafts, but the mate on his own hook the head with all my His weight
strength.
began to ready the lifeboats. slumped back in the water almost pulling me
“I saw red then and I almost shot him overboard. Then there was a wrench and a
for insubordination. I could have, too. I ripping of cloth and I was free. The mate’s
warned him to wait until he got his orders other hand had torn loose from my jacket
from me. By this time, the Betsy Mae had and he went under. He sank right straight
a list of at least forty-five degrees and the down slowly. Straight as a statue he went
pumps were fighting a losing battle against as though there were a weight tied to his
the water pouring into' her hold. feet.
"Finally, I knew if we waited much "But all the time his eyes were open and
longer, we’d be carried down with the vessel, he stared at me. From under the water he
so I had the lifeboats that hadn’t been did, I tell you, and even after the rest of
wrecked by the storm lowered and rafts his body had gone out of sight, I could
thrown into the sea. Very few of us made see his eyes burning up at me out of the
it, but I jumped in and found my way to a water, his two eyes looking up at me and
small raft capable of holding five or six I knew what he was saying. I knew he was
people. Somehow, several of the women swearing revenge. I don’t know how long
were clustered aboard this raft. I kept seeing his eyes way down there burn-

ing up through the water. But I swear I did

«T WAS able to pick of the
another for hours.
I women out of the water although we "Finally the sea calmed and light showed
hardly had space for her. Every now and in the east. Not long afterward, we were
then we would be completely covered up as picked up. Everybody on the raft was very
waves and spray poured over us. So over- grateful to me and not one ever said any-
crowded we seemed on the verge of turning thing about the mate. They all knew it was
over into that boiling sea at any moment. him or all of us. But I kinda knew he meant
"Suddenly I felt our raft dip dangerously to follow me wherever I went.” Captain
and several of the women screamed. I Tyler shrugged in his bed.
looked down and saw a pair of hands "That was my last trip. It’s hard for a
clutching the side of the boat. One of the sailor to lose his ship on the last trip like
women started to moan. The others were that, but my record had always been very
crying. It seemed any moment our raft good and I was over the age limit. So I
would turn over and all of us plunged into came here. A
landlubber finally but as close
the sea. The swimmer, whoever he was, was to the sea as I could get. I’d die without
trying to hoist himself onto the raft and we the sea, Doc.” Tyler looked at Ogilby in-
could all see he would upset it. I knew the tently. "There, that’s the tale.”
other occupants could never have lasted in Ogilby hummed and then reasoned "But :

that sea again more than a few minutes. surely you don’t really believe that a dead
"Then I saw who he was. It was the mate man can come thousands of miles up here
there in the water snarling and gripping our to get revenge. I can see that you have that
raft and raising himself up on it. I yelled adventure clearly in your mind and that
at him over the sound of the storm and he naturally you feel remorseful about it. Still,
screamed back at me. And then instinctively as you’ve described it to me, you could have
I hit him. I smashed at his hands on the done nothing else that night. Come flow,
side of the raft. It was either him or all of man, you can t go on brooding about it. The
us. I knew it and the other people oa the experience, horrible as it was, can’t affect
raft knew it. you now.”
32 WEIRD TALES
At that Captain Tyler flew into a rage. "But he sure believes it awful hard,’*
"Why you idiot! I saw him, I tell you! I countered Mrs. Ives. "Let’s see, it was the
saw him sink right before me. His eyes hardware man’s son who was kind of crazy
were looking at me as he went down. He here a few years ago. He used to go around
was dead but he was still looking at me, with a shotgun. Never did anything bad but
his eyes shining up out of the water. He was sure scared a lot of folks out of their wits.
talking to me, he was, and I understood Them folks are hard to comprehend.”
what he said.” Ogilby dismissed this with a wave of his
Dr. Ogilby shook out some white tablets hand.
onto the bedtable. "It’s not like that, Mrs. Ives. Captain
"Now, Captain,” he soothed. "You’re Tyler has been through a lot of experiences
going to be all right. If you feel restless, at sea that make him, well, perhaps a little
just take one of these. I’m going to ask Mrs. different from us, and then his accident to-
Ives to stay in the house with you a few day would be upsetting to anybody. You do
nights, and if you need me, you can get the best you can and I’ll come back in a
her to go over to the neighbor’s and phone. day or so.”
I’m sure you’re going to be all right again. Typically, Captain Tyler was his old self
You realize how much better your rheu- again within twenty-four hours, holding off
matism’s been lately,” the physician added any and all questions regarding the previous
brightly. episode.
“Damn the rheumatism, man. I’ve got Mrs. Ives reported to Dr. Ogilby, how-
me something real to worry about this much more time
ever, that the sailor spent
time.” down at the seashore looking out at the
Ogilby started toward the door. ocean.
“You’ll see!” roared the Captain. "But "Kind of as though 'he’s waiting for
I’m aiming to fight.” something,’ ” she said ... "or somebody!”
"What can you fight, Captain?” said "He’s a sailor,” replied the medical man.
Ogilby pausing, his hand on die knob. "It follows that he’s fond of water. Too bad
they take a man like that off a boat and tie

CAPTAIN TYLER shook his shaggy head

and worry pushed his face into a grimace.
“I don’t know,” he said. "I guess I brought
him up to the shore. Still there’s a nice
pension,” he added as an afterthought.
The next few weeks of warm summer
it on myself and there’s not much I can do. weather passed quickly, when one night at
I know he’s here. When I first bunked into his office door, Ogilby was called upon by
this place, I thought it could be he wouldn’t Captain Tyler himself. The old man was
find me. But then one day I got the feeling. greatly petturbed. He had thinned a bit and
Doc, I got the feeling that he was here. I his face was drawn and shadowed.
get it from the sea, you understand. It “Dr. Ogilby,” he started hesitantly after
doesn’t make any difference that this place the greetings. "I’ve got to get out of Clarks-
is thousands of miles away from where the ville right away. You’re the only person I
Betsy Mde went down. What’s that to a know here excepting Mrs. Ives. I wondered
dead man?” and Captain Tyler threw back if you could help me to get rid of my little

his head and laughed. berth.”

"You take a couple of those pills,” called There was such pleading in the old man’s
Dr. Ogilby as he pulled open the door. eyes that the doctor at once offered to do all
"All right, my hearty,” said Tyler. he could to help him dispose of the house.
Downstairs, the physician spoke to Mr*. "What’s brought you to this decision
Ives. though, Captain? I thought you liked our
"He’s very upset. This thing has been a country.”
great shock to him.” "Well, I do and I don’t,” said Tyler.
“Did you find out anything more about "Anyway, I thought I’d go some place else
this person he thinks is after him?” said the and as quick as possible’.’
curious old woman. Dr. Ogilby decided to speak what was in
"He’s not very clear about all that,” his mind. "Is it because of that fellow you
evaded the doctor. think is after you?”
 THE SEVEN SEAS ARE ONE 33

F
voice
AR crowded across the old sailor’s face.
"Guess it is,” he answered in a low
studying his hands. "Don’t mind
some unseen underwater force
exorably pulling him out.
that was

Just before Ogilby cleared the last of the

in-

speaking up to you that I’m scared, Doc. I trees to run onto the beach, a scream came
lie there at night listening to the sea and I back to him. And then it was strangely
hear him outside splashing around waiting muffled as though from beneath the water.
for me, and then I get so I think I see those There "was also the sound of mad thrashing
eyes looking right through the wall at me. —
and splashing and then Ogilby was on the
He thinks he’s got me now. Maybe I did beach rushing toward where he had last seen
wrong that time years ago, but I can’t stand Captain Tyler, for the Captain was no more.
having him haunting me this way.” He had vanished completely. Ogilby stormed
Ogilby put a sympathetic arm around his up and down the beach for several minutes,
patient. then he rushed back calling at the top of his
"I’ll do all I can to help you,” said the lungs: "Mrs. Ives! Mrs. Ives!”
physician. After several tries, he got a response.
"When do you think we could get this "Come down here quickly and bring any-
settled?” Tyler pushed. body else you can get.”
"Well, of course it does take some time.” Ogilby strode back to the water’s edge
"If I could go away quick. ...” and peered out- over the now rippleless sur-
"A few days at the least it’ll take.” face. The tide was coming in. But there was
"Do the best you can, Doctor,” said the no indication of where Tyler had gone.
old seafarer. Should he wade out a ways? This question
The next day Ogilby made several in- was settled for Dr. Ogilby when suddenly
quiries It pleased him to find
around town. about two hundred yards off the beach,
that probably would be possible to take
it something black and loglike and motionless
over Captain Tyler’s little cottage within a quietly broke the surface of the water.
reasonably short time. Full of this news and Ogilby fought the terror that choked his
at the end of his calls early, he decided to throat. It was a human body floating out
head his coupe out toward the skipper’s there . face down!
. .

home. Reaching there, he alighted and

Y NOW, Mrs. Ives came gasping up and
walked into the house. Mrs. Ives was bak-
ing biscuits in the kitchen and didn’t know
where the Captain was.
B not far behind, the lanky form of Harley
with his father in tow, both panting. Ogilby
"He’s probably out taking one of his motioned out to the water mutely. Mrs. Ives’
walks,” she said."Most likely you’ll find near-sighted eyes nearly popped trying to
him down near the water.” make out what it was. Harley said, "Geeze,”
Dr. Ogilby thanked her and headed out- and Harley, Sr. gasped.
side. He picked his way carefully along a "Well, what’s this all about?” said the
well-defined trail that ran through some housekeeper irritably, but the tide was
pine trees toward the beach. Topping a slowly nudging the black rigid form closer.
small rise he came to a place where the Mrs. Ives gaped then. A few more minutes
trees were not so numerous. He was able to and the body bobbed and drifted its slow
look down on the water and the beach. Sure way up near the beach line. The men waded
enough, there was Captain Tyler but wait — in and tugged at the weight —the body was
a minute! There was something wrong! got up on the dry sand.
Ogilby’s thoughts ran back to the neighbor Dr. Ogilby felt for pulse but this time
boy, Harley’s story of a few weeks ago. The there was not the faintest flicker of life.
physician’s heart pounded and he broke into The face w’as frozen in a terrible mask of
a run coming off the little promontory and horror. The body was stiff and woodenlike.
starting through the rest of the wooded part The arms held rigid, huge fists clenched
for the beach. tightly.
For Tyler had been in sight all right, but "Give me a hand here,” muttered Ogilby,
where he had no right to be in water up — and the man and boy helped him tote the
to his waist and heading further out, strug- big body up to the house in dreary proces-
gling and splashing —
as though against sion.
34 WEIRD TALES
Ogilby hustled the others from the skip- spectacular. An old chest in the corner
per’s room, wanting to make a thorough which, when the lid was lifted, revealed
examination in private. Straightened out on nothing but some worthless trinkets, prob-
his own bed, Captain Tyler’s figure was ably of only sentimental value; a cutlass on
forlorn. There was no question about it. the floor, some colored blankets, picked up
The man had died of drowning. Dr. in some exotic port, and some old ship-
Ogilby was interested in the rigidity of the master’s equipment. Ogilby was about to
body. He tried to bend Tyler’s arms from leave when his eye was caught by some-
the elbow. The man’s features had been thing hanging in the corner. He moved
sealed as though by concrete and plaster, by closer. There was a skipper’s uniform, per-
a fear so great that it had changed his very haps of another decade, old but well kept
appearance. It was then and only then that and brushed, the buttons shiny. Then he
the physician noticed that there was some- leaned forward. There was a piece of cloth
thing in the left clenched fist. For some torn out of the front and the third button
minutes, he worked over the dead sailor, with it. The master’s jacket Tyler had worn
working and forcing the strong fingers on the Betsy Mae.
apart. Finally he succeeded in opening His hands shaking, Ogilby leaned for-
them. ward and looked at the rent closely for sev-
In the palm of Captain Tyler’s hand was eralmoments. Ogilby quit the closet then,
a lump of wetness almost like seaweed. locking the door carefully behind him. He
Without looking closely Ogilby absently replaced the keys and covered Captain Tyler.
dropped it into his own pocket. As he Then he crossed to the window of the little
brushed against the body, a jingling noise bedroom. He looked out, and below he
attracted his attention. Stopping to examine could see the water. The ways of the sea
it, methodically he went through the old were strange, he thought, taking no account
finding a huge ring
sailor’s pocket, finally of time and distance and even death.
with many jingling keys upon it. sudden A He felt into his pocket then and brought
thought occurred to the physician. He forth what he knew he would find. The
crossed to the forbidden closet that was wet clump of something that was old cloth
never opened and tried one after another of serge, with a rusted button in the center,
the keys. At last, one fitted. He slipped strangely preservedit was . and perfectly
. .

back the bolt and pulled at the knob. The matching that rip in the old master’s uni-
inside and contents of the closet were un- form hanging in the closet!

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 ! You’re Dead!
By RAY BRADBURY

= Wounds were fake, men lying there were playing, blood was only something like E
5 catsup —you didn’t get caught if you could duck like Johnny Choir

miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiinmiiiiiiiiiiiEiimimmiiiiiiiiiimiiHmiimmiiiiiiiimiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiii

OHNNY CHOIR came like the spring as some khaki kangaroo, forever hopping.
Iambs over the green Italian hills, gam- Bullets, mortar shells and shrapnel were

J boling at the game of war. He

a line of bullets as if it were the hedge
leaped only rumors in the air to Johnny.
were not true.
They

fronting his Iowa home. He ducked and He moved with long-legged strides near
dodged; a pedestrian in war traffic. Most San Vittore, froze, pointed his gun, fingered
of all, he laughed and was indefatigable the trigger, cried, "Bang! I gotcha!’’ and

Heading by A. R. TILBURNE
39
 36 WEIRD TALES
watched a German fall with a red orchid was certain. Johnny had probably been
pinned to one lapel. Then Johnny jigged dunked in holy water. Bullets detoured
again, to escape the answering machine-gun around him, not daring to touch. Yeah.
blast. That was it. Smith laughed musingly.
An artillery approached.
shell Johnny "What happens if you forget to duck,
twisted, crying, "Missed!” Johnny?”

"YOU— ”
It did. It missed, like always. Johnny replied, "I play dead.”
Private Smith followed in Johnny’s wake. said Smith, blinking, staring,
Only Smith traveled on his thin-muscled
stomach, face sweaty and juju’d with Italian
"
—you
slowly.
play dead. Uh-huh.” He exhaled
"Yeah. Sure. Okay.”
mud. Smith crawled, ran, fell, got up Johnny threw away the candy wrapper.
again, and never let those enemy bullets near "I been thinking. It’s almost my turn to
him. Frequently he yelled angrily at play dead, isn't it? Everybody’s done it,
Johnny: except me. It’s only fair I take my turn.

"Lie down, you dumb egg! They’ll gut Everybody’s been so decent about it, I think
you!” I’ll play dead today.”

But Johnny danced on to the metal music Smith found that his hands were shak-
of bullets like new, bright hummingbirds ing. His appetite was gone, too. "Now
on the air. While Smith crawled earth- what do you want to talk that way for?” he
wormwise taking each kilometer, Johnny argued.
catapulted toward the enemy, giggling. Tall "I’m tired,” said Johnny simply.
as the sky, loud as a bazooka gun! Smith "Take a nap, then. You’re the damned-
broke out a ration of cold sweat just watch- estone for snoozing. Take a nap.”
ing the kid. Johnny considered that with a pout. Then
Germans screamed and ran away from he arranged himself on the grass in the
Johnny. When they saw his limbs flour- shape of a fried shrimp. "All right, Private
ished in a kind of classical St. Vitus—while Smith. If you say so.”
bullets whistled under his ear-lobes, between Smith consulted his watch. "You got
his knees and betwixt thumb and forefinger twenty minutes. Snooze fast. We’ll be
— German morale disintegrated. They fled moving up as soon as the captain shows.
wildly! And we don't want him finding you asleep.”
Laughing heartily, Johnny Choir sat
down, pulled out a chocolate ration and
teethed on it, while Smith came inching up.
Johnny glimpsed the crawling figure’s ex-
BUT Johnny was already deep in soft
dreams.Smith looked at him with
wonder and envy. God, what a guy. Sleep-
posed rump, and inquired, "Smith?” ing in the middle of hell. Smith had to
The anonymous rump went down, a fa- stay, watching over him. It wouldn’t do
miliar thin face came up. "Yeah.” Firing to have some stray German sniping Johnny
had ceased in the area. They were alone while he couldn’t duck. Strangest damn
and safe. Smith wiped dirt from his chin. thing he ever knew. . . .

"Honest to God, I get the weemies watching A soldier ran heavily up, panting. "Hi,
you. You gallop around like, a kid in the Smith!”
rain. Only it's tne wrong kind of rain.” Smith recognized the soldier, uneasily.
"I’ll duck,” said Johnny, munching. "Oh, it’s you, Melter ...”
He had a big handsome face with blue "Somebody wounded?” Melter was big,
child eyes captured in innocent wonder in too, but off-center with his fat and too high
it, and small pink child
lips. His shorn and hoarse with his voice. "Oh, it’s Johnny
hair resembled blonde stubble of a
the Choir. Dead?”
clothes brush. Now immersed deeply in "Taking a nap.”
the enjoyment of candy, he had forgotten Melter gaped. "A nap? For cripes sake,
war. that infant! That moron!”
"I duck,” he explained again. Smith said, quietly, "Moron, hell. He
A
thousand times Smith’d heard that ex- justbrushed the Heinies off this rise with
cuse. It was too simple an explanation. one hand. I saw them throw a thousand
God had a hand in this somewhere, Smith rounds at Johnny, a thousand rounds, mind
 BANG! YOU’RE DEAD! 37

you, and Johnny slipped through it like a side of any hill we’re on! I don’t want you
knife through warm ribs.” running off at the mouth! Now, get the
Melter’s pink face looked worried. "What hell out of here!”
makes him tick, anyway?” Melter’s fat face was red as Italian vino.
Smith shrugged. “As far as I can figure, He held his gun hard. His fingers itched
he thinks this is all a game. He never grew the butt end of it. "It ain’t fair,” he re-
up. He’s got a big body with a kid’s mind plied tightly, hoarsely. "It ain’t fair to us
in if. He doesn’t take war serious. He that he gets by. It ain’t fair he lives while
thinks we’re all playing at this.” we die. What you expect, me to love him?
Melter swore. “Don’t I wish we were.” Ha! When I gotta die, he lives, so I
He eyed Johnny jealously. "I’ve watched should kiss him? I don’t work that way!”
him before, running like a fool, and he’s Melter strode off, his back stiff and work-
still alive. Him and that shimmy of his, ing funny, his neck like a ramrod, his fingers
and yelling, "Missed me!” like a kid, and tight fists, his strides short and jolting.
yelling "Gotcha!” when he shot a Heinie. Smith watched him. There I go with my
How do you explain that?” big mouth, he thought. I should have
Johnny turned in his sleep, and his lips stroked him nice. Now, maybe he tells the
fumbled with words. A couple came out, captain, and the captain turns Johnny over
soft, easy. "Mom! Hey, Mom! You ward for observation. Then
to the psychiatric
there? Mom? You there. Mom?” maybe they trundle him back to the States
Smith reached over to take Johnny’s hand. and I lose my best friend. God, Smith,
Johnny squeezed it in his sleep, saying, you lummox! Why ain’t you got lock-
with a little smile, "Oh, Mom.” jaw?
"So now,” said Smith, "after all this, I’m Johnny was waking up, rubbing eyes with
a mother.” big farmer-boy knuckles, tongue exploring
They stayed there, the three of them, for the outer reaches of his chin for stray parti-
all of three minutes, silent. Melter finally cles of ration chocolate.
cleared his throat, nervously. "Some They went over another hill together,
somebody ought to tell Johnny about the Johnny Choir and Private Smith. Johnny
facts of life. Death is real, and war is dancing in his special way, always ahead.
real, and bullets can knock out your guts. Smith wisely but not happily bringing up
Let’s tell him when he wakes up.” the rear; afraid where Johnny was never
Smith laid Johnny’s hand aside. He afraid, careful where Johnny always
pointed at Melter, and his face got paler splurged, groaning while Johnny was laugh-
and harder with each word. "Look now, ing into enemy fire. . . .

don’t come around here with your philoso-

phy! What’s bad for you ain’t bad for “ JOHNNY!”
him! Let him dream his dreams, if he wants. ti It was inevitable. As Smith felt the
I been with him since boot-camp, watching machine-gun bullet enter his right side, just
over him like a brother. I know. There’s above the hip, felt pain hammer, pound,
only one thing that keeps him in one piece, wallop through him under tremendous
and that’s thinking the things he thinks, be- striking impact, felt blood running in pulses
lieving that war is fun and we’re all kids! through suddenly slippery, numb fingers,
And if you so much as flip your lip. I’ll smelled his own blood like some nightmare
drop you in the Gagliano River with an- chemical, he knew it was inevitable.
chors on.” He yelled again.

thought
—
"Okay, okay, don’t get tough. I only "Johnny!”
Johnny stopped. He came running back,
Smith stood up. "You thought. You grinning. He put away his grin when he
thought! Why, damn you, I can see the saw Smith lying there giving a blood trans-
stinking look on your face! You’d like to fusion to the body of the Earth.
see Johnny dead.
that’s what!
—
You’re yellow jealous,
Well, now look ” He made
"Hey, Private Smith, what’s this about?”
he asked.
a sweep of his arm, furiously. " —
you keep —
"I’m I’m playing wounded,” said Smith
away! From now on, you romp on the other on one elbow, not looking up, sucking in air,
38 WEIRD TALES
blowing it

Johnny, and don’t

out. "You —go
mind me.”
on
ahead, "When do I get my bottle of catsup, sir?”
"Catsup. Catsup?”
Johnny looked like a kid told to stand in "Yes, sir, for when I want to be wounded,
the corner. sir?”
"Hey. That’s notfair. You should’ve Who would storm in and explain to the
told me, and could play wounded, too.
I commanding officer, "You see, sir, Johnny
I’ll get too far ahead and you won’t be able means, does he carry his blood plasma with
to catch up.” him from the Red Cross, sir? In case he
Smith forced a sick smile, weak and pale, needs a transfusion, sir.”
and the blood pumped. "You were always "Uh. Oh, is that what he means? No.
too far ahead of me anyway, Johnny. Even The medical unit carries that. They’ll give
if I ran in circles around you, I could never it to you when the necessity arises.”

catch up.” Who will extricate Johnny from situa-

That was too subtle for Johnny, who tions like that? Or the time Johnny asked
gave forth with a confused scowl. "I of a senior officer, "If I play dead, sir, how
thought you were my pal, Smith?” long do I stay dead before I’m allowed to
"Sure. Sure I am, Johnny. I am.” get up, sir?”
Smith coughed. "Sure. But, you see, I just Who will tell the officer that Johnny is

sudden-like found out I was tired. It came only joking, sir, only joking, ha ha, and not

on me quick, you see. No time to tell you. an infant in overgrown skin. Who? thought
So I’m playing wounded.” Smith.
Johnny brightened, crouching down. "I’ll
play wounded, too.” OMEONE hurried up in the dimness of
"Like hell you will!” Smith tried to rise, S pain and the sounds of conflict. By the
but pain clenched him in a hot, tight fist, sound of the big clumsy feet, Smith knew
and he couldn’t speak for half a minute. it was Melter.

—
Then: “Look now you keep your nose out
of this. You get the hell on to Rome!”
Melter’s voice came from the gathering
dark.
Johnny "You don’t want me to play "Oh, Who’s
—wounded?”
said,
feet?
it’s
—
you, Johnny.
Well ” Melter laughed. Johnny
that at your

"No, dammit!” cried Smith, and things laughed, too, to be compatible. Oh, Johnny,
got darker, darker. how can you laugh? If you only knew, son.
Johnny said nothing, just stood there, tall "Well, well, if it ain’t Smith. Dead?”
and quiet and not understanding, and lost. Johnny said, eagerly. "No, only playing
Here was the man who had been his best wounded.”
friend since the first day in the Army, since "Playing?” said Melter. Smith couldn’t
leaving New York harbor; his best friend see the man, but he heard the subtle sound
all up through Africa, the Sicilian hills and of Melter’s tongue touching that Word.
Italy, now lying here and telling him to go "Playing, eh? Playing wounded. So. Hmm.”
—
on alone. Smith got his eyes open, but he couldn’t
In the webbed dark of his mind, Smith speak, he could only blink, watching Melter.
felt it, too. Keen and sharp like a new Melter spat on the ground. "Can you
kind of razor slicing him down the middle. talk, Smith? No? Good.” Melter looked
Wounded, and Johnny going on alone. in four directions, nodding, satisfied. He
Who would tell Johnny to keep away took Johnny by the shoulder. "Come here,
from bodies, it was against the rules? Who Johnny, I’d like to ask a few questions.”
would assure him, as Smith’d done, to keep “Sure, Private Melter.”
Intact that incredible phantasy of Johnny’s Melter patted Johnny’s arm, and his eyes
beliefs; who would assure him that those shone hot and funny. "I hear you’re the
wounds were fake, that this blood was only lad who knows how to duck bullets?”
something catsup carried
like by soldiers "Sure. Best ducker in the army. Smith’s
when they wanted time out? Who would pretty good, too. A little slower, maybe,
censor Johnny’s outbursts like that time in but I’m teaching him.”
Tunis when Johnny asked his commanding Melter said, "Think you can teach me,
officer? Tohnnv?”
 BANG! YOU’RE DEAD! 39

Johnny said, "You already learned, carefully adjusting to his eyes, finding
it

haven’t you?” Johnny in the sights, caressing the trigger,

"Have I?” Melter wondered. "Well, pulling back slowly.
yeah, —
guess I have a little. Sure. But not
I Where in hell IS everybody! wondered
like you, Johnny. You got the technique Smith. AH!
—
down good. What what’s the secret?” Melter fired.

