The vampire nemesis and other weird stories of the China coast by Dolly Page B

agent—that I could not even seek death without another's permission ! Insanity itself would have been a relief. I thought, enviously, as we swung past the Saddles, of a lunatic I had once seen, to whom the cares of the world were but shadows, who, laughing ever, lived but in the glorious present among joys of his own conjuring.
    And so we turned into the Yangste, and catching a convenient tide at Woosung, reached Shanghai that same evening. It was growing dark before we passed the bar signal station, and the red lights hoisted on the flag-staff looked to my shuddering sight like the glaring orbs of an Argus-eyed monster, gloating luridly over my recapture, as they blinked at us from astern.

    On reaching town, I drove at once to the house and let myself in with the latch-key. The Chinese boy who had been left in charge was unmistakably surprised at my unexpected return—a surprise not unmixed with chagrin, for he was dispensing liberal hospitality in the kitchen to a crowd of admiring friends, who had taken up permanent quarters there during our absence.
    And now, curiously enough, the compelling force that had drawn me here lessened in intensity and ceased altogether on my arrival at home. It left me in a state of mental perturbation, drifting waywardly to and fro, like the boat that, whirling down the rapids, finds itself drawn suddenly into the comparative calm of some backwater, lacking the guiding hand that had once urged it to the descent.

    It seemed to me next morning incredible that I should have been brought down to Shanghai, and then permitted to lie quietly in my own bed, making an attempt, however futile, to sleep.
    What new horror lay in store for me from that reptile ? I asked myself as I rose, shivering from the effect of apprehension working on disordered nerves. This day would show—at least, I should know the worst.
    But no. The day passed quietly away. I stuck methodically to routine work, and would vouchsafe no reason to the rest of my staff for my speedy return. Once a horrible thought seized me. Why had I been made to return without my wife ? Had I been permitted to consult her, she would certainly have accompanied me. Great God! could it be
    possible that that fiend ? I dared not allow
    my mind to frame the ghastly thought. But I took the first opportunity of finding out where Rawdon was. To my relief, he was still at Shanghai. I cannot write down the horrible fear that assailed me.
    Two days later Ethel followed me down from Chefoo. She was looking frightened and distressed at my abrupt departure, but there was no look of reproach in the lovely eyes as she greeted me. Her sole anxiety had been for me. What was the matter of such urgency that had called me away without giving me time to say a word of farewell to her ? But I could only answer evasively that it was business of the utmost importance.

    It was on the evening after her return that Rawdon, the parasite, again took possession of my body to work it as he willed. In our little drawingroom were some cherished specimens of old English tapestry, such as the ladies of the early part of the century had loved to work. They had been commenced by Ethel's grandmother and finished by her mother, who had made a present of them to my wife. There was nothing in the whole house that she cherished with such reverent affection as these examples of bygone industry, and Arnold Rawdon knew of them, and knew the value she set on them—at least he must have known ; yet no, perhaps he did not: I cannot tell. I have long since given up all attempt to discover what the man saw with his own eyes and what with mine.
    We were sitting together in the room, as was our wont. Ethel was at the piano playing to me the airs she knew I loved, when my eyes, roaming over the walls, came ultimately to rest on the tapestries. I sat looking fixedly at them for some time, then rose and walked toward them and began deliberately to tear them down. Ethel heard the rustle and flutter,