The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-03-24
them there till he reached America


Gallon. It's poor idol shat won't
scrvetwo masters"
And the idol lay there wrapped in
the bundle under his feet. The price
Of Jean Darnell!
The thought worked in his mind &c.
lively. He could not refrain from fol-
lowing it out to its logical conclusion.
Why should it be Wiikerson who re-
turned with the plans and claimed her?
Why should he (Drake) continue to
play the slave?
A moment while they slept and the
plans were his; then when Willserson
unsuspectingly presented tile idol and
pulled out its eye there would be
nothing!
1t would be George Drake who held
the master key to Jean Darnell's ava.
ricious heart.
So he dreamed. open eyed. staring
into 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 1t 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. be got the bundle between
his knees; then he unlnced the fasten.
ings TREMENDOUSLY.
The idol came out under his hand,
and he stirred at 1t. fascinated by its
ugliness and the thought of the secret
that it held.
No wonder that Mt every sight Of 1t
natives bowed in abject worship.
1t held wealth. power. loye, hnppf.
ness!
He shook 1t softly. Yes. the plans
were still within: ne c0nld hear the
rustic OF the folded papers.
He psersd around the hut. and. dad.
Ing all asleep. hs vet the lido! on his
knee and bent over 1t.
Ao pulsSU uS LAG SJ-S VANS esS sssN
seen Wilkerson draw out. It came
with difficulty. Then he held II up and
looked into the dark orihce. There
was nothin. there. /!
He was about to throw the. idol DOWN
in disgust when gllmmer ut some
thing bright within the head caught
his attention.
He stopped over agnin and then fro1s
into immobillty. The spirit OF the vile
god was moving within.
The point Of light grew into intense
brightness. 1t approached the dark
eye socket and glowel therein with
frishtful fire.
brakes whole body oozcd sweat: his
hands ciinched unwillingly about the
form OF the Idol. He could not thrust
it away.
Then the. socket was oiled, and the
deyilish eye bulged outward. plosplor-
escent.. cleaning with wiekedness.
Drake felt his heart burst in his bosom.
Then. the snake that had iain 50 long
hid within the hollow Of the image
struck forth and. having struck. slip
ped away.
God: whispered Drake, With thick
encd tongue. and jammed the moving
eye back into place.
Then he hutldicd the idol itself into
its bundle. laced the thronss with
stiffenins fingers.
'.God!' he whispered again. Then
he fell across the bundle dead. without
a sound to wnken the sleepers.
1t was three hours before the dawn
that Harry Wilkerson awoke aud look
ed about him. All the rest we've still
asleep.
He rose softly aud 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 the packs appar-
emily sound asleep.
"The fool!' muttered Wilkersoh.
1--WE got MI out of him want. But
suppose I've got to take him along !,
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 Wtlkerson raised the swol.
len, discolored face and shrank back
with a 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 Ills post by the fear Of Sir Donaldi
wrath. But he could not repress Il yes-
ture Of terror.
1T is the godr' he whispered.
At this John Weakened aud. nadins
himself bound. struggled vislestly.
Not YETI snarled Wiikerson.
Here's where you STAY"
In the instant Dorr realized his help
,lessncss. He did not even demonstrate
when Wllkerson droye his servant out
with curses and babe him begone and
fred shot after him for emphasis.
Nor die, he speak while Wilkerson
hastily chose the pack containing the
IDOL. kicking brakes bQdS Oat OF the
way. and left on the run.