Johnny considered a moment, and Smith Johnny ducked.

tried to say something, tried to shout or "Missed me!” came Johnny’s good-
scream or even wriggle, and he didn’t have humored shout.
the strength. He heard Johnny say, far Johnny stood, intact. Melter swore. Mel-
away. ter aimed again, even slower this time. He
"I don’t know. You know how it is when found Johnny’s heart with the sight and
you’re a kid and play cops and robbers. The Smith screamed some more, but none of it
other guy is selfish. He never wants to lie got out of his mouth. Melter licked his lips
down, when you say 'Bang, I gotcha!’ The —
and fired!
whole secret is in saying, 'Bang, I gotcha!’ "Missed again!” observed Johnny.
first. Then they’ve got to lie down.” Melter fired four times more, quicker,
"Oh.” Melter looked at him as if he were faster, angered and potent and furious,
crazy. "Say that again, will you?” color gorging his neck, rage in his eyes,
Johnny said it again, and Smith had to —
hands fumbling and with each report that
laugh inside his hell of pain. Melter knocked the warm afternoon air, Johnny
thought he was being kidded. Johnny said skipped rope or ducked doors or sidestepped
it again. elbows or kicked a football or did a ballet
"Don’t hand me that!” snarled Melter, dance, and Melter’s gun fumed empty.
impatiently. "There’s a good deal more to Melter rammed more bullets in it, his
it than that! You go running and jumping face now blanched white, his knees sag-
around like a bull-moose and nobody even ging-
touches you!” Johnny came running up.
"I duck,” said Johnny. Melter whispered, fearfully. "How in
Smith laughed some more. Old jokes God’s name do you do it?”
are the best jokes. "Like I told you.”
Then Smith’s stomach caught and held A long pause. "Do you think I could
pain. learn.”
Melter’s face was all deep-cut lines and "Anybody can learn, if they want.”
suspicion and hate. "Teach me. Teach me, Johnny. I don’t
"Okay, smart guy, if you’re so good want to die, I don’t want to die. I hate this
suppose you w-alk off a hundred feet and let whole damn war. Teach me, Johnny. Teach
me take pot shots at you?” me, and I’ll be your friend.”
Johnny smiled. "Sure. Why not?” Johnny shrugged. "Do just like I told
He walked off and left Melter standing you, that’s all.”
there. He walked off a hundred paces and Melter said, slowly. "Now, you are jok-
stood there tall and blond and so damn ing again.”
young and clean as butter. Smith wiggled "No, I’m not.”
his fingers, screaming inside. “Johnny, "Yes, I think you are joking again,” said
don’t do it, Johnny! For Crissake, God, Melter in a pale, thick anger. He shifted
knock Melter down with the butt-end of a his gun to the ground, considering new
lightning bolt!” tactics and decided about it. "Well, listen
here, smart boy, for your information, I will

THEY were in a kind of depression be-

tween hills, a small place where you
tell you something.” He jerked one hand.
"Those men you passed in the field, they
could do things and not be seen too well by weren’t playing, no, they were really,
anyone. Melter stood against the trunk of actually, finally dead! Dead, yes, dead, you
an olive tree so as to shield his action, just hear! Dead! Not playing, not kidding, not
in case, and casually lifted his gun. joking, but dead, dead, cold dead!” He beat
Melter loved his gun with his fingers, it at Johnny like fists. He beat the air with
 ” ”

40 WEIRD TALES
it and turned the day into winter cold. Smith lay there, his thoughts getting
"Dead!" sicker and dimmer, and Johnny walked on
Smith winced inside. Johnny, don’t listen and on. If only there were some way to
to him! Don’t let him hurt you, Johnny! cry out. Johnny, look out!
Go on believing the world is a good place. An artillery shell came over and burst.
Go on living intact and unafraid! Don’t Johnny fell down on the ground without a
let fear in, Johnny. You’ll crumble with it! sound and lay there, not making a move-
Johnny said to Melter, "What’re you talk- ment of his once-miraculous limbs.
ing about?” Johnny!
"Death!” bellowed Melter wildly. "That’s Have you stopped believing? Johnny, get
what I’m talking about! Death. You can up! Are you dead now? Johnny?
die, and Smith can die, and I can die from And then darkness mercifully gathered
bullets. Gangrene, rot, death! You’ve been Smith in and swallowed him down.
fooling yourself. Grow up, you fool, before
it’stoo late! Grow up!” CALPELS rose and fell like small keen
Johnny stood there a long time, and then away death and de-
guillotines, cutting
he began to sway, his fists in big farmer- cay, beheading misery, eliminating metal
knotted pendulums. "No. You’re lying,” pain. The bullet, plucked from Smith’s
he said, stubbornly. wound, was cast away, small, dark, clatter-
"Bullets can kill, this is war!” ing into a metal pan. The doctors panto-
"You’re lying to me,” said Johnny. mimed over and around him in a series of
"You can die, so can Smith. Smith’s dy- blurred frenzies. Smith breathed easily.
ing now. Smell his blood! What do you Across the dim interior of the tent
think that stench is from the fox-holes, wild Johnny’s body lay on another operating
grapes for the winepresses of war? Yes, table, doctors curious over him in a sterile
death and bones!” tableau.
Johnny looked around with unsteady eyes. "Johnny?” and this time Smith had a
"No, I won’t believe it.” He bit his lips voice.

—
and closed his eyes. “I won’t. You’re mean,
you’re bad, you’re
"Easy does it,” a doctor cautioned. The
lips under the white mask moved. "That a
“You can die, Johnny, die!” friend of yours —
over there?”
Johnny began to cry, then. Like a babe "Yeah. How is he?”
in some barren wilderness, and Smith "Not so good. Head injury. Fifty-fifty
wrenched his shoulder trying to get up. chance.”
Johnny cried and it was a new and small They concluded with Smith, stitches,
sound in the wide world. swabbings, bandages and all. Smith watched
Melter pushed Johnny staggeringly to- the wound vanish under white gauze, then
ward the front lines. “Go on. Get out there he looked at the assembled crowd of medics.
and die, Johnny. Get out there and get "Let me help with him, will you?”
your heart pinned on a stone wall like a "Well, now, after all, soldier
—
dripping medal!” "I know the guy. I know him. He’s
Don’t go, Johnny, Smith’s shouting got funny. If it means keeping him alive, how’s
lost in the red, pain cavern of his interior, about it?”
lost and useless and mute. Don’t go, kid. The scowl formed over the surgical mask,
Stay here, don’t listen to this guy! Stick and Smith’s heart beat slow, slow. The doc-
around, Johnny-lad! tor blinked. "I can’t chance it. What can
Johnny stumbled away, sobbing, toward you possibly do to help me?”
the blunt staccato of machine guns, toward "Wheel me over. I tell you I can help.
the whine of artillery shells. His gun was I’m his bosom-pal. I can’t let him conk
held in one long limp arm, its butt drag- out now. Hell, no!”
ging pebbles in a dry rattling stone laughter. The doctors conferred.
Melter looked after him in a hysterical They transferred Smith to a portable
kind of triumph. stretcherand two orderlies delivered him
Then Melter hefted his weapon and across the tent where the surgeons were
walked East over another hill, out of view. engaged with Johnny’s- shaved, naked skull.
 BANG! YOU’RE DEAD! 41

Johnny looked asleep and dreaming a night- larynx, and fear-fever in his brain. The war
mare. His face twisted, worried, frighten- thunder came closer, closer, but it was only
ing, wondering, disappointed and dismayed. the blood hurled through his head by his
One of the surgeons sighed. heart. Half an hour passed by. Johnny lis-
Smith touched one surgical elbow. "Don’t tened like a kid in school to an over-patient
give up, Doc. Oh, God, don’t give up.” teacher. Listened and smoothed out the pain,
To Johnny: "Johnny-lad. Listen. Listen to erased the dismay in his expression, and
me. Forget everything Melter said. Forget regained the old certainty and youth and
—
everything he said you hear me? He was
full of crap up to here!”
surenessand calm acceptance of belief.
The surgeon stripped off his tight rubber
Johnny’s face still was irritated, changing gloves.
like disturbed water. Smith gathered his "He’ll pull through.”
breath and continued. Smith felt like singing. "Thanks, doc.
"Johnny, you gotta go on playing, like Thanks."
always. Go on ducking, like in the old days. The doc said, "You from Unit 45, you
You always knew how, Johnny. It was part and Choir and a guy named Melter?”
of you. It didn’t take learning or teaching, "Yeah. What about Melter?"
it was natural. And you let Melter put ideas "Funniest darn thing. Ran head on into
in your head. Ideas that may be okay for a burst of German machine-gun fire. Ran
people like Melter and me and others, but down a hill screaming something about be-
don’t jibe for you.” ing a kid again.” The doc scratched his jaw.
One surgeon made an impatient gesture "We picked up his body with fifty bullets
with a rubber-gloved hand. in it.”
Smith asked him, "Is his head hurt bad, Smith swallowed, lying back to sweat.
Doc?” Ice-cold, shivering sweat.
"Pressure on the skull, on the brain. May "That’s Melter for you. He just didn’t
cause temporary loss of memory.” know how. He grew up, too fast, like all
"Will he remember being wounded?” of us. He didn’t know how to stay young,
"It’s hard to say. Probably not.” like Johnny. That’s why it didn’t work. I
Smith had to be held down. "Good! I gotta give him credit for trying, though,
Good! Look,” he whispered quickly, con- the nut. But there’s only one Johnny Choir.”
fidentially toJohnny’s head. "Johnny, just "You,” diagnosed the surgeon, "are de-
think about being a kid, and how it was lirious. Better take a sedative.”
then, and don’t think about what happened Smith shook his head. "What about
today. Think about running in ravines and home? Are we going, Johnny and I, with
through creeks and skipping pebbles on our wounds?”
water, and ducking b-b guns, and laughing, The surgeon formed a smile under the
Johnny!” mask. "Home to America, the two of you.”
Inside, Johnny thought about it. "Now, you’re delirious!” Smith let out a
careful whoop of glee. He twisted to get a
A MOSQUITO hummed somewhere, good look at Johnny sleeping so peacefully
-O- hummed and circled for an endless and easily and dreaming, and he said, "You
time.Somewhere guns rumbled. hear that, Johnny? We’re going home! You
Someone finally told Smith, "Respiration and me! Home!”
improved.” And Johnny replied, softly, "Mom? Oh,
Someone else said, "Heart action picking Mom.”
U P’” Smith held Johnny’s hand. "Okay,” he
.

Smith kept talking, part of him that wasn’t now I’m a mother.
said to the surgeons. "So
pain, that was only hope and anxiety in his Pass the cigars!”
 ^ <
Z) evil’s Ticket
By ROBERT BLOCH

H
route;
fore
ECTOR VANE’S
the pawnshop.
cape flapped for-
lornly as he trudged along toward
It was a familiar
Vane had followed it many times be-
on the same errand. At the beginning,
traits.

But
Vane was
It

it
would never come
had come to just
to that.
that. Hector
carrying a portrait under his be-
draggled black cape. Marie had found some
old newspaper and a bit of string, and she
his burdens had been light —
his rings, a had tied it up for him. Vane sat staring at
watch, a gold-headed cane, silver candle- the package for almost an hour before he
sticks. Then, bit by bit, everything had summoned the resolution necessary to pick
gone. Everything but his pictures. The itup and leave the garret.
paintings he would not pawn. Not his por- There was simply no choice in the mat-

Heading by BORIS DOLGOV

ter. Neither he nor Marie had eaten any-

thing for twenty-four hours, and it was cold
in the attic studio.
So he took the picture. He had to. It
—
was one of his early favorites a portrait of
an old friend, as a matter of fact and it —
was easily worth $10,000, despite the opin-
ions of stupid critics and money-grubbing
art dealers.
He thought that perhaps the pawnbroker
would give him $10 for it.
Old Spengler didn’t know art, but he
knew desperation when he saw it. Yes, he
—
might give $10 for it and Vane would
gladly take the money.
Vane’s eyes did not measure the artistic
qualities of the slum setting through which
42
he walked. Instead he peered anxiously at shuffling figure emerged from the rear of
the dull basement windows of Spengler’s the establishment and moved along behind
pawnshop. The junk-cluttered windows the counter in the shadows.
mirrored the myriad misfortunes of those "Yes?”
who entered here. Spengler’s place was a Itwas a soft voice; not Spengler’s habitual
repository for the souvenirs of human woe; croak.
mementoes of miseries. Hector Vane tried to get a clear view of
Hector Vane sighed, held the paper- the stranger, but shadows obscured.
wrapped picture tightly against his cloak, "Where’s Spengler?” he asked.
and descended the dirty stairs. As he opened "He’s finished. I’ve taken over.”
the pawnshop door, the bell jangled a note
OW Vane
of complaint and warning.
Vane blinked through semi-darkness as he
approached the counter. The darkness held
N
first
could see the speaker.
was an old man; a very old man, at
glance.His hair was the color of yel-
He

a musty smell, and released it now to his lowed ivory, and his skin had the parchment
nostrils as he waited for Spengler to appear texture of incunabula. Flaring from the sides
from the back of the shop. Spengler was of his skull were curiously pointed ears,
an old man. He liked to doze on a gloomy which lent the sole distinguishing touch to
afternoon. Perhaps he was still asleep his aged visage. That touch, and the bright-
No, footsteps heralded his approach. A ness of his eyes, impressed Vane. There was
something beyond incongruity here, and
Vane felt that if he stared long enough,
searched long enough, he might discover
the key to a peculiarly complicated enigma.
But enough of that. He wasn’t here to
analyze. He was here to sell a painting.
"I wouldlike a loan,” he said. "On
this.” His voice faltered slightly as he
spoke, and in order to conceal his confusion,
Vane quickly and clumsily tore the news-
paper wrappings from the portrait.
His hands trembled slightly as he held it
up- toward the counter.
"Perhaps if we had more light ” he
—
muttered.
The old man shook his head.
"I do not need the light,” he said. He
stared at the portrait with an enigmatic
smile —
or was it merely the fixed expres-
sion of senility?
"You have great talent,” said the old man,
softly. "Genius, perhaps.”
Vane smiled. He had an artist’s love of
praise, and he was thinking that the $10
would soon be his.
"What will you offer me for it on a loan?”
he asked.

An innocent person must not be

delivered into the hands of that
black being masquerading as a
pawnshop proprietor

J
44 WEIRD TALES
“Nothing.” der his arm and the blue ticket was in the
“Nothing?” inside pocket of his cloak. Vane was trudg-
The old man
shrugged. "I cannot pay ing home.
you what it is worth,” he murmured. “Be- He was almost at the doorway before he
sides, I do not want paintings. I deal in realized his situation. He was coming home
other things.” without the money, without anything except
“But it’s all I have to pawn,” Vane a blue pawn-ticket made out to him by a
pleaded. crazy old man. What could he tell Marie?
“I’m not so sure. Put the picture down. She’d nag him for not bringing the money,
Let me look at you.” and if he told her the truth she’d do more
—
than nag she’d cry. And Vane couldn’t

VANE
It seized,
laid the picture
and then the old man’s
held, drained.
on the
stare seized
Vane
counter,
him.
tried to stare
stand the sight of her weeping; weeping
quietly, with her face contorted in an ugly
grimace of despair.
back, butall he could see was the eyes. The Vane paused on the curb before the squat
very bright eyes, knives in darkness that frame tenement in which he lived. It was
stabbed into his being. It was silly imagery late, but perhaps he could try another pawn-
—but it was real. And the old man was shop. Perhaps he could
whispering, softly. “Hector!”
“Hector Vane, you are a great artist. You Vane whirled. Marie came running
do not belong in a garret, yoked to a plain through the doorway, her brown hair
woman. You were not shaped for suffer- tumbled on her neck. Her eyes were wide.
ing. You should be rich, famous. I think “Hector! He just called —
on the land-
... yes ... I am certain ... I can give you lady’s phone ——he wants to see you right
the things you desire. Riches . . and . away — tonight
fame. ...” “Who?”
“What do you want of me?” “Eppert! Lanson wants to give you a one-
“Your soul.” man show at the Gallery. Eppert says he’s
It didn’t sound fanciful —
not with those prepared to buy six of the big oils now, and
eyes; staring, reading, searching and finding. he knows that after the showing he can dis-
The were real. They were reality and
eyes pose of a dozen more, at least.”
all else was illusion. Vane knew it, felt it. So this was it. This was the way it
“I must sell you my soul?” happened. Hector Vane blinked and clutched
“No. You may pawn it. The usual ticket, the blue pawn-ticket in his pocket. It
for ninety days. In return, fame and riches, couldn’t be real. But the ticket was real.
all that you have desired. And at the end
of that time, you can redeem your pledge.” II
“How?”
“By painting a picture for me. That’s TT HAPPENED Things began
like that.
all Iwant ... a picture. For my private — a to flow like a movie montage as thirty
The old man smiled, and Vane
collection.” days sped by. The triumphal showing. The
could see his face again. “But we will not reviews. The 14 sales. And then Lanson ’s
talk about that now. I can see that you’re market tip. Aircraft stocks, and a rise of
wondering if I might be a little eccentric, — 30 points in a few weeks.
shall we say? So I’d best proceed to prove Came the new bank account, came the
my claim to you. Is it agreed?” dinners and parties, came the big studio near
Hector Vane nodded, slowly. Washington Heights.
From that point on, things moved swiftly; Came Nadja.
too swiftly for memory to follow. The old Nadja was the model for the new portrait.
man gave him a blue pawn-ticket, the neces- She was a tall, shapely blonde. She had a
sary form was filled out, Vane signed some- face that was all slanted eyes, protruding
thing, the old man wrapped the picture for cheekbones, and pouting lips. There was a
him, and in a twinkling he was out on the sensual quality in Nadja that Vane meant
street again. The wrapped portrait was un- to capture for the picture —
and for himself.
 THE DEVIL’S TICKET »
4)

Of coarse he knew better. Artists and her hair. And she wished Hector would
—
models that sort of thing just didn’t work stop pawing her during the sittings. She
out. But Nadja was different. She was didn’t think much of artists anyway, they
necessary to complete his position. The were a bunch of spoiled brats. And did
money, the fame, the success; nothing mat- he have to wear that corny cloak?
tered unless Nadja rounded out the picture. After such a tongue-lashing from lips that
Marie just didn’t fit. That was the cold were shaped for strange kisses, Vane would
truth, and Vane discovered it immediately. turn in despair to the relief of alcohol.
The faithful wife, the patient nagger, the His love was not blind, merely myopic;
plain woman
with the heart of gold that — and it took liquor to blot Nadja’s imperfec-
was a garret role she could fulfil perfectly. tions from his view.
But she couldn’t stand up to the part in Weeks blended into months; flying by in
the galleries, or at the parties, or in the gay a bewildering blur of intoxication.
Bohemian atmosphere that is maintained by Then, one afternoon, Vane sat blinking
moneyed intelligentsia who are neither gay in his studio apartment. The north light
nor Bohemian. was clear,but the room reeled before his
It wasn’t just a question of looks. Beauty gaze. Vane pressed slim fingers to his ach-
parlors and couterieres accomplished mir- ing temples and stared.
acles. But nothing could alter Marie’s tem- Something rose before his eyes; some-
perament, and she remained a mocking re- thing black and crawling; something that
minder of former failure in this atmosphere writhed and wriggled with thick coils hold-
of newfound success. A
ghost-wife. ing a cryptic shape and meaning.
Vane talked to her, reasoned with her, ar- Vane gazed again, and then realized what
gued with her. And then, when Nadja came, it was —
he saw it was the heavy black-
he forgot her. numeral date on his calendar pad.
Nadja’s body was a golden flame burning Without knowing it, his lips moved and
before secret altars. Nadja’s lips were shaped made vocal his secret thought.
for strange kisses, and her eyes mirrored "Two and a half months gone,” he whis-
fugitive visions from the dark side of the pered. "That means yes . only two
. . . . .

moon. weeks more to go. Two more weeks, and

Nadja was a vulgar but Vane
floosie, too, then ...”
ignored that. It didn’t matter, as long as Then what?
she completed the picture. Vane sat bolt upright. Yes, then what?
So he made her pose for him. During
that second month he tried to capture her NTOXICATION of fame, intoxication of
spirit on canvas and strove valiantly to cap- I flesh, alcohol; all had
intoxication of
ture her flesh. which he now remembered.
blotted out that
In neither venture was he wholly success- Somewhere an old man was waiting, wait-
ful. As an artist, Vane sensed difficulties ing for him to appear and redeem a blue
at every turn. Whether he reproduced her pawn ticket. A ticket for a human soul.
features with photographic fidelity or al- He must paint a portrait, quickly, for he had
lowed his brush to express the abstract feel- but two weeks left in which to carry out the
ing inherent in her face and body, the results bargain.
were unsatisfactory. This was strange, for Vane groaned aloud.
Vane could paint portraits. Yet whatever Perhaps he was a fool. Perhaps the old
he did, he ended with a sketch or a half-fin- man was mad, and coincidence had brought
ished portrait of a vulgar floosie. It wasn’t him which he had bargained.
that for
right, it couldn’t be right. But there it was. And yet, Vane was afraid. He remem-
As a man, his difficulties multiplied. bered the shop now, and the shadows, and
Nadja was not responsive to his endear- the way the old man’s eyes had gloated. He
ments. She wanted a star sapphire she’d remembered the secret smile, and the pact
admired, and she thought it would be nice he had sealed. He knew then that he must
to have a place of her own
on
—
you know, with
the furniture to match
take no chances. He must make the paint-
that blond finish ing.
 — a ”

46 WEIRD TALES
Unless slitted eyes blazed upwards. Vane recoiled
There was a wild hope in Vane’s heart. from the gaze.
Perhaps, if he were to seek out the old man, "There is nothing to talk about. We made
talk to him reasonably, he might find an- a bargain. I have kept my part of it. You
other solution. It could all be a joke, really. must keep yours. Where is the picture?”
His dissipation had warped his thinking, Vanforced a smile. "Well, it’s a fair
cost him his nerve. Better to go down there question,” he said. "You mentioned that you
now and bargain. would like to own one of my paintings, and
Vane put on his tattered black cape, in- that’s why I stopped by just now. I’d like
congruous though it was in contrast to his to know if you have any choice. Now I was
new, expensive suit. thinking that you might prefer some of my
Once again he trudged through mean earlier works —
a nice landscape, perhaps?”
streets, searching for the shop in the shad- The old man cackled suddenly. It was as
ows. though a shriek had ululated up from the
Once again the bell tinkled into musty Pit.
darkness asVane entered the pawnshop. "Landscape? That’s very clever of you, my
He groped his way toward the counters, dear sir. Very clever, indeed. Landscape!”
alone in the gloom save for the host of "But—”
shadows the bell had summoned. They clus- "Our agreement, Mr. Vane, was for a
tered deeply behind the empty counters and portrait. A
portrait of a human being. One
Vane stared into a well of blackness. of those portraits you alone can paint; one
Something emerged from the well — that captures the soul.”
something white, grubby, incredibly old. There was no mirth in the voice now.
”1110 face of the aged stranger loomed. His And there was no hope in Vane’s heart.
eyes slitted curiously as he recognized Vane. "The soul,” he whispered. "Why do you
"Back again,” he whispered. "Well, Mr. keep insisting on the soul?”
Vane, you’re a bit early. Perhaps the punc- "For a very good reason.” The old man
tual arrival of your good fortune urges you was whispering now, but the words thun-
to be equally prompt in keeping your end dered in Vane’s ears. "Because I hold your
of our agreement.” soul in pawn. Unless it is redeemed in two
Vane nodded absently. He noted, with weeks by another soul, I shall claim posses-
way
sudden, inexplicable horror, the
man’s hands had begun to twitch and dart
the old sion. Full possession.”
"But that means somebody else will be
—
forward over the counter. His fingers were "Mine, eternally,” nodded the creature
like long yellow talons, and they rasped behind the counter. "Yet a bargain was
across the wood outstretched as though avid made. It’s your soul against another’s.
to grasp, to clutch, to possess. Whose portrait you give me does not mat-
ter in the least. I will take anything, but

BEHIND smile
the withered yellow mask of a
Vane could sense a dreadful hun-
was more than mortal hunger —
you cannot cheat. You must paint faithfully,
so that your genius will mirror the essence
of the sitter.
ger that
yearning, a consuming desire to take that "As a matter of fact, Mr. Vane, it’s a good
which must not be taken, to receive that bargain for you. Perhaps there is someone
which should not be given. you would like to get rid of. Paint me that
Then the voice came, holding the same person’s portrait and we’ll both be satisfied.
hunger, throbbing with the same black thirst. Bring me the picture and the ticket and
"The picture, Mr. Vane —where is my everything will be legally acceptable.”
picture?” Vane reeled.
Choking back his revulsion, Vane shook "There is no other way?” he murmured.
his head. "No other way. I shall expect you in two
"
— I haven’t finished it yet. That’s why weeks, then. Good day.”
I came here. I wanted to talk to you about Vane turned and stumbled blindly toward
the picture.” the door.
The claws on the counter curled. The A cough sounded behind him.
 — •

THE DEVIL’S TICKET 47

"Oh, by the way. I’ve been observing from her face as she sat; it would have taken
your progress, and I’m well satisfied. Just a a much more clumsy artist to avoid re-
friendly suggestion, though —
don’t entangle flecting her soul as it poured forth in her
yourself too deeply with women. They have adoring smile.
long been allies of mine.” Hector Vane was not clumsy. His strokes
Another chuckle rasped in Vane’s ears as were swift and sure. A
few sittings and he
he groped his way out of the shop. had completed preliminary sketching; then
He wandered back through twilit streets. he fell to painting. A week sped by. Vane
Now there was nothing more to do. Noth- realized that he was creating his masterpiece.
ing to do but paint the portrait in which the The work flowed forward. Marie was never
soul of the sitter must Snine. He must give tired; her cooperation was endless.
the portrait to the old man, give him the On the ninth day the sittings ended, and
soul that he thirsted for with a thirst older Vane stood back and gazed upon Marie; bis
than earth. Marie, faithful to life.
Who would sit for the portrait? He had done it.

He
couldn’t sacrifice any of his completed Thenext two days he spent in finishing
paintings. They were all in the hands of the the background. Then and only then did he
dealers, and meant money. Besides, an in- pause to rest, sleeping the clock around for
nocent person must not be delivered into the the first time in twelve days.
hands of that black being masquerading as Marie, after one look at the finished por-
a pawnshop proprietor. trait,burst into tears of happiness.
No, there must be a new subject. As Vane couldn’t meet her eyes. He turned
the old man had hinted, it would be best away, and remorse burned within him. Still,
if the subject’s removal benefited Vane. it had to be.
Yes, that was it. He had no doubts as During that week he’d neglected Nadja.
to what would happen if he delivered the Now he wanted to see her. She’d called
picture —
the person it represented would several times.
vanish from earth. He turned to his wife, handed her a roll
Who would it be? of bills.
For a wild moment, Vane toyed with the "Darling, this has been a great strain.
notion of taking Nadja’s portrait. He re- You’ll never know how much I appreciate
membered the latest oil he’d attempted — what you’ve done for me. Now I want you
remembered the sensual mouth, the greedy to run downtown and buy yourself some-
eyes, the feral brow. It was a mirror held thing — hats, dresses, whatever you like.”
to Nadja’s selfish soul, no doubt of that. "But Hector—”
But he couldn’t give her up. No matter "Run along now. Please. I want you
what she was, he wanted her. If only his to.”
wife weren’t in the way, he’d have her for- Vane turned away. He couldn’t stand see-
ever. ing her, seeing the light of love in her eyes.
If only his wife Marie dressed, left the apartment. And
Vane blinked, shook his head. Vane called Nadja.
He hastened up the stairs to the apart- Her voice, over the telephone, was queru-
ment door, flung it open. His wife was lous.
resting in the bedroom. He stalked across "Where have you been? I’ve waited for
the floor, coughed. over a week and you haven’t called. I know
"Marie!” he called. "Would you come you’ll have some miserable excuse to make,
here for just a moment? I think I have a but I don’t want to hear it.”
marvelous idea.” "Come over and I’ll show you my ex-
cuse,” Vane exulted.
Ill Anhour later she arrived. Vane ushered
her in with a grin of exultation.

