Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1909-02-27

| the most sacred or the nOly neru. re
went into the silence at the age OF zoe
years, and this relic possesses o
mighty power. Listen to the words
on the scroll. l will interpret" AS
Shaman Tuloc spoke he lifted from
the casket an oriental scroll and rev.
erently held it towards the light.
ITO the pure and single of heart
he read in low voice, Il will grant
his wish"
Il will give any price, fulfill any con-
ditions," exclaimed Arden, in cho-
king voice. his whole form trembling.
Look! What do you see?" the old
man suddenly demanded, holding the
ivory above his head
Il see delicate pink light shining
through the ivory" answered Arden,
excitedly. 1T seems to move and
tremble like a rose swaying in the
breeze"
1T is the soul Of the sacred tusks!"
cried Tuloc, triumphantly, 1.-The spirit,
the life. Therein lies the power"
What am l to do? Tell mel" de-
manded the young man.
|
you have. Ny hands shall fashion it's
mate in size and appearance from the
sacred tusk. | will entrust the task to
no other. In a weeks time you shall
have ball, endowed with the living
spirit of victory
That same evening Arden brought
from the club the desired model and
the next day Shaman Tuloc began his
selfimposed task AS Ire wrought his
labor of love, patiently silently with
reverential skill, the slender, graceful
form OF his only daughter glided often
through the parted curtains and hung
on her fathers shoulder with moist
eyes and heaving bosom.
On the eighth day the ball was fin.
ished, and to the instructed eye
seem to throb visibly with sentient
life, as it lay, white and glistening, in
the sandal casket.
Take ii, my son." said Shaman
Tuloc, committing the box to him
Let no other hand than thine use this
sacred ball. Let No other interest di
vide your heart. Then victory will
attend"
The report that Arden was to play
MS conqueror again filled the club
house. An undefinable feeling was III
the air that this game would possess
unusual features-that it was a strife
for mastery to an unusual degree.
To the surprise of his ferret-eyed OPP
ponent, Arden, playing with the
sacred ball, won the bank The balls
were spotted and the game began. The
style of play was 14-inch balk line, one
shot in. Without effort, by graceful
easy play, Arden rolled off run after
run. His ball was absolutely under
control, and the audience was with
him to man, following his game with
frequent applause. But, do what he
would, Arden could not shake off his
opponent. He answered run with run
and invariably finished a point or tive
in the lead
Arden, however, never lost conf
dence for a moment in his ball or the
outcome of the game. rs the players
approached the goal, the 800 mark
almost abreast, but the dark mar
still in the lead the excitement grew
intense. With only eight to go, the
latter ran six and missed on his 299tl
shot. a hateful scowl showed on his
face. but changed instantly to a tri
umphant smile, as he saw that Arden
who stood at 295, was left an impCs
sible shot
Arden's ball lay tight against the
cushions in one corner, the red bal
in the same position in the far corner
on the other side, and his opponents
pail against the cushion along the raj
halfway between the other two balls
1t, indeed, looked to be an impos
sible shot, but Arden, with unruffiet
confidence, played a masse, whose like
had never been seen on that or any
other table. His ball, with beauti
full curve, spun to the ball half way
down the rail, continued its journey in
the same marvelously accurate fash
ion TO the red ball, and counted, Of
course. The house fairly Numbered
its applause. The result of the shot
was 10 leave the three balls lined uI
along the center of the table. A sec
ond brilliant masse counted 297, and
the remaining three shots were clicked
off in rapid succession.
AS Arden made the last shot, which
meant victory for him, he felt his eyes
drawn irresistibly across the table tC
the tier Of seats opposite. His gaze
rested on a pair Of eyes shining With
radiancy he had never seen before
AS he felt himself yielding to their
power and started toward them, 9
strange thing happened. With sud
den click the wonderful ball. with
which he had played and won, snapped
, asunder and parted into two pieces
, AS it fell apart Arden saw an appear
ance like a delicate pink fame leave
the ball, pass through the air toward,
the wonderful eyes, then over the heat
of Shaman Tuloc's beautiful daugh
ter and away.
A minute later Arden was holdins
! lax- l. h.