He looked me over, then nodded to the others I felt the tension relax. Nor did their gaze waver from me nor did they move. Their free hands dropped into the pockets of their coats. Instantly the burdened pair halted, swiftly as hunting hounds. I had been standing in the shadow, unnoticed. Lean and long, with silvery white hair, always immaculately dressed, a leisured type from outward seeming, rather than leader of such activities as those of which he was accused. Even if he had not been, the newspapers would have made me familiar with his features and figure. He had been pointed out to me several times. He was Julian Ricori, a notorious underworld chieftain, one of the finished products of the Prohibition Law. His head hung upon his breast and his body swung limply.Ī fourth man stepped from the automobile. They moved forward, not supporting but carrying this other man. They straightened and then I saw that they had locked their arms around the shoulders of a third. The two of them stooped and seemed to be fumbling around inside. He looked sharply up and down the deserted street, then threw the door wide open. As I did so an automobile drew up at the entrance to the hospital.Īs I stood, wondering what its arrival at that hour meant, a man slipped out of it. I paused for a moment at the top of the steps to look at the brilliancy of the stars.

Ordinarily I would have been in bed and asleep, but there was a case in which I was much interested, and Braile, my assistant, had telephoned me of certain developments which I wished to observe. I heard the clock strike one as I walked up the hospital steps.

Burn Witch Burn by A. Merritt