moment later there was a second volley--all had not fallen at the

first. Then the soldiers came among the bodies, searching for signs

of life; but evidently the two volleys had done their work. The

sergeant formed his men in line. The lieutenant marched them away.

Only silence remained on guard above the pitiful dead in the factory

yard.

The day wore on and still the stiffening corpses lay where they had

fallen. Twilight came and then darkness. A head appeared above the

top of the wall that had enclosed the grounds. Eyes peered through

the night and keen ears listened for any sign of life within. At

last, evidently satisfied that the place was deserted, a man crawled

over the summit of the wall and dropped to the ground within. Here

again he paused, peering and listening.

What strange business had he here among the dead that demanded such

caution in its pursuit? Presently he advanced toward the pile of

corpses. Quickly he tore open coats and searched pockets. He ran his

fingers along the fingers of the dead. Two rings had rewarded his

search and he was busy with a third that encircled the finger of a

body that lay beneath three others. It would not come off. He pulled

and tugged, and then he drew a knife from his pocket.

But he did not sever the digit. Instead he shrank back with a

muffled scream of terror. The corpse that he would have mutilated

had staggered suddenly to its feet, flinging the dead bodies to one

side as it rose.

"You fiend!" broke from the lips of the dead man, and the ghoul

turned and fled, gibbering in his fright.

The tramp of soldiers in the street beyond ceased suddenly at the

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