Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-12-29

glass pane OF the inner door. The
door swung inward and he entered
hall lighted only by a gfimmer that
filtered through the glass from a gas
lamp In the street. A voice in the
dark asked a question in q language
somewhat like that the Hindoo had
flung over his shoulder at the messen-
ger boy. The visitor answered with
single word. and a sunburst of light
upon him from a cluster of incandes-
cent bulk5 above his head.
IF you are false, turn back" said
the voice in one Of the higher tongues
Of India.
True though lowly follower of the
Light anal" the Hindoo replied, with
profound salaam toward ink black
portieres at the far end Of the hall.
He moved slowly toward the curtains
and stretched forth his hand. Again
the voice spoke.
III there be aught of doubling In
your heart, turn back ere 1t be too
late" 1t said There is no repent
ance this side Of the screen. Beware!
Turn back"
But the Hindoo, with another deep
bow, parted the heavy curtains and
stepped through the opening. Without
single glance ct the sumputous
Eastern furnishings of the room, he
bent his body forward with touching,
outstretched hands until his fingers
well-nigh reached the floor. In that
posture he remained until, In the
tones of the voice that had sounded
through the outer darkness. q man
sitting cross-legged on divan at the
other end Of 1.-The room murmured an
acknowledgment OF the salutation
Slowly the visitor Strengthened him
self and looked at the divan. without
raising his eyes to the face of the
man upon It
The peace of the Immutable One
be upon you," he said in his harsher
dialect. your servant Ali comes to
report upon his mission"
peace be to you. faithful one." an
] swered the other. Not until then did
ALI look his master in the face.
The master seemingly did not wear
the evening dress of the Occident In
which he had Appeared in the opera
box adjoining Mrs. Missioner's. His
slender, well-knit figure was swathed
in the clinging garments Of the East
garments of sllken stuff that fiut-
tered and rippled with every move
ment, that seemed to rustic In echo of
his thoughts.
What are your tidings, Ahf' asked
the man on the divan. He gave little
thoughtful tugs at punkah string
and the resultant breeze stirred the
smoke wreaths from his narghileh-
THE jewel, o Swami"
The others eyes giistened.
what Of it?" he inquired.
"Gonel" returned the humber Hin
doc. Vanished"
And you did not get it,"
Swami, did not. Your servant Is
dog and the son Of dog. but he has
done his best"
The man on the divan watched his
servant through slitted eyes.
Where is the jewel?" he asked
sternly.
who knows, holy man?" replied
the visitor 1T has taken unto itself
wings and in its place false stone
was left. The wit Of your servant is
completely at fault know not
where the diamond is"
The swami did not tell him he had
seen the destruction Of the false Ma
harsnee by Griswolds heel in the
Metropolitan Opera House. He
smoked thoughtfully. his fingers knot
ting and travelling the punkah-string In
an absent way.
"And you have come straightway
with the news?" he asked.
"As the hawk flies. MASTER" said the
servant. There was trepidation In his
eyes, but he answered unhesitatingly.
1T is we'll" the Swami said. be-
tween rings of blue smoke. wait
without, Ali. and / win have speech
with you in a little while
The visitor, with another low sa-
laam, withdrew az he had enrered.
backing across the threshold. In the
hall, his figure shot 70 its full height
and he flashed glance Of uncertain
meaning at the outer side of the por-
there's. He passed silently up the
stairs and slipped into a room above
that in which the Swami sat His cat
like tread carried him to closet, into
which he crept. Flattening himself on
the floor, he applied his ear to hole
so small 1t scarcely. widened the crack
between two boards. He could not
see. but he could hear the creak OF
the punkah as, after a violent tug
by the man on the divan. It continued
swinging to and fro.
Hardly had the Hindoo left the
room when the Swami. like mum
mer throwing of a mask. arose brisk
ly from the divan and cast aside the
silk robe that enveloped him. The
silken turban remained on his head.
but in all other respects he was
dressed like Wall Street man. His
feet, drawn beneath his robe as he sat
on the broad couch. had not shown
the patent leather shoes IN which they
we're encased. He lighted European
cigarette and pulled as If he enjoyed
the change from the pungent Eastern
tobacco.
UP and down the room he walked
springily, pausing from time to time
with puckered forehead and thumbs
resting on the edges OF his coat peck