White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1858-11-11


Waldeck, with more elaboration thar
suited the Colonel, examined the plact
indicated, but no ring was there.
'FThe blood confused me-" said the as
trologer, in apology for the error.
Again he pointed ont spot, but il
proved to be wrong, and . third time
with the same result
Enough Of this. " said Colonel Pow.
ell. We are greater fools than you,
MIR. Rahab. to Listen to your nonsense"
Mr.. Waldeck laughed in derision al
the apparent discontinue of the wise
man. Amelia was so agitated at what
she deemed the failure of the scheme, that
she could with difficulty conceal it from
her father The watchful eye of the as
trologer, however, noticed it. and he
whispered stolen word of encouragement
in her ear. which did much to restore her
Colonel Powell, l must beg your in
diligence for concealing from you a cir,
cumstance which came to my knowledge
last night Ihaye discovered the ring =
and without any aid from this miserable
imposition" said Waldeck, taking from
his pocket the ornament.
Amelia trembled again with agitation.
but glance of intelligence from Rahab
restored her composure.
"Ha the ring !" exclaimed the astrol-
oyer. with well acted gesture of aston
ishment.
- Eyes. the ring" answered Waldeck,
chow are the stars now 90
1.-The stars are red with blood there
is good reason for the failure of my ex-
pertinent"
mo doubt of it, Mr.. Rahab." said
Colonel Powell, examining the ring he
had Just taken from Waldeck mo doubt
of it, the best reason in the world"
MAY 1 look at the ring ?" asked the
astrologer, extending his hand.
Certainly you may. if you will prom
Use not to run away with it." and Colo
mel Powell handed him the ornament.
at is red with blood !" said Rahab,
with trsgical gesture.
Fool idiot % exclaimed Waldeck.
whose nerves seemed to have a decided
antipathy to the mention of blood.
There is murder here p continued the
seer, regardless of the. goldsmith's cpl
thets
''Let us drive tbs fsgfow ont. Colonel
Powell, said Waldeck, trembling with
alarm.
20 no. don't be harsh with him he is
a harmless fellow; besides. there has
been murder here. ynu know"
Mr.. Waldeck did know it, but he very
ungraciously neglected to notice the re-
mark.
"There is a corpse here p continued
the astrologer. holding out the ring at
arms d th, and regarding it with trem-
ulous horror.
"Wherc is it ?" asked the officer, qui-
city.
Mr.. Rahab performed sundry fantastic
feats and then with strangely marked
effort at dramatic effect, exclaimed
Buried under the bottom Of the cell
lar, in the north west corner"
Waldeck breathed more freely, and ex-
pressed his contempt for the prediction,
but at the same time suggested that an
examination should be made. Colonel
Powell opposed it as folly. A look from
the astrologcr brought Amelia to the res
enc. and she begged her father to favor
the search.
81 am not mistaken this time" said
the astrologer.
If that simple and comprehensive word
"humbng" was in use in those days. we
have no doubt Colonel Powell made it
express his sentiments on the present &C.
casion. Without any faith in Mr.. Ra-
hab's wisdom. he at last consented to the
search, and Waldeck procured a couple
of laborers to do the work. The party
descended to the cellar, and the seer point
cd out the spot where the body was bur-
led. The laborers commenced their
task, while the party. not very deeply
impressed with the solemnity Of the oc-
casion, indulged in idle jests at the ex-
pense of the occult sciences.
The laborers excavated the earth to the
depth Of about two feet: while occasion
ally to divert the attention Of the eompa-
nv. the aStrologer gave directions to the
workmen. At last, with an ominous look
into the pit. he informed his companions
that the body would shortly appear. Ame-
liza. not understanding the tactics of Mr..
Rshab. was frequently startled by his alb
rupt gestures and singular demonstrations.
Mr.. Waldeck and Colonel Powell, in
the absence of other occupation, stood by
the pit, watching the laborers at their
task. The astrologer walked up and
down the cellar. stopping at every turn,
in front of the wall which concealed the
vault. BE had fixed his eyeh BON a stone
in the lower part of the wall. upon which
the stability of tie structure seemed to
depend. 1t was evident, the work had
been executed by an unskillful hand. On
this binding stone. the astrologer oeca-
sionally bestowed kick. and once. while
the others were looking into the pit, he
stopped down and worked it up and down
with his hands.
Approaching the cavity in which the
workmen were engaged. he exclaimed
with startling vehemenee-
"Stayl the body is at hand the stars
are favorable"
Again the juggler performed some in
and bidding the laborers re-
sumo their task. he approached the secret
vault. But no body appeared. and Colo
mel Powell. impatient at the long contin-
nance of the trick, and disguised with the