The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-06-06

with ominous foreboding. 10 died
away and was repeated, and then fell
the oppressive silence.
Ayers clutched his companions arm.
"If it comes once more shall go mad"
he breathed hoarsely.
ut will come once more. There is
the name, you know-the Temple of
the Five Signs. There must be one
more" LongwOod's voice was tense
with restrained emotion.
/ And so they listened in the silence.
with the heavy perfume Of the red To-
tus encompassing them like rosy
cloud. until they seemed to stand to-
gether isolated from the world in the
midst of eddying shadows and vague
/ murmuring sounds, with no object in
view save the implacable face above
them and the writhing flower ut its feet.
Hours seemed to pass before the
faint whispers of the last sigh stirred
/ the shadows. When it had passed
over them and died away in Il shUdder
! ing moan Ayers was crying like little
child, while Longwood stared wide
eyed at the diminishing flames of the
lotus flower on the altar
AS if by some magic influence the air
cleared of the swirling incense. objects
came plainly into view, and the per-
fume of the lotus flower changed to
| the acrid smell of opium that clings to
many Hindu temples. The lotus flow
er was gone. and its palpitating beauty
had given place to the delicately tinted
bowl they had at first admired.
Ayers regained his cOmposure and
faced his companion with defiant eyes
You may believe me to he fool.
Longwood," he began. when the other
! interrupted him. Il know. too" be
said slowly Let US find Lester"
Without another word they went
through the low door and out upon the
street, where the begging priests cring-
ed away from their white faces and
where the solitary lanterns dotted the
blackness of the street. Ayers scratch
ed a match and looked at his watch.
Seven o'clock. 1t was G:45 when we
entered" he announced grimly.
Longwood made no answer.
A half hour later. still silent, they
found Lester at his bungalow. He
was a tall man, 1.-THE and slender and
not more than thirty years of age, yet
the thick hair above his forehead was
as white as snow. His keen dark eyes
questioned them.
| Ayers nodded. We've been there,
] 7 N nnnlnGU for
! doubling your experience in the tenn
pie. If it was anything like ours
/ He shuddered and threw himself into
chair.
How did you guess we had been
there?" asked Longwood, with Il
strange dread in his tone.
Lester swung open door on the in
ner side of which mirror was pan
eled. In its surface they saw reflect
ed Ayers faxen head and pale face
and Longwood's jet black hair with 81
| single white lock on the forehead.
Il knew by THAR said Lester grave
| ~. "And-let me see your hands,
The two men held out their hands,
palms upward
On the thumb and forefnger of each
right hand was a small blood red
stain shaped like the petal of a red
lotus flower
you can't obliterate it," continued
Lester. with a note of pity in his
voice. ut is the lotus mark. and ev-
cry man who has laid profane hands
on the sacred bowl will carry that
mark to his grave. and it will be an
early grave, too, unless one can cover
| it up. That is one way to avoid the
espionage Of those who avenge. The
other way He paused, and his voice
lowered.
The other way:' asked the two men
eagerly.
rs to leave the country, to clear
out forever, and yet sometimes venge-
ance follows unless one covers the
mark! He moved to the cupboard
and took down bottle of some liquid
/ and poured little on his handker-
chief He rubbed the palm of his
right hand and there sprang into view
a small and perfect flower of the red
lotus.
I'VE merely touched it and went
down into hades!' breathed Ayers
heavily. and you-you"-
Il held it in my hand and went still
farther" said Lester cOolly as he re
placed the bottle and took down an
other one containing a milky sub
stance. With a small sponge he coy
cred the palm of his hand, and the red
flower faded under a uniform flesh
tint Here, hold out your hands" he
added. water will not harm this GOV
ering. Time will wear it off, and it
must be renewed. | will give you the
recipe. We who use it call it our life
preserver.' 1t will be yours too"
why do they leave the blasted
thing exposed like that? Why isn't
there some warning that it must not
be touched?" demanded Ayers excited
ly as the red stain vanished from his
fingers.
Lester smiled. "The temple is not
for unlimited foreign devils to enter
save at their own risk If You had
been warned of its malevolcnt iufu-
ence, would you have touched the red
lotus?"
The two men nodded assent. and