Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-13
The Brownstone House.
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CHAPTER v.

Mulberry street In taxicab with
Donnelly and Carson, a swart, sim
man glided out by the servants door
of the Missioner home. His modern
garments, Oriental only by faint sug-
their cut. caught the eye merely by
contrast with the snowy turban that
covered his head. He moved with the
cat tread OF one long accustomed to
walking on his own soles. His shoes
were conventional enough in appear
ance, but of softer leather than that
of ordinary American make. 1t was
evident that he relied on the silence
Of his footgear and, judging from the
caution with which he let himself out
Of the house and looked up and down
the street before quitting the TIRES
hold. he wished to get away without
trumpeting his departure. Seeing no
one in the block, he walked swiftly
toward Fifth avenue and turned the
corner so sharply that he bowled
over district messenger. A few
words in foreign tongue were his
response to the select vernacular tho
rising youngster hurled at him
words so mysterious that a final "Ah,
garn!" was the utmost Of which the
astonished boy was capable by way Of
reply. To be flung to the sidewalk
by q parsonage in a British tourists
suit with a headgear out Of the Arab
ian Nights we'll may be disconcerting.
even to No. 1852 of the A. D. T.
The dark man hailed a hanson.
muttcrcd The park" to the driver,
and sat we'll back in the vehicle,
closing the apron doors and lowering
the upper curtain until he left only a
narrow space for observation. In the
interior gloom, laced by chance lances
of light from arc lamps, he sprinkled
himself freely with many drops from
a silver vial that smclled OF the East
He readjusted tho iolds OF his turban.
settled his collar and scarf, and shook
himself more Glossy into his clothes,
which, despite their loose cut seem-
ingly were tighter than he likod
North of the Casino, in the East
drive of Central park, the Iindoo
pulled the check strap and gave new
directions to the cabman The han.
som turned out OF the park at Seventy
second street and rolled on rubber
tires in an easterly direction, crossing
several avenues before it stopped in
front OF a brownstone house exactly
like several others in the block. The
Oriental paid the cabman and stood
on the sidewalk until the hanson
turned the corner. Then he walked
turned west, and darted into the yes
Thule of a house that was the twin
of the one at which the cab had
stopped. He did not ring the bell
but scratched lightly on the ground
glass pane OF the inner door. The
door swung inward and hC entered q
hall lighted only by glin.mcr that
filtered through the glass from gas
lamp in the street. A voice in The
dark asked question in a language
somewhat like that the IIindCo has
flung over his shoulder at the mcSsen
ger boy. The visitor answered with Q
single word. and sunburst OF light
upon him from a cluster OF incandes
cent bulbs above his head
III you are false, turn back" said
the voice in one of the higher tongues
OF India.
True though l0wly follower OF the
Light am l. the Hindoo replied, with
q profound salaam toward inli.black
portieres at the far end of the hall
10 81 no
and stretched forth his hand Again
the voice spoke.
IF there be aught of doubling in
your heart, turn back ere il be Toe
Late 1t said. There is no repent
ance this side of the screen. Bewarol
Turn back"
But the Hindoo, with another deer
bow. parted the heavy curtains and
stepped through the opening Withou,
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 thai
posture he remained until, in the
tones of the voice that had sounded
through the outer darkness, q mar
sitting cross-legged on a divan at thu
other end of the room murmured al
acknowledgment Of the salutation
Slowly the visitor Strengthened him
self and looked at the divan, withou
raising his eyes to the face OF thu
man upon It.
THE peace OF the Immutable On
be upon you" he said in his harshe
dialect Your servant All comes t,
report upon his mission
peace be to you, faithful one." an
swered the other. Not until then di'
All look his master In the face.
The master seemingly did not wea
the evening dress Of the Occident Il
which he had appeared in the oper
box adjoining Mrs. Missioner's, III
slender, well-knit figure was swatbe.
in the clinging garments of the Ess
garments of silken stuff that fut
tered and rippled with every move
his thoughts.
what are your tidings, Alp" aske
the man on the divan He gave it'll
thoughtful tugs at punkah strln
and the resultant breeze stirred tn
smoke wreaths from his narghileh.
"The jewel, o Swami"
The others eyes gistened.
"What Of it?" he inquired.
Gone" returned the humber Hin
loo Vanished"