Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-04-30

ing OF dread that ! accompanied MIN
ON what seemed n fools crrand. Yet
there was u decidedly uncomfortable
feeling that | could not suppress
Twice looked behind me quickly. and
sharp shadows cast by the electric
lights. Lawrence seemed unconscious
Of my mental excitement. for he strobe
quietly by my side with bent head aud
hands In his pockets. II was relief
TO get into the warmly lighted vcsii-
bule. for there | no longer heard tho
imaginary soft pad.pad Of feet bchil I'd
us. | had carried the box In u hand
bag. and It's weight was such that
was glnd TO turn II over to my hast
who excused himself aud disappeared
into the smoking room. Presently NJ
returned.
| saw that something was on lIli
mind
See here. Dick" he began serious Y,
"Grace-Aiiss Farnham--is not aware
of my return. II should be takrn
Ill or anything she must not know tho
circumstances Give her this letter.
which will explain enough. If nothing
happens forget II all like the good fcl.
low you are" And as he claspcd my
hand and looked into my eyes ! knew
that he had guessed my secret.
Now for the hand OF Buddha." he
cried, with laugh. and together we
entered the handsome smoking room.
II was large room, crowded with
treasures from every quarter of the
globe. In the middle Of the room stood
small ebony table. the top inlaid
with squares Of ivory like n checker
board. On 1t stood the hand Of
Buddha. II was the size of an In.
fant's hand and carved from solid
piece OF ivory. yellowcd with unknown
age. The curved. long naf~I fingers
clasped the stem OF dclcatcly carved
flower. II was horrible object. IL
looked like n dead hand.
! could not reprcss my excitement
as Lawrence locked the door and bade
where he had placed II. was sur
prised to see that his face was white
and strained and that his hands trem.
bled as he took the box from my grasp.
lie placed II on the table and we took
up our station near the door. both
looking eagerly Mt 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 an, the hand toppled over.
striking the box. and then Lawrence
sprang back. with hoarse shout. MS
the curved fingers looscned their hold
on the flower and twincd around and
chung to the box. Gropingly they
crawled over the carved flowers and
birds: then. ms we gazcd brcathlessly.
faint vapor curled around the edges
OF the box. II grew In volume. ana
! heard Lawrence unlock the door he
hind us. Then the lid raised ~ first
! could not see the object that pro
trudcd itself. Then It's horrible form
grew on my sight. The long. sinuous
body OF serpent ms large around as
my arm issued from that tiny caskci.
Its red fangs were like crimson stains
on the milky Wilderness Of It's skin. II
raised Itself far above the table. the
hideous head swaying to and fro its
green eyes cleaning like jewels IN the
semidarkness of the room aud pier"-
Ing the faint vapor that surrounded
II. Tho incense seemed overpowrr
Ing. and felt that was losing con.
seriousness when Lawrence raised
revolver
My hand was on the knob when he
fred 4 crimson stream flowed from
the hideous thing. hut still II raised It's
length into the air. Lawrence fired
again and yelled for me to open the
door As I did so heard stranGled
cry and turned TO see Lawrence fall
Ing To the floor. the white serpent
coiied tightly around his body. Grasp
ing Turkish scimiter that hung on
the wall beside me and mad with rage
and grief. | thrust the cleaning knife
again and again into the slnuous body
Of the reptile. which never relaxed Is
hold. its head still uplifted. with red
fanged mouth aud .jeweled eyes. Sud-
denly everything turned black before
me. and lost consciousness. When
regalned my senses the light was
still burning dlmly. The window dra-
peries were stirring softly. and. 10 my
joy. heard I.awrence's voice calling
In strained. unnatural tones He was
slowly struggling TO his feet. and
arose and went to his assistance Ills
face was CHASTITY. aud around his
throat. above his low collar. was n
dull purple line. lie pointed TO the
floor as he sank feebly into chair
The white serpent was gone. but on
the dark rug lay a long chain com
posed OF countless small disks Of ivory
strung together on silken cord. The
scimiter lay beside IL. the blade spot
less and shining. The mir was stlll
heavy with strange. subtle perfume
that clouded our senses and rendered
the occurrences OF the past hour nn-
real. On the table lay the ivory box
pmpty The hand of Huddha wuS gone