The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-03-25


remains. of simon Serpcntei
The thing seemed madly improb-
able, till across his mind flashed tho
vision of the pouch and belt, with
the initials :. :. ON the buckle.
Then he felt, on n sudden. physi-
cally i'll.
The hldeous demon OF the picture
had. then. entered into hts life. he
could not doubt that tho skeleton
was that OF Serpente and that the
money In the belt was that of Ser
pente.
And he had warred with Yves over
that money and no had killed Yves.
For a. moment he saw Evil IN all it,
horror and the tenacious clutch which
Evil has upon life. To look at this
hideouS monkey-man was bad
enough, but to feel that you were
his inhoritor, and that. auarrellins
over this inheritance. you had killed
your friend, was beyond words
shocking
II is So seldom that God gives us
an objective view OF evil. that the
sight when II comes Is prodigious
and soulshaking.
Nor was Gaspard's uneaslness
lighteued when, after leaving the
warehouse. Sagesse announced that
they were to sail on Friday. Gaspard
protested:
"Ah, yes, on Friday--wcli. II seems
TO me that is not very good day to
start on"
"Cordieu." cried Sagesse. suddenly
showing irritation. what sort OF old
woinan's talk Is that? What Is wrong
with Friday"
81 do not know what IL wrong with
Friday. but I do know that with
whole week 10 choose from. I would
choose sotne other day. especially
starting on an expedition Of this sort.
However, you can choose what day
you like. l have only one question to
ask you"
"Yes?"
"will YOU release me from the bust
ness and ret some one else to take
my placer
Sagcssc raped out n laugh. took
his scat at the table. folded his arms
and, leaning over his folded arms,
stared at his companion.
lie did not speak for moment. He
seemed trying to read Gaspards In
nerinost thoughts. Then. NO" he
cried, "a hundred times no, you are
part OF the business. you gave your
word. and now you want to back out
i find this morning my plans be-
traycd to this cursed Sexuin. | say
nothing about that: but this ] say.
YOU come with me or | will take you
along with u member OF la Gardc
Royalc, we will hunt for the remains
Of a gentleman who was killed-w
will look for his clothing and his
bones. We will
"You will do a lot" said Gaspard.
'if take you by the throat and fling
YOU into the harbor like the carrion
you are. l have given you my word
..,ls A. 81 a.
dition, and 70 | will. Let no more be
said. You talk ~ hunting for bones.
You will find them. Skeleton Island
ought Ia be the name or that place
and II you don't leave your own skelc-
ton there you will be lucky
"Threats," cried Sagosse. making
as If To rise from the table.
'Threats-I never threaten and ]
am not threatening you now say
YOU will be lucky II YOU don't leave
your bones behind yOu for the place
is cursed-sec you hero
lie leaned across the table facing
Sagesse, and. lowering his voice
See YOU here. told you how !
fought with n man out Their" and how
by accident | killed him; well. ! ala
not tell YOU all-aftcr he was dead
things happened"
"YosS'
Even before he was dead ] did
rot like the place. that ship down IN
the water seemed to me the devil
own ship. no one ever saw IA snip
like that before: she was like an old
drowning corpse, and then all or "A
/, sudden. Just at shutdown, sh" came
, to life, lit up AS though she we're
hung with iamps"---
phosphorus" said Sagessc.
ut was not: IL was Just the light
in the sky, Gods good sunlight, hut
! have never seen such n thing DE
fore. Well, what happened next day
| killed my friend; | flung my knife
at him, hut ! did not mean to XIII, no
! but the devil who lives on that
! island took care that tn" knife did
5 it's work. Next day, az | was standinl
, on tn" reef. looking out for ships,
felt some one standing behind IN"
, There was no ON" 10 Ice seen, hu'
) there Mas some one there; IA" N"fN
5 gulls in that place are not right, iut
! bicu, they snuut at one then In the
, night some one beat a drum ClOso T.
! my tent nearly left nv reason he"
! hind In that place well. now, listen
= | escaped. said to myself. 'NcN"
viii | go back there look At my luck
, | meet YOU | take too much rum;
. talk To Won and show You that curse
! gold, aud what's the result Wei
! IW going back. against my Will
. "ro mas" your fortune ngaius
y your walt" said Sdgcssc with sn""l
. "and YOU call that bad luck
= "Iurtun"." cried Glspari. "chpiul
. the sncoriug tone OF the other, "au'
: You expect 30 take Il forum" IRON
that placer
= ~ II Is ther" ! will 'uk" II"
- ~ tell YOU n y were lying on ih'
beach you viii not take IT,
And VINO viii prevent me-"
There ~ one there who viii pr"
' vent yoL"
And who is ho''
u simon Scrp"nio.'
Sdgcsse looked at his companion
y as # doubling his reuSou.
"~unon Scrpcuic."
"trs. IA 'hc last f"W uuU"s / have
discu,clod whose slip tuIi o. lNlu.
n thci, ~ ihc water, and who's" none.
u that VAS We found In III" belt. tpl'
YOU th,r" Was Il skeleton 10y ihi
= money, well, see here, the shul
. wasn't bigger than that" he hell
= his hands together ~ - Cluspiul
' lightly the head - a uhId And !
,....g ttsttf 4 tTl AfIN | .iIt