M
trait
ARIE was thrilled to think that
Vane had chosen to paint her por-
Her humble love and gratitude shone
Hector "I have been busy,” he said. “But I won’t
tell you why.
instead."
I’ll let you see for yourself,
48 WEIRD TALES
Heled her to the portrait on the easel old man would say, “Where is my portrait?”
near the window, then pulled the drapes and —
aside. Wait a minute!
Nadja stared. The thought that crossed Vane’s mind was
"What do you think? Isn’t it the best diabolical. Yes, it might well be so de-
thing I’ve done? Look at the life, the color- scribed — for it was diabolically inspired.
ing.” He turned to Marie.
Nadja turned. On her face was written "Go and get me some fresh canvas,”
a loathing Vane was never to forget. he commanded.
"So that’s it,” she gasped. "You painted "Now? But your work it’s ruined!” she —
her. You’ve never been able to paint me de- protested.
cently, but you painted her. You painted "Exactly,” Vane whispered. “That’s why
her because you love her, and always have I must start over again immediately. Get me
loved her.” the canvas —
I’m going to paint.”
"Nadja, I—” "But what would you paint at this hour?”
She was gone. The slam of the door cut Vane shrugged, turned his eyes away.
Vane’s protest off in midair. "I cannot tell you,” he declared.
Vane stared at the portrait. She had said "But you have no one to pose for you.
he loved his wife. And he didn’t. Still, Where is your model?”
she had gone away believing it, and now he Vane tapped his forehead.
was alone. It wasn’t working out. "Here,” he murmured. “My model is
So Vane did what he had learned to do here. Now hurry. I’ve only twenty-four
when things weren’t working out. He left hours. Twenty-four hours for a master-
the apartment and got drunk. piece!”
IV
T WAS late when he returned.
I Marie met him on the outer stairs.
There was an odor in the air, and a look on
her face. He sensed the truth as he gazed
T wenty-four
piece.
Vane worked
. . .
hours

alone in the studio*

all
for a master-

into her tear-filled eyes. •worked as night faded into dawn, dawn
"That woman —the clerk downstairs says burst into daylight, daylight blended into
she came here this afternoon after you left. twilight, and twilight fled before the black-
He let her in, she said it was all right. And ness of another night.
—
then she set fire to oh. Hector!” Marie did not disturb him, nor did she
Vane rushed into the apartment, stared at seek to discover what shaped itself on the
ruined walls, charred furnishings. And he canvas before him. Twice during the day
stared at the blackened heap of ashes that she tiptoed in to bring sandwiches and cof-
had once been his precious paintings. fee. He dismissed her with the food un-
Nadja had taken her revenge. touched.
Marie’s portrait was gone. And so were She did not attempt to restore the ravaged
all the rest, all the oils he still had on hand room, but crept silently through the house
in the studio. Burned to ashes. His last while Vane painted furiously. He stared
work was gone, and with it, his last raptly at the canvas on the easel, and though
hope. his eyes were trance-like in their fixity, his
Grimly he recalled a similar incident in cunning fingers moved in bold, sure strokes.
a book. “Of Human Bondage,” wasn’t it? It was dawn of the fourteenth day, the

In this case, the deed was condemning fatal day. Vane stepped back, gazed at the
him to bondage that wasn’t human. completed portrait; shuddered, and drew a
Tomorrow was the thirteenth day. And cloth over the undried picture.
the old man had whispered, "Bring me my Then he moaned and collapsed.
portrait.” Marie half-supported, half-dragged him
Well, there was no portrait for the old in to the bed. She sat there watching
man. There was nothing. On the four- throughout the morning as he slept. In the
teenth day he would go to the shop and the afternoon he stirred long enough to take hot
 THE DEVIL’S TICKET 49

soup, then collapsed once more. But his when you didn’t understand, you were faith-
eyes were sane again, and Marie did not fear. ful and kind. Now, when I've dealt with
She smiled at his sleeping face, smiled him, we shall be happy.”
to see that it no longer bore the ravages of Marie didn’t understand what he was say-
hidden care or dread. ing. But she understood his kiss, and was
Yes, it was safe. She could leave now. grateful. She smiled up at him, and then
It was dark when she returned, carrying The bell rang, sharply.
a package under her arm. She put it down Marie went to the door.
in the parlor and then heard Vane stirring "There’s a visitor for you, dear,” she
on the bed. called.
"Marie!” he called. "Where are you?” "Visitor? Who is it?”

"Here, darling.” Marie came into the bedroom immedi-

She entered the bedroom. Vane was sit- ately.
ting bolt upright. His face was carefree no "I don’t know,” she breathed. "He won’t
me his name.
longer.
" Where were you? Why didn’t you wake
give
you. An old man —
Says he has business with

me?” Vane stalked out into the parlor.

"I went out. You needed rest.” There was a shadow in the hallway. The

"But my appointment
— shadow moved, emerged into the parlor.
"What appointment?” It was the ivory-skulled ancient from the

"I must deliver this new painting today.” pawnshop.

“Deliver it? To whom?” "Good evening, Mr. Vane,” he mur-
“Never mind.” mured. "If the mountain will not come to
Vane was fumbling for his clothes, dress- —ah—Mahomet, then —ah—M ahomet
ing in frantic haste. must come to the mountain.”
“I’ll be too late,” he muttered. “I was detained.”
Marie laid a hand on his shoulder. "What "I accept your apology. But now, to busi-

is it, dear? What’s troubling you? Is it ness. I have come for my portrait. Is it

is it —woman?”
that ready?”
Vaneturned, smiled. Vane was thankful for the dim light.

"No, Marie. That woman is out of my Marie couldn’t read the avid lust that flick-

life, out of our lives, forever. Thank God ered in those ageless, evil eyes.
she did what she did. He told me that He turned toward the window. "Yes, it’s

women were his allies. Now I believe

— it. ready,” he muttered.
When I think of what I planned to do "Excellent. And may I — see it?”
He kissed her, swiftly, unexpectedly. "You may. I’ll snap on a light. Lift the
"You’ve stood by me, at any rate. Even covering on that easel if you will.”
 ” ” ” ”

50 WEIRD TALES
The snapped on. A bony finger
light are you waiting for? There’s your portrait.
stabbed convulsively toward the cloth, tore it Take it.”

aside. The portrait leaped into view. The fiendish countenance glaring out of
The old man stared into the bony-painted the canvas was matched by its living coun-
countenance of himself. terpart.
The old man grasped the easel, then he

PAINTED from an image seared on mem-

ory, line for line
And
... it was a living
captured the foul-
turned.
“By the way,” he said,
remains. In order to legalize this transaction,
"one little detail
death’s head. yet it

ness, the charnel horror that might be called I should like you to return to me that little

a soul. blue pawn-ticket I gave you.”

"You fool! What trickery is this?” "All right. And then, off with you.”
The words welled forth and Marie shud- Vane re-entered the bedroom.
dered. But Vane laughed. "Marie!” he called. “Where did you
hang my cloak? There’s a ticket in the
"You asked for a portrait of any living
person. Any living person. And you said pocket, inside
—
to me, 'Give me my portrait.’ The words Marie went to the doorway.
inspired me. Here, then, is your portrait. "I’ve a surprise for you,” she said. "While
Of you. Don’t deny that I’ve painted your you slept I went out and bought you some-
soul. It’s leering right out of the canvas thing.”
at you. Take your hideous soul and be She opened the package she had carried
gone, then. I’ve given the devil his due.” in.
The old man stared, then shrugged. "A new cloak,” she smiled. "That old
"I didn’t believe it possible,” he said.
"That a mortal should trick me thus
— one was so shabby, and
served — -”
I thought you de-

“You admit you’re outwitted, then?” "Marie! What did you do with my old
Vane shouted in triumph. "You admit it?”
— —burned —
cloak?”
"Yes.” “I I it

"Thank you for the tribute. I’m sure it "Burned it?”

was wrung from your lips. Next time you’ll The old man appeared in the doorway.
be alittle more cautious. You thought you "Yes,” he whispered. "Women, as I have
had me, didn’t you? Thought I’d sell my said before, are often my allies. And your
own soul or that of my wife, eh? You cloak is gone. The ticket is gone, too. And
warned me against women —well a woman only the ticket redeems you from me.”
saved me at the end. She burned the other "But—”
portraits and I did this. You’ve done me a The room had grown very still. The old
great service.” man glided forward. He pushed Marie aside
Vane took Marie in his arms and stared and closed the door.
mouth of "You have done your part,” he croaked.
at
one.
the convulsed the ancient
"You burned it. And now —
"Yes, a great service,” he repeated. "Not Vane As the old
retreated to the wall.
only have I outwitted you and gained fame man advanced, his claws began to work con-
—
and power you have served to bring me
and my wife together again. At last I know
vulsively. His eyes flamed. Vane tried
to scream as the claws came up and the
the true values. Ironic as it may be, you have eyes came down.
been the cause of my spiritual regeneration. There wasn’t a scream left in him.
Makes you wince, doesn’t it?” He knew now that the cloak wasn’t the
Vane chuckled again. "All right, what only thing destined to bum.
 .

The Path Through the Marsh

BY LEAH BODINE DRAKE
HERE a path through a marsh
T is

That I must take to go home. . . .

Mallows, and thick black loam,

Alder, and bog-grass harsh,

And the marsh-pools glinting with lights

Of the sunset that stains the sky:
That is all to the eye,
Yet something is there that affrights.

Something which I never see

Though I feel its eyes on my back
As I cross on that narrow track.

Something that watches me.

It is never bittern, who thumps

At his hidden churn in the reeds.
It is never heron, who feeds
In the shallows beside old stumps,

Or spotted bull-frog, who eyes

Me passing his tiny lake
Where the great green bubbles break
And the veils of the bog-mists rise.

But deeper than long-drowned log

Something that never sleeps
Lies crouched in those oozy deeps,
Something as old as the bog. . . .

They say that there was a time

When Indians called this sod
"The place of the evil god,”
And prayed to the quivering slime.
All that is a long-closed book. . .

But still, as I pass on that track,

They say that a Face would appear
I feel something’s eyes on my back
In the mists that the night-winds brew.
And I never dare turn to look,
And would ask for its ancient due:
One human heart a year.
For fear that the mists should spread
And curdle to mouth and eyes
Malefic and old and wise.
Demanding Its terrible bread!

51
££ X UST be on
to the safe side, I —
"Oh, come why not?”
; wouldn’t spend much time
too "That’s just what I’ve been told. Some-
J over agent with anend of your
the hill at the far
property,” said the apologetic
thing strange there, I’d guess. Give your-
self time to become used to the place first.”
smile. Albert Colley had every intention of do-
Colley took the keys and pocketed them. ing that. He had not bought a place in the
"That’'* an odd thing to say. Why not?” country just out of a village on the Pacific
"Afbund mid-evening especially,” con- line without the determination to become
tinued the agent. used to it before he invited his stepfather

Heading by A. R. TILBURNE

There was something more than strange about the end of his property —
especially around mid-evening

52
 —

PACIFIC 421 53

down — he could screw up courage enough

if he heard the whistle and rumble of an
to have the old curmudgeon around for a approaching locomotive. He turned there
week or so. If it were not for the old man’s on the edge of his woods to look. Yes,
—
money well, if it were not for that, and it was coming, brightly lit; so he stood and

the fact that Albert Colley was his only legal watched the powerful, surging force of the
heir, he would have been free of the old train thunder across the trestle, eight pas-
man long before this. Even as it was, senger cars streaming speedily along behind
Philander Colley was a trial that made itself the locomotive —
Pacific 421 —
on the way
felt in the remotest atom of Albert's being. to the west coast. Like most men, he had
Of course, the agent’s off-hand reference always had a kind of affinity for trains; he
had been a mistake. Few people, in any liked to see them, ride on them, hear them.
case, are qualified to judge just how any He watched one out of sight and turned.
this
given man will act, especially on such short But at that moment there fell upon his
acquaintance as there had been between ears the most frightful explosion of sound
Colley and the agent for the Parth house a screaming of steel on steel, a splintering
two miles out of that Missouri town. Colley of wood, a great rush of steam, the roar of
was a cool customer, cooler than the agent flames crackling, and the shrill, horrible
guessed him to be. Colley apprehended screaming of people in agony. For a mo-
at once that there was something a little ment he was paralyzed with shock; then he
strange about the far end of the property realized that the train must have leaped
—
he had bought a good forty-acre piece, the tracks or crashed into an eastbound train,
with the house right up next to the road and, without stopping to think that he ought
in a little clump of trees there, and, as he to telephone for help, he sped back to the
understood it from that old map in the tracks and raced down as fast as he could
county surveyor’s office, a portion of the to round the curve of the hill there to west-
Pacific line cutting across the far edge of ward.
his property, over a little gully there. From It was just as well that he did not sum-
the road and the house, his property mon help first.
stretched through a garden, then through There was nothing, nothing at all on the
a dense belt of woods to an open place be- tracks beyond the curve!
yond which there was a little knoll, politely For a moment Colley thought that the
called "the hill,” and past this, the railroad train must be found farther along, over the
and the termination of Colley’s newly ac- horizon; but that was impossible, for the
quired property at the foot of a steeper slope, tracks stretched away under the stars to join
likewise for the most part wooded. a greater network of railroads beyond, and
And, being a cool customer, Colley went there was nothing whatever on them. The
that firstevening for a tour of exploration, evening train had gone through, and he
half expecting some denizened beast to well, he had undoubtedly suffered a kind of
spring at him out of the woods, but not auditory hallucination. But it jarred him
afraid, for all that. He walked down to the still; for an hallucination, the experience

point where the railroad crossed the tres- had been shakingly convincing, and it was
tle over the gully and then turned to look a somewhat subdued Albert Colley who
down the tracks, this way and that; the rail- made his way back along the tracks and
road came around a curve, crossed the trestle into his property once more.
and the edge of his property, and disap- He thought about it all night.
peared around a further curve to westward. In the morning he might have forgotten it
He stood for a while on the trestle, smok- but for the fact that he took a look at the
ing a cigar, and taking pleasure in the village weekly he had had delivered to his
sound of night-hawks swooping and sky- house by the rural postman and his eye
coasting in the evening sky. He looked at caught sight of train schedules; trains leav-
his watch. Almost nine o’clock. Well, that ing for the west on the Pacific line were
was as close to mid-evening as a man would scheduled at 6:07 and at 11:23. There num-
want, he thought. bers were different, too — there was no
He left the trestle and was beginning Pacific 421 among them.
to walk leisurely back to the house when Colley was sharp. He had not been en-
54 “WEIRD TALES
gaged in dubious business for practices As nine o’clock drew near, he grew rest-
some becoming shrewd about
years without ive. He looked at his watch several times,
little matters. did not take much to figure
It but the time passed with execrable slowness.
out that something was very much wrong. The train was manifestly late.
He read the railroad schedule over carefully Nine-fifteen, nine-thirty, nine-forty-five
and deliberately, and then got up and took a —and at last ten. No train.
quick walk down through the garden, Colley was more mystified than ever, and
through the woods, to the railroad tracks. he returned to the house that night deter-
Their appearance under the sun was puz- mined to repeat his experiment on the mor-
zling, to put it mildly. They were rusted row.
and gave every evidence of deterioration But on Sunday night he saw no more than
under disuse. Wild roses, fox grass, eve- he had seen the previous day. No locomo-
ning primroses, weeds grew between the tive whistled and roared across the trestle and
ties, and bushes climbed the embankment. away around the curve of the hill, drawing
The ties and the trestle were in good shape, its passenger cars, brilliantly alight after it

but the fact remained that the railroad did — nothing at all. Only the wind sighed and
not have the look of being in use. He whispered at the trestle, and a persistent
crossed the trestle and walked for over a owl hooted from the hillside beyond the
mile until he came to the double track ravine bridged by the trestle. Colley was
which was certainly the main line. Then puzzled, and, yes, a little annoyed.
he walked back until he came to the tracks He went into the village on Monday and
of the main line far around the slope of the paid a call on the agent.
hill on the other side. The cut-off spur “Tell me,’’ he said affably, "doesn’t the
across his property was not more than five old Pacific 421 run out of here any more?”
miles in length, all told. The agent gave him an odd glance. “Not
since the accident. I think even the num-
T WAS well past noon when he re- ber’s been discontinued. Let me see the —
I turned to the house. He made himself accident took place about seven years ago,
a light lunch and sat down to think the when that spur across your land was still
matter over. part of the main line.”
Very peculiar. Then there had been the "Oh, it’s no longer in use, then?”
agent’s half-hearted warning. A faint —
"No, it hasn’t been for years ever since
prickling made itself the roots of
felt at the accident.” He coughed. "You haven’t
his scalp, but something turning over in seen anything, have you?”
his scheming mind was stronger.
It was Saturday afternoon, or he would T WAS at this point that Colley made his
have made it a point to drive into the vil- I He was too clever for his
fatal mistake.
lage and call on the agent; but the agent own good. Because his thoughts were sev-
would be out of his office; the trip would be eral leaps and bounds ahead of the agent’s,
futile. What he could and would do, how- he said gravely, "No. Why?”
ever, was to walk down through the garden The agent sighed his relief. "Well, some
and the woods, over the hill to the railroad people have laid claim to seeing a ghost
embankment in mid-evening and keep an there.” He laughed. “A ghost train, if you
eye out for the Pacific 421. can believe it!”
It was not without some trepidation that "Interesting,” said Colley dryly, his skin
he made his way through the woods to the at the back of his neck chilling.
railroad that night. He was filled with a “That wreck occurred on a Friday eve-
certain uneasy anticipation, but he would ning, and it’s usually on Friday that the so-
not yield to his inner promptings to return called apparition is seen. And then it seems
to the house and forget what he had seen. to have its limitations; I’ve never seen it
He took up his stand at the foot of an old myself; nor have very many people. I did
cottonwood tree and lit a cigar, the aromatic have the experience of being with someone
smoke of which mingled with the pleasant, who claimed to be seeing it. But I never
sweet foliage fragrance to make a pleasant heard of a ghost, man or train, which could
cloud of perfume around him. be seen and heard by one person and not
 PACIFIC 421 55

by someone standing beside him, did you?” Colley lost no time in setting the stage.
"Never,” agreed Colley gravely. He told the old man that it was his regular
"Well, there you are. I was afraid you, habit to walk down to the end of his prop-
too, might have seen something. I was just erty every evening, and would like the old
a little nervous about it.” man to accompany him.
“I suppose that’s what you meant.” Bitterly complaining, the old man went
"Yes. Maybe I shouldn't have said any- along.
thing.” As they approached the railroad tracks
"No harm done,” said Colley, smiling it was Wednesday night, and nothing was

good-naturedly. likely to happen —

Colley coughed unctu-
ously and said that the stretch of abandoned
WAS
H E paying much atten-
really not
tion to what the agent was saying, for
he was busy with his own thoughts. His
tracks before them had the reputation of
being haunted.
"Haunted?” repeated the old man, with a
own thoughts would have been of consider- sarcastic laugh. "By what?”
able interest to his stepfather, for they con- "A train that was wrecked here about
cerned him very much indeed. Philander seven years ago. Pacific 421.”
Colley had a weak heart, and it had occurred "Cock and bull story,” snapped Philander.
to Albert Colley that with a careful build-up "There are people who claim to have seen
and the sudden exposure of the old man to it.”
that ghost train some Friday night, the old "Out of their minds. Or drunk. You
man’s heart might give out on him, and that ought to know what you can see when you’re
would leave Albert, as the old man’s only drunk, Albert. I remember that time you
heir, in sound financial shape. saw your room.”
alligators all over
He had expected the agent to put the you know,” said Albert, trying his
"Still,
matter more or less as he did. Incredible as best to be patient, "one ought not to dismiss
it seemed, the idea of a phantom train was such stories too casually. After all, things
not entirely beyond the bounds of possibility. happen, and science cannot always explain
Of course, curiously, Colley did not actually them satisfactorily."
believe in the phantom train as anything "Things! What things? Optical illusions,
supernatural —
doubtless there was some hallucinations —
such like. No, my boy, you
kind of scientific explanation for it, he felt, never were very bright in school, but I never
thus betraying a juvenile faith in one kind —
thought it would come to this a belief in
of superstition as opposed to another. But ghosts. And what a ghost, to be specific!”
as long as something came rushing along He turned on him almost fiercely. "Have
there and wrecked itself, repeating the you seen it yourself?”
catastrophe of that Friday evening seven "N-no,” faltered Albert.
years ago, it might as well be put to his own "Well, then!” snorted the old man.
use. After all, that train, whatever its status, That ended the conversation about the
did cross his land, and he had a certain phantom train for that evening. Albert was
proprietary right in it. just a little disappointed, but not too badly;
Forthwith he wired his stepfather that he after all, he must go slowly; the groundwork

had got settled, and the old man might like for Friday night’s hoped-for fatal apparition
to come down from his place in Wisconsin must be laid carefully. What he could not
and take a look around Colley’s place in the accomplish on Wednesday, he might well
Missouri country. be able to do on the following evening. And
The old man came, with dispatch. then, on Friday. ..Ah, but Friday was
.

If Albert Colley had his dark side, the still two days away!

old man was cantankerous enough to match

his stepson any day, any time, any place. O, ON Thursday evening they walked
He was the sort of crotchety old devil who S down to the tracks again. The old man
would argue about anything under the sun, wanted to go out on to the trestle, and
at shadow of a provocation.
scarcely the there he stood, talking about trestles in Wis-
Small wonder Colley wanted to get rid of consin from which he had fished as a boy
him! quite a long time before he had married
56 WEIRD TALES
Albert’s mother. Albert had a hard time if somehow it failed, there was always Fri-
bringing the conversation around to the day night a week hence. Patience and forti-
phantom train, and he had hardly men- tude, Albert, my
boy! he told himself, mean-
tioned it before the old man cut him oft with while contemplating with pleasure his acqui-
his customary rudeness. sition of his stepfather’s material possessions.
"Still going on about that ghost train, He resolved to time their visit with the ut-
eh?” most care tomorrow night.
"The fact is, there seems to be some ques- All that day he went out of his way to
tion about the story both ways.” be nice to the old man, on the theory that
"I should think there would be!” He those who are about to die deserve such little
snorted. "I can’t figure out how a sane, pleasures as it is possible to give; and he was
normal, healthy young man would want to unnaturally ready to forgive the old man his
even think of such drivel, let alone go on cantankerousness and irritability which —
about it the way you do.” startled Philander because it was an attitude
"Keep an open mind, Philander,” said for which Albert never won any
medals. If
Albert with ill-concealed asperity. the old man had not been so selfish himself,
"My mind’s been open all my life,” re- he might have thought about this change
torted the old man. "But not to a lot of in his stepson; but he opined that perhaps
silly superstitions and womanish fears.” Albert was in need of money and was about
"I can’t recall having expressed fear of to make a touch, and took pleasure for
any kind,” said Albert frigidly. hours thinking up ways in which to rebuff
"No, but you sound like it.” Albert.
"I’m not in the habit of being afraid of As for Albert, he grew hourly more elated
something I’ve never seen,” said Albert. as that fateful Friday passed on its way.
"Oh, most people are afraid of the dark.” Time went heavy-footed, but Albert could
He strove to peer through the gloom into be patient. After all, Philander’s money
the gully. "Tell me —
sand or rock on the drew closer moment by moment, and it was
sides down there?” of proportions worth waiting for, even if
"Rock for the most part. The sand’s been the old man were not exactly what a man
washed away.” might call "rich.”
"Look to be some trees growing down For some reason, all the signs were aus-
there.” picious. That is to say, along about mid-
"Young ones — just a few.” afternoon, the old man began to recall tales
of hauntings he had heard in his youth, and

POOR Albert!
about rocks,
He lost ten minutes talking
trees, declivities, angles, de-
waxed quite garrulous. Albert considered
this virtually a sign from —
well, not heaven,
of course; heaven would hardly be giving
grees, and erosion of wind as against that of
water, and by that time he was almost too him a green light. Anyway, it was a sign,
exhausted to bring up the subject of the a kind of portent that all was destined to
phantom train again. But he strove manfully happen as Albert planned it.
and came up with a weak question.
"Tell me, Philander —
what would you do O THAT evening he gave Philander one
if you saw that train coming at us?” S of his best cigars, lit it for him jovially,
"That ghost train?” and set out with him for the railroad tracks.
"Yes, the one some people believe in.” He had had a few moments of ghastly fear
"Why, close my eyes till she went past,” man might not accompany him,
that the old
said the old man
promptly. but there was no stopping him. He had
“Then you would be afraid of it,” charged in fact taken over Albert’s little walk, and
Albert. called it his "constitutional.”
“If there were any such thing, you’re darn "This is the night, you know, that ghost
would!”
tootin’ I train is said to appear,” said Albert cau-
That was something in the way of a hope- tiously.
ful sign, at least, thought Albert, walking "Friday, eh?”
slowly back at his stepfather’s side. Well, "Yes, it was on Friday that the accident
tomorrow night would tell the story. And took place.”
 PACIFIC 421 57

"Funny thing — how methodical ghosts remembered with sickening chagrin that the
and suchlike can be, eh?” agent had said many people could not see the
Albert agreed, and then very subtly, ac- train.
cording to plan, discredited the entire nar- But if Philander Colley could not see the
rative, from beginning to end. It would not spectral train, he was nevertheless not im-
do to appear too gullible, when the old man mune. For at the moment that the phantom
knew very well he was not. locomotive came into contact with the mate-
He had hoped they might be able to take rial person of the old man. Philander was
up a stand at the edge of the woods, so that knocked up and catapulted into the gully
Philander might get the best possible view with terrific force, while the agent of his
and the maximum shock at sight of that disaster went on its destined way, its lighted
speeding spectre, but the old man insisted coaches streaming by, vanishing around the
upon walking further. Indeed, he ventured hill, and ending up, as before in a horrific

out upon the embankment, he walked along din of wreckage.

