Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-11-21

BY SAMUEL HOPKINS ADAMS
? &? 1? 1? 4? 1? {? /? {? 2 3
Copyright. 1912. by the Bobb.-nsriu
Company


a photograph mufied in rugs. The
moon glow paled little There was
a soft rustic and fuctuation Of wall
draperies in the apartment The light
waxed- The smooth shaved star1nas-
ter stood before his visitors.
They beheld man Of und stinguish-
ed size and form eked out by a spIen-
did pomposity Of manner. To this his
garb contributed. All the signs OF the
zodiac had lent magnihcence to the
long. black. loose robe with gaping
sleeves which he wore. Mrs. Blair
noted with vague interest that IL was
all hand embroidered
With a rhythmicaI motion of arms
and hands he came forward. perform
ell a spreading bow OF welcome and
drew back putting his hand to his
brow as II I'm concentration Of thought.
Marjorie Blair felt an unholy desire to
laugh. Sue 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
fussinC with the stars
Fear rothing" said Jax. THE star
forces respond to the master will OF
him who comprehends them. Madam.
the date. year. month and day of your
birth, II you please:"
March -. 1882 replied Mrs Blair
Propelled by an unseen force. a celes-
tial globe mounted on a nickeIed stand
ard. rolled forth. The starmaster
spun il with n practised hand Slowly
and more slowly il turned until, as It
came 10 a stop. a ray of light. mysteri-
ously appearing. focused On a constel-
lation.
''Yonder is your star" declared the
astrOlogist. See how the aurnl light
seeks it"
"Oh. I say" murmured he of the
monocle. Weird. you know! Quite
gets on ones nerves. Quite
'Sh-h-h-h.r reproved Preston Jax.
Silence is the fitting medium OF the
higher stellar mysteries. Madam. your
life is n pathway between happiness
and grief. Loss. like n speeding comet,
has crossed il here Happiness. like
the soft moon glow. has beamed upon
IL. and will again beam. in fuller eff
fulgence."
With beautifully modulated intona-
tons he proceeded. while one Of his
visitors regarded him with awe struck
reverence. and the other waited with
patience-but unimpressed. so the ora
tor felt. by his gifts. His voice sank.
by deep toned Eradations into silence.
The ray winked out. Then the woman
spoke.
lis IL 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 Kent had let this much
out. rs If by accident, in the mornings
conversational
YES"
Your birth stone is the bloodstone.
Unhappy. indeed. would be the omen
if You lost one of those gems" CHe
was fishing and came forward toward /
her almost brushing Kent
But / say cried Kent in apparent |
" uncomfortable agitation; did your |
stars tell you that she had lost some |
jewelry: Tell me, is that how you |
knew
In his eagerness he caught at the |
astrologer's arm. the right one. and his
long fingers, gathering in the ample
folds Of the gown. pressed nervously |
upon the wrist. Preston Jax WINGED
away. All the excited vapidity passed
from Kent's speech at once.
THE jewels which this lady has
lost he said very quietly. ARE set
of unique rose tOpazes. / thought-in
fact. / felt that you could. with or
without the aid OF your stars. help her
to recover them"
Blackness. instant and impenetrable.
was the answer TO this. Kent raised
his voice the merest trifie.
Unless you wish to be arrested
advise you not TO leave this place. Not
by either exit
Arrested Oh what charger" came
half chokingly out OF the darkness
Theft"
II didn't take them"
Murder. then
my Godr' So AFFECT was the terror
and misery in the cry that Kent felt
sorry for the wretch. Then, with a
certain logged bitterness. II don't care
what you know: didn't kill her"
THAT is very likely true" replied
Kent soothingly But IL is what /
must know in detail. Find your foot
ever and turn on the light"