Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1909-02-18

But" resumed Barris, quietly,
sufficient unto the day. you know
l didn't intend to say as much as
did-it would do no good-even you
and Pierpont will forget tit seems
so impossible and so far away-like
the burning out of the sun. What /
want to discuss is the possibility or
probability of a Chinaman-a member
OF the Kuen-Yuin, being here, at this
moment, in the forest"
IF he is" said Pierpont, possibly
the gold-makers owe their discovery
to him."
Il do not doubt 1t for a second"
said Barris, earnestly.
took the little golden globe in my
hand, and examined the characters en-
graved upon it.
Harris" said Pierpont, 81 can't be-
lieve in sorcery while I am wearing
one of Sanford's shooting suits, in the
pocket of which rests an uncut volume
of the Duchess"
Neither can l." said, ''for 1 read
the Evening Post and I know Mr..
Godllin would not allow it. Hello!
What's the matter with this gold
ball?"
What is the matter?" said Barris,
grimly.
"Why-why-it's changing color
purple, no, crimson-no, it's green I
mean-good heavens! these dragons
are twisting under my fingers"
''Impossible!" muttered Pierpont,
leaning over me; chose are not
dragons"
mol" I cried, excitedly; they are
pictures of that reptile that Barris
brought back-see-see how they
crawl and turn"
Drop it," commanded Barris; and
l threw the ball on the turf. In an in
stant we had all knelt down on the
grass beside it, but the globe was
again golden, grotesquely wrought
with dragons and strange signs.
Pierpont, little red in the face,
picked it up, and handed it to Barris.
He placed it on a chair, and sat down
beside me-
"Whew" said I, wiping the perspir-
alton from my face; chow did you
play us that trick, Barris?"
Trick" said Barris, contemptu-
ously.
l looked at Pierpont, and my heart
sank. If this was not trick, what was
it? Pierpont returned my glance and
colored, but all he said was: ITS
devilish queer" and Barris answered:
Yes, devilish." Then Barris asked me
again to tell my story, and 1 did, be-
ginning from the time 1 met David
in the spinney to the moment when l
sprang into the darkening thicket
where that yellow mask had grinned
like a phantom skull.
Shall we try to find the fountain?"
| asked after pause. .
and-er-the lady" suggest
ed Pierpont, vaguely
Don't be an as" | said, little i'm
patiently, you need not come, you
know"
"Oh, I'll come" said Pierpont, "un-
less you think l am indiscreet-"
"Shut up, Pierpont," said Barris,
'this thing is serious; l never heard of
such glade or such fountain, but
it's true that nobody knows this for
est thoroughly. It's worth whole try
ing for; Roy, can you find your way
back to it?'
Easily" l answered.; when shall
we go?"
ut will knock our snipe shooting
on the head" said Pierpont, "but when
one has the opportunity of finding a
live dream-lady-"
l rose, deeply offended, but Pierpont
was not very penitent and his laughter
was irresistible.
The lady's yours by right of dis
covery," he said; "Pll promise not to
infringe on your dreams-Tll dream
about other ladies'"
Come, come" said I, 'Pll have
Hewlett put you to bed in minute.
Barris, if you are ready-we can get
back to dinner"
Barris had risen and was gazing
at me earnestly.
Whats the matter?" l asked nerv-
ously, for l saw that his eyes were
fixed on my forehead, and I thought
of Ysonde and the white crescent
scar.
rs that a birthmark?" said Barris.
"Yes-why, Barris?"
"Nothing-an interesting coinci-
dence-"
"What!-for heavens sake!"
The scar-or rather the birthmark
1t is the print of the dragons claw
the crescent symbol of Yue-Laou-"
CTO BE CONTINUED)