Evening star., 1911-06-05
CHAPTER XII.-Continued.

CHAPTER Xu.-Continued.
Archibald Travers turned. He had
heard no sound and yet he was certain
that he was no longer alone. that some
one stood behind him and was watching
him. For q minute he remained motion
less: the bright sunlight had dazzled him
and he could only see the shadows in
which the back OF the chamber was en-
veloped.. Yet the consciousness Of an
other presence continued. and when sud
denly shadow freed itself from the rest
and came toward him. he started less
nameless alarm. 1t was a womans figure
which came down toward the golden
patch OF light in which he stood. He
could not see her face. for 1t was COM
pletely shrouded in a long oriental veil.
but the bowed shoulders. the slow. un-
steady step. indicated an advanced age
or an overpowering physical weakness.
She came on without hesitation, passing
SO close to Travers that she brushed his
arm. and reached the hangings before the
window. There she paused. Travers
passed his hand quickly before his eyes.
Her movements had been so quiet. so
blindly Indifferent to his presence, that
he could not for the moment free him
self from the fancy that he was In the
power OF an hallucination. Then she
lifted her hand. drawing the curtain
back. and he uttered an involuntary.
half-smothered exclamation. The hand
was thin, clawlike, white as though no
drop OF blood flowed beneath the lifeless
skin, and on the fourth finger he saw a
plain band Of gold.
"Who are your" Travers demanded.
The question had left his lips almost
without his knowledge. She turned and
looked at him. and in spite of the veil
he felt the full intensity of a gaze which
seemed to be seeking his very soul How
long they stood there watching each
other in breathless silence Travers did
not know. Nor did he know why this
strange, powerless figure filled him with
a sickening repulsion and held him para
lyzed so that he could only wait in pas
sive, motionless expectation. Suddenly
the hand sank to her side and he shook
himself as though he had been awakened
from nightmare.
'Who are you?" he repeated. firmly.
"You are not the one l seek" she an
swered. why do you keep me from
him? He is mine-my very own. Where
is he? I am always seeking for him
but he is like the shadows-he vanishes-
with the sunshine In my dreams l see
him Her voice. thin and low-pitched,
died into silence. She seemed to have
shrunk together; she swayed as though
she would have fallen and Travers took
an Involuntary step toward her.
You speak English-perfect English"
he said. WHO are you? Whom do you
words electrified her. She caught his
arm in a grip of iron and drew close to
him so that her hot. quickly drawn
breath famed his cheek.
Help me?" she whispered. who can
help me? Don't you know that l am
dead?'
Travers shuddered: he tried to free
himself from the clutch of the white.
bloodless hand, but she clung to him des-
perately. despairingly. while her voice
rose In an agonized crescendo.
Don't you know that / am dead?"
Footsteps came hurrying down the cor
ridor. A sudden impulse. a reawakening
of the spirit of action and enterprise,
which had carried him through his life.
bade him grasp her hand and drag from
it the loosely fitting ring.
II will see you again-dead or living, !
will help you," he said.
The next instant he drew quickly back.
A white-bearded native servant had en-
tered and was moving swiftly with cat
like stealth toward the veiled figure by
the window. He was breathless. as
though with hard running, and seemed
oblivious of Travers' presence until, with
an exclamation of relief. he had grasped
the unresisting figure by the wrist Then
ne turned, SdldaH1lnS pTOIOuNufy.
May the Lord Sahib forgive his serv-
anti he said. with humility which in
Travers ears rang curiously ironical.
1.-The woman is possessed Of a devil who
speaketh lies out of her mouth. 1t would
cost thy servant dear il she were found
with the Lord Sahib."
Travers assumed an air of Indifference.
"Who Is she?" he asked, carelessly.
MY wife, Lord Sahib. The devil has
possessed her these many years"
Travers caught the flash OF the cum
ming, suspicious eyes, and knew that the
man had lied But he said nothing. dis
missing him and his captive with a ges-
ture. Only for an instant, governed by
an irresistible instinct, he glanced over
his shoulder. He saw then that the
and that one white hand was raised. as
though in mingled appeal and imperative
command. Travers nodded almost i'm
perceptibly and she disappeared into the
shadows of the corridor.
For some minutes Travers remained
motionless. then. as though nothing un-
usual had happened. he resumed his criti-
cal survey Of the precious stones with
which the pillars were adorned, appar-
emily SO absorbed that he did not notice
the sound OF approaching footsteps. Only
when he was called by name did he look
up with a start Of pleased surprise.
''Ah. your highness!' he exclaimed.
The young prince stood in the cur
tained doorway, dressed as though he
had just returned from riding. He was
dusty and travel stained and. in spite of
his energetic. upright bearing, he looked
exhausted. There were heavy lines under
the keen eyes, and Travers noticed for
the first time that his cheeks were slight
iy hollow. giving his whole appearance an
air of haggard WEAKNESS. He lifted his
hand in return to Travers' salute, and
came forward with a welcoming smile.
MY servants told me I should find you
here" he said. II hope the time OF wait
ing has not been too long?"
Indeed. MOI" Travers returned, as he
descended the throne steps. Il have been
amusing myself right royalty. You have
surely the most perfect collection of
stones in India
They are well enough" Nehal an
swered. his smile deepening. Have you
been calculating how many rupees they
will bring in?"
The remark. which at another time
would have called q frank laugh OF agree
ment from Travers, caused him instead a
faint feeling of annoyance.
Perhaps I have" he said, not without
sufficiently alive to beauty to be able to
appreciate it apart from its intrinsic
value.''
Nehal Singh motioned him to take his
seat at the low table which q servant
had at that moment brought in.
Forgive me- he said. II fear my re-
mark hurt you. I thought as a business
man you had only one standpoint from
which you judged-you told me as much"
Yes, and told you the TRUTH" Travers
said, after a moment. in which he bent
over his cup Of coffee. II am
a business man, rajah. and for a business
man who wants to make any sort of sue