Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1911-01-27


IT was a fair fight and
lie held up n long. thin hand. BE
STILL" he said harshly. Il do hold the
grudge. l have nurtured Il these years
past. and now my turn has come. She
did not come with you. Brayton? No?
Strange | sent her iaest appealing
call. and time was when she was not
entirely Indifferent to me"
Glowering down at me from his tall
height. he smiled cyniealiy and turned
TO the altar. which held nothing save
a small square box Of some rare wood.
| suspected he was insane. and yet there
was a certain deadly purpose about
everything he did and said that i'm
pressed me with a degree of fear
that he might not be mad.
The silence Of the little shrine buried
deep in the heart of this ancient
ruined city. the roar of tiger from
the jungle outside. the very thought
Of my utter isolation from all man
kind. my only companion this half
mad enemy.
"My men viii be looking for me,
Pendleton. Just open this door. will
you, pleaseY' | asked in a matter of
fact tone.
lie turned. snarling: "My men. Bray
ton. I paid them to meet you at
Dinaghpore and offer their services
Now they are miles back on the road.
You are quite alone with me. entirely
in my power. and when am through
there are the jaekals and yuIiures.
you know lie bent over the table
once more
IF one Of us must die believe I
have the advantage. Bob" ! leveled
my revolvers at bin. and. though my
head was cool. my hands trembIed
slightly. for Pendietcn had once been
my friend
"They are empty, fool" he said
bitterly. MY men removed the
charges en- route" He flung this over
his shoulder. still busted over the little
box.
1t was true. The cartridces had been
removed. but if the worst came topass.
as It undoubtedly woui,i frum Pen.
dleton's attitude toward me. could
use them as clubs.
Suddenly he faced about and spoke
rapidly. with many gesticuiations Of
his thin hands.
Years ago, Phil Brayton. you waa
out in certain game swallowed
my disappointment and went away
l have gone up and down the worll
looking for peace Of mind and body
and there is none. | loved Eleanor
Neal as no woman was ever loved
before. as no woman viii be loved
again. and | still love her. haze
been in every country on the globe:
have had experiences; l have seen
mysteries that you never dreamed Of
l have become what no white man Q
Gods earth dared hope to attain:
am But will not tell you that.
Here. in one Of the dead cities OF
the world. isolated as one may hope t.
be, | have waited for you to cone
and take your medicine. You have
loved her for years | have been
banished. Fate shall decide this night
between MS as Eleanor once chose. On
this altar you see these four tiny
crystal cups. The first contains the
essence Of supreme happiness. the
second the essence Of perfect iov.
the tiiltd tie essence of imn S.
able contEiit. The fourth essence /
never mind: it shall be unnamed.
Il have arranged them. and you mas
rearrange them as you please. You
see they all contain colorless llquia
and there Is no outward distinction be
tween them. Then you may ehoe
one aud shall drink it. and accordi
to its contents SO shall your fate be-
He leaned carelessly against the altar.
smiling down at my perplaSed face.
"And you-what are you to do?"
breathed quickly.
'Why. Brayton. I believe I sha
have nay day, my share Of happines
If you should happen to choose r,
fourth essence-whv. Eleanor viii
a widow and may console her.
you doubt my power?"
"Why not murder me outrishtg"
questioned calmly. "Your essence
are FOOLS triekery, Bob. Supreme
happiness, perfect love and immeasur.
able content are all attained by drink
ing the fourth essence. and that IS
''What?' he demanded fercaly
Death"
He bowed his head sullenIy. ase,
You must drink or die-tlie arvrr
that mGy live and have my share %
happiness" he said doggelly
Slowly I unbuttoned my eoH aa
drew forth from a hidden po se;
leather case. In the front of the ease
was miniature Of my wife, Eleanor.
Slipped in the back Of the case was
newspaper clipping OF her daaih
Without word | gave the paper into
his unwilling hand He held il 10 the
light, deyoured It with liSlfainr eiance,
AVID a look of poi1nant SUFFERING car,c
lnt6 bis face for brief nemrnt
Then. tossing II brtk td ire he
brose Into a joyful LAUGH. -Ali, Pill
! win at last" Tie snstehed OF ene
Of the cups. drained it. and while
struggled to detail. Tim. he DRINK the
others one at time.
When the first bot red RES Of the
mornIag sun broke through The slit
Of window they fell on his dead face
All the anger and bitterness hna fed
He looked Young and beautifni- rs II
he had attained to snsreme hlaainess.
PERFECT love and llameasusaf'e aou,
tent--these the gin of TIE fourth Is.
sencc. the Key to the snIrit World