The Human Vampire; Or, The Elixir of Life — page 27: what you’re looking at

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? i he 5 i | i ca ¢ ei hale ¥ No, 31 THE LOG CABIN LIBRARY. 27 clargyman. How can he be tormented wid all them books if he isn’t a holy man?” Miss James repressed a smile. oe is » very studions man if that is your meaning,” she said. “Studious; so that’s another name forholy. Well, the longer ye live tlie more ye’ll be after learning.” Delin dusted the curtain which hung before the picture, but did not draw it to one side. She fancied it was something sacred, faken in connection with the costly marble stutnes and the stained-glass windows, If Delia had enjoyed the advantages of a classical education she would have known that the statues on either side of the deep bow-window were Jupiter and Mars. “Shure it’s loike a church,” said she, speaking in low, rey- erent tones to herself, for Miss James lind been cnalled sway, ‘‘Arrah, what a queer hat that saint has on him!’ she added, as she deftly dusted the god of war and carefully arranged the purple plush curtain at his back. If Delia had only raised the curtain which overhung the paint- ing, she could not have failed to recognize the twin children she had seen in old Lohn’s cottage. CHAPTER XXIII. TIGHTENING THE COM, After procuring the necessary permit, Sidney Van Stretten engaged assistance to open the coflin which was supposed to con- tain the remains of his brother-in-law, Clifford Derwent. He drove vut to the cemetery in u carriage. He had a friend with him—one of his old college chums and classmates. Rufus King was uow a practicing physician, snd a busy man, but he made time to accompany his friend on this mission. Of course Sidney had confided to Doctor King his reason for visiting the cemetery, The doctor had laughed at him, but, seeing he was thoroughly in earnest, had willingly consented to assisb him in his gruesome task. Tt was a dark, dismal day, when even the weather seemed in keeping with the mysterious and melancholy visit to the resting- place of the dead. The two gentlemen were somewhat silent during the long drive, ‘The doctor was a jolly fellow, generally in the highest spirits, but be did not like his errand on this occasion, and Sid- ney felt greatly depressed, “T know what the result of our examination will be,” he said, gloomily. “So dol. The poor fellow’s bones will be found where tiey ought to be, intact.” Sidney shook his head. ‘*You will see,” he said, sadly. The eoachman and his companion on the box were more cheerful. “What are these gents going to do at the gravo-yard?” asked the driver. It was an ordinary hired carriage; for Sidney did not wish to excite commont among his servants by employing their uid on this occasion. ‘€Qun't say; look if there is room in their fam'bly vault for a few more of the aristocracy, I s‘pose.” “Why, is any of them dead?” “No; but there’s one rich old maid ’spected to drop off any minute.” : “Well, rich folks isenrious, Naw, I don’t like them vaults. T’d sooner be put under ground, and done with it. However, every oue to his taste.” When the cemetery was reached, Sidney stepped ont of the carringe first, and seemed anxious to geé over the ghastly busi- ness without delay. ’ When the coffin was opened, it was found to be full, *T told you so,” said the doctor, in a tone of relief. *‘Hixamine the contents of the casket,” Sidney said to the man «vho had just raised the lid. He obeyed. A large piece of black cloth was turned back, and beneath it there was a quantity of sand. No body, no bones! “Great Heaven! the body has been removed!” Van Stretten staggered away, and would haye fallen, if his friend had not caught him by the arm. “You are perfectly certain there isno mistake?” asked the doc- tor, in a hollow tone. “None whatever. Look at the coffin—a purple velvet casket. and an outer one of bronze. His name on the plate, Let us go. It is no use waiting here, I found just what [expected," The return drive was notso melancholy as the other hnd been. Now that his worst fears had been realized, Sidney faced tho matter bravely. “(My naxt journey of the same natnre will ba ta Savannah, Georgia, and [ anticipate no other result,’ he said, calmly. ‘* Let me offer you one consolation, Sid,”’ said Doctor King, “What is 162” “This, If Vivian is Derwent, he was 2 married man when he marriea Mrs. Armstead. ‘Therefore, she is free to marry whom she pleases.” “See here, King, do you suppose for one moment that I am going to make this business public?” “Well, I don’t see how you can avoid it very well,” “You think I shall drag my name, my sister’s name, and that of Lillian Armstead through the mire?” ‘See here, old man, it is no use to cut up rusty with an old friend like me. Whut are you todo? You can't let your sister marry Salter, who is an honorable man, though I call him a fashionable quack, if her scoundrel of afirst husband is still alive, Of course Mrs. Armstead is free, if Viviun is the same fellow— which, by the way, you are by no means certain of, if you have never geen him,” Sidney waited till the doctor finished his somewhat heated remarks. ‘* Look at me,” he then said, slowly; ‘‘do I look like a man who would tamely submif to have the two women he loves best on earth victimized by a villain, und not avenge their wrongs?” “No, by thunder, you don't! But, Sid, be reasonable about it, You say you wou't expose the fellow; well, how can you pot square without doing so?” ‘*T can chullenge him, and see whether his Elixir of Life is proof against lead or steel.” ‘* Nonsense, man; duels are out of date, and were so in your grandfather's time,” ‘““Yes, but 1 think if was a mistake to allow them to fall into disuse.” : Dr. King knew Sidney Van Stretten too well to argue with him in bis present mood. He bade him good-day, and they parted at the entrance of the Hotel Bruuswick. At the clerk’s desk an inquiry for Mr. Decker brought out the fact that that gentleman had left New York for the West the previous day. ‘©Woll, I may as well continue my investigations,’ Sidney said to himselfe and he started for Savannah that nights, The first person he interviewed was Mr. George Tatnall. The two men had often met, but wore by no mcans intimate friends. ‘**T have called upon you, Mr. Tatnall,’’ said Sidney, «‘‘ for two reasons. One 1s a pleasant one, which, if you lke, you shill huve first.” Mr. 'fatnall looked surprised, and a little grave, ‘‘Tt is always a pleasure to see yon, Mr. Van Stretten,” he said, candidly. ‘ My sister often mentions you in her letters.” “Then you know my pleasant news already, 1 presume. You are awure of my engngement to your sister?” The Southerners face cleared, ‘‘T do, and congratulate you. ever breathed.” Yor. Now for the unpleasant portion of my story. Are you at leaisnra to listen to rather o lang story?” “ Oertainly. Consider me at your disposal for the present.” Van Stretten related his experience with his sister's husband; he told of his examination of the diary and record of the life elixir. He then came to the history of the extraordinary resem- blance between Derwent, Vivian, and Decker; of all three hay- ing the same faithfuh valef in their employ; of his almost posi- tive certainty that Deckerand Derwent were one and the same, nud of his own and Lillian’s doubts ard suspicions. “Now, Mr. Tatnall,” he said, ‘*I am popes to have you think me a madman fora short time. must tell you, how- over, before I go further, that I have examined Olifford Der- went's coffin, and found it contained nothing but sand.’’ “ Great heavens!” “Tt isa fact. I have also bronght the diary and a portion of the other documents with me. ‘Though this man possesses the infernal art of changing his age as a snake casts its skin, some little habits of his individuality may cling to him—his hand- writing, for instance.” “Yon are right. First of all, though, we must overhaul that coffin in the old cemetery.” ‘With, [ greatly fear, the same resolt as followed my exam- iuation of our vaultin New York.” ‘“T hops nof. Good heavens! I hope not.” Vory little time ‘wus lost in the investigation. The coffin was empty! “Now,” said Sidney, calmly, ‘the next thing to be dono is to find ont where this man went when he left the graye-yard, After his trance he must haye been weak and ilL.”’ Lillian is as fine a woman ag comicbooks.com