Charlevoix county herald., 1908-11-07

E4SWSGk table. l long + e t
$500 there was a story con-
nected with II, and bided in patience
the time when Clarke should see fit to
tell it.
The silver skull is pictured in my
minds eye as | write; the delicate
tTacery 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.
We had gone to bed early that night,
but it was so insufferably hot that
sleep was out of the question"
! awoke with 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 Clarkes doorway was
another figure, white robed, and mo-
tionless but for the flashing eyes that
followed every movement of the in
truders back.
The figure in the doorway was
Clarke, clad in white pajamas, stand
&ng erect, his arms folded. l was con
cerred 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.
Clarkes arm was outstretChed, and
the one word Stop" in unrulTled tone
broke the silence.
The figure turned and the stiletto
flashed in the light. sprang from my
bed and dashed through the portieres
The figure advanced toward Clarke
with weapon raised, while l crouched
for a spring at his throat But the
steady eyes and uplifted hand Of my
companion told me that he had the sit
uation in hand
80 you've come for it, Achmon
said my companion, pushing a chair
toward our caller, who Imply sank
into it,
Come for her, yes. For what else
have / traverspd these thousands oil
miles? For what else have l spent ten
weary years in your cruel, white man S
PRISON."
And for what else did you do foi
Or. 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 keer
me there. ! have left one; | will leave
another. will get the SKULL returned
the Hindu doggedly.
Achmon and | are old friends, yoS
see," he said TO me.
But / noticed that notwithstanding
his apparent nonchalaace his eyes
never for a second left the Hindu.
Now, Sexton" said Clarke, when ht
had filled three glasses, while we arc
waiting for Ship I'll tell you a little
story, and hchmon here will voucf
for the truth Of it. After the fashion
Of story-tellcrs. we will serve up The
mystery first and then unfold the solu
ton, which, Of course, we have known
al the time. Get my scrap-book, The
third from the right on the SECOND
shelf from the top in the first tier
Now open TO age 3O2 and read thu
clipping from the New York Sun. BE
ing a reformed newspaper man yol
will recognize the head letter"
read aloud the following:
BELLEVUE STUDENT MYSTERI
OUSLY KILLED.
DIR. John u. Ranthan, a graduate
student In Bellevue hospital. was fount