Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1910-04-12
The Hand of
Buddha
Story OF an Ivory Box and
What 1t Contained.
BY CLARISSA MACKIE
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.

be sent me, among other curios, a
Quaint little box Of carved ivory. II
was a beautiful specimen Of the car
vers art--an airy fabric Of delicately
wrought flowers, queer birds and i'm
possible fishes. If the box really had
an opening the fastening was so art
fully concealed that | could not find it..
One night some months later, on
returning home from the theater,
found my studio brilliantly lighted and
Lawrence occupying a big chair before
the smoldering fire.
81 returned today" he said in reply
TO my delighted greeting. Been wait
ing here since o'clock for you. Your
man said you had gone to the theater."
eyes, l replied donning a dilapi-
dated smoking coat Il have been to
see 'Nanette' and incidentally saw
Miss Farnham."
aWe are TO be married in May" he
said without turning his head.
I swallowed my establishment for !
had not known they were engaged
and, in fact was deeply interested in
pretty Miss Farnham myself In spite
OF my chagrin l managed to congratu-
late him warmly, and, joining him be-
fore the now replenished fire.
eWhere is that ivory box i sent you
Dick?"
Surprised and somewhat embaTass-
ed, I made no reply but went to the
cupboard and brought the heavy little
box to the table.
what the deuce is the matter with
your he asked sharply as the box
struck the table with a hollow, empty
sound.
"Just what l want TO know" l re-
piled Grossly.
He stretched out his hand for the
box and tried to raise it from the Ia
bic and then, as if surprised at its re-
sistance, he arose and lifted it with
both hands, looking at me queerly. As
he dropped the box and we heard the
hollow rattle as it struck the table
we both laughed neryously and re-
sumed out seats, he staring into the
fire with wide open, startled eyes.
Presently he spoke:
"That box was given to me by a
reason to believe hated me intensely
perhaps with reason. 1t was such a
dainty lit OF carving that I could NOT |
resist accepting it, In fact, ! really
could not do otherwise without infrine-
ing their elaborate social laws. When F.
he gave il to me old Van ring told me /
of another pretty bit Of carving, owned
T. As
He gave Inc strip Of red paper Gov
cred with hieroglyphics and told me
that on presenting II TO his brother, |
the merchant. ! could obtain the cher |
ished curio. ! went 10 my room in
ParkersonS bungalow-you know | !
was staying with Parkerson-and plac- |
ed the box before me on the table L
did not weigh more than a few ounces. !
A moment later my China boy entered |
and uttered a cry Of fear when be |
saw the box, WHICH be seemed to rec
ognize lie threw himself upon his |
knees and begged me to take the box /
away; that it was accursed and that |
i'll luck would fan upon me and all
my house if | harbored it a moment
When ! laughed at him and told him
about the ivory hand that had been
promised TO ne | thought he would !
so out Of bis mind He pleaded that
/ would at least send the box TO Amer \
lea before going down to Chefu aft
er the other curio. Perhaps | was
a little impressed by his actions. but. |,
anyway, my curiosity was aroused, and
so | agreed, and be happily packed
the little box among your case Of
goods and watched with great salts
faction while the coolies rolled the ,
case into the hold Of the ship The
day after that went down to Chefu
and secured the band Of Buddha, {
as the old man called it. He was a !
sly old beggar and up to some devil ]
try, ! was positive, though not mus j
Gle Of his oily, yellow countenance s
moved when | presented my letter {
The hand have brought home with I
ne, and in spite Of my China boys I
warning that would suffer unimag. {
Unable III fortune if ever brought (
The two objects, the hand and the box
-ogether, t is my Intention 10 do thai t
eefy thing tonight The hand is pack /
ed IN my bag, and want you TO come
around TO my rooms now and bring {
the box, and we will find what in the !
devil that old rascal was up to if 1t l
wasn't all bosh."
l assented reluctantly enough, for ! I
was rather bored by the mysterious I
box and just a bit down in the mouth c
about the news Of his engagement
NOW that you have consented" he S
said coolly, IN read you the letter G
which Van Ping sent to his brother. '
OF course these chaps exercise a lot /
Of hocus pocus in all their affairs, and !
! was somewhat amused at the idea ,
Of their evident desire TO work me up