Page:Weird Tales Volume 3 Number 1 (1923-12).djvu/97

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length, with hypnotic power, the eyes drew him. He gently rolled onto his stomach. He began to wriggle toward the thing. Could he grasp it by its slimy throat and choke it before it struck? That was his only chance. He would rather die from the poisonous fangs than lie there trembling and chilling with terror.

He moved cautiously, stealthily; his fear-filled eyes dimmed and glowed alternately. Was the reptile moving toward him, or merely lying in wait, biding its time before it struck?

He was close enough now to grasp it. Slowly he raised his hand—he slipped—his face fell 

Of Weird Tales, published monthly at Indianapolis, Indiana. For October 1st, 1923. State of Illinois

County of Cook

ss.

Before me, a notary public in and for the State and county aforesaid, personally appealed J. C. Henneberger, who, having been duly sworn according to law, deposes and says that he is the business manager of the Weird Tales, and that the following is, to the best of his knowledge and belief, a true statement of the ownership, management (and if a daily paper, the circulation), etc., of the aforesaid publication for the date shown in the above caption, required by the Act of August 24, 1912, embodied in section 443, Postal Laws and Regulations, printed on the reverse of this form, to-wit:

1. That the names and addresses of the publisher, editor, managing editor, and business managers are:

Publisher—Rural Publishing Corporation, 226 N. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis, Ind.

Editor—Edwin Baird. 1721 Boomer Pl., Evanston, Ill.

Managing Editor—None.

Business Manager—J. C. Henneberger, S54 N. Clark St, Chicago, Ill.

2. That the owner is: (If the publication is owned by an individual his name and address, or if owned by more than one individual the name and address of each, should be given below; if the publication is owned by a corporation the name of the corporation and the names and addresses of the stockholders owning or holding one per cent or more of the total amount of stock should be given.) E. A. Peterson, 32 E. Georgia St., Indianapolis, Ind.; W. R. Sprenger, 864 N. Clark St., Chicago. Ill.; J. C. Henneberger, 854 N. Clark St., Chicago. Ill.

3. That the known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 per cent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities are: (If there are none, so state.) None.

4. That the two paragraphs next above, giving the names of the owners, stockholders, and security holders, if any, contain not only the list bf stockholders and security holders as they appear upon the books of the company but also, in cases where the stockholder or accurity holder appears upon the books of the company as trustee or in any other fiduciary relation, the name of the person or corporation for whom such trustee is acting, is given; also that the said two paragraphs contain statements embracing affiant's full knowledge and belief as to the circumstances and conditions under which stockholders and security holders who do not appear upon the books of the company as trustees, hold stock and securities in a capacity other than that of a bona fide owner: and this affiant has no reason to believe that any other person, association, or corporation has any interest direct or indirect in the said stock, bonds, or other securities than as so stated by him.

5. That the average number of copies of each issue of this publication sold or distributed, through the mails or otherwise, to paid subscribers during the six months preceding the date shown above is (Thisinformation is required from daily publications only.)

Signature, business manager,

J. C. HENNEBERGER.

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 1st day of October, 1923.

(SEAL) JOSEPH A. SACCONE, Notary Public.

My commission expires Jan. 31, 1928.

 forward into the very center of the coil as his hand closed about the slimy throat.

Then it was over.

Many days were consumed in the search for the murderer. At length the disappointed men returned empty-handed. In time the story of the crime was almost forgotten.

But to this day, in a cellar beneath a rough slab floor, in a far-away mountain ravine, lies a moldering skeleton. Its long, bony fingers are clutched tightly around the end of a six-foot strand of slimy rope.

Some few inquiries had been made) but these had been readily answered. Even a search had been instituted—but of course nothing was to be discovered. I looked upon my future felicity as secured.

Upon the fourth day of the assassination, a party of the police came, very unexpectedly, into the house, and proceeded again to make rigorous investigation of the premises. Secure, however, in the inscrutability of my place of concealment I felt no embarrassment whatever. The officers bade me accompany them in their search. They left no nook or corner unexplored. At length, for the third of fourth time, they descended into the cellar. I quivered not in a muscle. My heart beat calmly as that of one who slumbers in innocence. I walked the cellar from end to end. I folded my arms upon my bosom, and roamed easily to and fro. The police were thoroughly satisfied and prepared to depart. The glee at my heart was too strong to be restrained. I burned to say if but one word; by way of triumph, and to render doubly sure their assurance of my guiltlessness.

"Gentlemen," I said at last, as the party ascended the steps, "I delight to have allayed your suspicions. I wish you all health, and a little more courtesy. By the bye, gentlemen, this—this is a very well constructed house." [In the rabid desire to say something easily, I scarcely knew what I uttered at all.]—"I may say an excellently well constructed house. These walls—are you going, gentlemen?—these walls are solidly put together;" and here, through the mere phrenzy of bravado, I rapped heavily, with a cane which I held in my hand. Upon that very portion of the brickwork behind which stood the corpse of the wife of my bosom.

But may God shield and deliver me from the fangs of the Arch-Fiend! No sooner had the reverberation of my blows sunk into silence, than I was answered by a voice from within the tomb!—by a cry, at first muffled and broken, like the sobbing of a child, and then quickly swelling into one long, loud, and continuous scream, utterly anomalous and inhuman—a howl—a wailing shriek, half of horror and half of triumph, such as might have arisen only out of hell, conjointly from the throats of the damned in their agony and of the demons that exult in the damnation.

Of my own thoughts it is folly to speak. Swooning, I staggered to the opposite wall. For one instant the party upon the stairs remained motionless, through extremity of terror and of awe. In the next, a dozen stout arms were toiling at the wall. It fell bodily. The corpse, already greatly decayed and clotted with gore, stood erect before the eyes of the spectators. Upon its head, with red extended mouth and solitary eye of fire, sat the hideous beast whose craft had seduced me into murder, and whose informing voice had consigned me to the hangman. I had walled the monster up within the tomb!