Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-05-30
THE PALACE OF DOOM
STRANGE LEGEND OF A MYSTERIOUS
STATUE an ROME.

silent and Dazzling splenaor-The
Fate OF the Man Who solved the
Enigma OF the Finger Message.
There stood III Rome many ages ago
beautiful marble statue the mystery
Of which attracted the attention OF all
the wise men. from far and near. No
body could remember when II had been
erected. and nobody knew what IL
meant
Ii was the figure OF n woman. tall.
strong and supple. She stood erect.
with her right arm outstrctched, her
mantle falling In graceful folds about
her figure. on her face n look, half
smile, half frown. Turing. yet appeal
Ing. but always holding the observer
by a strange feeling that II reused OF
mystery, glory and horror.
But even all that. written so clearly
In the mystic signs that art uses. might
have been overlooked by the people
had II not been for n more material
puzzle presented by the statue. On the
third finger OF the Outstretched hand
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 to Rome.
attracted by the statue. and still IL
stood, mute. cold. inexplicable.
One day n young man stood before
II. He had grown up with the idea OF
solving the mystery. and each day
since he was n little child he had come
for n few moments and stood silently
rfr .
He had learned 10 love the face. the
wise lips that looked rs n they might
part and tell the secret that ages had
yearned 20 know. but through these
ages only he had been sincere In his
search. Faithful through ali dlsap-
p0intments he had gained strength and
wisdom. ana now as he stood before the
statue the sun. halfway up the eastern
sky, shonc full upon the image.
4 strange thrill passed through the
man. and, looking I'm the direction In
dicated 10y the pointing finger. he saw.
some yards away. the shadow OF the
outstretched hand on the ground. He
gave n low cry. and. after noting the
spot well. ne departed
That night AT midnight he went 10
the place and began 10 dig In the
ground where the shadow Of the hand
had fallen. \ long time he worked.
never ceasing 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 a great stone ring. Grasp
ing the ring he pulled open the door
and started back. dazzlcd. for a food
OF light burst upon him from out OF
the depths
Quickly recovering, the young man
looked again ana bchcld a wide mar
BILE staircase descending from the trap
door Throwing down his spade he
passed through the door. down the
steps and found 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 I'm many
Colors. The huge pillars unfolding the
vast dome shone like 0labaster. Rare
paintings hung upon the walls, and
rich rugs lay strcwn upon the floor.
In the center Of the room fountain
stood. The water in its basin was as
pure as crystal. but not n ripple stirred
its surface. and no pleasant tapping
charmed the ear as It docs when water
fountain was apparently perfect, no
water rose from Il 20 fall again.
ON seats running around this silent
fountain were many men I'm rich bro
cades and costly fur robes. Lifelike
they looked. but 10 the touch they were
rs marble. II was as II In the midst OF
life death had come and petrified these
beings in mockery.
Around on tables and benches were
scattered piles of gold and precious
gems. Delicate enameled vases and
swords inlaid with gems added their
wealth 20 the place.
But rarest of all the gems was
great carbuncle. which stood In n cor
ner OF the room and from which came
the sole light by which the place was
relieved from darkness. In the corner
opposite 10 this stone stood an archer.
his bow bent his arrow on the string,
aimed at the carbuncle. on his bow,
shining with reflected light. were the
words:
Il am that l am. My shaft is in
evitable. Yon glittering jewel cannot
escape Its stroke
AS he looked on all this in silent Won
der the young Roman heard a voice ut
ter one wOrd-"Beware!'
Then he passed into the next room
and found il fitted up ~ magniicently
as the one he had just left. All man
ner of cOucheS were about this room,
and reclining on them were wonder
fully beautiful women. But their lips
were scaled In this place Of silence.
From there he passed on, finding
many more wonders-rooms filled with
treasures Of art, stables filled with fine
horses, granaries filed with forage.
Everything that could make n palace
complete was there.
The young Roman returned TO the
hall
Il have here SEEN" he said. what
no man Will believe. l know that Of
this wealth l should take nothing. but
to prove TO them that speak truth can
be no harm"
Then he took In his arms jeweled
sword and some rare vases. but sud
denly all was dark.
The charm was broken. The arrow
had left the bow and shattered the car
.buncle into thousand pieces. Pitch
darkness overspread the place.
Then the young man remembered the
warning but too late. And there he
probably adds one more to the silent
watchers I'm the magic chamber.
Has this story n moral? Let those