Courier Democrat., 1915-10-21

serve two masters"
And the idol lay there wrapped in
the bundle under his feet The price
Of Jean Darnell.
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 Wikerson who re-
turned with the plans and claimed her2
Why should he (Drakel continue to
play the slave?
A moment while they slept and the
plans We're 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 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 it ran through his head like Il
call: You have the price of happiness
beneath your hand.
Slowly he yielded to the temptation.
Gradually, with eyes constantly fixed
on the motionlcss forms Of Wilkerson
and Dorr. he got the bundle between
his knees; then he unlaced the fasten-
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 it
natives bowed in abject worship
1t held wealth. power, lore, happi-
ness.
He shook it softly. Yes. the plans
were still within; he could hear the
rustic of the folded papers
He peered around the hut, and, find-
Ing all asleep, he set the idol on his
knee and bent over it.
He pulled at the eye which he had
seen Nilkersun draw out 1t came
with difficulty. Then he held it up and
looked into the dark oritice. There
was nothing there.
He was about to throw the idol down
in disgust when Il 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 gIowed therein with
frishtful fire.
brakes whole body oozed sweat; his
hands cinched unwillingly about the
form of the idol. He could not thrust
it away.
Then the socket was filled. and the
devtlish eye hulged outward phoSphor-
escent. cleaning with wirkedness.
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, havln. 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.
Cod" he whispered again. Then.
he fell across the bundle dead, without.
q sound to waken the sleepers.
1t was three hours before the dawn
that Harry WilkerSon awoke and look
ed about him. All the rest We're 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 the packs appar-
emily sound asleep.
'"The fool"' muttered Wilkerson.
1--WE got all out of him l want. But I
suppose I've got to take him along II
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 NNilkerson raised the swoI-
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
lit is the god.' he whispered.
At this John wakened and. finding
himself bound, struggled violently.
Not yeti snared Wilkerson..
Here's where you stay
In the instant Durr rea liZed his help
lncSnaSS q did MOI t.Nnr, rannnctrsteN,