Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1915-12-17

were leaving the dining room and COM
ing to her.
Il have been studying the flowers.
They say things. You meant them to
do So" she said.
Listens voice came from the chin
ney piece. He was examining the Chi
nese gods.
"Jolly, unpleasant looking fellows"
he commented.
He laughed as he studied the gro
tesque and leering face.
"LoOks as if he wanted to do some
one an i'll turn, play the deuce with
some ones peace Of mind"
Arkeld laughed. He moved near to
Liston.
He took the other model from the
chimney piece and held it in his hand.
"That has history" he said, finger
ing it.
IAN unpleasant one, l should say"
Liston commented.
"Well, rather Shall l bore you?"
He turned to Stella.
She shook her head.
"These were given me by Chinese"
ArkeId said, because in little matter
I had served him. The TRIES pleased
me. They breathe romance. This
he indicated the one he held-'contain
ed at one time n very subtle poison.
Orientals are clever at crafty whisper
ings to death.
woman who had betrayed him." Ark
eld's fingers found and touched
spring. "The head comes off, so, and
reveals cavity. In the old days it
was filed with deadly liquid, sub
tie thing which rose in fumes and
waited the inhaler into oblivion and
DEATH"
Arkeld closed the thing with a snap
and replaced it on the chimneypiece.
"By jovew said Liston. He still held
the other model in his hand. AUTO
matically his fingers moved, seeking
for the spring
Godfrey" Stella spoke quickly.
Tempest cried in her voice. "Do not
Her eyes met Arkeld's. She fell silent.
The only sound in the room was
made when Liston replaced the laugh
''Music-shall we?' Arkeld asked alb
ruptly.
"You will play?''
Her fingers touched the keys as
though they shrank from sound. They
refused to follow the bidding Of her
will.
II can't play tonight" she said.
A =
lingering one of the models, which he
had lifted from the chimney piece.
She kept her head so, sitting stiffly,
intent and watchful.
Arkeld's hand moved over the head
Of this little god of his. Suddenly he
held it toward Liston.
Il should like you to have this. Keep
1t in memory of tonight"
Thanks" ListOn said.
Stella's elbow jerked involuntarily
and touched the keys Of the piano.
The sound was sudden, leaping into
the room with sinister meaning.
She wanted to speak, but words elud-
ed her. She felt that she was cropping
in dark place.
She got quickly to her feet.
1--WE must 60" she said.
Stella made no excuse for suggesting
an abrupt departure.
1--WE must co." she said again.
Her manner silenced ListOn, who in
clined to apologies, not realizing the
subtle evasions of the hour.
Apologies still rose abortively to mis-
lips when he and Stella We're sitting
in their motorcar, while Arkeld stood
at the door.
Stella, leaning back against the cush-
ions, saw Arkeld's face with the light
Of lamp full on it. Surely his face
triumph.
She felt that she saw in his eyes all
that had been suggested, limited at. in
the room she had just left.
The jerk the car gave in starting was
akin to the jerk Of her thoughts when
her eyes moved from Arkeld's face to
the Chinese god which her husband
held in his hand.
Put it down." she said. do not
hold it."
Listens mood was one Of mockery.
He spoke of nerves, jestingly.
Their hands met. struggling over the |
little grinning god. To him the Skin
mish was frivolity: to her warfare of |
Her fingers moved quickly; !
his slowly, teasinsly.
He touched the spring, looking with
laughing eyes into the opening.
Something harmless" he said. "a
Her fingers We're before his, selling
this paper. He still watched her with
eyes.
''Arkeld's writing?'
"NO-nOt Arkeld'S!'
Her voice silenced the laughter that
was in him. Not knowing what II
was she read. he yet had desire to
switch off the electric light. /
All the time she read,