The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1911-03-11

beach. on which the launch was care
fully grounded.
'Shall we eatf" asked Woodward
hungriIy as he opened the basket anC
spread sandwiches. fruit and wine be
tween them.
The doctors silent appropriation OF
sandwich signihed his consent, and
the repast was unbr0ken save for au
occasional careless word. When 1t 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 a
cigar. 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.
TOO quiet for me-seems almost un-
canny. | haven't heard bird song
since we landed. have your
Il don't recollect. Vance," said the
other, with a quick glance at the young
man. "If it's a case Of nerves can
fix you up in a jifry,' he said sugges-
lively.
'IlI be glad if you will. doctor
What's that?" He stopped abruptly
and pointed ahead
Or. Leeds looked curlously in the d.
rection indicated. At first he could
see nothing save the green tangle Of
underground; then against its back.
ground there came into view the hide
GUS outlines of colossal idol. Before
they reached it they became aware
that they were passing between widely
placed columns that must once have
supported temple roof, although
there was H0thlng overhead now save
the arch of chestnuts and the sky.
Chinese idols are VIGOROUSLY ugly
and repulsive, and this one was no ex-
ception to the rule. Above its painted
head there were carved and sinuous
bodies of reptiles that slid down upon
the massive shoulders like gigantic
ringlets. The painted reptiles grinned
and showed fangless mouths One of
its many arms held a sword. and the
other hand was raised in a mighty
invocation.
The doctor turned TO his companion.
who was approaching the image with
interest In his concentrated gaze. Il
believe Ia have a picture of that fell
low II 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
nd DO nd 4Hn rlr
and they had died before utterance.
He was really mouthing at nothing
He was dumb
At the same moment Woodward
looked back and threw a 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 affilction. 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
clutched each other by the shoulders
and shouted into ears that might have
heard If 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 Sc ed 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 elucidation Of le mystery Of
this silent place-this lot that com
PEELED silence from its visitors. Within
this sixty foot parallelogram. outlined
by the columns. it 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 it 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. 4
With what might be called an un-
yelled yell. for it died on his lips. Dr. I
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 4
others violent grasp.
At last the doctor who had been I
muttering formless words to himself I
as he raced away toward the launch. I
heard his words uttered on the air.
He repeated them and others. Then 7
be stopped and noticed with thankful
ness that woodward's face was rapid
~ regaining its usual composure.
What is it. doctor. Is it great
silence or a great sound that dwarfs
all other sounds ?"
The doctor shook his head. 1T is
the Court of Silence I believe" he said j