Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-04

had he looked upon so fine stone. so
strangely cut.
1t was set I'm ruddy. soft gold. worked
and craven with exquisite art I'm the SEM
hIance OF two headed cobra: inside the
band was an inscription worn aud
faint that Amber experienced some dim
Guilty IN deciphering the word RAO tking'
in Devenagari. fanked by swastlkas.
Aside from the stone entirely. he specu-
lated. the value of the ring as an antique
would have proven inestimsble. AS tor
the emerald itself, In its original state.
before cutting. il must have been worth
the ransom of an emperor: much had
certainly been sacrificed 10 fashion II -
it's present form. The cunning OF jewel
cutter whose art was lost before tyre
and Nineveh upreared their heads must
have been taxed by the task. Its IN
Vulnerable facets reproduced with Won
derful fidelity a human eyeball. unwink-
ing. sleepless. In the enigmatic heart OF
its impenetrable iris cold fire lived. cold
passionless flames leaped and died ana
leaped again like the sorcerous fire or
pythoness.
To gaze into its depths was like Gues-
tioning the inscrutable green heart OF the
sea. Fascinated. Amber felt his con-
sciousness slip from him as a mantle
might slip from his shoulders: awake,
staring wide-eyed into the emerald eye.
he forgot self. forgot the world aud
dreamed. dreamed curiously.
The crash of the door closing behind
him brought him to the right about in a
panic fiutter He glared stupidity for
time before comprehending that Rutton
and Doggott had returned. How long
they had been absent he had no means
Of reckoning: the interval might have
been five minutes or an hour In duration.
The time since he had stopped To exam
inc the ring was as indefinite: but his
back was aching and his thoughts were
drowsy and confused. tie had sensa-
ton as OF being violently recalled TO
dull and colorless world from some tar
Of rfa ariN a
brain reeled and his vision was blurred
as If by the fash and glamour of many
vivid colors.
with an effort he managed to force
himself to understand that Rutton was
back. After that he felt more normal
His thoughts slid back into their ac-
customed grooves.
If there were anything peculiar in his
manner, Rutton did not remark II. In
deed, he seemed unconscious for a time
OF the presence either of Amber or or
Doggott. The servant relieved him OF
his overcoat and hat. and he strobe di-
rectly to the fire. bending over to chafe
and warm his frost-nipped hands. In
questionably he labored under the infiu-
ence of an extraordinary agitation. HIS
limbs twitched and jerked nervously: his
eyebrows were tensely elevated. his eyes
blazing his nostrils dilated; his face was
ashen gray.
From across the room Doggott signaled
silence to Amber with forefinger to MS
lips and with discretion bred or long
knowledge of his masters temper. tip
toed through into the back room and smut
the door.
Amber respected the admonition through
out a wait that seemed endless.
The tin clock hammered of five min
utes or more. Suddenly Rutton started
and wheeled round, every trace or ex-
citement smoothed away. Meeting Am
ber's gaze he nodded as il casually and
said, "Oh, Amber" quietly, with an effect
of faint surprise. Then he dropped heav-
ily into a chair by the table.
well" he said. slowly. that is over.
Go be continued tomorrow