the tracks, he even crossed the trestle. This Albert had to take a minute or two to
was not quite in accordance with Albert’s collect himself. Then he ran as best he
plans, but he had to yield to it; he followed could down the slope to where his stepfather
his stepfather across the trestle, observing in lay.
some dismay that the hour must be close Philander Colley was very thoroughly
to nine. dead. He had been crushed and broken
Even as he thought this, the sound of a just as if he had been struck by a locomo-
thin, wailing whistle burst upon his ears, tive! Albert did not give him a second
and almost immediately thereafter came the thought; however it had been done, Philan-
rumble of the approaching train. Ahead of der’s end had been accomplished. He set
tnem the light of the locomotive swung off at a rapid trot for the car to run into
around and bore down on them; it was the the village and summon help.
ghost train, rushing at them with the speed Unfortunately for Albert Colley, the vil-
of light, it seemed, with kind of demoniac lagers were wholly devoid of imagination.
violence wholly in keeping with the shat- A ghost train, indeed! There was plenty of
tering end to which it was destined to come. evidence from Wisconsin that Albert Colley
Even in the sudden paroxysm of fright and his stepfather had not got along at all
that struck him, Albert did not forget to well. And Albert was the old man’s only
was as he had planned it
act natural; this heir, too! An open and shut matter, in
to pretend he saw nothing; all he did was the opinion of the officials.
Then he
to step off the tracks to one side. If there were any such thing as a phantom
turned to look at his stepfather. What he train, why hadn’t Albert Colley said some-
saw filled him with complete dismay. thing about it before? The agent could tes-
The old man stood in the middle of the tify he had not. It was plain as a pikestaff
right-of-way relighting his cigar. Not a hair that Albert had beaten up the old man and
of his head had turned, and his eyes were probably pushed him off the trestle. With
not closed. Yet he appeared to be gazing commendable dispatch Albert Colley was
directly at the approaching train. Albert arrested, tried, and hanged.
 Bad magic is the province of the issintoks —they who turn themselves

into animals and kill from a distance

Jon. —
You tremble with Arctic cold? OHN THUNSTONE'S dinner guest
Thorwald. With Arctic fear. was not the most remarkable person he
—Pog Abrosto, The Baresarks.
(Trans, by Leon Minshall)
J had ever entertained in public, but al-
most. John Thunstone introduced him to the

Heading by FRED HUMISTON

53
 SORCERY FROM THULE 59

Countess Montesecco, to Verna Hesseldine "How?”asked Miss Hesseldine. "Magic?’'

and to the head waiter of Whiteside’s as She turned to Thunstone. "John, I know
Mr. Ipsu, and Mr. Ipsu acknowledged all
courtesies in a quiet voice, with an accent you believe
—
you study and do amazing things, but do

not immediately classifiable, even in Times "Dear lady,” broke in Ipsu gently, "I
Square. He was of medium height and claim nothing, I only wonder and work. My
slender build, so that he seemed a child be- people must have guidance in hunting, in
side the massive Thunstone. His dinner travel, in a hundred labors and adventures
clothes had surely been tailored in Europe. against the cold and the snow. They ask
His face was square and pleasant and the me what happens ten days’ journey away,
color of a well-roasted fowl, so that his white or a week in the future, and I try to oblige*
teeth seemed whiter by contrast. His narrow, I turn out right more often than not. Or

bright-black eyes had an almost hypnotic there is sickness or peril. I enter the qttaggi
directness. One decided that he might be — the singing-house, you might call it,
Levantine, or Polynesian, or Punjabi; then though we do more there than sing. I do
decided that he was none of the three. and say and think certain formulas. Perhaps
They had a cocktail before dinner, at a I succeed.”

table not too far from the music, and Mr. A little silence. The waiter brought hors;

Ipsu dispelled the mystery. "By vocation I d’oeuvres.

am a sort of religious leader,” he told the "Excuse me if I say the wrong thing,”
ladies. "By inclination, I am a student. By ventured Verna Hesseldine, "but how can
am an an educated and travelled man seriously
race, I Eskimo.”
"The first I ever met,” announced Verna say
—
Hesseldine, who had met most classes and She paused, and Mr. Ipsu smiled again.
peoples apt to turn up at Whiteside’s. "Do "Dear lady, I was bred and seasoned in
you like New York, Mr. Ipsu?” my faith, as you in yours. The nature of
The black eyes and the white teeth smiled. reality is my whole goal of search, and I
Ipsu looked at Thunstone, who was telling have only begun. On the shores of the ocean
the waiter how he wanted the soup seasoned, of knowledge, I gather a few pebbles, but
then at the Countess, and back at Miss Hes- they have substance and shape and reality.”
seldine. "Ask me that in thirty years. I "You must be a worthwhile person, Mr.
don’tknow now.” Ipsu,” said Miss Hesseldine. John here
"You never dreamed of such a place in studies magic and the supernatural, and he
Greenland,” she suggested. wouldn’t consort with you if you were a bad
"No, though I’ve not lived always in — —
what is the word again? if you were a
Greenland. I attended the university at bad angekok.”
Copenhagen, and studied later at Stockholm "Oh,” and he took some spiced sausage,
and Edinburgh. I’ve acted in two motion "the very term angekok means good magic.
ictures, and lectured to women’s clubs in If we fail to do good, it’s only because we
Pos Angeles and Montreal and Chicago. All bungle. Bad magic,” and he grew somber,
this as part of the study of the world that "is the province of the issintoks.”
I felt a good angekok should make.” "Are they powerful, as the angekoks are?’*
”
Angekok repeated the Countess uncer- asked the Countess.
tainly. Mr. Ipsu smiled. "They are powerful in a different way.
"Every Eskimo community has an ange- —
They consort with bad spirits even Sedna,
kok, and white explorers call him a magi- who rules the Night Land. They turn them-
cian, amedicine man, a priest, a soothsayer, selves into strange, unpleasant animals. They
a fourflusher —
a variety of things.” The kill from a distance, by words I would never,
smile became apologetic. "I can’t translate never say.”
the term myself. But angekoks are necessary.
Arctic life is so hard as to be almost impos-
Eskimos have lived and flourished
sible, yet
and developed their own culture since the
THEN he smiled and made a deprecatory
gesture. "But this is boresome, ladies.
I speak of savage superstitions, and of my
beginning of time. I venture to say that we stupid, clumsy self. I am ashamed to show
angekoks help to make their lives livable.” such poor manners,”
<50 WEIRD TALES
"Oh, we want to hear,” protested both phoning for a doctor. Thunstone took a
women, but Ipsu shook his gleaming black clean napkin from the waiter,and wadded
head. it into a compress.
"That you consent to sit with me is more "By rights,” said Ipsu, "I should be dead.
than honor enough. I come from a stone-age Look in my waistcoat pocket, on the left
people. The things I speak about are too side.”
ridiculous to interest you. Please,” he said Thunstone drew a flat cigarette case of
to John Thunstone, "ask them to forgive silver from Ipsu’s pocket. At its center ap-
me.” peared a jagged hole, as if a hard, rough
Verna Hesseldine coughed. "If Eve point had been jammed through it. Ipsu
offended you, I’m sorry.” studied it.

"Offend me?” repeated Ipsu. "I would "The issintok spear.” His voice had
not presume to be offended. I know that I grown stronger. "Driven for the heart, but
have fatigued you with my drivel about blocked away. Isn’t your temperate-zone
Eskimo myths.” magic full of references to silver as a pro-
Thunstone understood. Ipsu, like all tection? Please ask the ladies to excuse us.
well-bred Eskimo gentlemen, was being I was wrong to be coy. I must tell you much
formally modest and abasing himself. He about angekok and issintok and the battle
had been taught that conceit was worse than between them — battle which now opens on
torture or death. Thunstone tried to ap- the New York front.”
proach the little crisis.
"Ipsu,” he said, “I haven’t been to your
country, but I’ve read the books
Dr. Kane, and the others —
—
Freuchen,
who went there
W HEN the doctor came, he spoke about
slight flesh wounds and nervous shocks,
and went away puzzled. Later, lying on the
and who had the sense to observe your cus- cot in his little hotel room, Ipsu talked.

toms. Remember that you’re in my land “I need not persuade you how well en-
now. Do as the Romans do.” chantments work, John. An angekok might
Ipsu brightened. "If you truly want to use the spbS to kill remote game for his
hear
— hungry brothers, but an issintok uses it
"We do,” Verna Hesseldine assured him against human enemies. It calls for prepara-
eagerly. "Tell us about the issintoks, the tion by fasting and chanting, then prayer
evil sorcerers.” to spirits of good or evil, according to the
"This far from where they work, I may good or evil of the wish. Finally, rushing
speak,” began Ipsu, and once again broke to thedoor of the quaggi, you strike out into
off. the night with a certain spear, of peculiar
His mouth hung open, then closed with name and history. It comes back covered
a sudden grinding of teeth. His eyes started, with hot blood. The stricken beast or man
his hand flew to the front of his dinner
jacket and came away with blood on the
is later

of course
—
found stabbed to the heart, unless,
” He picked up the damaged sil-
lingers. ver case, and regarded it gratefully.
"You’re hurt!” cried the Countess. “Why should it be less possible that radio
Thunstone was on his feet. The waiter devices that show the position of a far-off
hurried forward, goggling. ship, which is then smashed by shells fired
"Accident,” said Thunstone. "Where may from beyond the horizon?” said Thunstone.
I take my friend?” "But who, Ipsu? Who would want to kill
The waiter led him to the lounge. Ipsu you, and who would know how?”
staggered as he tried to follow, and Thun- "The only issintok whom I ever chal-
stone lifted him like a kitten, hurrying him lenged,” said Ipsu slowly, "lived far north
along. Laying Ipsu on a couch, he pulled of Etah in Greenland. He and I had a con-
open the coat and shirt. test of magic. It would have interested you,
Ipsu’s brown skin was gashed, just to the I think. When he was shown to be the
left of the breastbone. Recovering a bit, he weaker for that time, his followers turned
on him and drove him from the tribe.
studied the place. "There is one here,” he
said shakily. “John, that was done by
— Wait!” Ipsu sat up. "He is an exile. Perhaps
. . .

The manager of Whiteside’s was tele- far from Greenland. He, too, had studied
 ”

SORCERY FROM THULE 61

among civilized peoples can it be that he — claim to find hidden water or gold. They
has come here?” drove across town. "Ja mua” muttered Ipsu.
"What was his name? Would the police "Turn to the right.” Several blocks toward
be interested?” lower Manhattan, and: —
Ana right again.
"His name was Kumak. If he continued The little brown shop front there ahead.
as he began, police would want him badly. —
Obaba stop!”
But do me a favor by leaving this to me.”
Thunstone bowed his head in agreement.
Ipsu swung his feet to the floor and slid
them into shoes. He buttoned a fresh shirt
ON THE door was a sign proclaiming the
building to be a zoological laboratory.
They entered a dim, old-fashioned room like
over his bandaged chest. "Kumak,” he said a shop, where a gray-haired man in a smock
again. "He knew how to find me, and I was wrapping up something. The customer
shall know how to find him.” He pointed who waited was as brown as Ipsu, but heavy
to the corner of the room. "My side is sore. and coarse-featured. To Thunstone he
Will you lift the small suitcase to the bureau- looked somehow like unfinished handiwork.
top? And open it?” Whatever creator had fashioned him should
It was done. Ipsu took from the suitcase have spent another hour or so at it. . . .

a small roundish parcel, the size of his fist. "Kumak,” Ipsu greeted softly, and the fat
Carefully he unwrapped it and revealed a face turned toward them. Slant, narrow eyes
pitted stone, like a lump of slag from a glowed in recognition.
furnace, then laid it carefully on a table. "You know me, Ipsu,” ventured the man,
Thunstone stooped to examine. "Meteor- bowing jerkily. "I am flattered that a decent
ite.” person speaks to me.”
"Do not touch it. A tornaq—a rock-spirit Ipsu, too, bowed,mandarin. "It
like a
lives there.” is you, Kumak, who lower yourself by rec-

"I’ve read of the belief. Aren’t the strong- ognizing me. His eyes were calculating.
est of the tornait in big boulders?” "You have been living in New York? You
"Those with small homes may be the are a friend of New Yorkers?”
shrewder because of their smallness,” re- "Oh,” protested Kumak, "nobody notices
plied Ipsu sententiously. He took something me. I am so ugly and low that no sensible

else from his case, a carved bone that Thun- man would give me his attention. You are
stone could not identify as being either hu- the first to grant me a word- in many days.”

man or from any animal he knew. This Ipsu Kumak’s eyes shifted to Thunstone. Ipsu
laid beside the meteorite, and looked at made a gesture of introduction. "My friend,
Thunstone. though I am not worthy to call him that.
"If you stay to listen, please do not move John Thunstone.”
or speak. Sit yonder in the corner.” Ipsu "You have named him only to make a
dropped into a chair before the table, and fool of me,” complained Kumak, fidgeting.
drew his feet up under him, Eskimo fash- "I am so stupid and poorly brought up that
ion. Softly he began to sing, a minor tune I have never learned to speak. I am con-
reminiscent of old, old Chinese flute-music: temptible before this great American.” He
"Amna-aya! Amna-aya!” studied Thunstone more closely, as if won-
Thunstone, watching from where he sat, dering where a weapon might strike. The
saw a shadowy movement. The little meteor- man in the smock offered the package, and
ite had stirred, was sliding or turning. It Kumak gave him money.
rolled slowly over, as if impelled by an in- "Where do you live, Kumak?” asked
visible lever. It joggled the bone toward Ipsu.
Ipsu’s hand, and he took it up. Kumak shook his head. "You know I do
"The tornaq empowers the bone,” he said not dare tell a great angekok my wretched
to Thunstone.
wish to come
— “It will guide me. If you dwelling. It is the filthiest and most un-
comfortable room in New York. Even to
Thunstone’s car was parked outside. As speak the address would be to give offense.”
they drove, Ipsu held the bone between his Kumak bowed once more, and shuffled out.
brown palms, and it twitched once or twice, Thunstone had listened in utter fascina-
like the willow rod with which dowsers tion. This was Eskimo formality, the ritual-
62 WEIRD TALES
istic humility that constituted polite dis- ually and steadily, and finally winked out,
course in the Arctic wilds. If it was ever as if a thumb and finger had pinched the
so slightly more extravagant than usual, that flame from the wick. The last flicker showed
meant that the two were being extra alert, Ipsu, squatting on his heels with knees on
extra cautious of each other. Ipsu was staring the floor, arms extended and hands tight
after Kumak. Thunstone turned to the pro- clasped, face raised a little.

prietor. From somewhere rose a vibrating cry,

"What did he buy from you?" deep and musical, like the blast of a bass
The man stared, a little hostile, and from horn. It changed to a wheezing, hissing
his pocket Thunstone drew a small shiny note. Still shaking the skin in rhythm as
badge. Ipsu had directed, Thunstone experimentally
"Police?” asked the man. held the breath that was in his own great
"Of a sort. What did he buy?” lungs. He kept it stubbornly pent up until
"Venom. Snake venom.” A lean old his head swam and his eyes stung. At last
finger pointed to a wire cage on a shelf, he breathed out because he must, and ac
where dozed a great coiled rattlesnake. "He once gulped fresh air and held it until he
was forced to breathe a second time. Not
university
—
had an introduction from someone at the
once in that time did the prolonged hiss
"Come with me,” said Thunstone to Ipsu, break off, or even quaver. It seemed long
"and talk. It seems as ifyour issintok friend minutes before it went silent.
will make a new try with the spear that "Stop now,” said a voice in the darkness
didn't kill you.” that must be Ipsu’s. "Full silence.”
They went back
to the car. The dim-seen squatting figure opposite
"Poison, in the slightest of wounds, Thunstone collapsed where it was, lying on
should succeed,” said Thunstone. the floor like a corpse.
.
"Succeed against us both,” nodded Ipsu. Thunstone laid down the rustling skin.
Kumak knows that you are with me in the Carefully, silently, he leaned forward to
matter, John. You will be attacked, too touch Ipsu’s outflung arm.
perhaps first, perhaps second. Quick, back Ipsu’s wrist was slack and chill. Thun-
to the room. We
must do more magic of stone could feel no pulse. When he let go
our own, and do it first.” the wrist, it fell like a clod to the boards.
Thunstone bent closer, feeling for Ipsu’s

AT IPSU’S quarters, the two went quickly

towork, pushing all furniture to the
walls. Ipsu produced a little soapstone lamp,
heart.

—
It,

The angekok,
magic what else?
too, did not stir.
then,
—
had died. Kumak’s
had stricken him in the
full of hard-congealed fat. Turning out the very midst of his defense conjuration.
electric lights, he kindled the crudely twisted Thunstone got to his feet. His groping
wick of dried moss. A dim glow, pale- hand found the table against the wall, and
brown in color, flickered up, casting strange his fingers touched something the carved —
shadows. bone that Ipsu had used as a guide to
"This room must serve as our quaggi,” Kumak. Thunstone picked it up. It was
he announced. "Sit opposite me on the as warm as a living thing, and seemed to
floor.” quiver between his great fingers. Thunstone
Squatting, Ipsu held up something else, remembered what Ipsu had said of the
a piece of dry, untanned sealskin. It gave Would it lead again
tornaq, the rock-spirit.
out a whisper of crackly sound. "Shake this to the enemy? As if in response to his
in rhythm for me.
— I must call a spirit — thought, the bone stirred more strongly in
strong spirit his grasp.
"A good of course?”
spirit, Thunstone tiptoed to the door and went
"I hope a good one,” replied Ipsu
it is out, hatless and coatless. He did not look
cryptically, and thrust the patch of skin into back at the limp, quiet form of his prostrate
Thunstone’s hand. friend. Downstairs he got into his car. With
Thunstone began to shake it. It rustled one hand he started the motor, shifted gears,
gently, like marching feet in distant dead and with one hand he steered away from the
grass. The light began to die down, grad- curb. The bone, close held in his other hand.
 SORCERY FROM THULE 63

made a throbbing leap to the right.

little center of the floor lay a coiled ring of raw-
Obediently Thunstone turned at the next hide rope —
that would be the mystic doing
corner, turned again when the bone in- of the issintok, the opening into the world
dicated a change of direction. of spirits. And the spear with which death
He rolled past the laboratory where Ku- could be dealt afar was now in Kumak’s
mak had bought snake venom. It was two hand.
blocks further on that the bone seemed to Kumak, stripped to his undershirt and
press backward against his palm, and he trousers, looked shiny with sweat. He held
braked to a halt. As he got out, he felt his the weapon withits butt on the floor and

guide tugging toward a doorway between itspoint upward, at a level with his pudgy
two flights of stone steps. shoulder. The spear-haft was of dark, well-
Kumak must live there. Kumak had seasoned wood, and the head was a full foot
killed Ipsu, would kill others. Kumak had in length, pale yellow in color, fluted and
best die himself. Thunstone, who from time twisted to the tapering point. Thunstone
to time had done considerable killing of his knew what it was. The ancients would take
own and always with the clearest of con- it for the horn of a unicorn, capable of any

science, put the bone in his vest pocket. His magic. In reality it was the ivory tusk of
broad, heavy shoulders hunched, as if ready a norwahl. 4 c-r
i
#

to put power back of a blow. From a small bottle Kumak was anointing
the tip. He sang to himself, softly and

THE lock of the door was simple and old.

The first of the skeleton keys on the
bunch Thunstone carried opened the door.
tremulously, a song of Eskimo enchantment.
Then his magic was not complete. Why
had Ipsu died?”
Inside was a narrow, shabby hallway, with a "Kumak,” said Thunstone.
row of doors on each side. The door-jambs
UMAK
bore cards, lettered in pen and ink. He
looked at the names in turn. Travers. Loren-
zen. McCoy. Kumak.
K looked up. His eyes were no
longer narrow, but bulged and stared.
They were full of green lights, like the eyes
His fingers touched the brass knob, and of a meat-eating animal.
it was icy cold. "You think I cannot kill him,” muttered
He paused a moment, even then, to pon- Kumak. "The shadows from Sedna ripen.
der the connection between thoughts of evil
and thoughts of the Arctic. Lovecraft, who
—
He shall die. But you you die first.”
He faced Thunstone and poised the spear
wrote and thought as no other man about for a throw or a stab. His ungainly body
supernatural horror, was forever comment- seemed to take on a dangerous grace, the
.

ing upon the chill, physical and spiritual, grace of the trained hunter who knows the
of wickedness and baleful mystery. The gear with which he deals death. drop A
ancients had believed in whole nations of of moisture on the ivory tip gleamed in the
—
warlocks to the far north Thule and Hy- moonlight. That would be the rattlesnake
perborea. Iceland and Lapland had been venom. A
scratch would be enough to kill.
synonyms for magic. Where did one find Thunstone set himself to repel any rush.
the baleful lycanthrope most plentiful? In "You die first,” repeated Kumak. "Then
frozen Siberia. Why do natives dare not Ipsu, when the shadows lead my thrust to
scale the snowy crests of the Himalayas? For his heart.”
fear of the abominable ice-demons. Death’s He moved a step forward. His foot
hand is icy. The Norseman’s inferno is a planted itself close to the coil of cord upon
place of utter dark and sleet. the floor.
He opened the door. Then it was that Thunstone saw a bit of
Kumak had spoken truth when he said movement on the cord. It seemed that a
that his living quarters were wretched. The knot, a large knot, tied itself among the
little cube of a room was painted in sad, strands; a knot that was strangely intricate,
rusty colors. The carpetless floorboards were and seemed to tighten steadily. It was a
worn and uneven. Like Ipsu’s hotel cham- brown knot and tense, shaped like a fist.
ber, it had been lighted by a stone lamp No, not like a fist. For it was a fist.
from the Arctic, now burning low. In the A brown hand had come up from within.
<64 WEIRD TALES
the coil and was clinging there, as to the again at Thunstone, as the entity in Kumak's
rim of a manhole. room had smiled.
"I shall kill you,” promised Kumak. "I "I believe you expected to find me dead,"
shall thrust you through the heart, then he greeted his friend.
through the arms and legs, so that you can- "You weredead,” replied Thunstone. "I
not walk or hunt in the Spirit Country. And touched your body, and there was no pulse
with this spear I shall slash the skin from nor heart beat.”
your brow over your eyes, so that your spirit "I was only sleeping very soundly,” ex-
cannot see.” plained Ipsu. "A trance —
any one of sev-
The hand rose, and after it an arm. It eral hundred New York mediums can go
caught Kumak by the ankle, and twitched into one. Will you have a sandwich? Next
him from his feet. you’ll claim that you saw my disembodied
Kumak opened his writhing mouth and spirit in Kumak’s room.”
would have howled, but what whipped out
of the circle of rope was too quick for him. him. "I thought
—
"Indeed I did see it,” Thunstone assured

Another hand was on his mouth, a sinewy “That my ghost was taking vengeance?
brown body, stark naked, flung itself upon It was. But I had not died. I simply left
him to hold him down. There was a struggle my body for a short time and went to do
for the spear. what must be done. Since Kumak had made
Thunstone stood where he was, and his rope-coil —
the doorway to the Spirit
watched. The naked brown attacker was —
Country it was doubly easy to reach him.
blurred at the edges of its silhouette, like Don’t stare, John. Angekoks can do these
the memory of an acquaintance. The memory things.”
of Ipsu. Thunstone sat down and drew in his
breath. He was perspiring.
HEtwo grapplers struggled to their feet. “I might expect strange things from
T The spear was between them, but with
a sudden effort the Ipsu-thing wrenched it
Eskimo magic,” he said at last. "Night,
when magic is strongest, lasts six months
away. There came a darting stroke, the at a time up near the pole.”
abrupt, heavy sound of a blow striking deep "Yet six months is only half of the year,”
into flesh. Ipsu’s image stepped back. reminded Ipsu, pouring coffee. "Snow
Kumak stood wavering. The haft of the clean, white snow — is there forever. White
spear jutted from his panting chest. The is more lasting and more universal than
norwahl tusk, no longer ivory-pale but red, black in the Eskimo land. Therefore magic
stood out between his shoulders. He thudded of good can be stronger than magic of evil.”
down on his face. Ipsu’s dark eyes and his head. "What I have
white teeth flashed a smile at Thunstone. seen
Thunstone shook
is so strange, even to me
—
Then the naked figure slipped, feet first "But what did you see?” Ipsu demanded.
and swifter than a diving seal, back into the "Don’t you think it was only your imagina-
rin? of cord. It sank from sight. tion? You rate me too highly. I am no real
Thunstone stepped across to look. With- angekok. I am not capable of using the
in the rawhide circle there was only floor, wisdom of my people.”
bare and solid. He turned, strode across the "No more of your Eskimo false modesty,”
still twitching body of Kumak, and departed begged Thunstone. "I don’t think I can
the way he had come. endure it just now.”
Back at the hotel he had something else "Just hokus-pokus and trickery, and may-
to stare at. be some self -induced hypnotism in us and
The electric light was turned on in Ipsu’s in Kumak,” went on Ipsu stubbornly. "John,
room, the furniture pulled back into place, you ascribe intelligence and courage to me,
and all the properties of Eskimo magic and I have none of either. I am only the
stow’ed out of sight. On the bureau stood a most stupid and ugly of my people, on whom
tray of sandwiches and a pot of coffee from you take pity. Shall we talk of something
the grill downstairs. Ipsu sat in his shirt that is fit to interest grown men?”
sleeves on the edge of the cot, biting Again he offered the sandwiches. And
hungrily into bread and meat. He smiled winked.
 upERsnnoNS

>NTHE PRIMITIVE AGES

OP TWE. CHURCH, THE
superstition WAS VERY
PREVALENT THAT ANYONE
BORN WITH A CAUL
WOULD LEAD A
PORTONATE LIFE TREE
PROM DANGER *?
-Atone time sr-
CHILDREN'S CAULS !C==L7
WERE ADVERTISED /
TOR SALE TO SAILORS
AND OTHERS GOING
ON LONG V$EA
VOYAGES, AS IT WAS
believed possession'
OF ONE WOULD BE
AN /NFALL/SIE
PfiESEAVAT/Va AGA/mr
MOtomNQ Q
o

Xt was once bslieved

THAT AT THE TIME OF
COCK- CROWING THE
MIDNIGHT SPIRITS rORSOOR
THESE LOWER REGIONS,
AND WENT TO THElR
PROPER PLACES o
xF VENTURE ABROAD
SOONER WAS CONSIDERED
To P/SN ENCOUNTER
MTN A GHOSTTQ
o
 ! ”

ayward Skunk
By HAROLD LAWLOR

T HOUGH it was raining and he

was wet and uncomfortable, it was

springtime in the heart of Henry
Hildreth. For Henry Hildreth, curator of the
Forest Refuge Museum, was in love —
a bliss-
stopping occasionally to wipe the raindrops
from his thick bifocals, Henry’s face was
wreathed in happy smiles.
"Eileen,my adored one!” he said aloud.
Then he ducked his head bashfully. No,
sounded too stilted. He cleared his
ful state which, like the comedy relief in a that
tragic play, was to sharpen the horror of throat and squared his narrow shoulders
the fantastic adventure so soon to befall
him.
manfully.
heart! Oh,
"Eileen,
darling!
I

Oh —
love you! Oh, sweet-

As he scuffled through the wet leaves, "Nuts!” a voice said querulously.

