Page:Weird Tales Volume 5 Number 3 (1925-03).djvu/177

176 grieve so much," he said soothingly. "I can't bear seeing you do that. After all, you are very young and beautiful, you know, and must not bury all your hopes for life in your husband's grave."

Lucetta began to cry afresh.

"I know, Mr. Johnston," she sobbed, "but I'm afraid I was unkind to him. If I'd let him do what he wanted to, he wouldn't have gone to Monte Carlo. And now he's dead—and it's my fault!"

Young Johnston took her hands gently in his. How I should have liked to kick the presumptuous cub!

"Why, Mrs. Thompson! I know you could never be unkind!" he replied incredulously.

Lucetta's sobs increased.

"No, but indeed I am, Mr. Johnston," she affirmed. "He wanted to astralize himself—and—and I would not let him!"

A gleam of understanding came into Johnston's eyes. I instinctively knew he had guessed what had happened.

"But, Mrs. Thompson, it's very wrong to astralize one's self. You were not to blame. You were only doing your duty by preventing such an act."

He talked on in that strain for several minutes. He was a glib orator, and presently Lucetta wiped away her tears on a dainty kerchief, and even smiled a little. She took Johnston's arm, and the two moved off down the deck, gaily chatting. I was simply furious, but helpless to interfere.

Deserting the ship, I minutely searched the surface in a desperate hope of finding my body. Not seeing it, I plunged to the bottom and began examining the sunken Grenadier.

Locked in a vaultlike safe I found the coffin. The body was well embalmed, but entirely useless. Even an astral cannot open a safe combination, The body was imprisoned there.

Sitting gloomily down on the coffin, I buried my astral face on astral hands, and gave way to despair.

Hearing a burst of astral laughter at my elbow, I looked up.

I saw young Johnston's astral, grinning from ear to ear.

"Ha! Ha! Ha!" he laughed sneeringly. "Well, you are in a pretty mess! Ha! Ha! Ha!"

I was too overcome to move.

"Yes," he repeated, "you are in a mess and no mistake. Your body down half a mile under water, locked in a burglar-proof safe, and no way of getting it out. Well, my friend, I guess I'll have to look after Lucetta for you. It's evident you're not in condition to do so any longer."

And then the hound laughed again.

I ought to have pulverized him, but I had not yet recovered from the shock of his sudden appearance.

He was a silent a moment, then continued:

"Lucetta will suit me very well. She has oodles of greenbacks, I'm told, and besides, is very pretty."

He paused again, waiting for an answer. Then he went on:

"She's promised to accompany my party on a European tour. You know the old saying about propinquity?"

Then I sprang up and assaulted him. Evading my blows, he fled with a mocking laugh. I pursued, but he reached his stateroom and entered his body before I could seize him.

Reinstated in earthly form, he defiantly shook his fist at the air.

"Not this time, my friend!" he exclaimed. "You weren't quite quick enough."

With a last derisive laugh, he quitted the stateroom and went on deck. I followed, but did not remain long. I could not bear to watch the young cad as he skilfully wormed his way into my wife's favor.

Abandoning the ship, I hurried away to the other side of the globe,