Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-06-10

quietly by my she with bent mead ana
hands In his pockets, II was relief
to get into the warmly lighted vestl.
bule, for there no longer heard the
imaginary soft pad-pad OF feet behind
us. had carried the box In hand
bag, and Its weight was such that
was glad to turn 1t over to my host,
who excused himself and disappeared
into the smoking room. Presently he
returned
/ saw that something was on his
mind.
See here, Dick" he began seriously,
"Grace-Miss Farnham-is not aware
of my return. II l should be taken
Ill or anything she must not know tho
circumstances. Give her this letter,
which will explain enough. II nothing
happens forget 1t all like the good fell
low you are" And as he clasped my
hand and looked into my eyes I knew
that he had guessed my secret.
Nov for the hand Of Buddha," he
cried, with a laugh, and together We
entered the handsome smoking room.
1t was a large room, crowded with
treasures from every quarter Of the
globe. In the middle Of the room stood
a small ebony table. the top inlaid
with squares Of ivory like checker
board. On It stood the hand Of
Buddha. 1t was the size OF an In
fant's hand and carved from a solid
piece of ivory, yellowed with unknown
age. The curved. long nailed fingers
clasped the stem OF delicately carved
flower. 1t was a horrible object. 1t
looked like 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 1t, was sur
prised to see that his face was white
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 at 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, aud then Lawrence
sprang back, with a hoarse shout. as
the curved fingers loosened their hold
On inc mower anu '"ineu arounu anu
elunS =" .ne poA. u'p,nsy Ivy
s.a"eu V'ei '"o ea''ee "V".us 1.u
Dtu', '"o"' ne W 49, - 80
~ 'ap :. " ~ ,' me S 50
@ So ~ 49,. .S
tn. ~, ~, 80 a..
,',S -. g. a.1aot 49, a.,
-. 49,. ,c,.a,, a.. s,.,,,,.,1 go,
49,, -, 'n, TIL, mr. Ion, .,,,,ona
SoSw 20 ornent 40 Ia-aa srovnd ne
.rn, Seed Err, ,hot t,nu castat
re- rad ,onos were Ilta cr,m.on stains
on tho ro,ILv a,bItanoss ~ Its ak,n n
ro,sad ItaoIS far ahova tho .tahla tho
h,daous Rad aging 10 and FRO ita
oraaD avos olaa ming Iika iaweIs I'm tha
samIdarknass Of the room and DIerc-
inc The faint vanor that surrounded
~ Tha incanaa saemed ovarnower.
ing. and I felt that 1 was losing con.
aciouanass wben Lawrence raised n
reyolver
Nv hand xas nm the knoh when ha
ared A cr,mson dream flowed from
the b,daous thing hut atm n raised lts
Ian0th into the mir Lawrence Aired
again and yelled for me 10 omen the
door AL d,d 40 henrd n stran0Ied
orr and ,urnad IN saa Iawrence fan.
inc m tho aoor tbe white serDent
codIad ,igbtIy aronnd bis hcdv Grasn.
sn0 a Turkish scimiter that hung on
tha vail hos,da M. and mad with raOe
and oriar tbrust tho cleaning knife
.ga,n ana again info tbe sinuoua body
81 Tho rantIis which mayer rela red its
hoId ,ts haa1 aulI unified with red
fsngsd mouth and ieweled eyes. sud
deniv evervtbin0 turned black before
mo ana loo, conaciousnesa When
T ragsined nv senses the uaht WINS
auII burning d,mly. The window dra.
nar,as we're stirrln0 softly. and. to my
low beard Ia wrence'a voice calling
In strained unnatural tones. He was
slowly struggling to his feet, and I
arose ana went 10 MS ubbbthhce' ms
ce was S""s,' -
mi V"S 49, ua 1890 90 ,ha
u"' pu'pe '''I 80 60, -.
~, nooi % n' eu ~ ~ 49,. So.
"n'e - ah.t, 60
80" S"' s 2 .au S,.Ls ., ,worv
poSee u eo""'@s IL. 800 M.