Heading by BORTS DOLGOV

You may love ani-

mals, but don’t
ever let a lovesick
lady skunk attach
herself t o you
Here’s why

66
 ”

THE WAYWARD SKUNK 67

Henry jumped a foot, his eyes rolling like made Henry definitely nervous. There was
two beans in a barrel. He was in a little something alarmingly amorous about it.
clearing in the sodden woods. There was no "What’s your name?” Henry babbled, des-
one in and nothing but a tiny bush
sight, perately making conversation. “Shall I call

beside him, too small for anyone to hide you Tommy?”

behind. Nevertheless, Henry
parted its "Ye gods, no!” said the skunk, looking at
branches and saw two little eyes glaring him pityingly. Now that it was comfortable
balefully up at him, two little shoulders again, the animal’s self-esteem seemed to be
hunched dejectedly above a small round rising in leaps and bounds.
body. “Why not?” Could this be he, Henry Hil-
It was a skunk. dreth, holding this fantastic conversation
Now Henry had a heart
full of love for with a skunk. “Why not?”
"
all animals. On afternoon he was
this late ’Cause I’m a lady skunk, ’at’s why,”
making his second and final trip of the day sniffed the skunk. "Furthermore, I have a
through the forest, on the qui vive for any name. "It’s Stinkilyn. Stinkie, to my dear-
unfortunate animals he might find in need est friends and to you-oo.”
. . .

of succor. And he wouldn’t draw the line And she fluttered her eyelashes at him.
even at a skunk. This appalling sight sent Henry reeling to
—
Henry stuttered, "Are are you hurt?” the corner sink for a long cold drink of
"No,” said the skunk. "Just demned water. Still unstrung, he tottered back.

demp, moist, and uncomfortable.”

"Well, we’ll soon fix that up ” Henry
— est
"Wouldn’t you like to go back to the for-
now, Stinkilyn?” Henry coaxed anx-
began heartily. Then he did a delayed iously. He couldn’t stand much more of
double-take. "Say, are you talking to me?” this.

"Who do you think I’m talking to?” said "No,” Stinkie pouted. "I like it here. I

the skunk fretfully. w ant to stay near you.”

T

—
"But but skunks can’t talk!” Henry ob- "Why?” Henry was vaguely alarmed.
jected. "Because I love you,” Stinkie cooed.
"A fat lot you know,” sneered the skunk. "You’re such a kind-hearted slob.”
Henry would have staggered over for an-

H ENRY took off his hat and wiped his

forehead. It was wet, but not solely
from the rain. Maybe he’d been alone in
other glass of water. But somehow he knew
that all the water in the world wouldn’t help
him now. He wasn’t a drinking man, by
the woods too much. Maybe he was going nature, but he wished —
crazy. As if she read his mind, Stinkilyn put a
"Look,” he said earnestly, determined to small forepaw against her chest and then
settle this thing right now.
talk. Even crows, maybe, but
—
“Parrots can coughed. "You haven’t got a spot of gin
around here anywheres, have you pal? My
"If they can do it, why not I?” asked the lungs, you know. Delicate. Delicate as
skunk, w’ith a despondent sneeze. all hell.” She coughed again, her little eyes
Well, it sounded reasonable enough. Per- brightly expectant.
haps there was a flaw in the argument some "Certainly not!” Henry said righteously.
place, but if so, Henry couldn’t quite seem And he fancied she looked disappointed. A
to put his finger on it. In a daze, he bent suspicion reared its ugly head in Henry’s
down and lifted the furry little black-and- mind. Could Stinkilyn have been a gangster
white body. He hurried back to the Mu- skunk’s moll? She talked like it. She acted
seum, hoping the skunk wouldn’t misbehave like it. And there was a certain reckless,
itself before they reached there. But it devil-may-care glitter in her eye that made
didn’t. He might have been carrying a Henry think she even looked like it.

scentless rose. The only thing Henry no- But before he could put the question to
ticed was that the skunk seemed to be well, — her, the telephone bell trilled.
almost snuggling up to him. And the soft It was Eileen, ripping mad. "Henry,
light in its eyes, when it was dry and warm do you know what time it is? I thought you
and perched on the middle of Henry’s desk, were taking me to the 'Glass Slipper’!”
 ” ” — ”

68 WEIRD TALES
"Oh, Eileen, it’s you, Henry
darling,” nose, her big blue eyes. And Eileen loved
faltered. Stinkie was tugging at his elbow Henry, which was a constant source of
distractingly, making conversation difficult. amazement to all their friends. Once one,
"Go ’way!” he hissed, aside. braver than the rest, had asked her what she
"What!” Eileen said. saw in Henry. To which she’d replied
"I’m tallking to a skunk,” Henry said thoughtfully, "Women in love are fools.”
hastily. Even Henry had thought her explanation
!”
" What Eileen said. both terse and plausible.
"Not you, darling,” Henry moaned. "Henry, are you all right?” she asked
"Stinkilyn.” now, peering suspiciously into the gloom of
“Henry, you’ve been drinking!” Eileen his office.
said. "I’m coming right over.” Henry hurried over to her. "Darling!”
Stinkie gave Henry a vicious jab. "Is He kissed her with a lingering warmth. Too
Eileen the one you were drooling about in lingering.
the woods? Tell her if she shows her face "C’mon, break it up, break it up!” Stinki-
around here, I’ll cut her heart out.” lyn snarled from the desk-top.
"Did you hear me, Henry?” Eileen re- They jerked apart. Eileen stared over at
peated. "I’m coming right over.” the skunk, and back at Henry.
Henry hesitated. "Henry, do I look all right?” she asked
"Just bear in mind what I said,” Stinkie anxiously.
said darkly. "Certainly, my dear. You were never
Henry shuddered. lovelier.”
"Who’s there with you?” Eileen asked Eileen didn’t appear convinced. "Henry,
suspiciously. —
you know funny thing! I could have—
"No one, dear,” Henry said quickly. sworn that skunk spoke to us!”
"Look* honey, you’d better not come over. "What’s so funny about that?” Stinkie
I’ll —— I’ll meet you — somewhere — some asked truculently.
time Eileen passed a hand over her forehead.
"Shut up!” Eileen said. And the receiver "I —
I think maybe I’d better sit down. I—
clicked in Henry’s ear. Eileen was a girl I feel —
sort of funny.”
who knew when to be firm. She was also, Elenry led her over to a chair with tender
Henry remembered nervously, the jealous solicitude. From the desk, Stinkilyn eyed
type. them both malevolently.
He pushed the phone away from him and "There, there, you’ll be all right.” Henry
regarded Stinkie with eyes that were meant
—
patted Eileen’s shoulder cautiously. "We’ll

— —
to be menacing. "She’s coming over any- go to the 'Glass Slipper,’ and
way. If you harm her, I’ll Eileen nodded weakly. “Maybe with a
I’ll

“You won’t do a thing,” Stinkie sneered, —

few under my belt ” Her voice trailed
prolonging the vowels unpleasantly. vaguely away.
"Why won’t I?” "Come,” Henry said, and helped her to
"Because I’ve still got an ace or two up her feet.
my sleeve,” Stinkie said complacently. And There was a commotion from the desk.
she put her thumb to her nose and wiggled Stinkie was stamping her hind feet in a
her fingers at him. towering passion. "You’re not walking out
It was a revolting sight. Henry thought on me!” she screamed. "I’m going, too!”
he’d never seen such a depraved skunk. They "Oh, no, you’re not!” Henry said.
sat in moody silence until Eileen’s arrival. "The hell I ain’t!” Stinkie said ungram-
matically. She turned her back on them.
HE
must have taken a cab over, she ap- They could see one small bright eye regard-
S peared so quickly. She was all the way ing them wickedly from over her shoulder.
into Henry’s study before he even knew she "Make one move to leave and I’m going
was there. to
Eileen was a very pretty girl. Henry loved Eileen screamed. "Henry! If you let that
her dusky curls, her cute little pushed-up nasty little beast —
!”
 THE WAYWARD SKUNK 69

Henry surrendered hastily. "All right, iyn, but she wasn’t above exercising a little
Stinkiiyn, you win. You can come.” feminine diplomacy. "But look, Stinkie,
Stinkie abandoned her threatening atti- Hc-nry’s human. Or almost. Don’t you
tude. She breathed on the nails of her left think it would be wiser of you to center
paw and polished them on her right fore-
arm complacently. She even smiled, her
—
your affections on uh, a gentleman skunk?”
"I’ve known lots of gentlemen skunks,”
good humor completely restored. Henry Stinkiiyn said, with a w'orld-weary shrug.
breathed a sigh. Two distraught humans and "When you’ve known one, you’ve known
a smug skunk started for the "Glass Slip- them all. I love Henry.”
per.” Eileen and Henry exchanged baffled
glances. Eileen made a helpless gesture
NCE
O in Henry’s stodgy middle-class se-
dan, with Henry at the wheel, Eileen
recovered her senses sufficiently to demand
with her hands. There seemed really noth-
ing more, the gesture said, that she could
do.
an explanation. As if she knew she were mistress of the
"Now, Henry, who’s your furry friend?” situation, Stinkie hummed a little air:
she asked. "And what’s all this about?” "I'm a redheaded woman, lah-de-dah . ,
.*•

From where she was sitting between them,

Stinkie giggled maliciously. T THEIR table in the "Glass Slipper,”
The car swerved under Henry’s nervous Eileen said almost tearfully, "Henry,
hands. "I don’t know what it’s all about,” you’llhave to do something! I’m not play-
he quavered. "Stinkiiyn seems to have con- ing second fiddle to a sk-skunk!”
tracted an embarrassing —
uh, fondness for "What can I do?” Henry quavered. He
me. You might even call it a grande pas- looked over cautiously at Stinkiiyn, whom
sion.” . /
he’d smuggled in under his coat. Some ser-
Eileen believed in going directly to the pent’s wisdom had told him that head-wait-
center of things. She looked down at Stin- ers w'ere apt to be stuffy about skunks.
kie. "Why do you love him? He isn’t was paying absolutely no atten-
Stinkiiyn
much.” tion to them. She was listening to the music
Stinkie rolled a languid eye. "Why do you with rapt attention, beating time absently on
love him?” she countered maddeningly. the table with a spoon. A napkin was tied
Eileen was somewhat at a loss. “Well, rakishly under her chin. Quite a few people
he’s —
he’s kind of sweet.” w erer
staring at the trio.
"Exactly,” Stinkie said. Eileen was embarrassed. "You’ll have to
’
"Besides,” Eileen went on, warming to do something. People are looking. Perhaps
her task, "you get kind of tired of wide- —oh, say! Suppose we get Stinkiiyn blotto?
shouldered, slim-hipped heroes. It’s a re- Maybe she’ll go to sleep.”
lief to meet a narrow-shouldered guy with a Henry brightened. He crooked a finger
paunch.” at their waiter. "Two Scotch highballs,
"Just so,” Stinkie agreed. "Another thing, Jack. And —
uh, some Vat 69, straight in a
he’s full of practically nothing but the milk demi-tasse.”
—
of human kindness a quality rare in the The gaunt waiter looked a little startled.

male. I suppose my -feeling for him is "Vat 69 straight, sir, in a demi-tasse, sir?”
chiefly maternal.” She looked at him mistily. Stinkie stopped listening to the music.
"Good old pot-bellied Henry!” She ran a tongue over her evidently dry
Henry drew his neck into his collar, turtle- lips. "You heard him, Jack. And toss a
fashion. It was pretty embarrassing to hear littlegay abandon into it, willya? In other
two women who loved you dissecting your words, step on it.”
merits so dispassionately. He did wish they’d The waiter went white as a sheet. He
stop discussing his charms quite as if he were stared at Stinkie, and looked like a man who
not there. To cover his confusion, he kept couldn’t believe he’d seen what he’d seen.
his eyes on the road with a sort of desper- Or heard what he’d heard. Then a doubtful
ate intensity. smile cracked his dour features. He looked
Eileen quite evidently didn’t like Stinki- at Henry in relief.
f70 WEIRD TALES
"Oh, I see, sir. You're a ventriloquist, to right the tray he was holding aloft. But
sir?" Ha, ha!" he was too late. It tipped, carrying a brim-
"Ha, ha!" Henry echoed, wishing that he ming glass with it.

might fail through the floor. Stinkilyn, who had resumed her chair, was
Eileen tried to look as if she weren’t sit- deluged from chin to tail. There was one
ting at the table with either of them. long moment of dreadful silence, then
Stinkie winked at Henry. "Oh, boy, could "Why, damn your clumsy eyes!” Stinkie
Jack ever be wrong, though, huh?” screamed, dripping. "Just for that I’m gonna
The waiter tottered away, glancing back blow this dump wide open!”
occasionally over his shoulder. When he Pandemonium broke loose. Women
came back, he served their drinks hurriedly, screamed. Strong men uttered hoarse cries.
a badly shaken man. Eileen vanished in the hubbub. A bouncer
But alas! Henry thought, for Eileen’s rushed over, flanked by two waiters. The
plan. For Stinkie, instead of sleeping, grew gaunt waiter pointed at the shrinking Henry
noisy and gregarious in her cups. She wanted and yelled, "This here’s the guy. A ven-
”
to sing. She wanted to visit from table to triloquist. And he’s got a skunk with him!
table.Above all, she wanted to dance. Once The bouncer and his cohorts closed in.
she went to the powder room, and weaved Someone threw a bottle. The lights went
back giggling. "Boy, was my nose hie! out. Henry remembered nothing more.
— shiny.”
»

Henry carefully avoided Eileen’s eyes. HE gutter was no Beautyrest.

"You’d 'better dance with her,” Eileen Henry groaned, and opened his eyes
said coldly, "before she gets us tossed out of reluctantly. Stinkilyn was sprawled across
here on our ear.” deep in a drunken sleep. There
his stomach,
It was a rhumba. Ordinarily, Henry were two blue tree-trunks directly in front
wouldn’t have been able to do it. But he was of Henry’s jaundiced gaze. He followed
more than a little lit himself by now. As them upward apathetically to where they
Stinkie wasn’t very tall, even standing erect blossomed into the rosy Irish face of a po-
on her hind legs, Henry had to crouch in a liceman.
particularly repulsive fashion. This posture, A ham-like hand gripped Henry’s collar,
together with the abandoned wiggling of the and yanked him to his feet.
anatomy necessary to the rhumba, caused "Thir'rty years have I, Michael Murphy,
among the other dancers quite a bit of com- pounded this b’at, but niver have the eyes of
ment —
most of it unfavorable. Henry was me seen so disg/wAng a sight!” The officer
aware of icy stares, but they didn’t cool him shook his head sadly.
off. He was all in a glow. Stinkilyn, who’d been unceremoniously
Stinkilyn said rapturously, "I could go on dumped into the gutter and wakened, eyed
and on.” Murphy with distaste. "I’ll get your star for
Henry couldn’t. this, you stupid flattie, you!” she snarled.
When the dance ended and they returned Henry shuddered and closed his eyes.
to the table, he asked Eileen nervously, When he opened them again, Murphy’s rosy
"How did we look?” face was an eggplant.
"Damn silly,” Eileen said. She was wield- "’Tis very clever- you are,” Murphy told
ing a lipstick with a curious air of finality. Henry softly. He shook him, not gently. "A
Henry’s heart plummeted to his heels. ventriloquist, is it? Come along, and bring
—
"You’re not going?” he faltered.
"I’ve had all one woman can stand.”
j’our pet wid ye. Yez can tell your story at
Night Court to Judge Grooch, the Terror
Eileen bit off the words. She went on, a
shade theatrically, "Painful though it may
of Three Rivers.”
"Officer, I
— ” Henry began.
be, Henry, I’m afraid we’ve reached a part- "Shuddup!” Murphy said. He added
ing of the ways." thoughtfully, sucking air through his teeth.
She stood up and pushed back her chair "Yez, ’ll get the chair for this, or I don’t
so abruptly that it bumped into the gloomy know Judge Grooch.”
y/aiter. He teetered desperately, and tried Henry could almost have welcomed the
 ”

THE WAYWARD SKUNK 71

diair. What had life to offer him now? He’d courtroom so it smells worse than it does
lost Eileen, the only girl he’d ever loved. now!”
And now — this added disgrace. He, who’d "Who spoke?” Judge Grooch half-rose
never been arrested before in his life! With from the bench and peered over his desk.
a sinking heart and downcast eyes, he picked "Who had the temerity to tell me I have a
up Stimkie and waited while Murphy called lousy disposition? Who suggested my court-
the wagon. —
room uh, smells?”
"
Murphy, Henry reflected later, evidently Murphy cleared his throat again. ’Tis
knew Judge Grooch only too well. Judge this here guy, Your Honor. He’s a ven-
Thaddeus Grooch was a choleric little man triloquist.” And he pointed to the cower-
with a very red face, and thin tufts of cot- ing Henry. "He makes his voice come out
ton for hair and chin whiskers. He suffered of the skunk.”
from chronic dyspepsia, and his temper was "Ah!” said Judge Grooch ominously.
not of the best. Desperation lent wings to Henry’s tongue.
Night Court itself smelled of carbolic "Your Honor, I’m not a ventriloquist. This
acid and sweating humanity. Henry didn’t skunk can talk. And I can prove it
—
like it.

Judge Grooch stalked in, looking neither UDGE GROOCH sank back in his seat.
to right nor left, settled himself on the "I’m a reasonable man. I’ll give you
bench, and arranged his robes about him to justtwo minutes to tell me why I shouldn’t
a nicety. He saw the skunk for the first give you a year.”
time, and carefully averted his eyes. Then Henry straightened with faint hope.
he favored Henry with a long scrutiny. "Your Honor, let Officer Murphy take me
Somehow Henry got the impression that out into the hall, and close the door. If
the judge didn’t care much for him. the skunk talks to you, you’ll know it’s not
"Well, Murphy,” Judge Grooch squeaked me. I’llbe too far away.”
at last, "and what’s this beauty in for?” "Done!” said Judge Grooch.
Murphy cleared his throat importantly. Henry suffered himself to be led down
“Drunk and disorderly, distur’rbing the the aisle by Murphy. At the door. Judge
peace, resisting arrest, insolence to an offi- Grooch called, "If I find you’re wasting the
cer, AND—” court’s time, you’ll rue this day, I promise
Judge Grooch held up his hand. you!”
"Enough!” he said. He gave Henry a glance Henry shivered. He threw a glance of
of acute dislike. "I can see for myself the appeal at Stinkilyn, who was watching the
man has a criminal skull.”
"Your Honor
— ” Henry began desper-
proceedings with bright eyes. She waved a
paw airily at Henry.
ately. "And, Murphy,” Judge Grooch added.
"Thirty days,” said Judge Grooch. "Just as an added precaution, keep your
"But, Your Honor—” hand over the fellow’s mouth while you’re

"But, I
—
"Sixty days,” said Judge Grooch.
” Henry wailed.
out there.”
"Yes, Your Honor!” Murphy said, as if
"Ninety days,” said Judge Grooch. "Do it would be a pleasure.

you want me to lose my temper? Not for Henry suffered the agonies of the damned
nothing am I called 'the Terror of Three during the three minutes that ensued. Know-
Rivers’!” He clawed at his head, tearing out ing Stinkilyn, he felt sure it would be just
a tuft or two of hair. like her to refuse to talk. And then where
Henry shrugged his shoulders in help- would he be? When the door opened, and
less defeat and was about to turn away when a bailiff said, "You can come back now.”
Stinkilyn took the situation in hand. She sat Henry walked down the long aisle with a
up on her haunches and glared at Judge pounding heart.
Grooch. The courtroom was ominously silent. No
“Your Honor, my disposition is just as one was looking at anyone else. The judge’s
lousy as your own,” she snapped. "Let face was set into a mask of rigidity. Only
my boy friend go, or so help me I’ll fix this Stinkie seemed at ease. She was covering a
 ”

72 WEIRD TALES
yawn with a polite paw. Henry’s heart mis- Ah, Henry thought, that was indeed the
gave him. question.
Judge Grooch leaned forward. "Henry He was sitting slumped despondently at
Hildreth, the court finds that you’ve been his desk in the Museum when Stinkilyn
telling the truth. You are free. BUT— wandered in, yawning, and primed to talk
with one condition.” of the past night’s exciting events. She
Henry caught his breath. "Yes, Your leaped to his desk with a groan, and sat
Honor?” there companionably.
The judge pointed a shaking finger. "The "What a night!” she said. "My feet! That
court gives you just one day to get rid of blitzkrieg rhumba of yours like to laid me
that — that animal! If you still have it out.” And she giggled reminiscently.
twenty-four hours from no, I’m sending you Henry was not amused. If there was one
to the chair! Now
clear out!” thing in life he wanted to forget it was the
Henry started. memory of last night and its whole ghastly
"Stop!” Judge Grooch called, and Henry’s chain of revolting events.
heart sank. Had the judge been playing "Stinkie,” he said sternly, "I’m going to
with him? But the judge only pointed to send you away.”
Stinkilyn. "Take her with you.” “That’s what you think,” Stinkie said,
Henry scooped up the willing animal, with a gamin grin.
and fled to the outer air. It wasn’t until Henry clutched at his composure with
they were back in the sedan, headed for both hands. He tried again. "Stinkie, you
home, that Henry looked at Stinkie suspi- If you really love
ciously. me
—
heard Judge Grooch.

"Justwhat did you say to Judge Grooch?” "I do, darling. I truly, truly, duly do!”
"Oh, we chatted about this and that,” She leaned over and patted his shrinking
Stinkie said demurely. check with one small paw. "As for Judge

"Well
—
"Such as?”
” Stinkie giggled at the memory.
Grooch, pooh for Judge Grooch!”
Henry groaned. He might just as well
“I recited a limerick.” go and leap off a dock. There was no other
"A limerick? What
kind of limerick?” way out. There was only one thing to be
Stinkilyn made a great show of searching thankful for. Stinkie had already done her
her memory, though it was perfectly obvious worst. Henry clung to that comforting
to Henry that she remembered it very well. thought as a drowning man to a straw.
"Tell me,” he gritted, "or I’ll—” Stinkie couldn’t possibly do anything more
"It went like this,” she said imperturb- to disgrace him.
ably, and quoted in a nauseating singsong: He didn’t know Stinkie.
"Hark!” Stinkie said. She cocked her head
"There is an old judge of Three Rivers at the sound of a car in the driveway. "Visi-
Whose stupidity gives me the shivers tors?”
But soon he’ll be dead Maybe it was Eileen! And then Henry
From scratching his head remembered. Remembered with one horri-
And running his hand full of slivers!” fied intake of breath. He didn’t know how
And Stinkilyn dissolved into strangled it could possibly have slipped his mind. But
giggles at her own wit. —
today today was the day for the annual
It was a wonder to Henry that they’d visit of L. Ponsonby Maxworth, the million-
escaped with their lives. aire, the Museum’s greatest benefactor, the
man to whom Henry owed his very job and
HE world was just one great big eight- existence!
T ball to Henry next morning. And he Henry leaped up. But it was too late. L.
Ponsonby Maxworth entered the study, pre-
was behind it. He’d lost Eileen. He was
practically under sentence of death unless ceded by his stomach. He was clothed in
he got rid of Stinky. —
And he still had the aura of his twenty-three millions, and
Stinkie. All very well for Judge Grooch to chuckling unctuously.
tell him to get rid of Stinkilyn. But how? "Dear old chap!” he said to Henry, patro-
 ”

THE WAYWARD SKUNK 73

nizingly. "What's this I see in the morning Wait’ll His Honor learns ye’ve still got that
papers about your genius for ventrilo-
quism?”
disgvj/ing animal.”
"Disgusting animal, your ownself
—
It was only too evident from his smile that And kept it up ail
Stinkie began spiritedly.
he’d read only the headlines and those per- — theway to the Municipal Building.
haps on the fly. He couldn’t have read the The human being can bear just so much,
whole ghastly story. Henry breathed deeply. and no more. Once the breaking point is
Perhaps the situation might yet be saved. But reached, a sort of automatic anaesthesia is
there was one thing he could allow to go no set up by the brain, easing most of the pain.
farther. He must destroy, without a min- Thus with Henry Hildreth.
ute’s loss of time, L. Ponsonby Maxworth’s Through a merciful haze, he was but dim-
illusions as to his ventriloquial gifts. ly aware of the sights, sounds, and smells of
"Mr. Maxworth,” Henry said bravely, Judge Grooch’s courtroom. It seemed that
"you’re mistaken. I’m not a ventriloquist.” he had scarcely been away. It might, in-
"Not — ?” This was perhaps the first time deed, have been the same scene, except that
in his life that L. Ponsonby Maxworth had a glamorous woman reporter had been
ever heard anyone say him nay. The great added. Someone had seen a human interest
man was offended. L. Ponsonby Maxworth story in the affair.
was never mistaken. He wagged a mina- Again Judge Grooch entered. Again he
tory finger. "Contradicting, Henry! Con- arranged his robes to his own satisfaction.
tradicting, up and down!” Again he viewed the motley crew before him
Henry turned pale. He opened his mouth —
with a lacklustre eye Officer Michael Mur-
to apologize,which was unfortunate. phy, Henry Hildreth, and Stinkilyn.
For Stinkie chose that moment to say, From somewhere about her person, Stinki-
"Henry, you do know the most fat-headed lyn had produced a hand mirror. She was
people!” promenading now in a circle, regarding her
small face in the mirror which she held
PONSONBY MAXWORTH couldn’t aloft. It was distressingly evident that she
• believe his ears. He stared at Henry, was still unabashed, for she was singing:
who quailed. He
stared at Stinkilyn, who
returned his stare blandly and quite without "Oh, that redhead gal!
awe. The great man collected himself. Oh-ho-ho-oh, that redhead gal!'’

"Woe betide the prevaricator, Henry!”

