Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-12-29
p X
THE WHITE PRIEST OF silva.

The adept was an impressive figure,
as he stood there with the IL behind
him. throwing a yellow nilnbus around
his head The robe he wore was of u
of height and dignity to a figure al
ready tall. His hair was dark and
crinkled like wind swept water, his
complexion dark, but with an under
blush of red in the cheeks. His lips
were scarlet and his eyes Goa black
whole effect he gave was of trans
cendent energy and magnetism, q
did he show the slightest fatigue from
his long vigil.
His eyes swept our faces. as we
stood crowded there in the doorway.
was an expression in his a except
courteous inquiry. it was one of care
fully supposed amusement.
Enter, friends" he repeated. What
is it you desire?"
His voice was rich and deep. and he
spoke with a peculiar information, but
without accent. 1t was something of Il
shock to hear the ordinary words of
English speech coming from his lips,
for they seemed formed to utter
prophecies in unknown tongues.
Goldberger took n step into the
room, and then stopped abruptly. Fol
lowing his eyes, l saw that the cobra
had also awakened from it's trance, and
was regarding us steadily and kissing
slightly. The adept smiled as he saw
us shrink back.
do not fear,' he said. Come, Toto"
and stepping across the room, he lifted
the cobra in one hand and held it a
the distended hood. The snake curled
itself about his arm and seemed to
cuddle to him, but it kept it's eyes fixed
on us. ] could not but smile at h in
congruity of its name. Toto was we'll
enough for a French poodle, but for a
cobra!
After a moment. the adept lifted he
lid of a round basket which stood on
the floor near the divan, dropped the
snake gently into it, and fastened
down the lid. Then he clapped his
hands softly. and an instant later the
parted and a strange figure appeared
hetween them.
1t was the figure of a man. no over
five feet tall and very thin. He was
almost as dark as a full blooded negro.
and the white urnoo which was
thrown about his shoulders N covered
him to just elo the hips, made him
look even darker. His legs were bare
and seemed to be nothing u kin and
bone. The flat nosed face, with it's
full! lips and prominent eyes reminded
me of an idol l had seen pictured
The newcomer bowed low before tho
, adept, and. at a sign from him, picked
up Toto's basket n disappeared with
it through h curtains. He had not
even glanced in our direction. The
ADEPT turned back to us.
Now. friends" he said. will you not
enter"
f;oldberger led the way into the room
and stopped to look abou. it. The walls
were hung with black velvet, SO ar
ranged that windows and doors could
be covered also, and the room was alb
| :;olutely devoid of furniture. save for a
low. circular divan in the center Of
which stood the crystal sphere. sup
ported. as l saw now, by a slender
pedestal.
II have a few questions to ask YOU
began Goldberger at last. in a voice
dcferential despite himself.
Proceed. sir" said the adept, court
eously.
DO you know that MI. Vaughan is
dead 2"
Tie adept made a little deprecatins
gesture.
Not dead" he protested. "A
inan does not die. Fills 0 IA re-
joins the Over-seal, that Is oil.
Yes, I know that at midnight the soul
of my pupil passed
How did you learn that?" Goldberg.
er demanded.
fCo~<su,,>A nevt uaas