Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1911-09-15

but scratched lightly on the ground
glass pane of the inner door. The
door swung inward and he entered q
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 a language
somewhat like hat the Htndoo had
flung over his shoulder at the messen-
ger boy. The visitor answered with a
single word, and a sunburst OF light
upon him from a cluster OF tncandes-
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
a 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.
eff there be aught of doubling in
your heart, turn back ere it be too
late" it said. There is no repent
ance this side of the screen. Beware!
Turn backl"
But the Hindoo, with another deep
bow, parted the heavy curtains and
stepped through the opening. Without
a single glance at the sumputous
Eastern furnishings of the room, he
bent his body forward with touching.
o~utstretched 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. a man
sitting c~ross-legged on a divan at the
other end of the Dom 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
nan upon 1t.
1.-The peace of the Immutable One
be upon you" 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
ALI look his master In the face.
The master seemingly did not ear
the evening dress OF the Ocoident in
W1lC1l Ao huo uRPCpA OH IA LAC SkSA"
box adjoining Mrs. M~issioner's. His
slender, well-knit figure was swathed
in the clinging garments OF the East
garments of silken stuff that flut-
tered and rippled with every move
ment, hat seemed to rustic In echo Of
his thoughts.
What are your tidings, Air" asked
the man on the divan. He gave little
thoughtful tugs at a punkah string
and the resultant breeze stirred the
smoke wreaths from his narghileh.
THE jewel, o Swami"
The others eyes glistensd.
What of 1T" he inquired.
"Gone!" returned the humber Hin
doc. "Vanished!"
And you did not get it?"
Swami. l did not Your servant is
a dog and the son Of a dog, but he has
done his best"
The man on the divan watched his
servant through slitted eyes.
Where is the jewel?" he asked
sternly.
Who knows, holy manI" replied
the visitor. TT has taken unto itself
wings and In Its place a false stone
was left. The wit of your servant is
completely at fault. know %
where the diamond u.s."
The swami did not tel him he had
seer 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-str1ng in
an absent way.
And you have come stratghtway
with the news?" he asked.
las the hawk flies, master" said the
servant. There was trepidation In his
but he answered unhesitatingly.
ut is well" the Gwami said. be-
tween rings Of blue smoke. Wait
without, All, and !; viii nave speech
with you In q little WHILE"
The visitor. with another low So
laam, withdrew as he had entered,
backing across the threshold. In the
hall, his figure shot to Its full height
and he flashed q glance OF uncertain
meaning at the outer side OF the por>
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 q closet, into
which he crept. F1attening himBelf on
the floor, he applied his . to q hole
20 small 1t scarcely widened tho crack
between two boards. He could not
see, but he could hear the creak Of
the punkah as, after a violent tug
by the man on the divan. 1t continued
swinging to and fro.
Hardly had the Hindoo left the
when the Swami, like q mum
mer throwing on a mask, arose brisk
" from the divan and cast aside the
silk robe that enveloped him. The
silken turban remained IN his head,
but In all other respects he was
Creased like a Wall Street man. His
ieet, drawn beneath his robe as he nat
on the broad couch. had not shown
the patent leather shoes in which they
we're encased. He lighted a European
cigarette and pulled as II he enjoyed
change from the pungent Eastern
Up and down the room he walked
springily, pausing from time to time
puckered forehead and thumbs
ON the edges of his coat pock-
,norary Title