He added portentously, "I trust there will And when she saw the judge, Stinkilyn
be no repetition of this unfortunate —uh, walked toward the bench with an exag-
jest.” gerated swaying of her hips to salute him
Before Henry could prevent it, Stinkilyn with an offhand, "Greetings, chump. How’s
said, "Henry, who is this pompous old the bo>?”
windbag?” Henry waited for the explosion. But
Henry sank into a chair. L. Ponsonby Judge Grooch didn’t say a word. His eyes
Maxworth closed his eyes, and sighed. He only swept the courtroom like an airplane
said, “Henry Hildreth, your connection with beacon, daring anyone to titter. There was
this Museum is severed. You are, in a something ominous about his composure. He
word, sir, discharged. As of this instant.” had the air of a man biding his time, secure
And Ponsonby Maxworth turned and
L. in the knowledge that he held the winning
made for the door with ponderous tread. As card.
he went out one door, Murphy entered by
another. Officer Michael Murphy, who
stopped and stared, more in sorrow than in
Henry
BUT before the judge could open his
mouth, there was a dramatic interrup-
The
anger, from Stinkilyn to Henry. tion. nail-studded leather doors of the
blushed at the reproach in that silent glance. courtroom were thrown open, and a tear-
"Do me eyes deceive me?” Officer Mur- stained Eileen rushed down the aisle to take
phy asked sadly. "Kin I believe the iwi* her place at Henry’s side. From somewhere,
dence of me own senses? Come along, now. he supposed, she’d heard the news of his re-
74 WEIRD TALES
arrest, and her tender heart had been Grooch rasped. "You’re still going to jail,
touched. Henry Hildreth!”
Stinkilyn jumped to the judge’s desk for Stinkilyn held up her paw. "Wait!” While
a better view of the newcomer, and when Eileen and Henry held their breath, she
she saw who it was, she bristled. peered into Judge Grooch’s face. "If I go
The judge’s gavel rapped for order. He back to the forest voluntarily, will you free
cleared his throat, and spoke directly to Henry? And will you ask Mr. Maxworth to
Henry. returnhim his job?”
"Why did you not rid yourself of this The judge hesitated.
animal as ordered? Before I sentence you, Stinkie said mildly, "I think I can feel
satisfy an old man’s curiosity, will you? another limerick coming on.”
What sneaking fondness do you entertain The judge hastily assented.
for this animal, that you can’t give her up?” Then Stinkilyn went on, muttering almost
Here he threw a disparaging glance at Stink- as if musing to herself. "Maybe my life
ilyn that would have withered a less self-as- hasn’t been what it should have been. Maybe
sured skunk. "Do you love the creature, the world might call me bad, but listen.
heaven forbid?” —
Judge” and here her voice dropped low
—
He seemed really to want to know. as she patted Judge Grooch’s vest "I got a
Perhaps it was Eileen’s arm through his heart, Judge. I wouldn’t come between a

that gave Henry new courage. Perhaps it man and his unborn babe.”
was his subconscious that suggested the an- There wasn’t a dry eye in the courtroom.
swer. Who can explain these things? But Judge Grooch blew his nose violently.
at last his fogginess lifted, and he saw a "Then clear out, clear out, the lot of
desperate chance to resolve his difficulties. you!” he barked. "Case dismissed.”
" Love her? I've been trying desperately
to get rid of her,” he said scornfully, and
his voice was loud and clear.
—
"I love no H ENRY and Eileen went with Stinkilyn
to the road that led into the forest. At
one but my wife.” And he indicated the parting of their ways, Stinkie looked up
Eileen. into Henry’s face, as if impressing his linea-
On the judge’s desk, Stinkilyn reeled as ments into her memory. Her eyes were
from a blow. "You’re married!’’ she cried. —
bright ^perhaps with unshed tears.
But she made a quick recovery. "Well, that’s "Think of me sometimes, and not un-
okay. I’m the broad-minded type, myself.” kindly, my dear,” she said. "I loved you,
And she winked, quite in her old manner. Henry, after my fashion—-not wisely, but too
Henry’s heart misgave him. It wasn’t go- well.”
ing to work. But he went on, thankful he And with these noble words she was gone,
was not under oath. He addressed himself an obviously broken woman, down the long
solely to Stinkilyn, while Judge Grooch and lonely road leading to the forest —
and exile.
the others seemed too puzzled to do anything Eileen said tearfully, "Oh, Henry, look at
but listen. her! She seems so little and gallant and
"Furthermore, Stinkie,” Henry said very alone.”
sternly, "perhaps you’ll be interested to learn They watched the small receding figure.
that I— —we that is, Eileen is expecting a Henry swallowed past some obstruction in
baby. A baby whose father will be a jail- and made no answer.
his throat,
bird — a jailbird whose only sin was that you Eileen looked at him. "Whatever made
allegedly loved him and pursued him so you tell Stinkilyn those lies? I’m not your
heartlessly.” wife.”
Shaken by his impassioned pleading, his "But you’re going to be,” Henry de-
own rhetoric, Henry paused to wipe the fended.
moisture from his forehead. When he "And I’m
—
not going to have a baby.”
looked up, it was to see Stinkilyn visibly "But you’re going to
drooping and hanging her head. Tears glit- "Henry Hildreth!”
tered in her eyes. Henry blushed hotly. "I had to say those
"This is all beside the point,” Judge things. It was my last chance to appeal —
 . — ,

THE WAYWARD SKUNK 75

to Stinkie’s maternal instinct. Remember? The black and white figure didn’t
little

She said she had one.” falter. She was almost at the forest now.
Again they turned to look after Stinkilyn. Just before she disappeared she held the
The next instant they were both galvanized. shining tiling aloft. Faintly her voice came
For now they saw that Stinkie’s hips were back to them:
once again swaying with their old assurance. "This?” she caroled smugly, and her
And she was singing her old ribald song: giggle was unregenerate as ever, "Why, this
"I’m a redheaded woman, lah-de-dar!” is a bottle of 'Everywoman’s Love Life’ per-
Eileen clutched at Henry’s arm. "What’s fume I lifted from that newshen. There’s
that she’s got?” a twenty-percent tax on cosmetics now, you
His heart skipped a beat. Appalled, he know, and maybe I couldn’t have afforded
cried out, "Stinkie, what’s that you have in to change my scent occasionally. I might
your paw?” want to; you never know!”

W E HAD moved into a stanch old house,

But we had not expected to find
So many rat holes. Even a mouse
Rats
Nibbling at night can trouble the mind BY GLENN WARD DRESBACH
—
With some misgivings but the sound
Of rats gnawing everywhere is more
Than honesty can stand. Around
That place feet scurried under the floor
And pattered on the ceiling, before
We covered all the holes with tin
And nailed it —
down and kept rats out . .

But still their many sounds came in.

Each night our traps would catch a few-

But reinforcements would renew
The foraging. There was no way
Of being kind to rats outside
And of showing kindness to ourselves,
While some new strategy they tried
Still hoping to empty all our shelves!

A dog would sicken on such prey.

The task was too much for a cat.
—
And so we fed rats meat and that
Had strychnine in it! Gnawing ended . .

With that old house at last befriended!

 Weirds of the Woodcarver

H E DWELLS in a dusty little shop off

a side street in downtown Brook-
lyn. The dirt on the windowpanes
is thick and grimy, as though unwashed for
years. But when you open the door to the
on
First you see the tiny figurines standing
their shelves, painted and carved in exact
They stand there,
similitude to living beings.
row on row. If you look closely, you can see
people you know. There is an old woman in
shop itself, a new world unfolds before you. a shawl, sorrow etched into her drooping
eyelids and sunken lips. There walks a
blonde girl who might be a model, with
and lissome hips.
lovely legs in short skirts
Here is a young man, perhaps a lawyer on
his way to court, for he carries a briefcase.
There is a tattered tramp, slouching. Men
and women, boys and girls, all of them
sculped in living attitudes, stretching out
endlessly, so many that their sheer numbers
make your head swim. You do know one
or two of them, as you look closer.
You see strange markings on their breasts,
a sign carved there ineradicably in wood.
Some of those marks are of crosses worked
in queer design as if glimpsed through alien

76
 ”

By GARDNER
F. FOX

eyes. Some other marks are — well, different. at me like that, searching, hunting. I felt
You are not able to discern their twistings, queerly relieved when he smiled.
somehow, no matter how you peer and strain. "I’m a reporter,” managed. "I’d like to
I
For those marks are unearthly, cosmic, of do a little article on you for the Sunday sup-
the realms of some purple hell spawned be- plement. They say you’re the oldest wood-
fore the planets. Involuntarily, you shudder carver in town.”
a little. You feel cold. And no wonder, for He smiled and nodded.
you are facing the signet of all the evils of "I guess so. Yes, I must be. I have been
all the ages of all the universes. . . . here a long time. A very long time. Too
Look now at the small man seated behind long.”
the hacked and pitted bench. He peers up His voice was deep, throbbing, resonant.
at you over the battered edges of his cheap An odd voice for such a little man. It con-
glasses, his head held slightly awry, as veyed notions of other forms of life, of be-
though it were too heavy for his neck. His ings vast and powerful, of other worlds
eyes search you, go deep within you, prob- where life took different paths.
ing, seeing something you have never seen, "Then you will tell me about yourself,”
and only admitted to yourself on a dark
night, in bed and alone, and afraid. . . . I’ll get a raise, and
—
I hurried on, eagerly. "If I get an interview,

I drew a deep breath. He was looking " —and you will be married.”

Heading by MATT FOX

There have been strange creatures generated in the billions of years that Earth
has known; the strangest of these —the Primal Ones!

TT
 — —

78 WEIRD TALES
It didn’t seem strange, his guessing. You eyes watching me. He drew a deep breath
sort of expected it from him, sitting there so and looked at his hands. "It is a long story,
little yet so big, among those untold thou- how I came to be here. I do not know just
sands of Funny, but none of
little statues. how to tell it. Perhaps it will be easier if I

them ^eemed be for sale.

to show you some of my older carvings.”
"I will tell you all about me, yes,” he said Igot to my feet and followed him. He
slowly, his eyes dreaming. "I will tell you of lifted a trapdoor in the unswept floor and
this my life here as it has been. Yes, I will started down. He held a candle in his hand,
tell you. It has been long since I spoke with but turned on the electric switch.
anyone. What do you want to know?” Catching my look of surprise, he ex-
I sat on a dusty stool and gestured at the plained, "The candle is for the lower cellars.
carvings on the shelves. —
Sometimes even I do not like to see too
"About those. They’re all so different. All much of those.”
alive. How can you ever pay for all those
models!

ening.
It must cost a fortune.”
His smile was slow and somehow — fright- THE chamber extended
vast dimness. As I

staring at the countless hundreds of thou-

far back, into a
stood beside him,

"I do not pay.

Those people have passed sands of carvings, I began to quiver. These
my window at some time or another, during men and women were not like the ones in
their lives. All of them. I look at them the shop above. No, those people wore beaver
and remember. I carve them as I see them.” hats and carried rifles and powder-horns, or
I started suddenly, half rising to my feet. wore bustles and bonnets, or blue cloaks and
Here and there among those statues I saw tri-cornered hats. I saw hunters clad in
faces I knew: Bill Henry from the insurance buckskin, warriors in buff-and-blue, women
company at the corner, Ellen Jackson, Flo in crinoline and gingham. Here went a coach-
Bentley who painted those lovely miniatures and-four, a sedan chair.
that were such a rage now, Gus Johnston —
"These these styles,” I said. "They
. .yes, people I knew, people I had talked
.
they’re of centuries. The eighteen-
past
and laughed with. Looking at them standing hundreds. Colonial days. Early Dutch
there, I had an uncanny feeling that I looked colonists. And you carved them?”
at the living person, so perfectly were they "Oh, yes,” he nodded. “I did each one
made, so exact their features, their coloring. of them. It didn’t take long. I can work
It was not a nice feeling, especially seeing very swiftly when I want to.”
those queer signs on their chests. It was a large chamber, that cellar,
Ellen Jackson had that other sigil on her stretching back under the street like a huge
bosom, that queer, somehow evil twisting of cave. And the shelves that filled it were
unprintable symbols. She had been in a hor- crowded with images. It was like looking
rible accident some months ago. Today she at an exhibit of American history.
lived a hopeless cripple, both legs gone, face But it wasn't that that shocked me so
ravaged by scars, her eyes forever blind. I much. It was my own calm acceptance of the
shuddered, looking again at that sign. fact that each of those figures had passed
Bill Henry had the cross on his chest. He before this man, at sometime in the past.
had risen swiftly in the insurance ranks, a Why, I thought, he must be at least four
recent member of the Billion Dollar Club. hundred years old!
Flo, too, bore the cross, and she had already "There are some sub-cellars,” he whis-
begun to make
name for herself as an artist.
a pered hoarsely in the dimness ahead of me.
—
Gus well, his house had burned down and "Come, I will let you look on those. They
Gus had had a lovely wife and two kids. It are even —
older. I have not been down be-
was a terrible fire. Gus didn’t find much —
low for some time.”
when he got home. Just a few charred Down stone steps hewn from living rock
embers. we passed, into a coolth that chilled.
I my eyes, thinking it is their fate
closed Theshelves stretched into blackness, but
that graven there, their good luck or
is I saw well enough to suit me from the light
bad. ... of a single electric bulb that burned eerily.
"You are right,” the carver nodded, his Medieval knights were here, and Vikings,
 .

THE WEIRDS OF THE WOODCARVER 79

and Visigoths in armour bearing swords and over the jumps. Isuppose you’re something
shields. I caught glimpses of Romans and else, huh, bud? You aren’t human, are you?
Carthaginians, of Phoenicians aboard their Nuts!”
fleet galleys, of Egyptians wearing the The little man grew rigid. His eyes iced
uraeus. To onenaked dancing girls
side over, grew cold, baleful. They glittered at
ostured before the Pharaohs, and bearded me.
Eings of Babylon shot arrows at rearing "So,” he whispered softly. "You do not

—me!” —
lions. I noted curl-bearded Assyrian war- believe. No, you do not. And yet you
lords in their chariots. Rulers of cities that came in here for a story about
were thriving before the first stone of Ur "That’s right,” I maintained, grinning.
was laid passed before my eyes. Naked cave- "And I'm getting one. You certainly can
men peered back at me as my eyes ranged carve, all right.I won’t deny that. But any-

those mute millions. one can carve ancient Babylonians in war

"There is one more sub-cellar,” said the chariots, and Assyrians with their curled
woodcarver, as he looked at me, my throat beards, and hunters in buckskin!” I slapped
dried up. him on the back. "I hand the palm to you.
"One more?” croaked. "Bu I but these — You made me swallow that yarn of yours
were the earliest men ever known!” for a moment. It was good. Imagine the
I was behind the stage of reasoning. My headlines —
'Immortal Being Carves Hu-
brain whirled with what I had seen. The manity!’ Wow!”
history of a planet had unfolded before my He kept looking at me, evilly, the tiny
eyes, and still — there was more to see! I glints of fire in his eyes occasionally flaring.
asked myself how old is this man before me? With his left hand he made a swipe at the
—
"There were beings here before ever — nearest shelf, gathered up a palmful of gray-
man was dreamed of,” said my guide softly. ish dust-motes. Lie held out his hand to me.
"The Earth is old. Go learn just how old it “You were made from dust like this,
is ... if you can. Why should man think he mortal. Into dust you shall return!”
is the only form ofhas been gen-
life that Lie blew on the dust, stirring it. Under
erated in the billions of years that Earth has his breath it quivered, assumed shape:
known? Man is a parasite on the keel of the looked like a man with two arms, two legs.
planet as it perpetual journey
soars in He lifted his hand, blew breath from
through the void. Before man was, these pursed lips —blew the dust at me!
beings that I will show you, were. And be- It filled my eyes, my nostrils. I choked.
forethem, certain others! — Those were There was an instant of horrible fright,
. ,

named the Primal Ones.” hearing his words from vast distances, grav-
ing themselves into my brain.

COLD my
over
reason threw a chilling blanket
seething thoughts. What rub-
You want a story. I shall give it to you!
I whirled, reeling; stood upright.

bish! I thought, this guy is taking me for "Oh, God!” I whispered. "Where am I?”
one sweet joy-ride, and I’m eating it up as I stood on the sands of a mighty shore,

a starving man does food! facing out toward a vast gray ocean that
I grinned, confident once more. swelled and heaved in eternal rhythm. Dimly
"Boy, can you sling the words,” I ad- that voice spoke to me, though it made no
mired. "You sure had me going for a while. sound. I heard it in some far corner of my
But I’ve read those books too. They were brain, whispering, counselling.
good, all right —but you aren’t expected to You are on Earth, mortal. It is a different
believe them!” Earth from those enjoyed during life. There
He was amused at first.
slightly is a doorway to this world. It is death! —
"Some of you humans have guessed,” he You are not dead. You are under my spell.
admitted. Seek knowledge, of this world. Seek! Seek!
I should have kept calm, but the relief I staggered up the shore toward the jungle

of my reason was like a tonic, and I felt that stretched before me. Through tangled
giddy. patches of vine and shrub I fought my way.
“Us humans,” I mocked. "What are you No sun shone bright upon me, for the
but a human? Sure, and you’re taking me clouds were monstrous and thick. Yet a
80 WEIRD TALES
mighty heat pulsed all around, as though and partly guessed terrors that abode in that
the world were spawning all the time, and loathesome forest!
needl'd this warmth to hatch its sinful brood. Here was — horror!
Over everything hung a lowering evil, an
evil so intense, so striking that a man’s mind HUGGED against a waff, staring, para-
could not fathom, it could only cower as it I lyzed. saw them now, coming up the
I

pulsed down upon him. It forced me on, avenue, heads swaying and
their hideous
that evil, made me hurry forward. Beneath waving eerily above thin, stringy necks.
its gaze, I ripped and yanked a path through Long feelers were wrapped about something
interwoven creepers, around gigantic tree- that struggled and screamed in mad fear,
boles, over rotting leaves. My clothes tore, writhing, twisting.
left me half-naked. Great bloody streaks I covered my mouth with a shuddering
gashed my chest and arms and thighs. hand. I recognized that something strug-
I fell to sleep many times, exhausted. I gling in those tenuous feelers. It was a girl,
ate of lush fruit hanging ripe and swollen a young girl, clad in the tattered garments
from drooping branches, and drank from of a bygone age. girl A
with a queer, —
clear streams that rippled over white stones. alien mark glowing like live blue fire be-
The days came, and the nights, and the days tween her breasts!
again. It was endless and fearful. — They were dragging her toward a huge
I saw things, occasionally. I glimpsed ruined building, down into its dark depths.
them through the interstices of the leaves I followed, hugging the waffs and hiding in
and branches: huge, squamous things that shadows. Some partly formed notion of
oozed along. Dimly I heard feet fleeing rescue drove me on, though what I could do
precipitously from something terrifying. against them, I did not know.
When the footbeats stopped I heard —mad I crept down into the dimness of the
screams! I shunned those oozing things, for tremendous vault where they were gath-
the few glances that I had of them froze the ered. I saw them chain the screaming
very blood in my veins. I hid beneath great girl to a flat altar. I heard their shrill
leaves, or under tottering slabs of stone cries, in some alien tongue.
when I heard them. When they passed, la! Ia! Fhtagn d/eth d/aleth! S’sadauni,
I ran. s’sathaqua. . . . la! Ia!
This is a living world, mortal. On it dwell And in answer to that swollen, sobbing
them who serve and worship the Primal chant, a black being commenced to grow in
Ones. It is very near your own. It is the dark recesses of the vault beyond the
separated only by bands of space and time. altar: indescribably monstrous, its heaving,
Only a Primal One can pass those bands, pitted sides bulging in ominously frighten-
or one sent by him, or one who is dead. — ing ways ... its eyes that were red blobs
I ran, hearing that voice, ran until the in black skin glowing evilly, surveying its
jungle was no more, until I came to a great worshippers, and its sacrifice ... its purple
plain covered with short, stiff rubble. At wattles quivering ... its purple cilia vi-
the end of the plain rose the cyclopian ruins brating from the massy back. . . .

of a vast city, its stone walls crumbling and Human were not meant to see that!
eyes
time-eaten, yet still massive and defiant. An I shivered. I tried to cry, but my tongue

intangible spirit of utter malignancy seemed clove to the roof of my mouth. I fought

to brood over that mass of rotting masonry, to free it

yet to me it seemed a shelter from what I had For now I saw what was happening to
half-seen —
out here. her who bore that alien sigil on her bosom!
I ran forward, eagerly. The stubble cut I screamed, then. I screamed, and
my feet, for my shoes were eaten through, whirled and ran, up stone steps to the broken
but I did not care. Once within those waffs, avenues, down them and along queerly turn-
I would know relief. Between huge stone ing lanes, between the huge walls Of the
ramparts that towered high above I sped, crumbling buildings. Sobbing, I raced on
onto moss-split blocks of flagging that and on. I dared not look behind me. I
formed the city streets. Here was safety! ran and ran, blindly; and as blindly, I
Here was escape from those vaguely seen stopped.
 ”

THE WEIRDS OF THE WOODCARVER 81

The woodcarver stood before me,

little shrieked in the terror of mad desolation.
in a doorway. He was smiling, holding Gibbering and mowing, they shrieked. Aye,
open the door. they wept and wailed, for He had turned
"Save me,” I gasped, clutching at him. the Earth on its axis, and buried those cities

— —
"Do not let them get me! I believe. in which they were adored under tons of
I do not understand, but I believe!” — ice —
and snow. In those other dimensions
"You were not seen by them,” he said — that cosmic wrench was felt, too. It

to soothe me. "My spell was upon you. smashed inhabitants flat, crushing them. It
Those you saw could not smell you.” wiped out whole civilizations of evil beings
"Where are we?” I sobbed. "Is it true who were wont to sacrifice and worship.
that this —
a a dimension near our world
is "Gone were the races they had made,
— a land ruled by —
by those Primal Ones?” the things they had created out of mud and
"It your Earth, but a different mani-
is slime. Yet some few remained. Some few
festation of it. It is a segment of space who still—worship. Yes, the abomination
and time that was once ruled by the Primal of desolation was upon them!”
Ones.
—
Come, follow me, and I will ex-
plain
He
itto you
opened another door, disclosed stone
steps, leading upward. He began to climb,
W
silent
CAME to a door that the carver
E
opened.We went in, and I stood,
and stunned. For we were on the
and I followed. dirt floor of the lowest cellar of his shop,
"Those Primal Ones were deathless. They and a gigantic red ball hung in midair, and
possessed all knowledge, all wisdom. Theirs lighted the vault with crimson bands of
were all the arts of science, of medicine, eldritch light.
of alchemy. But as the eons rolled past, I saw the forms that brooded there on
they grew restless, bored. The galaxies the shelves,the forms that never should
that had been created for them by the One have been made, the forms of appalling
palled. And so, to toy away eternity, they madness, of terror beyond any terror ever
made matter. They made the sun, and the known. Forms that I had seen. Forms
—
moon, and certain stars. They made these that fought with a —
sacrifice! I looked for
worlds in bands of differing substance, so one moment, and one moment only, at what
that one overlapped the other, in order that lay carven in wood on the shelves.
the inhabitants of one could not visit those I withered up inside me. My throat was
of another unless allowed by them who parched. My tongue felt swollen.
ruled all. I saw things I cannot describe: things
We went up and up, in the gloom of that I caught but bare glimpses of, back there.
somber stairway. Mankind possesses no language that will tell
"They had power, and they used it. In- of them, for they were spawned by some-
finite power they had. They were gods. thing alien. Who can describe something
But the Primal Ones forgot their real ruler, man has never seen, or imaged up, or con-
the One who had made them, and the bil- jured from the purple realms of sleep?
lions of galaxies for their enjoyment. They Those shapes were bulbous and many-
dwelt on Earth and were served by their polyped, legged and viscid and oozing, jel-
minions. Sacrificed to!” I shuddered, but lied and shaking, amorphous, obscene. Some
went on with him, up and up. "Yes, they of them crawled, some flew, some fought
allowed themselves to be sacrificed to. They and ate what they killed. Some were carven
enjoyed obscene rites in their walled cities. as they sacrificed! and that, I think, was
They created races like the Mi-Go and the the most horrible of all. . . .

TchoTcho to amuse themselves. Their real "One there was who

did not pass into
ruler they soon forgot, having grown mad the outer darkness beyond the worlds where
with lust and power. So they turned to He cast the Primal Ones,” I heard a voice
the One and mocked Him. Yes, Him they drone. "One remained on Earth amid its
jeered, Him they taunted, Him they chal- playthings to while away the eons until He
lenged!” should come again. Yes, one was left to
"Fools!” do what he pleased with the beings he and
"One day He struck, and the Primal Ones his kind had fashioned from the primeval
82 WEIRD TALES
mud. His lot to command life and death, bols of which only he and his kind knew
pain and joy and sorrow. He could play the real meaning? To mark that sign, so
at wars and famines. He could even send that when
death came, and the other dimen-
these things called men into other dimen- sions were opened to mankind, certain ones
sions, to be sacrificed to him when he was would always be on hand to be hunted down
in the mood. The doorway was death, and by his worshipers for sacrifice to him.
the password was carved on their chests, in "Eternity is a long time.
— Even a” he —
wood! chuckled softly "even a god might desire
"Such a sentence would endure for ages. some amusement. And so I return to that
One left behind would see many things, as other world for worship, to allow myself
evolution slowly worked its will on the in- who thought I was a god, to play at god
habitants of the Earth that remained after for all eternity, forever.
the terrible cataclysm that cast the others "And now you have your story!”
forth. And if one should take to
that For one instant, as my glazed eyes stared
carving the things he saw lift from the at him, his human form dissolved, and I
ooze and the slime to crawl or swim or saw black, striated skin, and glowing red
fly, what harm in that? He would see eyes lusting with evil, purple wattles hang-
these” —
a hand swept the red chamber ing, purple cilia quivering from a ridged
where stood for all time the replicas of a
—
monstrous spawning "and later, the great
back.
I
. . .

walk the streets today. Oh, yes, I am

reptiles, the dinosaurs, the pterodactyls, the back on my job. I’m married, too, though
fabled roc and the unicorn. I never turned in that article. But I some-
"He would be worshiped in divers forms times think that he amuses himself most of
by men who sought for the powers that all with me. For he can carve me anytime
were his. He would see the efforts of the he wants, so he lets me walk about, wonder-
others to come back. But it would all be ing, wondering. . . .

so boring. So boring! What sign will he put on me?

"He needed some amusement. What And you! Some day he will see you, and
more natural than to mark their sign on the you shall join those others on his shelves.
breasts of the race called men, those sym- Which will pur sign be?

To the Moon
By STANTON A. COBLENTZ

0 PITTED outcast of the fringe of space!

Within a dream I roamed your cratered floor,
Your black abysms, your dead-rock peaks that soar
Nude as a glacier, ashen gray of face.
I viewed your tomb-dark shadows that displace
The shriveling day with cold like the numb core
Of frozen worlds; I ranged the pockmarked shore
Of dried-up seas, and cowered at the base
Of granite pinnacles so sharp and high
They cut the stars with saw-teeth. Yet there shone.
Above those blanks of waterless dune and cone,
One strange romantic splendor. Pale and shy,
A light-globe hinting of some happier zone,
The earth rose solden in the desert sky.
 ” ”

onsieur Bluebeard
By EMIL PETAJA

Meet the greatest living authority on the Bluebeard legend —and see why no
one dares dispute his claim to that dubious honor!

TWISP!”

