DAMNED
DAMNED
The Intimate Story of a Girl
ANONYMOUS
NEW YORK
THE MACAULAY COMPANY
Copyright, 1923
By THE MACAULAY COMPANY
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
TO THE DEVIL
IN EVERYMAN THAT HAS ROUSED ME
TO THE WRITING OF THIS BOOK.
The Author
DAMNED
DAMNED
CHAPTER I
An air of apprehension pervaded the throne room.
The most imperfect day known for ages in the Court ofGehenna was drawing to a close. The seven Tartareancourtiers had effaced themselves as far back in the auditoriumas the folds of its black and red electric hangingswould permit. Each held eyes and ears intent, realizing fartoo well that his particular tenure of preferment hung uponthe mood of the moment. Even the prime minister, OldOriginal Sin, who had weathered so many Apollyon stormsthat he well might have considered himself immune, sat illat ease in his chair of honor upon the dais.
His Satanic Majesty leaned forward from the thronechair, imposing in its effect of onyx and gold. His headdrooped as though from weight other than the voltage ofhis crown. His elbows pressed upon the chair-arms, thatboth his strong, long hands might stroke in turn his pointed,copper-colored beard. About the room, as lightning playsin advance of thunder, flashed his gray-eyed glances. Whenhe spoke, although in a mild voice, each auditor quiveredthrough taut nerves.
“Draw the night curtains. Throw on every switch. Idislike this pale, abiding light.”
Without awaiting the attendants, the courtiers sprang todo the royal will. Sin himself operated the electric switch-board.At his touch, a design in heraldry blazed from thewall behind the dais. In pseudo-seeming, bands of ebonyand of beryl formed the setting for a golden crown in basrelief, its points pricked out with emeralds. Projecting fromits headband, three horns of power suspended from theirtips the ruby-writ words “Japheth,” “Shem” and “Ham.”The crown itself looked to rest upon a sword that drippedall jewels known, like tears of every agony, from those ofwater to those of blood. Beneath, through letters transparentas thin sardonyx, flamed this caption:
SATAN the FIRST and LAST.
Outcast of Paradise
Heir-apparent to Earth
Monarch of Greater Gehenna
His Highness glanced back at this elaborate conceit anda gratified expression crossed his face. He signed a pageto spread out his crackling mantle of gold-bordered black;slanted a self-respecting look at the splendid proportionsrevealed through his easy-fitting body garment of opaquered light; matched his long-nailed finger-tips in pairs.
The seven waited with increased perturbation. They knewthat calm, considering look to presage some diabolical idea;realized that no flattery might blind that super-keen sight;appreciated that the day had run too unevenly for hopeof a restful end.
From the moment of the royal rising that early morn, theKing had seemed of malevolent mind. The