Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-04-21


at the One Hund1ed and Twenty-fifth |
street elevated station. Come on, I'm
ready"
As the carriage. after having passed
through rather dense wood for about
half n mile, drew up at the old brick
mansion with its three and a half
reaching from the ground to the rather
fat roof, Lampkin remarked:
Rather an isolated place. No bad
place for the gang of robbers of which
you spoke
1T just suits Kola, as said once be-
FORE" answered Hendricks. by the
time his hoodwinked customers get here
they are prepared for anything i'm
aginative."
Telling the driver to wait for them at
the door they alighted. There was but
one light in sight and that was dis
NAL red one which could be seen
through the old-fashioned side lights of
the big door on the stone veranda
There was no bell on the door, but sim
ply quaint old knocker.
at wish,'' observed Hendricks, that it
were day instead of night. You can
form no idea of the picturesque rugged
ness of the scenery. You see we came
by the old road through the woods, but
just behind the house there is a new
drive. At this point it has been cut
through solid stone, and there is cliff,
within 400 feet of us, over a hundred
feet in height. In blasting the stone
away. it was thought that the old man
sion became unsafe, especially as it is
believed that there are caverns under
the hill"
Hendricks mounted the steps and
used the knocker vigorously. The
clatter had scarcely died out when the
tones of bell as soft and mellow as
cathedral chimes in the distance came
from the house.
.'KOla knows my rap and the bell is
signal to his attendant to admit me-
said Hendricks. "If / make no mistake
you are going to be repaid for your ride
out here. In psychic tom-foolery and
mysticism you are schoolboy COM
pared to Kola. He imbibed it at the
dusky breast of III. eastern mother, and
his very life is stepped in il"
The door was opened by an Indian in
the costume of his country. He placed
his finger on his lip to indicate that
they were to remain silent, and then
gave a salaam that brought his turban
almost into contact with the floor.
81 want to see your MASTER" wills
pered Hendricks, handing him his card.
Again the man bowed silently, closed
the great door, and left them in the
spacious hall. With many and profuse
draperies, Kola had hung the walls and
ceiling so that the effect was distinctly
oriental. The ornaments, scrolls, paint
ings and statues were all eastern, but
what struck Lampkin most forcibly,
perhaps because it was so i'll suited to
it's environment, was dragon of carved
walnut, which stood at the foot of the
wide curving stairway.
THAT belongs to the house." eX-
planned Hendricks in a whisper. "Et is
a genuine curiosity. The carving is eX-
cellent. One would think it of japanese
| origin, but if you will notice, it is of the
same material as the balustrade, and
that must have been made in this couu-
try"
Just then the attendant 9lided from
between two heavy silken curtains, and
| with another salaam, invited them to
pass before him. Doing so, they found
themselves in Kola's big reception-room
Here their vision was given a rare treat.
The lessee of the old ruin had removed
the two floors above the one On which
| they stood, giving a becoming altitude
to the walls, which were gracefully
draped with long flowing hangings of
different blending cloths. The ceiling
| was disguised by a filmy mass of white
material, as gauzy as cobwebs, behind
which shone red and yellow lights, like
signal fires in mist.
Lampkin almost uttered an exclama-
ton of delight, but the impressive man
ner of the attendant and Hendricks
unwonted silence checked the impulse.
The servant gave them seats with their
backs to the door through which they
had entered, and then he stood still in
the center of the room. his head bowed,
his turban held in front of him.
After moment the mellow-toned
bell, which they had heard before, and
which was suspended somewhere
among the lights overhead. struck three
times slowly. Then a white light blazed
up and Kola was seen in hitherto dark
aleove. He wore his gray gown and
close-ftting cowl, and was seen to be
pacing back and forth. Without seem
ing conscious of their presence so near
him. he picked up an unighted electric
bulb and turned the button. Then
holding the light in his right hand. he
approached black tripod over which
| lay red cloth. He lifted the cloth, and
| a big polished crystal sphere was eX-
posed to view. twas about ten inches
in diameter and as clear as diamond.
Rejecting the dull, sensuous lights over
head, and the bright rays of the electric
| bulb, it was certainly marvellous sight.
Still Kola seemed unconscious of
! their proximity. From the walls near
| him the smoke of incense began to rise,