“M who
r
ISS of one has wandered by mistake into
No answer. a horror museum, and can’t find the way
Malcolm G. Retts, editor
of Ghoulish Shockers ( Read ’Em and
out.
"No, sir. There’s a strange man
—
Creep), put his long forefinger down on the "No doubt!” snapped her gaunt-faced
desk buzzer and held it there. employer sarcastically. "Meanwhile I must
In a moment an emaciated female with shout myself hoarse! Well, never mind
stringy hair and large eyes fluttered in, pad —
about that have you found a suitable auto-
and pencil clutched in her elfinish hands. biographer for our new feature 'Famous
”
"Where have you been, Miss Twisp? Fiends?’
Out seeing a double feature twice?” Miss Twisp gulped.
Lila Twisp laughed
was no humor in it.
carefully. But there
She had the appearance
"Well, have you?”
"I don’t think
—
Heading by A. R. TILBURNE

83
 ” ” —-

84 WEIRD TALES
"That’s just the trouble! You never think! what had been done to
" !”
if —whitened and
Well, we mustn’t expect the impossible, staggered back, muttering Bluebeard
must we, Miss Twisp!” Retts scraped the The newspapers took up his cry.
glass on his desk with his nails, and made Four more such crimes occurred, with
Miss Twisp writhe. "Do you realize that fiendish regularity. They were spaced
we’re losing thousands of readers every roughly a month apart, and in each case the
month! I don’t know what’s come over this victim w’as found in a lonely spot, weirdly
country. Did you get any answers on that disfigured, with a look of utter horror in his
questionnaire business we sent out?” eyes. All newspaper accounts, as well as
Miss Twisp nodded scaredly. magazine articles, concerning these killings
"Hundreds, Mr. Retts! They all say the were carefully cut out by Editor Retts and
—
same things the newspapers, true-life peri- added to his Bluebeard collection.
odicals, and newsreels are cornering the hor- "Well, Miss Twisp,” Retts asked querul-
ror market. ously, "are you quite sure you understand
"The readers say they find our Shockers just what my plan is?
mild by comparison!” "Since the public wants truth we’ll give —
"Do they indeed!” growled the editor. it to them. plan to interview a fiend per-
I

"Is that all they say?” sonally, andhe can qualify as an authentic
if

"There’s one more thing,” Miss Twisp subject of horror, I will pay him very hand-
began meekly. somely for an autobiography of his er — —
Her eyes roved to the serried ranks of activities. That should put Ghoulish Shock-
books and bound magazines that decorated ers back on its feet!
three sides of the ornate office to one — "Remember our mottoes, Miss Twisp!”
corner, especially. "Yes, sir. 'Read ’Em and Creep.’”
Retts noticed her fearful glance at the "And?”
" ”
corner shelf. 'We Aim to Freeze!’
"Ah! The 'Bluebeard’ murders!” "Good! That’s all, Miss Twisp. Keep a
The
"Yes,
Tuesday
sir.

it
papers are full of it. Last
even pushed the Russian cam-
weather eye out for fiends!”
"Yes, sir. But I wanted to
—
"Run along, Miss Twisp!”
paign back to page three.”
UT
I see.
M
"I mean, I wantyou that
to tell
—
Malcolm Retts sighed, and cast a fond "Well, stop drooling, and tell me!”
lingering glance at his favorite collection. Miss Twisp breathed deeply, then took
the plunge.
ETTS had made "There’s a man in the outer office now,
R a hobby of gruesome
crimes, both ancient and modern.
had made an especially meticulous study of
He sir. He claims that he is just the sort of

of fiend you’re looking for. Shall I send

the infamous Baron of the Middle Ages, him in?”
who "was the start of the famous "Blue- The horror editor’s blase old eyes flick-
beard” legend. ered.
He had accumulated all the literature he "What’s he look like?”
could find on the subject, and even, on pre- "Creepy, sir.”
war trips to Europe, had visited the ruins of "Good! Send him right in.” He rubbed
the old Castle of Terror where Bluebeard his bony hand along his chin. "No, wait
had lived —
terrorizing the countryside. five minutes. I’ve got to shave first. I’ll
There he had procured further data about buzz you.”
Bluebeard. "Yes, sir,” said Miss Twisp, and scuttled
Retts boasted that he was the greatest out gratefully.
living authority on the Bluebeard legend, Retts took the electric razor out of his
and no one disputed his claim to that desk, plugged it in, and went to work on
dubious honor. his thin, rather cadaverous cheeks.
Five months ago the city had been rocked The editor was very fastidious about his
to its very foundations by a crime so ap- personal appearance. He shaved twice a day,
pallingly grisly that the calloused coroner regular as clock-work, and wore a beautiful
who was called in, on seeing the body and — chestnut toupee that he had bought in Holly-
 ” ” ” •

MONSIEUR BLUEBEARD 8*

wood, the home of luxurious wigs, and it you, M. — —Bluebeard.

er You remind me
added a touch of colorful gaiety to his thin- of the most dismal slums of Paris. Or per-
lipped sardonic face. haps some of the most loathesome aspects
He shaved carefully, then sprinkled a of Berlin. ...”
generous amount of cologne on. Then he The stranger bowed.
pushed the buzzer, glancing out the window "Yes, it is just possible that you are the

as he did so. man have been looking for!”

I

The day was murky. The sky was a mass "Merci,” said the stranger courteously. "I
of sullen black clouds. The air was sluggish, hope so, Mr. Retts.”
and there was a tendency to rolling fog. "You need money, eh? Well, I suppose
Although it was not yet four o’clock in the conducting a campaign such as yours does
afternoon,
The office
it seemed like evening.
door opened abruptly. A man
entail a good deal of expense. We.shall see.
But first, I require some information
—
came in. " Naturalment

WAS
H
He
E all muffled in an antiquated
cape. He wore square dark-blue glasses.
held the top of his cape up so that it
R ETTS motioned his visitor to draw up a
chair, which he did. He drew out a
shabby ancient hand-bag from under his
concealed most of his face. cloak and set it down primly on his lap.
"Monsieur Retts?” he rasped. Retts noticed that he wore black gloves.
"This is my private office,” Retts said He saw also that his hair hung down to his
drily, studying the stranger carefully. "And collar under his musty opera hat.
you?” Retts took all this in with evident relish.
The stranger looked around the room Here was a character out of Ghoulish Shock-
furtively.Then, seeing that they were alone, erscome to life.
he drew closer to the desk. Without speak- "Now, monsieur,” Bluebeard asked, in
ing, he dropped the folds of his voluminous his odd rasping voice, "what is it that you
cloak that hid the lower half of his face. wish to know?”
Retts stood up. He gave a sharp gasp. "You committed the five murders which
"Not—?” the newspapers call the 'Bluebeard' killings.
"Yes!” hissed the stranger. "I am I suppose?” Retts asked, toying casually with
Monsieur Bluebeard!” his sharp paper knife.
Indeed the mysterious stranger looked the "Only four, monsieur,” the stranger said
part. He wore a full beard that was not so quickly. "I regret to admit it. It seems, in
much pure black as it was blue black! It the last case, that someone duplicated my —
was a most magnificent beard just like the
one Retts had read about in his ancient
— technique so as to divert suspicion from him-
self.”
books. It curled up into little locks, and "Oh? That’s hardly cricket, is it?”
the tip of each lock was distinctly blue! "Deplorable!” the stranger hissed. "How-
That was how the Baron Bluebeard of the I’ve been so busy lately. So many
Middle ages had got his name. . . .
ever,
diversions
—
Underneath this blue beard the stranger's "Such as—”
skin looked brown and dry, like old parch- "Well, for one, I simulated a vampire

ment. scourge quite effectively in a distant city.”

"So you are the modern Bluebeard!" Retts "Interesting. How did you do that?”
exclaimed. "Very simply, monsieur. I misdirected
The stranger seemed to smile in his beard. blood-donors for the Red Cross to an old
"Oui, monsieur.” deserted mansion where —
I think you can

"You are French? imagine the rest!”

"I was.” "Yes. Very clever.”
"Oh. A naturalized American, eh?”
—
"Merci. But to proceed with the inter-
The stranger only smiled. view
"Now that I think of it,” said Retts, rub- "Yes.”
bing his lean hands together jovially, "What information do you require?”
"there’s a certain old-world charm about "Well, as you have already learned from
 ” ” ” — ”

86 WEIRD TALES
Miss Twisp, we are conducting a departure The stranger drew back, hissing.
from commonplace horrors in our magazine "M. Retts!” he snarled. "You force me
Ghoulish Shockers. I want to obtain an au- into revealing something I had sworn to
thentic autobiography by a real fiend. I er — keep secret forever! Now I shall allow you
— don’t suppose you object to being referred to know my true identity!”
to as a fiend?” Retts’ eyes gleamed.
"But no, M. Retts! I appreciate the "Now,” he said succinctly, "we’re getting
honor!” some place!”
—
"Good! Well this is awkward for me The stranger folded himself back in the
but you see I have to be careful of frauds, chair like a monstrous bat.
—
and I must have some proof that you are "All right,” Retts said. "I’m listening.”
the modern Bluebeard. Now, if you will tell "I,” declared the cloaked stranger, "am
me just exactly how and why you com- and only Bluebeard!”
mitted
— the original
Retts drew in his breath sharply, drop-
The stranger broke in. ping his cigarette.
"I regret that I am unable to give that "According to my information and I —
information! You will understand why. You warn you that I am an expert on the subject
see, there are to be others — — the Baron who was called Bluebeard was
"Of course, of course. How stupid of burned at the stake in the village square,
me!” Retts frowned and shook his head. by outraged peasants under the leadership of
"Well, M. Bluebeard, that seems to be that. some Franciscan monk way, way back in—
Since you can’t give us the information we the seventeenth century!”
want there quite obviously isn’t any story The stranger smiled.
in it. I’ll ring for Miss Twisp to show you "Wizards don’t die so easily,” he
out. In the meantime, keep in touch
— "As you say.”
said.

The stranger stood up quickly. There was a portentous silence. Then

"M. Retts, there will be no other time. I the storm-clouds burst in a dramatic trum-
will not find it convenient to visit your office peting of thunder. Rain began to lash at
again!” the windows.
Retts displayed his palms in a significant "Tell me,” Retts asked, leaning forward
gesture. with a shrewd gleam in his eyes, "is it true
"M. Retts,” the stranger suggested, "sup-
— thatyou kept your victims er chained in — —
pose I tell your readers how, as a child, I dank fungus-grown dungeons of your old
Editor Retts, long an expert at browbeat- castle? Is it also true that they number in
ing his writers into submissive obedience to the hundreds?”
his whims, shrugged his shoulders and The stranger nodded.
shook his head. "Quite true, monsieur. One hundred and
"Frankly,” he said, cracking his dry twenty-three, to be exact.”
knuckles. "I’m disappointed. I don’t feel "That many, eh? Urn. We might title
that you’re fiendish enough. I know that it the article, 'Wholesale Slaughter.’ Tell me
must sound heartless of me to say that, but more.”
you know how readers are. They want some- Thestranger went into minute detail, de-
thing really blood-curdling and well, — scribing crime after crime of the most dia-
supernatural. In point of fact, they expect it! bolical kind. The stories he told would have
So you see. ...” turned the hair of an ordinary man snow
white, and sent him screaming from the
HE stranger clutched his hand-bag and room.
T drew himself up ominously.
hand-bag down on the chair. Then
He set the
his long
But Malcolm Retts was no ordinary man.
Besides, he wore a jaunty chestnut wig.
claw-like fingers reached across the desk
toward the
Retts lit
editor’s throat.
a cigarette.
"Please!” he said caustically. "These dem-
H IS long haggard cheeks
remained placid, but
"And this holy man —
and thin
his eyes glistened.
thismonk. LeCar-
lips

onstrations don’t impress me at all. They’ve deau, I believe you called him. He vowed
been tried before. that he would send you to — —
er Hades?”
 ”” '

MONSIEUR BLUEBEARD 87

"LeCardeau made a most sacred vow to

St. Francis that he would put an end to my
activities if he had to follow me to the ends
of the earth to do it. It was he who arranged
my French
MONEY
lage.
little barbeque in the little vil-
FOR YOUR DOCTOR AND
It was he, sneaked into my
also, who HOSPITAL
castle in the dead of night and put a drug
in my wine glass while I dozed by the fire.
"I had my fierce dogs all around me, but
for some reason they would not harm him,
and made no sound. One might have said
he was under the personal protection of St.
Francis himself!
"By this trick I was overtaken. Two of
my henchmen had been replaced by peasants.
It was they who carried me into the
village. . . .

"I shall never forget that morning. The

sun rose blood-red. The peasants for miles
around had gathered to see me die. There
was scarcely a family in the entire district per month gives
who did not have a personal reason for you this FREEDOM from worry
wanting to see me burn.
"A hollow-faced old woman with starting
©DON’T WAIT for sickness and accident
to strike. Act now to save yourself from
eyes, who had once had three young daugh- worry and debt arising from medical and
ters and now had none, carried the torch, and hospital expense. Only $1 a month invested
set it to the dry faggots that were piled up in our liberal hospitalization policy helps pay
around me. I was most carefully tied to the your doctor and hospital costs. Gives you money
stake. I could not move so much as a when you may need it most. You may go to
muscle. any hospital in the U.S., under any doctor’s
"The smoke began to curl up around my care. Your sick or accident costs will be paid

face.Tongues of flame shot about my ankles. exactly as the policy specifies. Individuals

The villagers shouted or whole families (age 18 to 65) eligible. No

and laughed.
medical examination. No agent will calL
"I could see the Abbey LeCardeau, in his
Company under supervision, Insurance
brown monk’s garb, lift up his silver cross Department, State of Indiana.
and pray for my soul. . . .

Check These Policy Features:

the name of my master
—
"But I had no desire to die. I called upon
• $1000 Accidental
dismemberment.
Death Benefit, for loss of life or

“Who was?’’ Retts said softly. • $6 Per Day Hospital Coverage, for hospital costs,
including room, up to this maximum.
"M. Retts, I
with one M. Beelzebub
— had long ago made a pact
• Maternity
insured.
Benefit, if both husband and wife are

"The you say!”

devil • Disability Benefit, covering loss of time up to maxi-
mum of $300, os provided in the policy.
"Precisely! And it was he who carried
me off, in a puff of smoke, and left a heap Clip This Coupon and MAIL TODAY in
Envelope— or Paste on Postcard
of charred bones in my place to fool the
ignorant peasants. ...” AMERICAN TRAVELERS UFE INSURANCE CO.
Retts pressed his thin lips together tightly. Dept. A, J.M.S. Bldg., South Bend S. Indiana
Please send me. without obligation, details about your
He was scowling heavily. "$l-a-month hospitalization insurance plan.”
"About this pact you had with his — Name
satannic majesty. Of what did that consist?”
"Among diverse smaller privileges, it Address
stated that I could not die except by the
hand of the Abbey LeCardeau, and
— City State

"And—?”
 ”” ” ”

88 WEIRD TALES
"And only then by exorcism with a por-
tion of the sacred Staff of St. Francis!”
PRINT ANY PHOTO "Ah!” Retts said, very softly.
on Paper.Cloth, Leather or Wood Then he rose to his feet like an avenging

SIMPLE,
Magic
EASY TO USE
liquid takes only 2 minutes to
T spectre.
"Who do you think you’re fooling, you
reproduce any snapshot you have on to
stationery, handkerchiefs, ties, scarfs,
cheap impostor!”
etc. Won’t wash off. Won’t hurt nega- The stranger rose to his feet, also. They
tive or fabric it’s used on. Personalize
your belongings! An ideal gift. Com- stood face to face across the desk. Rett’s
plete outfit with full colors included,
—
enough for 100 photos only $1.00 post- face was livid with rage.
paid. Sent C.O.D. for $1.18.
CHRISTY PHOTO SUPPLY "You say I’m an impostor,” said the
Dept. 212 2835 N. Central, Chicago
stranger mildly. "Might one ask how you
Complete HOME-STUDY know?”
Courses and seif-instruc-
tion books, slightly used. Retts laughed harshly.
Rented,
All
sold, exchanged.
subjects. Satisfaction
"Elementary, my dear fake! You made
guaranteed. Cash paid for three important mistakes in your story.
used courses. Full details and 02-page illustrated
bargain catalog Free. Write now. "One —you numbered Bluebeard’s vic-
NELSON COMPANY tims at one hundred and twenty-three.
321 So. Wabash Avenue, Dept. 2-23, Chicago 4, III. Actually, there were one hundred and
twenty -nine!
°°
"S STOP TOBACCO? —
"Two you mentioned the name of a cer-
Banish the craving for tobacco aa tain saint. Had you really been the diabolical
thousands have. Make yourself free
and happy with Tobacco Redeemer.
Write for free booklet telling of in-
Bluebeard you would not have been able to
jurious effect of tobacco and of a
speak his name!

3
treatment which has re*
lieved many men.
90 Years fit Business
FREE —
"Third you said that the only thing that
THE NEWELL COMPANY BOOK could destroy Bluebeard is exorcism with
600 Clanton Sta., St Louis, Mo.
—
part of the sacred staff. That is completely
wrong. Actually

PIMPLES
Externally
Caused

ACNE, BLACKHEADS, OILY SKIM, BED PATCHES

Discour
He paused, his thin lips twisting.
"Why don’t you finish, monsieur?”
"Why should I tell you, you miserable
charlatan,” Retts said scornfully. "Who are
completely satisfied after 2 weelre. Skin Special*
ascription. SENT ON TRIAL. You risk nothing. anyway? Some incompetent
FMSFF Send for Free
»*-»- embarrassmentBooklet
Sefooline Lab., Dept.
at Once. Don’t suffer
any longer. WRITE TODAY.
V, P.O. Box 850, Independence, Mo.
you,
work writer who
— out-of-

PtlLVEX THE stranger bent his head meekly.

“You’ve guessed it, sir!” he said in a
crestfallen manner. "My name is Emil Pe-
FLEA POWDER taja. I live in Los Angeles. I have sent you

story after story for your magazine, but all

JUST APPLY TO ONE SPOT of them have been rejected.
desperate measure I
— So as a last

"Hah!” sneered the editor. "I can guess

You heard about my project in
CURE the rest.
famous
a* 11 * n&Nn
DANDRUFF 1
getting
fiends,
the autobiographies of
and thought you would put over a
Get rid of that dandruff In 1 or 2 treatments with for only
one on me. You would impersonate
Parish Dandruff remover, endorsed by a famous
Cosmetologist.
C. t. L
Send
L. P.
NOW —
don't wait.
PARISH CO. Box 9t. Marion, Ohio
I
1

|
fast
the murderer Bluebeard and write
—
NAME "No!” protested the crushed stranger ap-
CITY State 1

J- CUT OUT pealingly. "I only wished to talk to you. I

have tried many times, and each time you

WEIRD BOOKS RENTED are too busy, your secretary says. I was cer-
tain my manuscripts were being returned un-
Boob8 by Quinn, etc., rented by mail. 8c a day
read. I have several right here in my hand-
Lcrvecraft, Merritt,
plus postage. Write for free llafc. WEREWOLF LENDING
LIBRARY, 621 Maryland Dr„ Pittsburgh, Pa. bag!”
 :

MONSIEUR BLUEBEARD 89

Retts stood over his desk with his hands

folded, looking down at the cloaked stranger
with sardonic contempt. His visitor had
turned his back and was fumbling in his
FREE Lesson In
hand-bag.
Suddenly he turned.
"Sir, I am overwhelmed with curiosity.
RADIO lorata MOWOTHS »W|
KCHKR SEMKSM

I, too, in my small way, am a collector of PARTIAL LIST OF SUBJECTS

How a superheterodyne Paptr, electrolytic, mica,
bizarre crime stories, particularly those that circuit works trimmer condensers
concern the notorious Bluebeard. Won’t you How to remove tubes, tube Antenna, oscillator coil facts
shields
Power transformer: con-
Three reasons why Radio
tell me, please, what it is that can destroy struction, possible troubles

this immortal monster —

according to the
tubes fail
Electrodynamic loudspeaker
Output transformer repair
Installing power cord
Tone controls
superstition, I mean, of course?” Gang timing condenser Dial Lamp connections
I.P. transformers — What Receiver servicing technique
Retts shrugged. they do, repair hints Checking performance
How to locate defective Testing tubes
"I don’t know why I should tell a non- soldered joints Circuit disturbance test

descript little fool like you, but —

well, the
Inside story of carbon
resistors
Isolating defective stage
Locating defective part

one thing that will destroy Bluebeard is

water from the sacred spring of Assisi!” r
The stranger quivered in his cloak.
Suddenly his gloved hands flashed up with
See For Yourself How
a little bottle. He uncorked it gravely, and
flung it into the editor’s cadaverous face.
I Train You at to Home
"Merci beaucoup, le Baron Bluebeard!”
Be a RADIO Technician
he cried out.
Miss Twisp heard her employer’s strident
I will send you a FREE Lesson
scream. to show how I train beginners at Television
home in spare time. And with it Electronics
I'll send my 64-page book, '‘Win Frequency Modulation
She hesitated a moment, then timidly Rich Rewards in Radio." It tells
how you get PRACTICAL experi- My up-to-date Course
opened the inner-office door and peeked in. ence building real Radio Circuits Includes training in
with SIX BIG KITS of Radio these now developments.
Her wide eyes beheld Editor Malcolm parts I send!

Retts writhe in agony. She heard again his More Radio Technicians Now Mako / tra/ned mere men
$50 a Week Than Ever Before
cry of baffled fury. There's a real shortage of
trained Radio Technicians and broadcasting sta-
She saw his gaunt cheeks become the hol- Operators. The Radio Repair busi- tion. •• Before I
ness is booming because no new completed your les-
lows in the visage of a grinning skull. Then Radios have been made since early sons, I joined Sta-
in 1942. Broadcasting Stations, tion WMPO where
she saw the skull itself crumble into dust. Aviation and Police Radio are I am now Chief
scrambling for trained Radio men. Operator/* HOL-
Finally there was nothing left in the office And think of the NEW
jobs com- LIS F. HAYES.

chair but empty clothes —

and a jaunty chest-
ing in Television,
Frequency Modulation.
Electronics,

Many Beginners Make $5. $10 a

327 Madison St.. Lapeer, Mich
$10 a Week EXTR
In Spare Time. ‘
nut wig. . . .
Week EXTRA in Spare Time repaired some Ri
dio9 when I was <
Miss Twisp put her hand to her mouth to There's probably an opportunity my tenth lesson,
right in your neighborhood to make have made an ave:
suppress a wild scream. Her eyes turned to money in spare time fixing Radios. age of $10 a week-
1 11 give you the training that just spare time.
the stranger. . . . started hundreds of N.R.I. stu- JOHN JERRY, 135
dents making $5, $10 a week St., Denver, Colt
With a single gesture the stranger flung EXTRA
Get my
while still learning.
FREE
Radio Service Man-
Lesson and 64- ager. "I am now
off his blue glasses, his false beard and wig, Dage book. They show how N.R.I. Radio Service Man-
trains you at home, describe fasci-
nating jobs Radio offers. Just mail
ager for M
and his cloak. Coupon in envelope or paste on
Furniture Co.'s 4
stores." JAMES E.
penny postal. J. E. SMITH. Presi- RYAN,
Miss Twisp caught just a glimpse of a dent, Dept. 4HM, National Radio St..
119 Pebble
Fall River,
Institute, Washington 9, D. C. Mass.
long brown monk’s robe, an austere trans-
figured face, and a silver cross held aloft.
Then the stranger put his slender fingers
together in an attitude of prayer, and
Good For Both &S FREE i
J. E. SMITH. President, Dept. 4HM,
i
vanished. * National Radio Institute, Washington 9, D. C.
t
,
Mail me FREE, wltlimit obligation, yonr Sample Dcsson, •
- ''Getting Acquainted With Radio Receiver Servicing*' and
, ed-page book, "Win Rich Rewards in Radio." (No salesman
“ will call. Write plainly.)

— BUY — 0 NAME
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 '

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BOOKLETS
(vest pocket size). The
{for adults
kind you like! 10 different book-
E
writes:
"The Shadow Folk’’ for us in this issue,
discovers

lets sent for 50c or 25 assorted

for $1. Shipped prepaid in plain
wrapper. No C.O.D. orders. Send
cash or money order. No stamps. I have been greatly interested in the letters in
GRAYKO, Dept. A-301 recent issues of The some of the
Eyrie from
Box 520v G. P. O.. New York I
Manly Wade Wellman,
older contributors like
Learn Prolitable Profession Seabury Quinn, August Derleth, E. Hoffmann
in <)0 days at Home Price, Frank Belknap Long and others. In
MEN AND WOMEN, 16 to SO
\

\ Many Swedish Massage graduates make point of time my own first story slightly fol-
ri $50, $75 or even more per week. Large full
time incomes from doctors, hospitals, san- lowed theirs, appearing in the magazine just
atoriums. clubs or private prac-
tice. Others make good money in eighteen years ago.
spare time. You can win inde-
pendence and prepare for future I never had the pleasure of meeting Mr.
Ji* security by training at home and
qualifying for Diploma. Anatomy
Chart*
i
and 32 -page Illustrated Book FREN Nowrt — Derleth, nor the late Robert E. Howard nor the
THE College ©f Swedish Massage, Dept CI2, 100 E. Ohie
St. Chicago II, Illinois. incomparable Lovecraft, but have had the luck
to make personal acquaintance with most of
WEIRD TALES’ other writers from A. Mer-

POEMS
-
WANTED
— For Musical Setting I
ritt

tify
on along to
that there really
Ray Bradbury. And I can tes-
is the unusual affection
Mother. Home, Love, Sacred, Patriotic, Comic 9 and loyalty for the magazine of which Mr.
or any subject. Don’t Delay— Send us your 1
Original Poem at once —
for immediate ex- 1 Derleth speaks.
I animation and FREE Rhyming Dictionary. I Perhaps it is because so many of us, as was
27
Richard Brothers SKBiWSEK the case with me, had our first published stories
appear in WEIRD TALES. Since then, I've
Try Page’s Palliative been fortunate enough to publish several hun-
)ILE$ PILE PREPARATIONS dred yarns in many different magazines here
and in England, including some in Spanish and
I If you are troubled with
ing or protruding piles, write for a
FREE sample of Page’s Palliative Pile
itching, bleed-
Swedish versions which I’m wholly unable to
Preparations and you may bless the day read. But I doubt if all of them together ever
you read this. Don’t wait. WRITE TODAY!
gave me the thrill I received when the August,
E. R, PAGE CO., Dept. 488K8 Marshall, Mich.
IN CANADA. DEPT. 488K8, TORONTO. ONT.
'
1926, issue of WEIRD TALES appeared with
my "Monster-God of Mamurth.”
While I’ve written quite a lot in the detec-
High School Course adventure and other
tive, fields, I’d rather write
at Home f Many Finish hi 2 Years than anything
I Co as rapidly as time and abilities permit. Cotxrsa fantastic fiction else. I think
I
I
equivalent to —
school work prepares for college
entrance exams. Standard H.S. texts supplied. DtnJonia. that’s true of nearly all fantasy writers, and
Credit for H. S. subjects already completed. Single subjects if do-
II
iiiraci. High school education is very Important for advancement fm
businc«3 and Industry and socially. _ _ __
explains their devotion to this, the oldest maga-
B hfo 'tie a High School graduate. Start yoor tcuoifig: aow.
Buriatia on request. No obligation.
« zine in the field.
1ft American School, Dept. HC-39, Draxd sX 53th, Cfeieaa*??
I speak as a reader as well as a writer, for

90
 :

THE EYRIE 91

I don’t think I’ve ever missed reading an issue

since the first one away back in 1923. And now
that WEIRD TALES has come of legal age,
I hope it’s only beginning a long and lusty life.
Edmond Hamilton.
miNG;#
Streets of Defeat
COWBOY
F RANK OWEN
facts
tells us more interesting
on China and reminds us of the debt
SONGS
we owe the Chinese. Let us hope, as Mr. Owen oat MOUNTAIN*
says below, that in "The Long
China” the Japs will be overwhelmingly and
Still Streets of
BALLADS
completely crushed. .WITH WORDS AND HUSICJ
Nowthe famous cowboy songs, old-
sing all
time songs and enjoy famous poems and recitations to your
heart’s content. These are original mountain ballads witli
words and music
For more than twenty years I have been .the hind that our cowboys still sing out»
. .

on the prairies and deep in the heart of Texas. They’re the

writing stories for WEIRD TALES and inter- songs our real he-men amuse thcmselvoa with when alone,
or to fascinate, attract and lure cowgirls to their hearts. These
Bongs and recitations have lived traditionally with Americans,
esting years they have been. I believe the stories and will live forever because they still bold fascination and
afford wholesome fun and recreation.
have been liked because of the lore of old
famous famous
China which I have endeavored to get into 1

them. For the Chinese are very appealing peo-

ple, so friendly, so human, so
have given to civilization so very much and
forthright.

have asked so little in return. The very paper

They
gPjpYj J|]3
: pi
\yA ** 9*1

on which this magazine is printed would not Here you have .. When good fel- Now thrill others
great vol ti me lows get together, the way you have
have been possible had not Ts’ae Lun invented which contains fa- no matter what hf<* thrilled with
mous cowboy songs tune Is the hit of "The Shooting of
paper in A.D. 105. He made it from the an- and mountain the day, sooner or Dan MoGrew,”
ballads along with later they will all "The Spell of the
cient bark of trees— the inner bark. His ex- words and music. start singing Yukon,” "The
Imagine yourself "Sweet Adeline” Face on the Bar-
periments were sponsored by the Emperor. The singing these and many other r o o m F 1 o o r,”
when lights are famous tunes in "Boots, Boots,
low or on one of the American way. Boots,” and hun-
finished product was called the Marquis Ts’ae’s those hilarious This volume in- dreds otheff
of
parties when cludes dozens yes, Kipling poems,
paper. Nor could writers like me scribble everyone wants to hundreds of the along with dozens
sing. You will be songs with music and dozens of fa-
stories had not the pencil been invented by popular because you will want to mous recitations
you know them remember and . now memorize
. .

