Willmar tribune., 1908-10-28

EfxEx1a cO'-ar which graced
H6&T7ESSAH Carlton Clarke's study
E&SM@ table. long cit
VkzacIf9Enmo there was a story con-
Lected with 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
"4nath" 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"
l awoke with start, conscious that
something was wrong. The sight
l 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. l 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 q
riot of action. The intruder's fingers
were closing over the silver skull
Clarke's arm was outstretched, and
the one word "Stop!" in unruffled tone
broke the silence.
The figure turned and the stiletto
flashed in the light. l sprang from my
bed and dashed through the portieres
The figure advanced toward Clarke
with weapon raised, while I 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.
so 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 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 nut
me in your prison but you cannot keen
me there. l have left one; will leave
another. l will get the skull" returned
the Hindu doggedly.
Achmon and l are old friends, you
see," he said to me.
But l noticed that notwithstanding
his apparent nonchalance his eyes
never for second left the Hindu.
Now, Sexton" said Clarke, when he
had filled three glasses, while we are
waiting for Ship I'll tell you a little
story, and Achmon here will voucf
for the truth of it. After the fashion
of story-tellers, We will serve up the
mystery first and then unfold the solu
all the time. Get my scrapbook, thu
third from the right on the second
shelf from the top in the first tier
Now open to page 302 ald read the
clipping from the New York Sun. Be
ing reformed newspaper man yol
will recognize the head letter."
read aloud the following:
BELLEVUE STUDENT MYSTERI
OUSLY KILLED.
"Dr. John r. Ranthan, a graduate
student in Bellevue hospital, was fount
dead in his apartments near the hos
pital early this morning. A knife o.
oriental design, 1mbedded by the force
Of terrific blow in his breast, was
plainly the cause of his death. AZ the
doors were all locked from within, the
first theory o: the police was suicide
but the angle at which the blow was
struck and the force with which it was
delivered seem to suggest murder. DR.
Ranthan was said to be quiet and un
assuming and without known enemies
=. lie had travelled extensively and had
Decn a collector of oriental curiosi
les
That's enough" said Clarke. I'll
'ou read the whole story, It will leave