The Human Vampire; Or, The Elixir of Life — page 21: what you’re looking at

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WOLe Ay No, Jl THE LOG CABIN LIBRARY. 21 CHAPTER XVIII. MR, DOTY SOBNTS A PLOT—THE MAN TURNS AGAINST THE MASTER, The neighbors were very much interested when Madge moved into the cottage with her two clildren and the former house- keeper was discharged, The latter was a somewhat pugnacious Irishwoman who had been enjoying what the boys who were so warmly interested in the cottage and its inmates termed a ‘soft snap.” Naturally Delia O’Brien resented his hasty dismissul, and she was not slow to express her opinion on the subject of the new housekeeper, her late employer, and matters in genoral, “Shure it’s a noice crowd ye'll be, furriners that ye are. Phat business have ye in America at allat all, I’d loike toknow? As for that red-headed cannibal, I'd lay me loife he’ll be makin’ away widthim twins insoide ofawake. Shure l'll beafter tel- ling the landlord, Mr, Collan, to kape his oye on the crowd of dirty thrash!” With many such complimentary speeches, Delia packed her belongings, shook the dust of the cottage from her feet, and de- parted breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the doctor, the cannibal, the new housekeeper, and all concerned. Madge began to abuse the children, snarling at them, and sometimes cruelly beating them, Doty interfered, ond thrent- enod to invoke the law if the children wero again maltreated. Morrison then tried to getrid of Doty, but he failed to take the broad hints that were thrown out, Then Doty began to suspect that a plot was maturing for his removal. His suspicions were not unfounded. Before leaving Delia O'Brien had intimated that the children were to be murdered. Juber spoke of this remark in a conversation with Madge, and with a steely glitter in his eye, suggestively asked: “Why shouldn't I have him arrested for the murder?” When Mr. Decker arrived in New York in response to Gregory Hamlin’s telegram, the valet met him at the depot. ‘What news?” asked Decker, impatiently. He was worn and haggard from want of food and sleep. The suspense was killing him, ‘Madge has the children.” “Thank Heaven!” Gregory looked surprised. His master caught him by the arm. “Gregory,” he said, in a hoarse whisper. ‘‘ You do not know the truth. ohn hasa horrible theory on the subject of the elixir, He tried some experiments inthe South.” So frightful had Decker’s face grown that peoplein the crowd gazed at him with sarprise and apprehension. ‘“Compose yourself, sir,” whispered the valet, “you will gather a crowd,” With a violent effort ha calmed himself, and clinging to Gregory’s arm, mnde his way through the crowd toa carriage, They were driven to a hotel before he spoko ugain. “ Now," aaid Decker, when they were safe in the suite of rooms Gregory had engaged, ‘tell me all." ‘Well, sir, I traced Miulge from Newport to this city. The children cried and fretted a good deal and people noticed them on that account. What possesses those detectives the Lord only knows. Idid not experience the slightest diMculty in tracking the woman though so much time has been lost,” “Stupid fools!” “ Well, that depends. As long as you paid them whatever they asked, they had no particular object in bringing this busi- ness to a close.” “ Well, you have found Madge; let us go to her at once and get the children.” Ho sprang from his sent. Gregory looked mortified, ‘' Have a moment's patience,” he said; ‘I did not say L Iknew where she was now,” ‘€ Ah, you hnve lost her again.’ He sank down in deep disappointment, his face more hag- ’ , gard and care-worn than ever. “Tt is this way. The gipsy brought the twins to New York. She took them to a furnished room house on Twenty-fourth street, nesr Sixth avenue. She lived there for a week, then she left very suddenly, Some of her luggnge is there still.” ‘And the people who have charge of it?” “They do not know anything about her.” ‘‘Phen she may have met with some accident—been run over. Were the twins with her when she left?” ‘Yes; she never stirred out without them, She bought them plenty of clothing and fed them well, in fact, took good care of them, buf the woman said she was harsh to therm, and they fretted.” ““My poor little darlings!” cried the wretched father, and he broke down and wept bitterly. “Keep up your heart, sir,’ said the valet; ‘‘as long as sho didn’t starve and beat them, you can’t complain,” “As long as that old fiend has not got them, torturing them with his vile attempts to prolong his useless life!" exclaimed Decker, rising and pacing the floor. ‘«Hixcuse me; I do not understand you.” “No, Ism aware that you do not, Gregory, I am ashamed to tell you that I took part in his experiments,” Gregory seemed mystified. ‘(He had read somowhere of an obsolate practice among tho ancients of using young children to prolong life,” “ But howe” ‘« By transfusion of blood—draining the life-blood of young, vigorous children into his withered veins.” “ Woll, of all I ever heard!” cried Gregory, aghast with hor- ror, ‘‘and what became of the children?” “They lingered on from day to day, till weakness over- powered them.” **And they died then?” ‘« Yes, they died.” ‘(So if seems he murdered these children in cold blood?” “That is what he did.” “And you looked on—more than that, you helped him?” «Yes, [ must acknowledge that I did.” ‘Well, then—how did you get hold of these children?” “They were little colored children. He advertised for them; said he was going to adopt them, and made their parents believe he sent them North to school,” “Great heavens! Where were the old cook, the husband, the crazy negro, and myself, while this murdering went on?” ‘You had gone North for me; the old negro, his wile, and Laf were never there of night.” ‘©And you drained away the life-blood of these poor chil- dren?” “Yes; at night we made our experiments; then they were under the inflnence of anesthetics.” ‘And after they died?” Gregory still preserved the same calm, inscrutable face, but something in the tone of his yoice struck 4 chill to the heart of his master, ‘‘We buried them in the cellar,” *¢ How many children did you murder?” «Tam not sure; four, I think,” ‘You think?” **Lohn was the instigator of the whole thing. Afterall, I do not know that it is worse than vivisection.” «© Well, Mr. Decker, or Warren, or Vivian, or Derwent, which- ever name you prefer, I shall now bid you food-by, I have not made up my mind yet as to whether I shail reveal your hellish doings or not. But Ido know thut if Lohn gets hold of your twins and serves them the same way, it serves you right.” Decker sprang to his feet, his face transigured with amaze- ment, “Gregory!” he cried, 1g Hamlin made for the door. ‘Hold your accursed tongue!” exclaimed the man, with fury in his face and fierce contempt in his voice. ‘‘ Dare to address me again, and I shall denounéee you to the authorities. Devil! fiend! go and end your miserable lite! You have polluted the earth too long, Die, and make room for better people,” Deckor recovered from his stupor of astonishment by o su- preme effort. “Oh, indeed! Ungrateful murderer, whom J rescued from tha gallows!” “Tam the murderer of a man, you cowardly villain! Keep Uack, and Tet me go in peace, or I shall be the murderer of an accursed land?" So Gregory Hamlin left the master he had served so many ears, : Decker owed thissman money, but Hamlin never asked for one cent of it, He wiped his pale face, and walked hurriedly away from the hotel. He hadsome Inggage there, but he never bestowed one thought upon it. Onandon he hastened, his master’s frightful con- fession ringing in his ears, and crimson spots dancing before his eyes, as though the heavens were raining blood. Decker sat for hours where Gregory had left him. He was ill, exhausted, and maddened by suspense and misery. ‘He told mo to put an end to my life!” he muttered. advice, I am inclined to think, deserted by Gregory!” He rang the bell, and ordered brandy, He drank himself into a stupor; then, assisted by a waiter, whom he had fed liberally, he tumbled into bed, and was unconscious for hours, “Good comicbooks.com