The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1910-09-30

Tie says, itpncu Tue ihClie bdDOo,
that no sooner had he taken the
pearl than there was the Cash OF fire
and much smoke. When ii cleared
away the stone had vanished Doubt
less Agni the god had come for his
own"
Lord Illingworth bazed with fury.
"He has swallowed it," he said.
I'VE shall have to cut him open"
Ramma Lal translated this terrific
threat. The Hindoo gave a yell De
spair lent him strength. With ser
pentine twist he slid from the graso
of one of his captors and knocked 40
the arm of the other. The window
was still open. be sprang through it
into the darkness of the night.
Lord nlingwcrth ran to the win
dow, fred blindly, and then fashed
from the room. The others followed.
Only the Bahoo, his two cariors, and
the boy with the clothes remained.
Come siong." said ore of the
| grooms.
Stay for one moment beseech
you" said Ramma Lal, and let me
worship Agni the god"
None OF yer barney" returned
the man. But the other, who was OF
romantic temperament, said: "Wot's
the odds? Let the heather do 1t II
he wants"
you see, gentlemen" said the
Baboo, eagerly, 1T is my very last OPP
portunity. | shall be lifelong impris-
oned for the inauspicious event of
this evening 1t is positively my last
appearance in the open. Let me wor-
ship Agni as l do in my own land.
No Englishman has yet witnessed the
entire ceremony. 1t shall not take
long. l will compress my supplica
lions. Five minutes will be ample
dispensation."
The grooms looked at each other
Their curiosity settled the matter.
Wen give you four minutes, sc
look sharp said one.
Thank you" replied Ramma Lal
gratefully. "Agni will bless you fol
your benefcence."
The men released their hold. One
closed the window. the other shut the
door, and placed himself before it.
Ramma Lal took off his silk hat
muller and coat. He advanced to the
idol and salaamed low three times
Then he raised his eyes and sang.
Travers knew the song. 1t was /;
ribald ditty of the bazaars, and it hat
as much to do with the worship o
Agni as with the laws of gravitation.
He watched the Baboo with increas
i,,o INT 10 oyidont1v
Interior objest in view, but what wa
it? All
Ramma Lal had gradually al
preached the idol. Still singing, h
had bowed his head till it had almos
touched Agni's knees. Travers hardl
saw the movement of the hands. Onl
an Oriental could have done it s
swiftly The two candles were SUE
denly extinguished, and the room wa
in absolute darkness.
With loud imprecations the tw
grooms rushed to where the Babo
had been-to collide with each othel
and incidentally bring down the hug
candlesticks. Then recovering, the
dashed about the room in search Q
their prisoner, only to seize the DO
who had the clothes. Finally one O
them struck light
They were alone with the boy. TIL
window was again wide open.
Then men leaned out. There wa
no moon The lights of the search
ers flashed in the distance The
turned blankly to each other.
"There'll be pop to pay for this,
said the boy, who was still sufferin
from rough usage in the dark. You
both jolly well get sacked"
"All your blamed fault for lis'nir
to his tommy rot" said the one ma
] savagely to his companion.
Again the lights flashed in the ga
=, den, and then gradually extended b.
You'd Travers waited until he wa
sure there was no one below. The
) he emerged from his recess, and 70
lowed the Indians through the viii
dow. Leaving the park to the search
ers, he kept to the main avenue, an
soon gained the high road. A ter
mile walk brought him to Dorto
junction, where he just missed tn
last train to town.
The sun was high when Danb.
Travers reached his rooms, and j
was late in the afternoon when h.
awoke The morning papers and hi
letters were at his bedside. He a
once opened one of the former curl
GUS to see If there was any referenc,
to the events of the previous night
Good heavensl What was this?
BURGLARY AND FIRE A.
KNOWLESWORTH
The Illingworth Pearl Stolen
The Hall Quilted.
"Knowlesworth hall. the histori
seat of the Illingworths, was las
night the scene of two extraordinar
events.
= Lord and Lady lllingworth wer
) entertaining one of their famou
weekend parties at dinner when
daring and successful attempt. wa
, made to steal the celebrated pearl G
Agni, the largest known black pear