Graham guardian., 1911-10-27

door swung inward ana ne entereu
hall lighted only by a glimmer that
filtered through the glass from a gas
lamp in the street. A voice IN the
dark asked a question In language
somewhat like that the Hindoo had
flung over his shoulder OF the messen-
ger boy. Tho visitor answered with
single word. and sunburst OF light
upon him from q cluster OF incandes-
cent bulbs 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 am l." the Hindoo replied. with
q 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 It be too
late" 1t said There II 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
q single glance at 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, man
sitting cross-legged on divan at the
other end OF 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 II.
"The peace OF the Immutable One
be upon yo6," 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
| All 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 silken stuff that fut-
tered and rippled with every move
ment, that seemed to rustic In echo Of
his thoughts.
what are your tidings, Ali?" asked
the man on the divan. He gave little
thoughtful tugs at q punkah string
and the resultant breeze stirred the
smoke wreaths fror. mis- narghileh.
"The Jewel, o Swamil"
The others eyes glistened.
what Of it?" he inquired.
"Gone!" returned the humber Hin
doc. "vanished!"
And you did not get IT."
Swami, / did not. Your servant is
a 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 jewell" he asked
sternly.
who knows, holy MANI" replied
the visitor. ''It has taken unto itself
wings and in It's 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
haranee by Griswold's 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 como straightway
with the news?" he asked.
"As the hawk flies, master" said the
servant. There was trepidation in his
eyes, but he answered unhesitatingly
TT Is WE'LL" the Swami said. be
tween rings of blue smoke. "Wait
without. ALL and will have speech
with you In little while"
The visitor, with another low ga
laam, withdrew as he had entered
backing across the threshold. In the
hall, his figure shot to 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 a closet. Into
which he crept. Flattening himself on
the floor, he applied his ear to a hole
so small It scarcely widened the crack
between two boards. He could no
see. but he could hear the creak o.
the punkah as, after violent tuf
| by the man on the divan. 1t continued
swinging to and fro.
Hardly had the Hindoo left thu
room when the Swami, like a mum
| nser throwing on mask, arose brisk
!, ly from the divan and cast aside tn,
silk robe that enveloped him. Thu
silken turban remained on his head
: but In all other respects he wal
+ dressed like Wall Street man. Hi
I feet. drawn beneath his robe as he ga
i on the broad couch, had not show
7 the patent leather shoes In which the.
} were encased. He lighted European
! cigarette and pulled as II he enjoyet
, the change from the pungent EASTER
tobacco.
!, Up and down the room he Wake,
: springily. pausing from time to tim
, with puckered forehead and thumb
resting on the edges Of his coat pocs
IOrcrovxy T:+lo