The Project Gutenberg EBook of Mask of Death, by Paul Ernst

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Title: Mask of Death

Author: Paul Ernst

Release Date: June 20, 2010 [EBook #32905]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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Mask of Death

By PAUL ERNST

[Transcriber Note: This etext was produced from Weird Tales
August-September 1936. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence
that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]

[Sidenote: _A weird and uncanny tale about a strange criminal who called
himself Doctor Satan, and the terrible doom with which he struck down
his enemies_]

_1. The Dread Paralysis_

On one of the most beautiful bays of the Maine coast rested the town
that fourteen months before had existed only on an architect's
drawing-board.

Around the almost landlocked harbor were beautiful homes,
bathing-beaches, parks. On the single Main Street were model stores.
Small hotels and inns were scattered on the outskirts. Streets were
laid, radiating from the big hotel in the center of town like spokes
from a hub. There was a waterworks and a landing-field; a power house
and a library.

It looked like a year-round town, but it wasn't. Blue Bay, it was
called; and it was only a summer resort....

Only? It was the last word in summer resorts! The millionaires backing
it had spent eighteen million dollars on it. They had placed it on a
fine road to New York. They ran planes and busses to it. They were going
to clean up five hundred per cent on their investment, in real estate
deals and rentals.

On this, its formal opening night, the place was wide open. In every
beautiful summer home all lights were on, whether the home in question
was tenanted or not. The stores were open, whether or not customers were
available. The inns and small hotels were gay with decorations.

But it was at the big hotel at the hub of the town that the gayeties
attendant on such a stupendous opening night were at their most
c