The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-30
rcHApTER xrv-continued from Saturday.

[CHAPTER xrv-Continued from Saturday.
spelIbound he waited for the sequel. II
any one had told him that the Viking
treasure was lying upon the roadway out
side to he his own for the mere trouble
of walking thither, he would not have
stirred from his position.
Beatrice had been silent for some time.
when Lorelie. speaking in the same tone or
authority that she had used throughout
said:
What comes next?'
.'The dropping of moisture from the roof"
What next?'
"Silence and darkness"
Idris began to think that he was doomed
to disappointment. Each scene described by
Beatrice had been followed by an interval,
sometimes long, sometimes short, apparent
~ proportioDate TO the actual length OF
time that hal elapsed between each event.
How many minutes were to serve as
age OF Orm from the date of the removal
OF the treasure? Not so many, he trusted,
as to cause Lorelie to bring her experiment
TO a close.
How much time is passng?"
"Centuries-long centuries-centuries or
silence and darkness.
For a long time Beatrice continued to
sit without speaking. At length to 1dris's
satisfaction, she resumed her monologue
"A EIuffied noise like a spade digging.
The falling of earth. Some one is going to
us this person the first to enter the
hillock since the days Of the dark-haired
''rhe very first Cool air blows down
the passage. filling the chamber with its
freshness 1t penetrates the chinks of the
tomb"
Are there several men. or only one?"
zone only
What is re doing?"
HE waits a long time at the entrance
Now he comes forward along the passage
He carries a light: il CLEANS through the
interstices of the tomb. He walks about,
his feet striking against pieces of metal
lie seems TO be picking up some. Now, with
a cry. he drops them. They ring on the
hard earth. There are fresh footsteps COM
too
Reatrce's voice had lost some of its cold
ring: she seemed to be less of automaton
and more of a living woman, capable of
being moved by what she saw and heard.
Idris did not fail to notice the change 1t
was an agreeable change. but ominous for
his hopes She seemed to be emerging
from her trance: emerging. too. at very
significant point of the story.
He noticed, too, that Lorelie'S interest
had kept pace with his own: there was
on her face a look of painful anxiety that
had been entirely absent in the earlier
stages of the experiment.
"A second has entered the place.
There is a silence. They seem to be stand
ing still. looking at each other. Now they
walk TO and fro speaking.
What do they say2"
Their voices are hlshed, Ha. A sound
like the tearing of cloth The dull thud
of body falling TO the earth. A gasp. and
all is still The footsteps move about again.
1t seems as II only one man is there He
comes slowly forward and approaches the
He is going TO lift the lid 1t is heavy. He
with hts hands. Ah,' she exclaimed in a
tone of disgust. "ah. his fingers are wet
with blood. Some drops fall into the tomb.
OH she gasped in the voice of one who
suddenly realizes an awful truth. "Oh! he
Is murderer He has killed the other.
He peers into the tomb. The lamp on the
floor lights up his face, / can see the
sparkle of his eyes. OH. it is -
In sheer horror Beatrice paused as if
recognizing the visionary face.
What You know him.. cried Lorelie.
wildly; and to Idris's mind there was as
much horror in her voice as in that of
Beatrice You know him? Who is it ?"
Instead of replying Beatrice tried to lift
her hands as though their removal from
the would dissolve the terrible vision.
Lorelie came swiftly forward and stayed
her action with an imperative gesture.
Much as Idris felt the necessity for inter
vention. he refrained, for he was as eager
for the name as Lorelie herself.
you recognize him?" cried Lorelie. "Who
know 1t than 1? Speak, God OF heaven.
I'll wr,sst the name from you, though you
were lying No. stop! silence." she sud
denly exclaimed do not say the name
incautiously pressing against the silken
portiere. and even in the midst of her agi-
the curtain.
There was a moments silence. and then
she cried:
"a friend replied Idris: and seeing that
he was discovered he lifted the curtain and
entered the recess. Let us have the name
and then"
1T was honorable of you to play the spy
said Lorelie coldly: and Idris could not help
feeling that he deserved the reproach
Miss Ravengar," he said. stepping up &c
Beatrice and taking both her hands in his
own: tell me whose face you see peerins
into the tomb"
Beatricc's voice had assumed its sweet
natural ring. From her low seat she looked
mp at rdris with the light of gladness in
her eyes at seeing him. a color on her cheek
at finding her hands clasped in his.
For moment he eyed her keenly, think
ing that In order TO shield the guilty person
she was going to deny the recognition
Then the truth flashed upon him. She had
emerged from her hypnotic trance. On de-
tecting his presence the viscountess by some
quick sleight of hand must have restored
her TO her normal state of mind.
Bearrices wondering eyes showed that
she was entirely ignorant of the story that
had flowed from her lips.
That story had accomplished one good
end She had spoken of the assassin as
man and weight was lifted from Idris's
mind Thank heaven. Lorelie was not the
author of the deed. But troubling though
remained. Was she a friend of the assassin
an accessory after the fact? III not. wh,
was she so anxious TO conceal his name?
A question or two on the part of Idri.
self who had suggested the experiment Will
the vase. Lorelie. who was versed in tn,
art of hypnotism. had readily assented
being as eager as Beatrice TO learn IL:
secret.
And now that the experiment was over
Beatrice looked from Loreiie To Idris ans
from Idris TO Lorelie. wondering why eacl
seemed so grave.
What have / been saying?" she asked
Loreiie turned TO Idris. How long hav'
you been here?"
From the beginning of your experiment
he answered.
Then Beatrice shall learn the story from
you"
But the story lacks completion. Yol
left the experiment unfinished at its mos
Interesting point Lady Walden" continued
Idrfs. gravely. you know now. If YOU dss
not. know before. that a murder was com
mitted within the interior OF Ormfeii Jus
f1ce requires that the murderer should b,
punished"
Go on" she murmured, as he paused
THAT urn. he continued. pointing TO tn,
golden vase. formed part Of the treasur,
that led to the crime. Whoever gave you
the urn was either the assassin. or obtained
II through the agency OF the assassin"
Idris paused again and Lorelie hersel
uttered the question that was In his mind
And. therefore. you would learn tn
name OF The giver?"
1dris bowed