The evening world., 1911-04-01
"Oh speak not again." he
Shrieked. 81 will tell all !
Only let me gO!"

wound upward from a little anteroom
beyond the iiat-topped opening. this Is
certainly not what o called the back
stairs. Where does this lead?'
ITO the second foor OF the museum
wing"
"Ah! Where Miss Pierce. and" he
paused reflectivelN, the colol.a nurse
have their ~bedroomA"
Exactly"
They crossed the anteroom and en-
tered the museum. A ceiling higher In
the museum than in any other part OF
the house gave space for high, loaded,
clear-glass windows.
The quick glance OF the psychologist
centred itself upon an object in the
middle OF the room. on a low pedestal
stood one OF the familiar Central Ameri-
can stones Of sacrifice. with grooved
channels to carry away the. blood. and
rounded top designed TO bend backward
the body OF the human victim While the
priest, With one quick cut. slew him;
and before II. staring at this stone, as
though no continuance OF familiarity
could make her unaffected by II, stood
tho slender. graceful. dark haired, dark
skinned Girl of whom tho psychologist
had just caught a glimpse through the
door of the morning room when he on
tered.
MY ward. Miss Pierce, Mr.. Trant.'
Pierce introduced them as she turned
Come. Trant,' Pierce passed his
hand across his forehead as he gazed
at the girls passionless face. the
study Is at the other end Of the mu-
scum" But the psychologist. with his
gray eyes narrowing with interest. his
red hair rumpled by an energstio ses-
ture. stood an instant observing hsr;
and she flushed deeply.
Il know why II 10 you look A. me IN
that way, Mr.. Trant," she said AMPLY.
II know. OF course. that a woman has
burned Richards papers. for ! saw the
ashes: besides / myself looked for the
papers afterwards and could not I'M
them. You are thinking that | believe
there Ia something between Richard
and the m who took this revenge
ecaus We vera going to be married,
but 1t 10 not so. | know Richard has
never cared for m other woman than
myself. There In something | do not
understand. Why. loving Richard as 1
did. did ! not care at all about tho
papers7 Why, since i saw that little
green stone. am / Indifferent whether
he loves me In that way or not? Why
do | feel now that ! cannot marry
hlm7 Has tho stone bewitched him?
IL ! said "a no ono would belisye moi"
eN"N Nhn 'cfCc, yOu
will find that 1 will no tho first. not tho
last 20 recognize that tho stona could
exercise upon you precisely tho intiusncs
You have describsd"
What " that7 What 10 thatY'
Pierce exclaimed In surprise.
u would rather Gee tho study, n you
please. DR.. Pierce" Trant bowed kind
~ 10 tho girl as no turned to his cilsnt.
before being moro explicit"
Very WELL" Pierce pushed open me
door and entered. clearly more puzzled
by Trants rspty than before. The
study was long and narrow, running
across the whole snd OF thu south wing.
and. III ths museum, had plain burlaD-
covered waNs without curve or recess
Of n sort: and. iiks tho m'Issurn. also.
~ was lighted by high, loaded windows
above tho eases ana shelves. Tha single
door was tho onS through whioh they
had entered: and tho furniture con-
sisted only OF n desk ana table, Two
chsirs. and--aiong the walls -cabinets
and cases Of drawers And p~iss9b-b0Iss
N6eaD 6e1n1 eAsyle1 Atsh tAAettAO