The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1908-10-24

Lected win IL, and | bided in patience
the time when Clarke should see fit to
tell it,
The silver skull is pictured in my
minds eye as l write; the delicate
tracery of its ornamentation: the al
most uncanny beauty of the head and
bust which formed the handle; the
face that always inspired in me rev
erence and awe.
Across the pure white forehead, just
over the eye-sockets, was the word
'Ynath" beautifully inlaid in silver
script. Looking through the eye-socket,
it could be seen that the bone was
not cut through but the silver was
welded to it by some process with
which l was unfamiliar.
I've had gone to bed early that night,
Gut 1t was SO insufferably hot that
sleep was out OF the question"
Iawoke with a start, conscious that
something was wrong. The sight
saw for a moment robbed me
of all power of voice or motion. A
crouching figure was creeping slowly
toward me across the library floor with
arms outstretched toward the shining
silver skull on the table.
Standing in Clarke's doorway was
another figure. white robed, and mo-
tionless but for the flashing eyes that
followed every movement of the in
truder's back.
The figure In the doorway was
Clarke, clad in white pajamas, stand
ing erect, his arms folded. 1 was con-
cerned to notice that he had no
weapon, while the intruder carried in
his right hand a stiletto which flashed
in the dim light.
Suddenly the tableau broke into a
riot Of action. The intruder's fingers
were closing over the silver skull.
Oarkes arm was outstretched. and
the one word STOP" in unruffied tone
broke the silence.
The figure turned and the stiletto
dashed in the light. sprang from my
bed and dashed through the portieres.
The figure advanced toward Clarke
With weapon raised, while l crouched
for . spring at his throat. But the
steady eyes and uplifted hand Of my
companion told me that he had the sit
uation in hand.
30 you've come for 1t, Achmon,"
said my companion, pushing chair
toward our caller, who Imply sank
tato 1t.
"Come for her, yes. For what else
have l traversed these thousands of
miles? For what else have l spent ten
weary years in your cruel, white mans
PRISON.
"And for what else did you do for
Dr. Ranthan?" interrupted Clarke.
"The sahib does not know that new
power has been sent me. You can put
me In your prison but you cannot keep
me there. l have left one; will leave
another. will get the SKULL returned
the Hindu doggedly.
Achmon and l are old friends, you
see," he said to me.
But noticed that notwithstanding
his apparent nonchalance his eyes
never for second left the Hindu.
"Now, Sexton" said Clarke, when he
had filed three glasses. while we are
waiting for Ship I'll tell you little
story, and Achmon here will vouch
for the truth of it. After the fashion
Of story-tellers, We will serve up the
mystery first and then unfold the solu-
don, which, of course, we have known
ali the time. Get my scrap-book, the
third from the right on the second
ishelf from the top in the first tier
Now open to page 302 and read the
clipping from the New York Sun. Be-
ing q reformed newspaper man you
viii recognize the head letter."
I read aloud the following:
BELLEVUE STUDENT MYSTERI-
OUSLY KILLED.
"Dr. John r. Ranthan, graduate
Sendent in Bellevue hospital. was found