Mung Teen of Tsin (B.C. 246-205). It was and you will be

happier when you
want to sing
again. Order your
these truly Amer-
lcan odes and
called the "Tsin Pencil.” sing them. Spe- copy while the watch your popu-
cial price. limited supply is larity increase.
available at
Porcelain, carved jades, tea, rare rugs, cinna-
bar, and lapis lazuli have come from that fabu-
lous country where there is only one doctor for

every hundred and sixty thousand people, where

there so much poverty and famine and suf-
is

fering, and yet whose untapped mineral re-

The price of each of the above hooks is an amazing bargain!
sources are soimmense they almost seem myth- at 50tf a copy. Order all 3 and enjoy still a further saving*
making one hook free because the entire set of 3 costs you
ical. No wonder gluttonous Japan is so anxious only 51.00. Rush coupon now. You take no risk. If not
satisfied after 5 days, return for full refund.
to swallow this vast country with its age old
wisdom. Even in the days of the T’angs twelve
PICKWICK COMPANY, Dept. 3808
hundred years ago China enjoyed as free a press 73 West 44th Street, New York 18, N. Y.
Send books checked below at once in plain wrapper. I enclose
as we have in America today. And freedom of $ (cash or money order)

worship was given to all men. Perhaps the If C. O. D. preferred, mark X

In box, mall coupcn, and
pay postman $1 plus postage.
Send all 3 books.
Japanese believe that they may be able to ab- Send books checked
sorb something of that intangible quality that Famous Cowboy Songs and Mountain Ballads.
Famous Olcl-Time fc>o«gs. Famous Poems axul Recitations,
makes the Chinese respected the world over.
NAME.
Po Chui, one of China’s greatest poets, used
to read his poems to his washwoman to make
CITY & ZONE STATE
certain that anyone could understand them. At 20% additional for Canada

the other extreme is Lao Tzu’s Tao Teh

 —

92 WEIRD TALES
King which, though of only five thousand
is understood by few living men
RATIONED MOTORISTS characters,
though it is revered by untold millions.
Now Get EXTRA But I am getting away from what I started

GASOLINE MILEAGE to write, of the years I have been writing for

WEIRD TALES, of the friends I have made
Now you can get up to 30% extra gasoline
mileage with a Vacu-matic on your car. through its pages. The other day, the editor
Quicker pick-up, smoother running, added
power and precious gasoline savings guaranteed. of one of the New York publishing houses sent
automatic Supercharge Principle
different! Operates on
Vacu-matic is entirely me a copy of a rare Chinese book of which only
the Supercharge principle. Saves gas. Automat-
ically provides a better gas mixture. Guaran- a hundred were printed. "Because,” he wrote
teed to give up to 30% extra gas mileage, more
<•
power and better performance. me, "I enjoy your Chinese stories so very
AGENTS
Every car, truck, tractor a prospect. Send
fns«d lato a siwia unit.
much.” I have little to say about The Long
postcard lorblgmouey mak- Still Streets of Evening, but let us hope that
pi/SXrver’y' wfckls naSaddresson
Snatallvd by anyone! lngofferand how, for introducing, you getyourB froo-
Vacu-matic Co., 7617-951 W. StetalSt., Wauwatoaa 13, Win. the title is symbolic — that in "The Long Still
Streets of China,” the Japs will meet defeat

UIHflT SHOUID
devastating, complete, absolute.
. Frank Owen.

VOU— INVENT
Our FREE
market wants
BOOK tell* you what today’s inventive
to put down, patent and sell your
how
Background of the “Bookkeeper”
Idea*. Score* of letters In our files attest to tho mod-
em demand for Inventions—our Iona experience as
Registered Patent Attorneys will help you. Get our EABURY QUINN, knowing our peculiar
FREE book, “How to Protect, Finance and Sell Your
Invention.” Also special document free, “Invention
Record” on whieh to sketoh and describe your inven-
tion. Write today. No obligation.
S fondness for the “backgrounds” of stories,

MeMORROW & BERMAN, Patent Attorneys obliges with that information on his popular
1234 Albee Building, Washington 5. D. C.
"Death’s Bookkeeper,” which appeared in the
last (July) issue of WEIRD TALES.
Jules de Grandin’s creator tells us:
Banish the craving for tobacco aa
thousands have. Make yourself free
and happy with Tobacco Redeemer*
Write for free booklet telling of in- I thought that werewolves, vampires, etc.,
jurious effect of tobacco and of a
treatment which baa re-
1
deserved a little rest, so in this instance went
lieved many men. FREE
30 Years In Business
BOOK directly to the classics for my plot. Specifically,
THE NEWELL COMPANY to the Alcestis of Euripides (480-406 B. C.).
600 Clinton Sta„ St Louis. Mo.
You may or may not remember the plot of this
drama; in case you don’t, I’ll refresh your
JOKE BOOKS ADULTS memory:
The kind they like. Ton will be both a
Riot and the Life of the Party with a set Admetus, king of Thessaly, was ill unto
of these pocket size joke books. They are
full of Entertainment, Fun and Humor. A death, and Apollo prevailed upon the Fates to
set of six books only or a special as-
sortment of 12 books all different for $1.00. spare him, provided someone would consent to
Print name and address, send cash or
stamps to:
die in his stead. Then came the difficulty.
TREASURE NOVELTY CO,
72-5tb Ave.. Dept. 3408, N. Y. N. Y.
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Brave warriors, who would willingly have per-
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ness; his aged parents also shrank
him in a bed of sick-
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This most interesting and helpful Booklet will be
call, and at last his faithful wife, Alcestis, vol-
mailed to anyone while the supply lasts. I will send
unteered to be his surrogate, and went through
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with it. Alcestis sickened as Admetus revived,
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when Hercules arrived at the palace, hid him-
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 .

THE EYRIE 93

tuting for Hercules, and being just as proud of

himself as ever the old Greek hero dared to be
of his prowess.
Seabnry Ouinn.

Humor at War with Horror

To O. Mabbot of New York City has the
following to say on Humor vs. Horror in a
weird tale:

"I’m glad you printed the letter headed

_
Everyone
'Don’t Be Funny,’ One might raise the purely who wears
plates will wel-
academic question whether anyone ever wrote come this free offer.
CROWN DENTAL
a really good humorous weird tale, and win CLEANER is an espe-
cially prepared antiseptic
the debate for the affirmative by citing a few preparation to keep your plates
clean and help eliminate bad
examples ;
but in general, humor is at war with breath and foreign substances that
collect and cause discomfort. .

weirdness, and humorous stories of the super-

natural are almost without exception flops, or
else succeed despite a great handicap. You do TIGHTENS
—
not need one an issue one or two a year will
FALSE TEETH or NO COST!
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demand the same standard you do for the rest for food . . eat what you want.
. CROWN
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by loose dental plates. Apply CROWN
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ably- —
and in a weird tale we do not want to No old-fashioned heating to burn your
mouth. Just squeeze CROWN from tube
and put your teeth back in. They'll fit as
drive off the terror by any such deadly thing snugly as ever. Inventor is a recognized
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5 THE LONG STILL SORCERY FROM 5 IN MOUTH
» STREETS OF THULE
5 EVENING THE WAYWARD
EATS S 7 EAKI
J. Clements of Algonao writes: “My
THE SEVEN SEAS ARE SKUNK = plates were so bad they rattled
ONE THE WEIRDS OF THE = when I talked. Now I can eat
WOODCARVER steaks, corn on the cob.” E.
m BANG! YOU’RE DEAD! W. W., of Virginia, writes:
MONSIEUR BLUE- a **Ifound Crown Reliner to
= THE DEVIL’S TICKET BEARD be all you claim.” Many
5 5 more attest to same
Here's a list of ten stowes in this issue. Won't you excellent results. Re- 4
m let us know which three you consider the best? Just line your plates with
5 place the numbers: 1, 2. and 3, respectively against your HI
CROWN RELINER
= —
three favorite tales then clip it out and mail it
today.
5 in to us.
SEND NO MONEY
5 WEIRD TALES |
You must be 100% de-
lighted or no cost. Try four

i 9 Rockefeller Flora New Yorfa City months and return for refund
a if not satisfied. AT YOUR DRUGGIST OR ORDER DIRECT#
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I CROWN PLASTIC COMPANY. DEPT. 5008
1 4358 W. Philadelphia Ave., Detroit 4, Mich.
|
Send your wonderful Crown Dental Plate Reliner and include the |
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months, I may return partly used tube for full refund.
I am enclosing one dollar in payment, sumo guarantee.)
j

WAR RONDS |
Name
Address
j

and STAMPS!
94 WEIRD TALES
iiiiiiiiiiimimmiiiiiiiiimiiimmiiiiiiiimiimiiti

WRITE TO MARTIN WARE, SECRETARY

• This is your club —
a medium to help you
get together with other fantasy and science-fiction
ONLY.
0.00 fans. Readers wanted it —
they wrote in telling
$I Posts
Postpaid
us how much they would enjoy meeting others
of similar tastes.
ACTUAL $5 .00 VALUE! • Membership very simple: just drop us a
is
MYSTIFY friends! Gain more popularity than you ever dreamed line, so that we can enroll you on the club
possible. It's easy with this raagio outfit of 10 hair-raising trieks.
Furnished with all the secret equipment and easy -to- understand roster, and publish your name and address in the
explanations. Your friends will gasp with astonishment when be-
fore their very eyes you make things disappear and reappear . . .
magazine.
yes. you will perform in expert manner. The tricks we send you are
similar to those used by many professional magicians. You too • A membership card carrying the above de-
will laugh and be astonished because you will know how easy
sign —
personal token of your fellowship with the
these tricks are to do. You will do them perfectly with almost no
practice. Bead on and learn all that is Included with this offer,
that is a» amazing a» the tricks themselves.
weird and the fantastic —
will be sent on request.
(A stamped, addressed envelope should be en-
YOU GET EQUIPMENT FOR ALL THESE 10 TRICKS closed.)
FOR ONLY S2.S0
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiimiiiiiimiiiiiim
1. MAGIC FRAME —An am ax tag trick! Any card selected T>y a
spectator is Instantly made to appear In the Magic Frame,
replacing a card previously in frame. Guy Trucano, Jr., Box 1091, Dickinson, N. Dak.
2. CHAN’9 LAUNDRY TICKET— Astrip of paper with Chi- Dean Scott, c/o Clarence Ortman, Anchor, 111.
nese characters is tom into small pieces, then restored! A
spectacular trick I Five tickets Included. You can make your E. Gordon Renner, Leesburgh Inn, Leesburgh, Va.
own after you know the secret! Thomas M. Browning, Jr., Gassaway, W. Va.
3. YOGI BEADS — Three colored wooden beads on a string are held Leonardo Coppola, 124 West St., Nogales, Ariz.
at both ends of string by spectator. Magician instantly removes all
the beads, which may be examined. A smart trick! No skill required! Tate Brown, Camp Norway, Hancock, N. H.
4. MAGIC RULER—A 5-inch ruler with hole in center, is in- Victor Travis, Jr., 656 So. Warren St., Syracuse 3.
serted in a fancy slotted cover between the covers. A metal
fastener locks ruler between covers, but the magician removes the N. Y.
ruler promptly. Solid through solid effect! Ruler and cover, also David Watterson, 53 Jefferson St., Garden City,
fastener, may be examined. Astonishing
L. I., N. Y.
5. E-Z MONEY VAN 18 HER— Coins. Mils, small articles appear
or disappear with this clever device. No skill required. Change John Mileus, 2032 Hogan St., Montreal, Que., Can.
a peony into a dollar and vice versa. Addle Huddleston, 212 Findlay St., Cincinnati, O.
6. FOOLED AGAIN —A comedy card trick that fools all! One
red and two black cards are shewn. The red card suddenly dis-
Sidney Rosenberg, 851 Glenmore Ave., Brooklyn,
appears and is found in the magician's pocket or under the rug, N. Y.
etc. The original red card changes to a card reading “Fooled" Bill Chaterton, 512 Walnut St., Bushnell, 111.
on one side and "Fooled Again" on other side.
l’atricia A. Smith, 150 Adams St., Dorchester, Mass.
7. RED DEVILS —Three red discs are thrown on table by magi-
Mildred Stahura, 1727 Humboldt Blvd., Chicago, III.
cian. One of the dice is placed in his pocket with right hand
and the other two picked up in his left. Yet, when hie left Redus Montgomery, 517 W. 3rd St., Stuttgart, Ark.
hand is opened, it contain* THREE DICE. Can be repeated!
8. MYSTIC TAGS— Three tags, colored red. white and blue, are Barry Hawkins, 601 Highland Ave., Fayetteville, Ark.
given to spectator, also a string. Spectator is asked to thread Ralph Arnold, 747 Shawnee Ave., Kansas City 3, Kan.
tags through top holes, and hold both ends of string. Magician C. R. Meros, Jr., 2339 W. Tioga St., Philadelphia 7, Pa.
removes center white tag without tearing it. A great stunt!
9. MAGIC RATTLE BARS— Three bars are shown. One rattles, Cherie Callis, 3915 Fernway Drive, Anderson, Ind.
two don't. They are mixed around and spectator is asked to tell Edgar F. Cox, 494 Md. Ave., S.W., Washington, D. C.
which rattles, but ALWAYS fails! This trick alone usually
Beulah Hedrick, 209 W. Berry St., Alexandria, Ind.
sells for $1.00. It's a honey!
10. AGAINST GRAVITY!— A handkerchief is spread over a Howard Clark, Jr., 502 S. Main St., Coudersport, Pa.
board and then two ordinary borrowed drinking glasses placed Jack Sloan, 126 Springdale Blvd., Toronto, Ont.
upon it. Magician turns the board upside down but glasses do not
drop. One glass may be removed but other still remains in position. Mildred F. Legg, 230 Monroe Ave., Rochester 7,
A most mystifying trick but E-Z to do with our secret apparatus. N. Y.
George Ellsworth, Route 1, Box 26, Carbondale, Colo.
FREE— THIS BOOK Thom Connolly, e/o Bell Caption, Fort Titt Hotel,
Pittsburg, Pa.
OF 102 MAGIC TRICKS WITH William Jordan, Jr., Cape Cottage, Me.
ORDER FOR OUR TEN TRICKS Marie Morgan, 1015 Division St., National City, Calif.
Order at once and receive free our Magic book
containing $1,000.00 worth of magical secrets. Helen Huckol, 309 W. 99th St., New York 25. N. Y.
102 startling tricks you learn quickly. Do tricks Sheila Halpern, 1655 Townsend Ave., Bronx, N. Y.
with cards, coins, watches. Cigarettes, mind- I. Halpern, 1311 Grant Ave., Bronx, N. Y.
reading, etc. ... all without apparatus. Melvin S. Halpern, 1655 Townsend Ave., New York 53,
HOW TO ORDER. Send us your name and N. Y.
address. Enclose $2.00. money order or cash. (If
cash, use registered mail. ) Foreign orders $2.50. George Barte, Jr., 8 Bates Ave., Saint Paul 6, Minn.
Receive all that is advertised above In private, sealed pack- Peggy Goodson, Rt. 1. Box 509, Galveston, Tex.
age by return prepaid mail. DO WE NOT SHIP C.tj.D, Act Fasti Mrs. Louise Kriger, 2102-1, Galveston, Tex.
D. ROBBINS k C0„ Dept N-8, 152 W. 424 St, Naw York IS, DL Y. Robert Auderson, 381 Winchester St., Daly City 25,
Calif.
 .

W. T. CLUB MEMBERS 95

Anne Campbell, 4654 Colbrooke Ave., N.D.G., Montreal,

Que., Can. _

TO THE MAN
.

Stephanie McKay, 4517 So. Rockwell St., Chicago 32,

111 .
Rose Marie Wilkins, Route 6, Box 39, Hillsboro. O.
Charles Lessly, 4340 Lauriston St., Rob Phila 28, i’a.
Billy Woodman, 4420 Areola Aye., North Hollywood,
Calif.
Kenneth Krueger, 494 Carlton St., Buffalo 11, N. Y.
Fred D. Broome, Route 1, Box 240, Delta, Colo.
Sady Shell, 848 Manhattan Ave., Brooklyn 22, N. Y.
WHO WANTS
Alyce Hipsh, Box 422, Fairhope, Ala.
Charles A. Qroxel, Box 422, Fairhope, Ala.
James Garner, Box 1033, Throckmorton, Tex,
Irene Tnthill, Auburn Academy, Auburn, Wash.
Frank Taylor, 1132 Broadway, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Paul Doerr, 203 E. State St., Sharon, I’a.
Robert M. Quartner, Esq., 496 Thatford Ave., Brook-
lyn, N. Y.
Nancy Winters, 1807 Jersey
SUCCESS
AFTER THE WAR
St., Quincy, 111.
Mrs.Ed Root, 407% Asylum St., Flint 3.Mich.
Howard Irye, 854 Government Way, Coeur d’Alem,
Idaho
Earl E. Sprung, 941 Lazalle St., Sturgis, S. Dak.
Adelyn M. Drexel. 3237 Erdman Ave., Baltimore 13, Md. If you want success and security when peace
Clifford Miller, 679 Dovercourt Rd., Toronto, Out., Can. comes, prepare for it now. Make sure that you
H. Wayne Leonard, 202 Aigburth Rd., Towson 4, Md. have the trained ability that employers will
Gordon Gillmore, Box 1022, Sequim, Wash. want and pay for in the post-war adjustment.
Evan R. Day, Jr., Box 273, Wilton, N. H.
Marlene Spellerberg, 1316 Hays St., Boise, Idaho As business converts back to civilian goods,
John Schullinger, Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, Conn. there will be urgent call for accountants, book-
H. R. Callahan, Rt. 1, Box 30, Gresham, Ore. keepers, salesmen, sales and credit correspond-
Dallas Daniel, R.F.D. 1, La Grange, Ga. ents, traffic managers, marketing men, secre-
Don Reaves, 403 W. 69th St.. Los Angeles 3, Calif. taries, office managers and legally trained
Harlie F. Jamison, Fulton, Ark. executives.
Virginia Staton, 21 States Ave. .Atlantic City, N. J.
Jerry Pope, 2524 Woodbourne Ave., Louisville 5, Ky. For 35 years, LaSalle has been training
Logan Pope, 2524 Woodbourne Ave., Louisville 5, Ky. adults in their spare time for such positions.
Robert Mitchell, 1170 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y. It knows how. It can train you— quickly,
Arthur Goldman, 3374 Albert St., Regina, Sask., Can. thoroughly, at moderate cost, and without in-
C. P. Cornelson, Box 100, Cabre, Sask., Can. terruption to your present work.
Harry Hamlin, 3752 Acacia St., San Diego, Calif.
K. L. Parker, Carlton House, 22 E. 47th St., New Mark the coupon below for our free booklet
York, N. Y. about the field of your interest. It costs nothing
Raymond Colander, 7523 Cregier Ave., Chicago 49, 111. to get the facts and they may lead you to
Katherine Whinery, 610 E. Cherokee, McAlester, Okla.
Gerald Gordon Grant, 4775 S. Broadway, Los Angeles,
larger security and success —now and after the
Calif. armistice whistles blow.
Charles Bua, 69 Monroe St., Lodi. N. J.
Stanley J. Short, 1460 N. Felton St., Philadelphia, Pa.
Clayton Kautzman, 279% Nornmbega Dr., Monrovia,
Calif.
Raymond Pawlowski, 3622 N. Page Ave., Chicago, 111.
Ludwig Moore, 98 Ralph Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y.
Clifton Niles, 92 Chaussee Rd., Castries St. Lucia,
B. W. I.
Ethel England, 359 New York Ave.. Jersey City 7, N. J.
Charles Morshead, 167 Hawthorne Ave., Ottawa, Ont„
Can.
Edmund M. Simas, 6 Trement St., So. Dartmouth,
Mass.
Jay Foster, 1808 Clienevert St,, Houston, Tex.

We’re sorry that lack of space prevents the

inclusion of the names of all New Members.
The rest will appear next time. LASALLE EXTENSION UNIVERSITY
A Correspondence Institution
Dept. 875-R CHICAGO 15, ILl,
I am interested in knowing what your training is and
Request how it can help me in the post-war adjustment. Please
aend me your free booklet on the held I have marked
ROM Thorp McClusky, veteran reader of and
below.
Accounting nOffice Management
writer for WEIRD TALES (Mr. McClusky Bookkeeping Business Correspondence
Salesmanship DTraffic Management
has a story coming in the next issue), we received Business English DExecutive Management
this plea. We wondered if any of the readers could DLaw:LL.B.Degree DForeraanship
Business Law Industrial Management
help him. Stenotypy: machine shot ’.hand

Wanted: Back issues of WEIRD TALES for: Name - A^e.

1936, June, July; 1937, January; 1938, September,

Position.
October; 1939, April, June; 1940, February, March.
April. Please advise issues available, condition, and Address.
price wanted.
Thorn McClnskv. City . ........... Slate
c/o WEIRD TALES.
CAN WE RECOLLECT OUR PAST LIVES ?
\ _ \ A' . Y 1. ... : .1 .~Z?NA . / ... A :..A\ Jv
TS THERE a strange familiarity waters of the once sacred Nile, and
about people you have met for the in the heights of the Himalayas, man
first time? Do scenes and places you began a serious search beyond this
have never visited haunt your mem* veil of today. For centuries, behind

ory? Are these proof that the per- monastery walls and in secret grot-
sonality — an immaterial substance- toes, certain men explored the mem •
can survive all earthly changes and ory of the soul. Liberating their con-

return How many times have you sciousness from the physical world
seemed a stranger to yourself pos- — to which it is ordinarily bound, these
sessed of moods and temperaments investigators went on mystical jour-
that were not your own? neys into celestial realms. They have
Prejudices, fears, and superstitions expressed their experiences in simple
have denied millions of men and teachings. They have disclosed
women a fair and intelligent insight whereby man can glean the true na-
into these yesterdays of their lives. ture of self and find a royal road to
But in the enigmatic East, along the peace of mind and resourceful living.

*7/ud fya&cincdUtCf' NEW BacJz tynee.

Today there is no greater — or more respected —perpetuator of these
ancient teachings and startling truths than the Rosicrucians (not a religious
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HOW A 97-Lb.WEAK LING
Become
WORLD'S MOST PERFECTLY DEVELOPED MAN

I Can Make You a New Man, Too,

In Only 15 Minutes a Day!
If you’re the way I
are skinny and feel only half- alive
USED
if the
to be —
— if you I give you no gadgets or contraptions to
fool with. You simply utilize the UNDE-
better jobs pass you by
service, but are being “pushed around"
—
if you're in the VELOPED muscle-power in your own
God-given body — almost unconsciously
if you’re ashamed to strip for sports or a
—
every minute of the day — walking, bend-

— —PROVE
swimand

I’ll
me
want
then give
if HE-MAN's body
you
15 minutes
you can have
just
a
a day!
a build you’ll
ing over, etc. to BUILD MUSCLE and
VITALITY. And it’s
“Dynamic Tension,”
so easy —my
does the trick!
secret,

be PROUD of; “Dynamic Tension ’’ will

FREE BOOK CHARLES ATLAS, Dept. 9H,
do it for you, too! That's how 1 changed
my own build into such perfect proportions Thousands of fellows in every branch 115 East 23rd St.. New York 10, N. Y
that famous sculptors and artists have of the service as well as civilians have T want the proof that your system of “Dynamic
paid me to pose for them. My body won used my “ Dynamic Tension
themselves into real llE-
to change Tension ” will help make a new man of mo give —
me the title, “World’s Most Perfectly me a healthy, husky body and nig muscular
Developed Man.” And now I can give you MEN Read what they say development. Send me your free book, ‘‘Everlast-
solid, beautiful, USEFUL muscle wher- — !

see how they looked be-

— ing Health and Strength.”
ever YOU want it! —
fore and after in my book
free. Tells all about “Dy- Name
"DYNAMIC TENSION" Does It namic Tension ,” shows ac-
tual photos of men I've turned
(Please print or write plainly)
In only 15 minutes a day, “Dynamic from puny weaklings into Address
Tension ” can bulge up your chest, broaden Atlas Champions. And I can
your back, fill out your arms and legs. Be- do the same for YOU. Mail City State
fore you know it, this easy, NATURAL the coupon now! Address me
method will make you a New .Man! In personally CHARLES ATLAS,
:
| |
Check here if under 16 for Booklet A
fact, I GUARANTEE you’ll start seeing Dept. AH. 115 East 23rd St.,
results in the first 7 days! New York 10. N. Y.

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