The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-07-01
THE FARMER: JULY l. 1914

HE FARMER: JULY !, 19- ed a spreading bow of welcome and drew back, putting his hand to his brow as if Tn concentration of thought Marjorie Blair felt an unholy desire to- laugh. She glanced at Professor Kent and to her surprise found him exhibit ing every evidence of discomposure
 Stupid of me- he muttered in apoI- ogy. Gets on ones nerves, you know. Awesome and all that sort of thing fussing with the stars
 Fear nothing" said Jax- '4The star forces respond to the master will of him who comprehends them. Madam, the date, year. month and day or your birth, if you please"
 March 15, 1SS9,'' replied Mrs. Blair.
 Propelled by an unseen force, celes- tiaI globe mounted on nickeIed stand saru,Z rolled forth The starmaster spun it with practised hand. Slowly and more slowly it turned until, as it came to stop, a ray of light mysteri- ously appearing, focused on a constel- 1ation.
 Wonder is your star,'' declared the astroIogist 4'See how the aura1 light seeks its'
 sOh, I say!" murmured he of the monocle. @Weird, you knowi Quite. gets on ones nerves Quite
 4-Sh-h=h-h.s' reproved Preston Jax.s Silence is the fitting medium of the higher stellar mysteries. Madam, yourt life is a pathway between happiness and grief Loss. like a speeding comet, has crossed it here Happiness, like the soft moon glow. has beamed upon it, and will again beam. in fuller eff fulgence.''
 With beautifully moduleted intona- tons he proceeded. while one of his visitors regarded him with awe struck reverence, and the other waited with tor felt. by his gifts His voice sank, by deep toned gradations into silence The ray winked out. Then the woman spoke
 ssIs- it possible for your stars to guide me to an object which ' have lost?'
 Nothing is hidden from the stars declared their master. You seek jew els, madam?' CKent had let this much { out, as if by accident in the mornings conversational
 ssYes"
 ssYour birth stone is the blackstone. Unhappy, indeed, would be the omen was fishing and came forward toward ] her almost brushing Kent.)
 tsBut I say,v cried Kent in apparent [ Iy uncontroliabIe agitation; 'tdid your stars tell you that she had lost some jewelry? Tell me, is that how lyon knew 2"
 In his eagerness he caught at ithe astrologerss arm. the right one. andshis long fingers, gathering in the ample folds of the gown, pressed nervOusly upon the wrist Preston Jax wfnced away. All the excited vapidity9p passedf from Rents speech at once
 'aThe jewels which this lady ihas lost,'' he said very quietly, fare asset of unique rose topazes- thought-in fact, felt that you could, with or without the aid of your stars, help her. to recover them-
 BIackness, instant and impenetrable, was the answer to sthis- Kent raised1 his voice the merest' trif1e.
 Unless you wish to be arrested I advise you not to leave this place Not by either ezft-,ssss -e half chokingIy out of the darkness
 Theft
 ssI didn't take them
 Murder. them
 'sAIy Godr' So abjectA was4the terror and misery in the cry that Kent felt sorry for the wretch Then, with a certain dogged bitterness, s.'n don't care what you know; I dfdKt kill her.~
 That is very likely true,' replied Kent soothing1y- But it is what I must know in detail FindA your foot lever and turn o1 the light ?"
 The two visitors could hear the. as- trologer grope heavily. Asa the light flashed on they saw, with1a shock. that he was on all fours. It was as if Rents word had felfed him. Instant Iy he was up. however. and4 said
 What am I up against? Howf did you find me?7
 Thrusting his hand in R1sapocket, the scientist brought out a little patch of black cloth, with a single star skill fully embroidered on it.
 Wild blackberry has long thorns and sharp" he said sYou left this tatter on Hawki1l cliffs"
 At the name .thegman's chin muscle throbbed with hiss effort to hold his teeth steady agains4 cfattering
 What do you want?''
 "A fair exchange a My name is Ches ter Kent"
 The starmaster's schin worked con vuIsiveIy. .eThe Kent that broke up the Co-ordinated Spidtism Circle p
 Yes"
 4It's an bargaining with the devil" observed Preston Jax grimly ''What's the exchange?
 q do not believe that you are guilty of murder. Tell me the whole story plainly and straight, and I'll clear you in so far as can believe you inno- cent"
 For the first time the seers chin was at peace.
 4'The topazes are cached under a rock near the cliff I couldn't direct you, but could show you.''
 'sIn time you shall One moment As you realize, you are under presump-