Brood of the Witch-Queen

e Dr. Cairn sat alone with Sir Michael's manuscript, but at frequent intervals his glance would stray to the telephone at his elbow. He had

ed summons came. Dr. Cairn's jaw squared and his mouth was

l, b

and the-shapes are taking definite, horrible form! They have ... eyes!" His voice sounded harsh. "Quite black the eyes are, and they

oice

d Dr. Cairn.

rustling noise. It is a tremendous, conscious effort to keep them at bay. While I was speaking, I somehow lost my grip of th

your nerve, bo

es-" f

come to you! You must hold out for another

God!-if you can help

In ten minutes y

abbing a cap from the rack in the hall, ran down the steps and

's meeting with Myra Duquesne. Dr. Cairn ran past the lift doors and went up the stairs three steps at a time. He pressed his fing

past the white-clad man holdi

home, ef

lah?n-by the shoulder, and sent him spinning across the mosaic floo

ed the drapery aside and found himself in a dark corridor. From his son's descr

or proved to be unlocked-an

as almost unbearable. On the table the light from the silver lamp she

cowl-like garment was thrown across the table. Half rising, the figure turned-an

orward, until he s

ave on the table,"

s with an expression in their depths which, in the M

Cai

had lost somethi

ard my

ly, doctor, since

ve on the table. Or

d upon the end of the black r

n," he said evenly. "

a's arm behind him. Then, with a second rapid movement, he snatched away the robe. A

rable Egyptian characters, and upon it, in rows which formed a definite

he held, and Ferrara sat quite s

the skull of a mummy! Y

with a calm sud

g obscene in the

ied doubles-glamours-of the horrible creatures into his rooms! By means which you know of, b

ou is great; but I fear that

s hand towards an ebon

e to touch

ed, gla

rders,

act

ole unsavoury bundle into the heart of the fire. A great flame leapt up; there came a series of squeaky explosion

gan rapidly to babble in a tongue that was not European. He was facing Dr. Ca

mperatively-"and for the last ti

s was dammed. Ferrara sto

of long ago-are no more," said Dr. Cairn. "English law

u would like also to burn this bo

of evil that have lain dormant for ages and dare to wield them. Beware! I know of some whom you have murdered; I cannot know

nd walked t

n," came softly. "As you sa

fists clenched and his sinewy body tense in every fibre. His face was pale

d-and his voice, though steady w

unwittingly he had invoked. Dr. Cairn was spare and lean, but in perfect physical condition. Now he

egan the la

, with icy coolness, "answer me back but once

ot daring to raise his eyes. For ten magnetic seconds they st

eaven to aid him, had fallen in the midst of crowding, obscene things, and, in the instant of his fall, had found the room clear of the waving antenn?, the beady eyes, and the beetl

ropped upon his knees and sobbed out prayers of