The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-19

stacked with books.
Mr. Smith," he said with emotion. what does this
mean7 Tell me-auickly"
In brief terms detailed the happenings of the
night-or much he knew Of them Sir Lionel Bar
ton listened sitting quite still the whilean unusual
In man Of such evidently tremendous nervous
activity.
He came for the Jewels" he said slowly, when
Smith finished and his turned to the body OF
dead Italian. II wrong to submit him to the
temptation. God knows what Kwee was doing in hid
Ing Perhaps he had come to murder me. as You sur
MISE Mr. Smith. though I find It hard to believe But
I don't think this handwork OF your Chinese
doctor. he fixed his gaze upon the sareophagus
Smith stared at him in surprise What do you
mean Sir Hone7"
The famous traveller continued look toward the
sarcophasus with something In has blue eyes that might
have been dread.
IT received a wire from Professor Renbold tonight
he continued You were correct in supposng that no
Strozza knew of my absence. / dressed hur-
riedy and met the professor at the Travellers He
that / TO read paper next week upon
again looked toward the case-'the tomb OF
Mekara, and he knew that tho sarcophagus had been
brought untouched to England He begged of me not
to open It."
Nayiand Smith was studying the speakers face
What reason did he give for 60 extraordinary q
request?" he asked
Sir Lionel Barton hesitated
One he replied at last which amused meat
the time. i inform you that Mekara-whose tomb
my agent had discovered during absence in Tibet
which broke my return journey at Alex
andrta-was a high priest and prophet of Amen
pharaoh the exodus in short, one OF the
nastcians who contested in magic arts Mosesi
thought the discovery unaue-untl Professor Remood
with curious particulars respecting
NJ Page 10 Ro. the French Egyptoostst-
particulars to me-"
We listened in growing surprise. scarcely knowing
what this tended
M lie Roi" continued Barton discovered, but kept
secret. the tomb of Amenanother of this particular
brotherhood that he opened the mummy case
on the spot-these priests Of royal line and
buried In the valley Biban- Moluk. His feah and
Arab servants him for reasonon seeing
the mummy case-and he was found dead. apparently
strangled beside It. The matter was hushed up by the
Egyptian government: Renood could not explain why.
But he begged of not to open the saFcophagus OF
Mekara."
The true facts regarding the sudden of Page
lie Roi. which heard for the first time. had Inn
pressed me unpleasanty. coming from a man OF SIR
Lionel Bartous experience and reputation.
How long had It lain at the docSs?" jerked Smith
For days, believe. not a supersatous
Mr. smith, but neither is Professor Rernoold and
that the facts respecting Page le Hoi. L
find it my heart thank God that did not see
of that sarcophagus!"
Maryland stared him hard in the face.
II glad you did not. Sir LIONEL" he said. "for
the Priest Mekara has to do with the matter.
by of his sarcophagus Doctor Fu-Manchu has
made his hrst attempt upon your life! He has failed.
He will fail twtcei'
1t was the night following that double tragedy
at Rowan Maryland Smith, with Inspector Wey-
mouth engaged in mysterious inquiry, at the
docks and had remained at home to bring up TO date
chronicle which hoped TO live to publish.
OF our dealings with the satanic genius. Doctor Flu
Manchu And--why should not confess h?-my memo
had frightened
arranging my notes respecting the case OF SIR
Lionel Barton. They hopelessiy incomplete For
instance, had toted down the following queries % Did
any parallel exist between the death of NJ Page lie
Roi and the death of Kwee Chnaman. OF Stroz
() What had become OF the mummy OK Mekara? go
How had the murderer escaped from a locked room? ~
What the purpose OF the rubber stopper? 90 Why
was kwee hiding in the conservatory 20 was te gh
subjective hallucinau on-a Pigment OF Crox-
ted imagina hon--or had ne actually seen it?
these questions satisfactorily answered
progress impossible Maryland Smith frankly
admitted he of his depth 1T looks on the
1t like for the Psychica Research
people Civil Servant lately of Mandalay
he had said only that morning.
Sir Lionel Barton really believes supernatural
by the opening OF
the high priests cofn For my part, even II believed
same should still maintain that Doctor FuManchu
controlled those agencies But reason out for yourself
and if arrive at any common center Don't work
much upon the datum of the green mist. but keep
o the which established
commenced knock out pipe In the ash tray:
then paused, pipe in hand The house was quite stil
my landady and all the small household were out
Above the noise of a passing tramcar had thought
heard that hail door In the ensuing silence SAT-
and listened
Not a sound! Stay slipped my hand into the table
drawer, took out my revolver. and stood up.
There a sound. something was creep
ing upstairs in the dark
Familiar with the CHASTITY media employed by the
Chinaman seized by impulse TO leap to the door,
lock it, But the rustlng sound proceeded now
Immediately outside partially opened door
had the close 1t; knowing somewhat OF the
horrors the command of FuManchu. had not the
it. My heart ieapng wildly and my eyes
upon darkness with Its grewsome potentiai-
ties, waitedwaited for whatever TO come Perhaps
twelve seconds passed In silence.
Who's there?' cried. Answer. or 1 hre!'
.'Ah nor a soft voice. thriingly musical. Put
II down-that pistol! Quick! must speak to your!
The door pushed open and there entered a slim
figure wrapped in q hooded cloak. My hand fell. and
stood silence. looking into the beautiful dark
eyes Fu-Manchus messenger If her state
nent could be credited slave. On two occasions this
giri association with the doctor OF the
profound mysteries OF the case had riskedI can
not say what unnamable punshments perhaps-to save
me from death. in both cases from terrible death
Her slightly parted she stood holding her cloak
about watching with great passionate eyes.
How" began.
But she shook her head impatiently
HE a duplicate key Of the house door.' her
amazing II have betrayed secret OF
nv masters before you to replace the
lock-
nriy upon my shoulders 81 have come again TO ask
10 take me away from him. she said simply.
And lifted her face to me-
Her words struck q chord In my heart which sang
blushed to find 1t harmony Have said that she was
beautiful? l faint conception OF her
Win her pure skin. like the velvet darkness