Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-21
ZUDORA
A GREAT MYSTIC STORY BY HAROLD MAccRATH

| these had been returned. They did not
need the money; they had enough for
their simple wants, and when they died
| all they had would be his.
His mother had written that an alarm
| Ing mystery had confronted them, one
| that promised to decimate the colored
servitors on the various farms and es-
tates. And Just now, when all the crops
were ripe, II meant ruin for a great many
whose sole income was derived from their
| crops. The colored people we're not dy-
ing; they were fleeing. This mystery was
| no idle fancy, no idle rumor; it was n
living fact, visible to the eye. She and
her husband had seen the thing them
| selves, and they were normal-minded peo-
| pie. Something must be done soon or
there would not be a servant left In the
county.
The hill back of the Storm place was
haunted. Night after night. against the
side of the hill, there appeared the heroic
skeleton Of a human hand, with a black
spot in the centre of the palm, as II II
had been made by an enormous bullet.
No one could get close to II. Invariably
II vanished at the approach of any living
being. This CHASTITY thing waxed and
waned something after the manner of the
coal Of a mans pipe. OF course, 1t was
plain trickery, but one could not Inn
press the excltable colored mind with
this fact; and more than this, there were
many white people who were quite as
sured that this skeleton hand presaEed
the coming of the end of the world.
Something must be done at once. Would
her dear son come Immediately and see
II he could put this mystery where It
belonged7 He wired back that he would
OF course, there was no doubt in his
mind that some one was playing a prac-
tical joke of a grewsome Sort but he
also realized that II might turn into n
serious affair II 1t was permitted to con-
Jo hAA ,t,I
swore at the next Why the perpetrators
OF the Joke had selected the hill back of
the Storm place set him to thinking
deeply. He decided to so homo and lay
the ghost, as the saying goes. He packed
up, sent a letter to Zudora, and left town.
When zudora received the letter she
was greatly perturbed. It seemed to her
that what appeared as a bit of coarse
foolery might have as its base something
serious regarding the welfare of her love
and his people. Rather diffidently she
sought Hassam Alis advice.
Her uncle shrugged. Some country
pumpkin is playing Joke on the more
simple minded, Go and solve 1t II you
wish. Only you'll have your trouble for
your pains"
But how do you account for the hand7"
''Trickery, pure and simple. Phosphor-
escence. mayhap. The negro mind-at
least, the Southern negro-is full of kinks
like their hair. They will take 1t as a
sign that the world is coming to an end"
Some of them have already deserted
1t looks to me something more than an
idle Jest"
Hassam All gave her a quick. shrewd
glance. He wondered what was going
on in the girls mind. Had she any sus-
plcion7 1t was inherent for her to speak
the truth.
Have you intlmated to Storm of the
gold7" he asked.
No" rather scornfully. 1T have given
my word. You ought to know that
never break it,"
But often regret giving it7" shrewdly.
Perhaps"
We'll my advice Is, stay home. There
is no reason why you should take any
risks on account of Storms people,"
You said 1t was probably pumpkins
joke"
YES but the negroes cannot be trusted
In a case where their imagination may get
the better of their common sense Better
wait until you hear from this fool of
lover of yours
'I am better able to Judge John Storm
than you." coldly HE is not a fool"
"Hoity-toity Hasn't It ever occurred
to you that Storm is young. alone and
built like most young men?"
What do you mean by that?"
Has he told you everything about his
life before he met your"
'Will you kindly explain?"
Let him explain" said Hassam All;
and having planted this barb OF doubt
turned on his heel and retired to his den,
rather well satisfied with himself
Copyright 1914, by Harold MacGrath.l
Continued Tomorrow