The Washington times., 1912-08-14
CHAPTER II.
The Hindu's Story.

the eyes of the man in the shah
by pea-jacket; but there was no
answering smile on Lindsay's.
The angry look which had rested on
It since Mr.. Josephs had turned obsti-
nate about the brass bound box sudden
ly faded away. and gave place to one
OF mingled surprise and fear. Lindsay
started back. and his mouth opened in
a gSpe of astonishment;
Where the deuce did you come
from.2'' he growled, staring at the Hin
du. The other man smiled again-a
smile that was neither pleasant nor re-
FROM going to and fro about tho
earth, Mr.. Lindsay" he answered in
perfect English. and with low, musical
tone of voice. Always seeking, but
that l much desire to set eyes on"
GO and set eyes on em, then. and
be hanged to you," said Lindsay
see one of them now. 1t is you. I saw
another but moment ago. That was
your elegant lhtle casket with the
brass corners"
Curse 1t! OF course. 1 might have
known you were up to some deviltry.
It's a precious nice sort of day. this-a
sort of surprise day. First of all. my
before. sends me a couple Of quid-damn
him, he might ha' sent me ten pound.
Then l came across the box-it's in the
hands of a pawnbroker. Then l met
sharks long since. We'll, perhaps,
there's something else you'd like to see,
Mr.. Lal Dass, eh?
The other thing that l wanted to
turbable as ever, Il have already seen.
That was. our friend, Mr.. Stefano Vas
sllli.'
10 hn =
Hes dead"
Lai Dass smiled and shook his head
with a decisive action.
HE is not. He lives. But do not be
alarmed, Mr.. Lindsay, he is where he
cannot harm either of u.s."
That's good news" said Lindsay,
with unfeigned relief. He took out a
dingy handkerchief and wiped his fore
head. And where might that be-" he
inquired.
The Hindu smiled again and stretched
skinny forearm north by east.
over there on the moors." he said.
Lindsay stared at him. His face puck
cred itself into fresh lines of wonder.
He shook his head.
Here he said II dSnt o.n. anaerstsnd St nd
talking here. Let's turn In somewhere
where it's quiet-and have this out.
I've had too many surprises this morn
Ing" ~ .,
a little quiet inn along this side street,
where we may talk in confidence. They
know me there
THAT isn't saying much for them"
suspicion. "rd rather go somewhere
you are not known, If it's all the same
to you
Lal Dass smiled once more, regarding
the Englishman with a half-amused ex-
lression.
There is nothing to fear, my friend"
ne said. rs 1t not one of your proverbs
that circumstances alter casesT"
AT present 1 cannot do without you,
and you cannot do without me. There
fore
ooh. shut your Internal Jaw and go
on!' snapped Lindsay. I'm about sick
Dass, If there's any hocus-pocus work
I'm just the same man as ever I was"
He tapped his hip pocket significantly,
and the Hindu smiled again, but this
There will be no occasion for that"
he said gently. Here we are; follow
me and be assured. This way"
He turned into an old fashioned
the side street and preceded Lindsay
along low passage until they came
70 door. The Hindu opened this and
revealed a smallar parlor, furnished
with table and two chairs.
Lindsay examined his surroundings
suspiciously. When he had satisfied
himself that the walls were solid, and
that the window looked into a small
yard in the rear. he sat down and
glared fiXedly at his companion.
viii you take something to drink"
asked Lal Dass, with true Oriental po-
liteness. at is customary in your land
TO order something for the good Of
the house. is 1t not?"
Yes" answered Lindsay "I'n take
q bottle of ale-and we'll have the
cork, drawn here" he added signifi-
cantly.
ricalsds La Dass rang rang a bell and gave the
aged woman, who greeted him IA
miliarly. When she had retired and
bent forward and laid his hand on
Iindsay's arm. TT was in this house"
he said in a low voice. that Stefano
was va i robbed S9l Of the brass-bound box.
me If 1 didn't always have some no
lion that it might be him. And yet,
again, I've thought as how It must
know?"
at is not a difficult thing to work
out said Lal Dass. There were three
of us that knew Of the box"
MY box" Interrupted Lindsay.
Your box? Certainly. There were
three of us that knew of your box and
what 1t contained I am one. You
We We're an another; stefano was a third.
il
when she went to pieces, and it is evil
dent that only one of us could have
carried the box away with him"
That wasn't me" growled Lindsay.
Worse luck!'
at was not l." said Lal Dass. But
then, of course, only I myself knew
that. For a while I thought that Won
had 1t; and then I thought that Ste
1ano had It: but 1t was not until last
year that kpfw that he had It,"
(which means for to say that he
had 1t no longer?'
Exactly. He had it no longer, and
! never knew where 1t was until saw
1t few minutes ago"
The two men sat staring at each other
after Lal Dass last words. Each
searched the others face-the Hindu
with keen, steadfast eyes, Lindsay with
half-furtive glance.
Look here" said Lindsay. whats
II all mean? What's the true signifi-
canoe of it? I amt good at riddles and
mysteries: give us a plain reckoning of
e."
1T means" answered the Hindu,
'that IN the beginning Stefano carried
away the box. Somehow or other he
got to- this place, Plymouth, at last As
I explain 1t. he deposited the box with
the man who then kept this inn. no
doubt asking him to take care OF II
until he returned. He must have been
long time away, and when he came
back the man had sold the box"
s'NEal1 u,alli''