The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1910-04-09

io"-FOlCcu WUlSpeT.
Two words. The devil-stick."
The negress started, and threw up
her hands In surprise.
CHAPTER w.
Evidently there was an understand
Ing between these two strange crea-
lures, and thereby an occult connec-
ton with the ideas and doings Of Dr.
Etwald- What the trio were plotting
against Isabella and her lover remains
to be seen; but 1t can be guessed cas-
ily that the message of the devil-stick
carried by Battersea to Dido was OF
some Significance.
Battersea himself knew nothing of
Its esoteric meaning, but to the ne
gress the mention of the emblem con-
veyed distinct understanding. She
let her arms fall listlessly by her side,
and. with an unseeing gaze she stared
at the green trees bathed in hot sun
shine After moment or SO, she NUT
tered to herself In negro jargon. and
cienched her hands.
-Baal! the wand Of sleep! the bring
er Of DEATH"
What are you saying Dido?" asked
Battersea. his feeble intellect scared
by the fierce gestures and the unknown
tongue.
I say deep things which you no un-
derstan'. Look at ole Dido, you white
man"
Battersea whimpered. and, rubbing
one dirty hand over the other, did as
he was requested with manifest unwil-
lingness. With an intensity Of gaze
Dido giared at him steadily, and swept
her hands twice or thrice across his
race. In moment or so the tramp
was In state of catalepsy, and she
made use Of his spellbound intelli-
gence to gain knowledge. There was
something terrible In her powers being
thus exercised in the full sunlight.
DE debble-stick. Whar is it?"
In the house OF Major Jen. In a
little room, on the wall, with swords
and axes"
As he said this In a monotonous tone.
Dido looked across the tree tops to
| where the red roofs of "Ashantee"
| showed themselves against a blue July
sky. She shook her fist at the distant
house. and again addressed herself i'm
| periously to Battersea. commanding:
Tell ole Dido OBJ de debble- stick"
1t Is green, with a handle of gold,
and blue stones set into the gold"
Dido bent forward. and touched the
tramp on his temples.
See widin dat stick" she muttered.
| eagerly. II wish to see."
There Is bag In the handle" re-
peated Battersea, with an effort. 'Un-
der the bag long needle" then, sitter
pause, "the needle is hollow"
is der poison in de bag, In de hol-
low OBJ de needle?"
mol" said Battersea, again. ''The
poison Is dried up!"
At this moment noise in the house
disturbed Dido. and with pass or two
she released Battersea from the hyp-
notic spell. He started, rubbed his
eyes. and looked drowsily at the tall
| negress, who had resumed her impas-
| sive attitude.
What have you been doing, Dido?"
he asked. stupidity.
"Obi?" was the brief reply. "You
hab told old Dido what she wish about
de debble-stick."
'The devil-stick." repeated the
tramp. In wide-eyed surprise. II don't
know anything OF It. DIR. Etwaid met
me, and ses he. You go to Miss Dali
las and / ses. I does;' and he ses
You'll see Dido and ses, I will;' and
he ses. Say to her Devil stick" an I
ses, Right y'are. SIR But es to know
ing"
Dat nufiin!" said Dido. with lord
ly wave Of her hand. II black; you
hab de black blood In youse also. I
mex you do Obi. uni"
whats Obi7 What's you torkin'
OFT" asked Battersea. rather nervous.
ly. AN 'ow does you know l hey
black blood?"
"obi say dat to me. Your mudder
biackf"
''Yahl" cried Batterseh, derisiyelv.
You're out Of It. My mother white:
but my father" here he hesitated. and
then resumed-'Yes. you're right, Dr.
do; my father was q negrol A Seedee
boy who was fireman on a liner"
II hab seen dat" replied Dido, nod
ding her head. BLACK blood in youse.
an l can do Obi on you. / send your
spirit to do house OF Massa Jen! You
tell me OBJ de debble-stick. But take
care OBJ you. Now git to de kitchen:
dere am food for you"
The old mans eyes frightened in an
ticipation Of q feast. and he shuffied
on round the corner as quickly an his
age would allow him. Dido looked
after him for a moment. considering
the message he had brought from DR..
Etwald. and then began to think Of
the devil-stick.
She knew very well what Il was.
for her grandmother had been carried
on as . slave from the west coast Of
Africa. and knew all about Ashantee
sorcery and fetish rites. These she
had repeated to her granddaughter, Di-
do. with the result that Dido. cherish
Ing these recollections. knew exactly
how to use the wand Of sleep. She had
spoken about It to DR.. Etwald. quite
ignorant that Jen kept one as a curios-
ity. and now Etwald had intimated
through Battcrsea that he wished her
to do something In connection with the
stick. What that something might be.
Dido, at the present moment. could not