Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-10-23

the idea was not wholly 1mpracticable.
At any rate the apathy Of the Jam had
made desperate measures essential.
The enthusiasm of the secretary
seemed equal to his own; before he
left he pronounced malediction up
on British rule and painted the pros
poets of free India in such glowing
terms that Paul's own ardor was
again awakened. They parted with a
warm hand-clasp and in the under
standing that they were to meet on
the following night at the astrologer's
house.
Paul was admitted to the little two
story shanty by an evil-looking Hin,
doc, dressed in a dirty white loin
cloth and turban of the same indeter,
inmate hue.
He followed the Hindoo into an
apartment on the ground floor and
stumbled into almost complete obscur.
ity. except for the glow of a small
brazier in one corner, in which in.
cense was burning. Somebody came
forward and grasped his hand. 1t was
Ramchundra, and he led Paul to
large, ornate chair, beneath the small
aperture high in the wall which served
for window. In the chair sat q fat
man In long cloak, now thrown open
carelessly. This was the Jam OF Nag.
shipur, and beneath his outer garment
Paul could see the brilliant uniform OF
i,h u 10 90 cL,J do
him to cast aside when he left the en-.
closure Of the palace. The Jam grunt.
ed and, paying Paul no further at.
tention, fixed his gaze upon the
brazier. And now, behind the tiny,
leaping flame. Paul saw. with startling
a white-bearded old man emerge from
the obscurity. 1t was the astrologer,
whom, hidden as he was in the
shadows, Paul had not at first seen.
He was incredibly old, and his aspect
was incredibly evil. In the deep fur.
rows stamped into his face one might
have read the story of a life given up
to wickedness. Paul shuddered at the
sight of the man, but could not turn
his eyes from this hideous apparition.
Evidently there was more than in
cense in the bowl, for the smell Of
fragrant coffee now assailed Pauls
nostrils, and the secretary, stepping
toward the Jam, proffered him tiny
cup of the liquid. The prince grunted
and began slipping noisily. The other
cup Ramchundra handed to Paul: In
the darkness Paul could make out
meaning look upon the secretarys
face The mans hand, too, shook as
he handed it to him. Despite their un.
derstanding Paul seemed to sense
treachery in the air. But there was
nothing to be done now nor any going
back. He had trusted himself to Ram
chundra and must follow the path on
which he had entered. He tasted the
coffee cautiously; there was no flavor
or odor Of any foreign drug, and
hashish, he had understood, was In
tensely bitter. Smiling at his fears.
he set the empty cup'upon an inlaid
table, and saw Ramchundra obse.
uuiously take the other empty cup
from the Jam. And now there re-
mained nothing but to wait until the
drug took effect on the unstable ruler.
Presently Paul's eyes became accus-
toned to the darkness. He saw the
dim figure of the old astrologer clear
ly outlined now, and the Jam, seated
motionless in his chair, and Ramchun.
dra at his side. The princes lethargy
seemed to indicate that the drug was
beginning to- take effect on him. Pres
emily the astrologer beckoned to the
three men to draw up their chairs.
They did 80. Paul had expected that
the old man would address them In
his own language, Of which he under.
stood not word; instead. he began
speaking in excellent English, glanc.
ing at a glass crystal which he held
in his hand.
THE heavens are favorable" he be.
gan, in a low. croaking utterance.
Your project is already assured OF
success. Look into the crystal"
He addressed himself to the Jam,
who mumbled lethargically. His sec.
retary took the glass and placed 1t In
his hand. 1t lay there for an instant
and then crashed down to the floor,
rolling, with uncanny precision, di'
rectly to the feet Of the astrologer,
and remaining there.
"Sir!" pleaded Ramchundra. "Will
you deign to look into the crystal?"
No answer came. except a stertorous
snore. The Jam slept in his chair, his
eyes wide open, his hands limp at his
side.
Satisfied that his ruler was com,
pletely under the influence of the
drug, Ramchundra leaped to his feet
and his face underwent a remarkable
metamorphosis. He struck a match
and lit small silver lamp upon the
table, then turned to Paul.
"The first part of our task Is &C.
complished," he said briskly. Now,
my friends, we have no time to lose.
In a few moments the immediate ef-
fects OF the drug will wear Off. 1t
will be your task to instil into our
sovereign's empty-unusually empty
mind the understanding of what his
duty is tomorrow. Address him in as
peremptory a fashion as you please
and have no fear; though he will seem
to be a man In full possession of his
senses, he will in reality be nothing
more than an automaton."
Paul nodded vaguely. The dimness,
the scent of the incense the uncanni-
ness of his surroundings had reduced
him, also, to a lethargic condition. He
could summon no resolution to his
old ua haard the astr0loper's voice