Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-04-19

with squares Of ivory like a checker.
board. On 1t stood the hand OF
Buddha. It was the size Of an IN.
fants hand and carved from solid
piece Of ivory. yellowed with unknown
age. The curved. long nailed fingers
cIasped the stem Of delicately carved
flower. It was q horrible object. IL
looked like q dead hand.
/ could not repress my excitement
as Lawrence locked the door and babe
me bring him the box from diVan
where he had placed it. | was sur
prised to see that his face was white
and strained and that his hands treln'
bled as he took the box from my grasp.
He placed it on the table. and we took
up our station near the door. both
looking eagerly ut the table. The air
seemed heavy with some strong per
fume. but that WAS undoubtedly the
result of the long closed room with
its sandalwood furniture and scented
hangings.
Suddenly the table seemed to sway
slightly and the hand toppled over.
striking the box, and then Lawrence
sprang back, with hoarse shout. us
the curved fingers loosened their hold
ON the flower and twined around ana
chung to the box. Gropingly they
crawled over the carved flowers ana
birds: then, as we gazed breathlessly.
q faint vapor curled around the edges
of the box. 1t grew In volume. and
I heard Lawrence unlock the door be-
hind us. Then the lid raised. At hrst
I could not see the object that pro-
truded itself. Then its horrible fern
grew on my sight. The long sinuaus
body of serpent as large around as
NV arm issued from that tiny caskef.
It's red fangs were like crimson stains
on the milky Wilderness Of its skin. 1t
raised itself far above the table. the
hldeous head swaying to and fro. Its
green eyes cleaning like jewels In the
| semidnrkness Of the room and pierre
ing the faint vapor that surrounded
II. The incense seemed overpower-
ing, md felt that was losing con-
sciousness when Lawrence raised n
revolver.
NV hand was OH the knob when ne
fred. A crimson stream flowed from
tbe bideous thing. but still II raised Its
length into the air. Lawrence fired
again and yelled for me to open the
door. As did so heard strangled
CRY and turned to see Lawrence fall
ing to the floor. the white serpent
coiled tightly around his body. Grasp
ing Turkish scimiter that hung on
the wall beside me and mad with rage
and grief. | thruse the cleaning knife
again and again into the sinuous BODY
of the reptile. which never relaxed lis
hold. its head still uplifted. with red
fanged mouth aud jeweled eyes. Sud
denly everything turned black before
me, and | lost consciousness. Wneh
I recained my senses the light was
still burping Gimly. The window drh'
peries were stirring softly. and. to my
ioy. I heard I.awrence's voice calling
in strained. unnatural tones. He was
slowly struggling to his feet. ana
arose and went to his assistance. HIS
face was CHASTITY. and around Ills
throat. :bove his low collar. was
dull purple llue. He pointed to the
floor rs he sank feebly into chair
The white serpent was gene. but OIL
the dark rug lay long chain com
posed of countless small disks OF ivory
strung together on silken cord. The
scimiter lay beside 1t. the blade spot
less and shining The mir was still
heavy with strange. subtle perfume
that clouded our senses and rendered
the occurrences Of the past hour un
real. On the table lay the ivory box
empty. The hand Of Buddha was gone
Near the open window and In the
shadows Of the stirring draperies lay
green silk cap IN the middle OF whici
was sewed a curious jeweled button
insignia of a mandarin's rank. As
leaned over to pick 1t up Il yellow hanc
with curving. clawlike nails dartet
across the low sill and then disap
peared into the outer shadows bearing
the green cap.