Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-02-19

VI jean
The thought worked in his mind ac-
lively. He could not refrain from fol-
lowing it out to its logical conclusion.
Why should it be Wilkerson who re-
turned with the plans and claimed her
Why should he Drakel continue to
play the slave?
A moment while they slept aud the
plans were his: then when Wilkerson
unsuspectingly presented the idol and
pulled out its eye there would be
nothing!
1t would be George Drake who held
the master key to Jean Darnelrs ava,
ricious heart.
So he dreamed, open eyed. staring
into a future where he played the
master and not the slave.
And in his waking dream he touched
the bundle and felt beneath the rude
covering the hard contours of the
image.
Again it ran through his head like a
call: You have the price of happiness
beneath your hand.
Slowly he yielded to the temptation.
Gradually, with eyes constantly fixed
on the motionless forms of Wilkerson
and Dorr. he got the bundle between
his knees; then he unlaced the fdsten-
ings tremulously.
The idol came out under his hand,
and he stared at it, fascinated by It's
ugliness and the thought of the secret
that it held.
No wonder that at every sight Of 1t
natives bowed in abject worship.
1t held wealth. power, love, happi-
ness:
He shook 1t softly. Yes. the plans
were still within; be could hear the
rustA. of the folded papers.
He peered around the hut, and, ind-
ing all asleep. he set the idol on his
knee and bent over it,
He pulled at the eye which he aad
seen Wilkerson draw out. 1t came
with difficulty. Then he held it up and
looked into the dark Or1fce. There
was nothing there.
He was about to throw the idol down
in disgust when a glimmer of some
thing bright within the head caught
his attention
He stopped over again and then froze
into immobility. The spirit of the vile
god was moving within.
The point OF light grew into intense
brightness 1t approached the dark
eye socket and glowed therein with
frightful fire.
brakes whole body oozed sweat; his
hands clinched unwillingly about the
form of the idol. He could not thrust
1t away.
Then the socket was filed. and the
devilish eye bulged outward. phosphor.
escent, cleaning with wickedness.
Drake felt his heart burst in his bosom.
Then the snake that had lain SO long
hid within the hollow of the image
struck forth and, having struck. slip
ped away.
Cod" whispered Drake, with thick
ened tongue, and jammed the moving
eye back into place.
Then he huddled the idol itself into
its bundle, laced the throngs with
stiffening fingers.
"God"' he whispered again. Then
he fell across the bundle dead. without
sound to waken the sleepers.
1t was three hours before the dawn
that Harry Wilkerson awoke and look
ed about him. All the rest were still
asleep.
He rose softly and peered out of the
window. 1t was very dark outside.
and he could see nothing.
He turned his gaze within and saw
Drake huddled over theszecks appar-
emily sound asleep
''The fool"' muttered wilkerson.
1--WE got all out OF him want. But I
suppose I've got to take him along a
way yet"
He resolved to be rid of the young
man so soon as he was through with
Dorr Then he paused, in deep thought,
his ugly brows bent on the unconscious
object of his hatred.
An instant was sufficient for him to
make up his mind. He silently went
TO work and bound John firmly in his
seat.
Then he tried to waken Drake. In
shaking him he made sufficient noise to
stir the natives. and they sat up and
stared. sleepy eyed.
But when Wilkerson raised the swol-
len. discolored face and shrank back
with muttered oath, the natives rose
as one and thrust him aside from the
door and pushed through, panic
stricken.
Only Johns servant remained, kept
to his post by the fear OF Sir Donald's
wrath. But he could not repress ges-
ture of terror
1T is the Godr' he whispered.
At this John wakened and. finding
himself bound. struggled violently.
Not YETI snarled Wilkerson.
Here's where you stay
In the instant Dorr realized his help
lessness. He did not even demonstrate
when Wilkerson drove his servant out
with curses and bade him begone and
fred a shot after him for emphasis.
Nor did he speak while Wilkerson
hastily chose the pack containing the
idol kicking brakes body out of the
way. and left on the run.
Speech was useless. He stared down
at brakes contorted form. Beside 1t
lay coIled 1.-THE serpent. its bright