Catoctin clarion., 1911-03-16
THURSDAY, MARCH NO.
Sea:h. on which the launch was care
fully hrounded.


hungrily as he opened the basket and
spread sandwiches, fruit and wine be-
tween them.
The doctors silent appropriation of
n sandwich signified his consent, and
the repast was unbroken save for an
occasional careless word. When II was
over and the basket had been replaced
Woodward stretched himself lazily and
felt for his pipe.
"Feel like taking stroll?" he asked.
The doctor nodded and. lighting
ciga>., joined his companion. and to-
gether they walked toward the grove
of chestnuts.
"Quiet enough here" muttered the
doctor as he reached for another cigar.
",roo quiet for me-secms almost un-
canny. | haven't"A ard bird song
since we landed, have you?
81 don't recollect. Vance" said the
other. with quick glance at the young
nan IF it's case Of nerves | can
fix you up in a jiffy," he said sugges-
lively.
I'll be glad II you WILL doctor.
What's thaty' He stopped abruptly
and pointed ahead.
DR.. Leeds looked curiously in the d.
rection Indicated. At first he could
see nothing save the green tangle of
undergrowth then against its back
ground there came into view the hide
Gus outlines of colossal idol. Before
they reached 1t they became aware
that they were passing between widely
placed columns that must once have
supported temple roof. although
there was nothing overhead now save
the arch of chestnuts and the sky.
Chinese idols are notOrlously ugly
and repulsive. and this one was no ex-
ception to the rule. Above its painted
head there were curved and sinuouS
bodies Of reptiles that slid down upon
the massive shoulders like gigantic
ringets. The painted reptiles grinncd
and showed fangless mouths. One OF
its many arms held a sword, and the
other hand was raised in mighty
invocation.
The doctor turned to his companion.
who was approaching the image with
interest In his concentrated gaze. IL
believe I'd have a picture of that fel-
low If had my kodak here" He stop
ped abruptly, for although he had
raised his voice In speaking not
sound broke the stiffness. He had open
ed his mouth and spoken the words
and they had died before utterance.
He was really mouthing at nothing.
He was dumb.
At the same moment Woodward
looked back and threw remark over
his shoulder. His startled glance and
sudden return to the Doctors side In
dicated that the doctor was not alone
IN his strange atfiictiOn. He, too. had
spoken and his words had gone into
silence. A glance at the doctors
blanched face was enough.
They shouted at each other, they
clutchcd each other by the shoulders
and shouted into ears that might have
heard II It had not been for the dull
cloud that seemed to settle down over
body and intellect They were stand
ing directly under the great idol. and
its nearness seemed to exert some ma
levOlent influence over them They
looked up at the grinning image and
then they screamed desperately at
each other. The silence was awful.
When their words had vanished. so
to speak. they leaned breathlessly
against either foot of the idol and
stared at each other. DR.. Leeds was
endeavoring to concentrate his mind
upon the events OF the past fifteen
minutes and hoped to arrive at some
rational elucidati0n Of the mystery OF
this silent pace-this spot that com
PEELED silence from its visitors. Within
this sixty foot parallelogram. outlined
by the columns, 1t was impossible to
utter a sound that might be heard
There was only one thing to do. and
that was to get back to light and life
and sanity.
Leeds was stung to action He had
been watching his companions face
and saw ii sink into dreamy abstrac-
ton. A sudden fear seized him that
Woodward might be overcome-might.
like the victims OF the mysterious
Court of Silence. be frightened into fits.
With what might be called an un-
yelled yell, for 1t died on his lips, Dr.
Leeds grabbed his companions hand
and turned and ran down the narrow
path up which they had come. Wood
ward painted heavily beside him, never
seeking to withdraw his hand from the
others violent grasp.
At last the doctor, who had been
muttering formless words, to himself
as he raced away toward the launch.
heard his words uttered OH the air.
He repeated them and others. Then
he stopped and noticed with thankful
ness that Woodward's face was rapid
ly regaining its usual cOmposure
"What Is it. doctor? Is 1t great
silence or great sound that dwarfs
all other sounds?"
The doctor shook his head. ut Is
the Court Of Silence. believe" he said
slowly. He flung himself over the
gunwale and sank down in the launch.
Lets get back into the world. Vance
Il can't stand any more Of this" and
then, h1sitating: what do you make
Of it all. Woodward? You have been
in the country longer than |. You must
know many things that can only
guess at What Is the Court OF Silence?
Where Is II that we have been?"
Woodward had pushed off. and the
launch was now clearing away from
the fat shore where the dark group OF
chestnuts loomed blackly. What blot
did they cover?
"What is the Court of Silence? re-
neated the doctor dreamily.