Page:Weird Tales Volume 3 Number 4 (1923-04).djvu/39

 'And So Ends The Last Thrilling Words of'

The next after-noon Doctor, Daily inhealed some more of the liquid Fimiliarto Transparent gas. to make him invisible! for he had decovered that he was coming back in his natrel body agsin and he had found out that the Transparent Gas would only make him invisible for three days untill he would begin to turn back into his naturel self again and if he wanted to play ghost it was necessary for him to take more of the gas; he had decided to take a long walk On all sides the desert stretched away to the haze of nothingness aland of the marage; scens which the jealous desert steals from arid land s and hold up to the eyes of desert men to lure them on Rock River with its cool, watter rippling which seem only a few feet away, then fade out to show a waste of dust and the graym mesquite, which rattles in the hot winds, On a rock plateau of this range stood this town of Kent City. and it's streets are paved with the solid rock of the mountains. At the upper end of the street the cliffs arose sheer for several hundered feet, at the lower end was a succession of broken ledges, which sloped off to the sand desert, where the winding trail come in from the rest of the world. To the left of the Town of Kent-City was a deep Rocky gorge, so grotesque in formation that it did not appear to be a Work of nature, but just around the curve was a grassy spot it was a Grave yard. and just as Doctor Daily Ghost terns the curve he saw that A Funeral was in progress, or rather, had been in progress, The corpse Was there in the rough casket; the grave was gug and the pall-bearers stood aside, reverently holding there hats in their hands, I reckon they're plantin some body, gess I go over." the ghost crossed over but he diden attract any attention. The crowed seemed to be waiting for some-One Two men were standing near the grave, talking earnestly The Ghost asked one of them who the dead man one of them looked up and saw that there was no one he could see He walked abruptly away from his companion and halted a few feet from a white-bearded man. Podner, by your whiskers yo're a preacher; are yuh? I. youster be he said slowly and with his hand he stroked the white beard whitch hung nearly to his waist line, then the man turned on his heel, facing the crowd. Folks, we're in luck

The Funeral will proceed just like nothing happened

Extraordinary,"

Just a moment said the preacher "What happened to be the matter? "Not a damn thing, we needed a preacher bad and you showed up. There yuh Got it!" But Sir have you no preacher? Not now We did have untill last night you see he for got the honest rules in a gaim of poker which give him smaller then kingsup in ten deals and the others got small cards all the time, but sir where is this poker-playin preacher Now?" Well His Soal in Hell's Delight!" and his body in the casket! Iplumb forgot that he coulden say his own oration, That 's where you come in handy, like a gun in a holster. the old preacher crossed to the grave and looked down at the rough coffin while the audience moved in closer He preayed his voice was deep and musical, as he lifted his bared head and let his eyes travel around the assemblage, friends, I have been asked to say a few words over the mortal remains of one of God's anointed men who hs labored in this Town of sin and sinners that the true Gospel might be Brought home to you all He is with you no more, except in spirit but his many good works will live long after his name has bee forgotten

Just then a Hand Tuched the old preacher sholder and the voice of the Doctor, Ghost interrupted the man who deliver the sermon, I dont like to stop a preacher from a sayin what he know a bout a man but thair know need of you telling a lie. to these men they all knowed that old fogy of a preacher

The preacher turned and looked a round but he saw know one who was speaking to me he asked, I did i reckon parson. I, Doctor Daily Transparent Ghost, and I don't believe in sayin good of a old raskel like old preacher Baker if he is a dead man, and i dont belive that you a preacher if you a preacher where is your Bible?? the man who clamed to be a preacher was so frightned he coulden anser the ghost some of the other men stagered and nearly fell in the grave. don't get scart men if i am a ghost i not harm a one of you that done me any harm but this old white haird man is know preacher he a raskel and a gambler let me have that deck of dards in your pocket will you? as the ghost finished all the men glanced quickly at the gambler who was prentending to be a sent, then the ghost said men I'll prove to you that this man is

Know Man of Divine Providence he not A man of God. but He A Cur. In human shap, and is the most despicable human being in all the World. Men. how much of a reward is offord for the man who shot Preacher Baker The men Turned to see who was speaking at last a man spoke up One thousand Dollars Mr Ghost It was Detective Wright in disguis the Ghost laughed "I'll get your man for half the reward. get the man and mr ghost the five-hundred is yours.

The Preacher was nearly Collapsible but scarcely had the Dtective got Through speaking untill Doctor's Ghost took off his long white beard and then quick as a flash of lighteing he jurked off the preacher wig and And held it out in his hand Before them stood a man with Hair as black as coal and eyes opened he stared at the croud around him his voice was not that of a saint in its place was a harsh, rasping enunciation, toneless, colorless he stood He turned away and staggered against the stome-wall, but the ghost held him fast take it easy, old timer, advised the ghost the detective came up and took the man by the arm but he drew back against the rock then the Ghost said to the croud "Look at him will all of yuh? he is the man who shot preacher Baker in a poker game. and as you got your man I reckon 'I'll be going I'll see later Detective Wright, and the ghost turned and went into the misty space of the desert—alone.