The Ordway new era., 1909-02-12

Pierponls cigarette went out' ~"
lighted another, and looked hard al
Barris.
But" resumed Barris, quietly T
sufficient unto the day. you know
| didn't intend to say as much as l
did-it would do no good-even you
and Pierpont will forget lit seems
So impossible and so far Away-like
the burning out OF the sun. What I
want to discuss Is the possibility or
probability OF "A ChiRaman-a member
OF the Kuen-Yuin. being here, at this
moment. In the forest
III he is." said Pierpont, possibly
the gold-makers owe their discovery
to him"
Il do not doubt it for second"
said Barris, earnestly,
took the little golden globe In my
hand. and examined III" characters "n.
EraVed upon Il.
Harris" said Pierpont, Il cant be
lieve in sorccry while am wearing
one OF Sanfords shooting suits, In the
pockc, Of which rests an uncut volum"
Of the Duchess
Neither can l." said for I read
The Evening Post and ! know Mr
GOdkln would not allow II. Hello
What's the matter with this gold
bale"
What is the natter" said Rarris,
grImIy.
"Why-why-i,' changing color
purple no. crimson-no. its green l
mcan-Good heavens, these dragons
impossible" mutJered PierponI
leaning over me: those are not
dragons"
NO" cried cxcitedly; they ar"
pictures OF that reptile that Barris
brought back-see-see how they
crawl and turn"
Drop it," commanded Rarris; and
| 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, Erorosquely wrought
with dragons and strange signs,
Pierpont. little red In the face.
picked It up. and handed it TO Barris.
He placed it on chair and sat down
beside me.
"Whew!" said |. wipins the perspir-
alton from my face; how did you
play us that trick Barris?"
Trick" said Barris. contemptu.
ously
looked at Pierpont, and my heart
sank. II this was not trick. what was
1t? Pierpont returned my glance and
colored. but all he said was: IT'S
devilish queer" and Barris answered:
Yes. devilish." Then Barris asked me
again to tell my story. and | did, be-
ginning from the time | met David
In the spinney TO the moment when
spranG into the darkening thicket
where that yellow mask had grinned
like n phantom skull
Shall we try to find the fountain?"
| asked after pause.
"Yes-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 | am indiscreet-"
shut up. Pierpont," said Barris.
this thing is serious: never heard OF
such a glade or such a fountain. but
its 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" | answered: when shall
We go?"
1T will knock our snipe shooting
on the head" said Pierpont. but when
one has the opportunity of finding a
live dream-lady-"
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; III promise not to
infringe on your dreams-Tll dream
about other ladies'
Come. come" said l, I'll 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.
What's the natter" | asked nerv-
ously, for l saw that his eyes were
fixed on my forehead, and I thought
of Ysonde and the white crescent
scar.
is that a birthmark?" said Barris
'Yes-why, Barris?"
'Nothing-an interesting conci.
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 CONTINUEDJ
STNI EN- MHNEv We'll IAuEa-cr