The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-12-31

elservatory was a feature of
.ne bfaaAll town house, and to Loder
II cdmes something wonderful and
unioOSafor, with its clustering green
Oranchs its slight, unoppressive
seems, temporarily pleasant atmos-
pnere. &c felt no wish to speak as,
Sun gued by Blessington, he passed
uown q shadowy paths that IN the
nan hg4 had the warmth and mystery
VI d soEhern garden. Here and there
from Z darkness came the whisper
Ihg OF voice or the sound Of u laugh,
Drlngn with it the necessary touch of
me- Oherwise the place was still.
AOso0ed by the air Of solitude, con-
Irasuntso remarkably with the noise
and crgded glitter left behind in the
receptio rooms, he had moved half
way dgn the long green aisle before
the buness in hand came back to him
With sudden sense of annoyance. 1t
SCENE so paltry to mar the quiet of
the pee with the absurdity Of a side
show He turned to Blessington with
tom Of abruptness.
wat am 1 expected to do?" he
askel
Blslngton looked up, surprised.
WI I thought, sir he began; then
ne stantly altered his tone. ooh,
justnter into the spirit of the thing.
Lad AstTupp won't put much strain
on our credulity, but she'll make
bigall on your solemnity" He laugh
ed
Ahad an infectious laugh, and Lo-
deresponded to it.
Sut what am to do?' he persisted.
lh, nothing. Being the priestess, she
narally demands acolytes. but she'll
leyou know that she holds the prior
pee. The tent is so fixed that she
50 nothing beyond your hands. so
tres absolutely no delusion." He
hghed once more. Then suddenly
hlowered his voice and slackened his
aps. Here we are" he whispered
j pretended awe.
At the end of the path the space wild
sed to the full breadth of the conserv-
aory. The light was DINNER, giving
a added impression of distance; away
. the left Loder heard the sound of
FLASHING water, and on his right hand
e caught his first glimpse Of the tent
hat was his goal.
It VS. an artistic little structure-a
pavIn formed of silky fabric that
shova bronze in the light of an orien-
tai IMP that hung above its entrance.
As tg drew closer q man emerged
FROM It. He stood for a moment in
un@rsinty, looking about him; then,
eating sight of them, he came for
wan laughing.
B George" he exclaimed, its as
daHas limbo in there! 1 didn't see
yag first. But 1 say, Blessington,
iuI beastly shame to have that thun-
dsbud barrier shutting off the sOr-
css. If she gazes at the crystal,
mp't we have something to gaze at
to-
Bssington laughed. You want too
an, Galltry," he said. Lady AS
np understands the value of the I'M
ENABLE Come along, sir" he added
IhLoder, drawing him forward with
lamergetic pressure of the arm.
hder responded, and as he did so a
her of curiosity touched his mind
Id the first time He wondered for
Ininstant who this woman was who
unused so much comment. And with
be speculation came the remembrance
4 how she had assured Chilcote that
4 enc point at least he was invulner-
bic. He had spoken then from the
eight of a past experience-an expe-
ence so fully passed that he wonder
now if it had been as staple a guar
ltee as he had then believed. Mans
opacity for OUTLYING is astonishingly
,mplete. The long ago incident in the
allan mountains had faded, like q
avon study in which the tones have
erged and gradually lost character.
ne past Hdu PdieO DSAoAC CiC PACSCAe'
, golden hair might pale before black.
he smile came with apparent irrele-
,nce. Then again Blessington pressed
IS arm.
"Now. sir" he said, drawing away
nd lifting the curtain that hung before
.e entrance of the tent
Loder looked at the amused, boyish
ice lighted by the hanging lamp and
niled pleasantly: then. with a shrug
the shoulders, he entered the pa
lion. and the curtain fell behind him.