The Red Cloud chief., 1907-02-15

came TO MS mlnO.
The tent was small, heavily draped
with silk and smelling of musk. 1t
was divided into two sections 10y an
immovable curtain that hung from the
roof to within a few feet of the floor.
The only furniture on Lodcr'S sid
was one low chair, and the only light
Il faint radiance that, coming from
the invisible half of the pavilion,
spread across the floor in Il pale band.
For Il short space he stood uncertain,
then his hesitation was brought to an
end.
please sit down. said a low, soft
voice.
For a further moment he stood I'M
decided. The voice sounded so uneX-
pectedly near. In the quiet and dark
ness of the place it seemed to possess
a disproportionate weight, almost the
weight Of Il familiar thing. Then with
Al sudden, unanalyZed touch of relief,
he located the impression. 1t was the
similarity to Lady Bramfeirs sweet,
slow tones that had stirred his MIND.
with u sense of satisfaction he drew
the chair forward and sat down.
Then for the first time he saw that
on the other side Of the gauze partition
and below it by u few inches was n
small table of polished wood, on which
stood an open book, "A crystal ball ana
n gold dish filled with ink. These were
arranged on the side of the table near
est to him, the farther side being out
of his range of vision. An II i'll
terest touched him as he made his posi-
lion more comfortable. Whoever this
woman was. she had IN eye for stage
management, she knew how to mar
shall her effects. He found himself
waiting with some curiosity for the
next injunction from behind the cur
tain.
''The art of crystal gazing" began
the sweet, slow voice after Il pause, rs
one of the oldest known arts Lodel
sat forward. The thought of Lady
Bramfcll mingled diSconcertingly will
some other thought more distant and
less easy to secure.
ITO obtain the best results" went
on the seer, the subject lays his un
covered hands outsprcad upon ;
smooth surface 1t was evident tina
the invisible pricstcss was reading
from the open book, for when The
word surface" vas reached there
was II slight stir that indicated thu
changing of position, and when The
voice came again il was in II diifercn
tone.
please lay your hands, palms down
ward. upon the table"
Loder smiled to himself in the dark
ness. He pict,,od Chilcotc with Ia
nerves and his impaticnce goini
through this ordeal; then in good IN
mOred silence he leaned forward AM
obeycd the command. His hand
rested on the smooth surface of tn
table in the bar Of light from the u
seen lamp.
There was Il second in which tn
seer was silent; then he fancied tina
she raised her head.
you must take off your rings" sh
said smoothly. ANY metal interfere
with the sympathetic current
At any other time Loder would hav
laughed, but the rec so CASUAL
and graciously ms, sen. III possibi
jty of irony far into the la sg,cr 81
The thought of Chilcote AMI OF IL
Oh flaw in their otherwise eawles
scheme rose to his mind. Instinctivel
he half withdrew his hands.
where is the sympathetic current
he asked quietly. His thoughts WEI
busy with the question of whether !
would or would not be justified
beating an u%ndignihed retreat.
Between you and me, OF curse
said the voice softly. 1t sounded la
guild. but very rational. The Idea
retreat seemed suddenly theatrical.
this world Of low voices and shade
lights people never adopted eXtren
meaSurcS-no occasion made Il scel
practicable or wen allowable. l
leaned back slowly, while he summ'
up the situation. If by any unlucl
chance this woman knew Chilcote
have adopted jcwelry and had SCI
the designs Of his rings the sight
his own Scared finger would sugge
question and comment. If, on Z
other hand, he left the pavilion wit
out excuse or if without apparent re
son he refused to remove the rings,
opened up a new difficulty, q IRE
road to curiosity. 1t came upon hi