Page:Weird Tales Volume 4 Number 3 (1924-11).djvu/90

Rh The man stepped back and closed the double door; his face turned ceilingward; an upraised hand, and all was still. Slowly, he returned and took his place.

"The spell is upon the house; no sound can penetrate beyond this room," said he. His voice was low and frigid.

Dead silence.

The leader stroked his long, black beard.

"We are here Lucifer, and we want you. We want you now," they whispered in deep, well-rounded unison. "Who are you that you should enter my home unbeckoned at this unseemly hour of the night?" groaned Lucifer, his drawn face twitching painfully.

The leader took one step toward the table and, in a monotone, enunciating each word perfectly, replied:

"A judge of last resort, an administrator of the final law, am I."

He paused a moment, then bowed to number two, who likewise advanced a step.

With uplifted right hand, he spoke slowly and in deep undertone:

"A minister of the gospel, a mediator for the crimes of mortal man, a servant of the dying, has been my chosen calling."

The leader nodded to number three, who took his place beside the minister.

"A doctor's degree have I, a dispenser of medicine and skilled in delicate surgery. To the latter, my nerves have been attuned for many, many years."

He spoke sharply, but in even a lower voice than had the other two.

A gesture from the leader and the remaining: three stepped promptly into place. Another signal and their voices blended together

"Recognized masters of art are we; workers of mystic spells, and co-adjustors of moral wrongs."

They paused a moment, then turned to the leader.

"Proceed! We shall gladly await your judgment."

Lucifer leaned forward with strained eyes.

"Have mercy, men, I am weak in the fullness of years. I have money. What is your price? I wish to retire and spend my life in peace. Say what you wish! But have mercy, men, have mercy.

"He pleads for mercy," chimed the three mystics, dolefully. "Mercy! He knows not the meaning of the word!"

Again dead silence. Five eager faces turned with solemn mien to the leader. Thoughtfully he stroked his flowing beard. "Is it not the law, that he who is silent, when in justice he should have spoken, shall be silent when personal gain urges that he speak?"

The leader's voice was slightly louder than a whisper. The five others each nodded in his turn.

"Then," said he in firmer tones, a slight raise in his voice, "we shall examine the papers on the table; each extortion of money shall constitute a crime, and each crime a punishment."

He turned to the man at his side, "Right Reverend, what does the Old Testament say? An eye for an eye?"

"It does."

"Then along this line it shall be. The papers, honest men, and search them carefully. Let not one thing escape your cautious vision."

Through the folded documents the visitors of the night did quickly delve. Foreclosures, all of them. Thirteen documents. Then, the yellowish-brown sheet spread upon the table,