Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1906-04-29
THE PALACE OF DOOM
STRANGE LEGEND OF a mvsTuRIoI
STATUE ~ ROME. ~

| $3.50 ~NH"@ 7psendor-Ihe
ia,s Of the Man Who solved the
Enigma OF the Fiager Message.
There stood In Rome many ages ago
q beautiful marble statue the mystery
OF whici attracted the attention OF ali
the wise men from Tar and near. No
body could remember when II had been
erected. and nobody knew what Il
meant
IL was the figure Of woman. tail,
strong and supple. She stood erect.
with her right arm outstretched. her
mantle falling In graceful folds about
her figure. on her face a look. half
smile, half frown. Turing. yet appeal.
Ing. but always holding the observer
| by a strange feeling that Il reused OF
mystery. glory and horror.
But oven all that. written so clearly
in the mystic signs that art uses. might
have been overlooked by The people
had IL not been for more material
puzzle presented by the statue. ON the
third finger Of the outstretched baud
was written In unfadlng letters, strike
here And therein lay the mystery.
Years came and went. and wise men
puzzled their brains TO find the secret.
seers from faron lands came 20 Rome.
attracted by the statue. and still It
stood. mute. cold. inexpllcabie.
One day young man stood before
Il. lie had grown up with the idea OF
solving the mystery, and each day
since he was a little child he had come
for a few moments and stood silently
gazing at the strange countenancc.
lie had learned 20 love the face. the
wise lips that looked as II they might
part and tell the secret that ages had
yearned TO know, but through these
ages only he had been sincere IN his
search. Faithful through all dlsap-
pointments he had gained strength and
wisdom. and now as he stood before the
statue the sun, halfway up the eastern
sky. shone full upon the liaage.
A strange thrill passed through the
man. and. looking IN the direction In.
dictated by the pointing finger, he saw,
some yards away. the shadow OF the
outstretched hand on the ground. lie
gave low cry. aud, after noting the
spot well. he departed.
That night at midnight he went to
the place and began 10 dig In the
ground where the shadow OF the hand
had fallen. A long time he worked.
never ceaslng his digging. when sud
denly his spade struck something hard.
Then his zeal increased. and. clear.
Ing n space. he saw beneath him trap
door. with n great stone ring. Grasp
ing the ring he pulled open the door
and started back. dazzled. for a food
OF light burst upon him from out Of
the depths.
Quickly recovering, the young man
looked again and beheld a wide mar
bic staircase descending from the trap
door. Throwing down his spade he
passed through the door, down the
steps and fssnd himself IN n vast hall
The floor OF this room was Of marble,
pure white. while the walls and ceiling
were Of the same material In many
colors The huge pillars upholdlng the
vast dome shone like alabaster. Rare
paintings hung upon the walls. and
rich rugs lay strewn upon the floor.
In the center OF the room n fountain
stood. The water In It's basin was as
pure as crystal. but not n ripple stirred
It's surface. and no pleasant tapping
charmed the ear Ms II does when water
falls from on high. Tor. though the
fountain was apparently perfect. no
water rose from it 20 fell again.
on seats running around this silent
fountain were many men Ia rich bro
cades aud costly fur robes. Llfelike |
they looked. but 20 the touch they were
as marble II was MS II Ga the midst OF
life death had come and pctrifcd these
beings In mockery.
Around on tables and benches were |
scattered piles OF gold and precious
gems. Delicate enamcled vases and |
swords lnlaid with gems added their
wealth 10 the place.
But rarest OF all the gems was a |
great carbuncle. which stood In a cor
ner OF the room aud from which came
the sole light by which the place was
relieved from darkness. In the corner |
opposite 20 this stone stood an archer. |
his bow bent. his arrow on the string. |
aimed az the carbuncle on his bow,
shining with reelected light. were the
words:
Il am that I am My shaft Is In
evltable. Yon glitterlng jewel cannot
escape Us stroke"
As he looked on all this In silent won
der the young Roman heard a voice ut
ter one wokl-"Beware"
Then he passed into the next room
and found Il fitted mp MS maguiacsntly /
as the one he had just left. All man.
ner Of touches were about this room,
and reclining on them were wonder.
fully beautiful women. But their lips 4
were sealed Ca this place OF silence.
From there be passed on. finding
many more wOnders-ro0ms filed win
treasures OF art. stables filed with fine
horses. granurics filed with forage.
that could make a palace
was there.
Tho young Roman returned 20 the
hall
Il have here scen.n he said, what
no man win believe. know that OF
this wealth I should take nothing. but
la urnra d. ffnu that I euonk frufh can