Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-02-16

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pidly. "Why. that is why came, Of
course. You needed me-"
WANTED you'll don't need you," he
sneered. But I called you, didn't /
across five seas and the empire Of
India?"
by some superhuman power you
did summon me. l am here. II you
do not need me / will go. Bob. do
you still hold that grudge against me?
1t was a fair fight and
He held up a long, thin hand. BE
STILL" he said harshly. 81 do hold the
grudge / have nurtured 1t these years
past, and now my turn has come. She
did not come with you. Brayton? No?
Strange. 1 sent her a most appealing
call, and time was when she was not
entirely Indifferent to me-"
Glowering down at me from his tall
height, he smiled cynically and turned
| to the altar, which held nothing save
a small square box Of some rare wood.
suspected he was insane, and yet there
was a certain deadly purpose about
everything he did and said that I'M
pressed me with degree Of fear
that he might not be mad.
The silence Of the little shrine buried
deep in the heart of this ancient
ruined city, the roar of a tiger from
of my utter isolation from all man.
kind, my only companion this half
mad enemy.
"My men will be looking for me,
Pendleton. Just open this door, will
you, please?" l asked in matter Of
fact tone.
He turned, snarling: "My men, Bray
ton. I paid them to meet you at
Dinaghpore and offer their services.
Now they are miles back on the road.
You are quite alone with me, entirely
in my power, and when I am through
there are the jackals and vultures,
you know" He bent over the table
once more.
IF one Of us must die l believe I
have the advantage. Bob" l leveled
| my revolvers at him, and, though my
head was cool, my hands trembled
, slightly. for Pendleton had once been
my friend.
"They are empty, fool" he said
bitterly. "My men removed the
charges en- route" He flung this over
his shoulder, still busted over the little
box.
1t was true. The cartridges had been
removed, but if the worst came to pass,
! as it undoubtedly would from Pen
dleton's attitude toward me, l could
use them as clubs
Suddenly he faced about and spoke
rapidly, with many gesticulations' of
! his thin hands.
years ago. Phil Brayton, you won
out in a certain game. l swallowed
my disappointment and went away.
l have gone up and down the world
looking for peace of mind and body,
and there is none. | loved Eleanor
Neal as no woman was ever loved
before, as no woman Will be loved
again, and l still love her. | have
been in every country on the globe; |
have had experiences; / have seen
mysteries that you never dreamed Of;
l have become what no white man on
Gods earth dared hope to attain; /
am But will not tell you that!
Here, in one Of the dead cities of
the world, isolated as one may hope to
be, l have waited for you to come
and take your medicine. You have
loved her for years. have been
banished Fate shall decide this night
between us as Eleanor once chose. On
this altar you see these four tiny
crystal cups. The first contains the
essence of supreme happiness. the
second the essence Of perfect love.
the third the essence of immeasur-
able content. The fourth essence is
never mind: 1t shall be unnamed.
81 have arranged them, and you may
rearrange them as you please. You
see they all contain colorless liquid.
and there is no outward distinction be-
tween them. Then you may choose
one and shall drink it, and according
to its contents so shall your fate be-"
He leaned carelessly against the altar,
smiling down at my perpleXed face.
"And you-what are you to do" l
breathed quickly.
"Why, Brayton, | believe l shall
have my day, my share of happiness.
If you should happen to choose the
fourth essence-why, Eleanor will be
a widow and I may console her. Do
you doubt my power"
'Why not murder me outright?" I
questioned calmly. "Your essences
are a fools trickery, Bob. Supreme
happiness. perfect love and immeasur-
able content are all attained by drink
ing the fourth essence, and that is"-
what" he demanded fiercely.
Death
He bowed his head sullenly. yet
you must drink or die-die anyway,
that / may live and have my share of
happiness" he said doggedly.
Slowly | unbuttoned my coat and
drew forth from a hidden pocket a
leather case. In the front of the case