Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-12-31
HEART O. THE WORLD.
RY II. RIDER HAGGAsD.
Story Manuscript Bequeatted by an old
Mexican Indian to His Friend and conrade, an
Englishman Named
Copyrighted, 1904, b, a Rider Hareara.

dICWSll
Two more days passed, or SO we reck-
oned by the number of meals that were
brought to us, but neither Tilsal nor
Natal returned to visit us. Other doc
torscame and saw Zibalbay but, though
they tried many remedies, they were of
no avail. On the night of the second
day we were gathered round his couch
watching him and talking together sad
ly enough, for the solitude and dark
ness and the fear of impending death
had broken our spirits so that even the
senior ceased to be merry, and the pres
ence OF her beloved to give comfort to
Maya.
1t was just then that looked up and
saw Natal standing in the doorway,
watching the scene curiously and with
softening face.
Greeting" he said, land forgive me
that come so late, but my business is
secret, AID such as is best done at
night. How does it go with Zibal-
bay?'
"He lives" answered; ~ can say no
more, for he is senseless, and, without
doubt, soon must die But come, see
for yourself"
Natal walked to the bed and ex-
amined the old man, lifting the cyelids
and feeling his heart.
He cannot live long" he said.
well, death is his best friend. And
Low to my business There is trouble
IN the city, and strange rumors pass
from mouth to mouth among the peo-
pie, many of whom declare that Tikal
has murdered Zibalbay, and demand
that you, lady, should be brought be-
fore them, that you may be named
cacique in his place.
Things being SO, it has been urged
upon Tikal by the chiefs Of his party
that, as hewill never clear himself Of
the death OF Zibalbay, it would be we'll
that he should make away with you
also, lady, and with these two stran-
gers. The matter was laid before him
at q secret council held this afternoon,
and once he issued the order for your
deaths, only to recall it before the mes
senger had left the palace.
Now he paused, and Maya asked, In
low voice:
Have you no plan to save us. Mat
tai?"
''Why should have plan, lady,
who with my house would benefit so
greatly by your death?"
Il do not know why you should have
a plan, old man." broke in the senior,
but l tell you that you will do well to
make one, else you do not leave this
place alive" and as he spoke with a
sudden movement he sprang between
Natal and the door.
IT we arc to be murdered like birds
IN a cage" he went on, sat least your
neck shall be twisted first. Do you
understand"
II understand, Son Of the Sea, an
swered Natal. fiinching little before
the seniors fierce face and hand out
stretched as though to grip him. "Eut
would have you understand some
thing, also; namely, that if do not
return presently, there are some with.
cut who will come to seek me, and
then"
And then they will find your carcass. /"
broke in the senior, land what will all
your plots and schemes advantage you
when you are a lump of senseless
clag2"
swered. Still, my daughter, whom
love better than myself, will reap some
profit, and with that, in this sad case, /
must be content. But, do not be so
hasty, white man. ! asked why /
should have plan, did not say had
none"
"Then if you have one, let us hear it
without more ado," said the senior
Natal bowed as he answered.:
Your will is mine, but / know not
how my plan will please the Lady
Maya yonder, and therefore, before l
unfold it, would make it clear that
there is but one alternative-th death
OF all OF you by to-morrow's light. Your
lives lie in my hands; if must do so to
save my daughter and myself, shall
not hesitate to take them"
ANY more than / shall hesitate to
take yours, old man." said the senior
grimly, ''for remember always that if
you do not make your plan such as we
can accept you will leave this chamber
feet first, with a broken neck"
Again Natal bowed and continued:
I'm one way only has Tillal been a ble
to pacify the people, by declaring that
the Lady Maya shall be produced be-
fore the Council of the Heart, in the
sanctuary upon the night of the rising
ofwaters, and afterward at dawn in the
eyes OF the whole city.
"The words of Zibalbay have taken q
strange hold of the people, and they
desire to know what will happen when
once more the severed halves of the
symbol of the heart are laid side by
side in their place upon the altar
Zibalbay told them that he believed
the god would reveal his purpose and
show what part eachsof you should play
in the fate that is to be, and therefore
the people look to see some sign or
wonder when Day and Night are come
together.
Now Natal thought for awhile, and
went on:
Lady, l am old, and for many years
have followed the worship of the
gods, and yet never have known the
gods to make answer to their votaries,
or heard the voices of the immortals
speaking into human ears. cannot
tell, but think were / in SO sore a
strait as you find yourselves tonight, I
should not hesitate to give voice to
these dumb gods.
What is your meaning?" asked Maya
When the severed halves of the
heart are set in their place upon the al
tar, II there should be any gods they
should give sign. The ancient SYM
boil on the altar is hollow, and If it
were to open it might be that writing
would be found within it, an ancient
writing of the gods prepared against
the present time that shall be to us as
lantern to one wandering in tho dark,
or 1t might be that nothing would be
found.
Now, as it happens, in searching
through the earliest records of the tenn
pie, have discovered certain writing,
and it seems to me that your fortune
would be great if that writing should
lie within the symbol on the night of
the Rising Waters. Here it is"
And suddenly he produced q small
plate Of dull gold covered over with
symbols.
Read it," said Maya.
Then Natal read:
"To thee it speaks. unborn danehfer