The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-03-02
CHAPTER XIX.
THE YOGI coNQUERS.

The YOGI CONQUERS,
The events Of the day the followed
shall pass over as briefly as
may be. 1t was for me a day of dis
appointment, eliminating in despair,
and, looking back at II, remember is
as grey day. windy, and with gusts
Of rain.
DR.. Human stopped for US, and Cod
frey and l accompanied him to the
service over the body Of the murdered
man. We were the only outsiders
there, besides the undertaken and his
and they were not admitted
to the ceremony. This was witnessed
only by Miss Vaughan, Mahbub and us
three. The servants were not there,
and neither were Miss Vaughan's
nurses.
have never seen a more impressive
figure than Silva made that morning.
His robes were dead black, and in
contrast to them and to HIS hair and
beard, his face looked white as marble.
But, after the first moments, the cere-
mony failed to interest me: for Silva
spoke language which I supposed to
be Hindustani, and there was a mo
notony about it and about his gestures
which ended in getting on my nerves.
1t lasted half an hour, and the moment
1t was over. Miss Vaughan slipped
away, The yogi and Mahbub followed
her, and then we three stepped for
ward for a last look at the body.
1t was robed all in white. The UNI
dertaker had managed to compose the
features, and the high stock concealed
the ugly marks upon the neck. So
there was nothing to tell Of the manner
of his death, and there was a certain
majesty about him as he lay with
hands crossed and eyes closed
10 1nff thn aya ell ~
Human signed to the undertaken that
the service was ended.
Il am going with the body to the
crematory," he said, and presently
drove way with the undertaken. ahead
of TIE hearse. Godfrey and l stood
gazing after it until it passed from
sight, then, in silence, we walked down
the drive to the entrance. The gard
ener was standing there, and regarded
US with eyes which seemed to me dis
tinctly unfriendly. He made no sign
Of recognition, and, the moment we
were outside, he closed the gates and
locked them carefully, as though obey
ing precise instructions.
so said Godfrey, in low tone, as
we went on together, "the lock has
been repaired. l wonder who ordered
that done?"
Miss Vaughan, no doubt" I an
swered. "She wouldn't want those
gates gaping open"
Perhaps not" Godfrey assented
but would she want the barrier in
tact? Remember, Lester, it's as much
barrier from one side as from the
other"
We'll, she won't be inside it much
longer" I assured him. Tn going tC
get her out this afternoon"
The words were uttered with a con-
fidence 1 was far from feeling, and
rather expected Godfrey to challenge
It, but he walked on without replying
his head bent in thought, and did not
again speak Of Miss Vaughan or hel
affairs.
He drove into the city shortly after
lunch, and It was about the middle o.
the afternoon when I presented myself
again at the gates of Elmhurst anC
rang the bell. l waited five minutes
and rang again. Finally the gardener
asked me what I wanted. I told hin
had an appointment with his mist
ress but, instead of admitting me, h
took my card and shuffled away will
| 1t.
1 confess that 1 grew angry, as
stood there kicking my heels at thu
roadside, for he was gone a long time
and all these precautions and delays
were incomprehensible to me. But h
came back at last, unlocked the gat'
without a word, and motioned me t,
enter. Then he locked 1t again, anC
| led the way up the drive to the house
The house maid met us at the door o
the library, as though she had beel
stationed there.
IF you viii wait here, SIR" she said
Miss Vaughan will see YOU"
| 1T hope she Is WE'LL" 1 ventured
| thinking the girl might furnish m
with some clue to all this mystery, blu
she was already at the door.
Quite well. SIR" he said, and tn
next instant had disappeared.
| Another 10 minutes elapsed, AM
then, lust as / was thinking seriousl!
of putting on my hat and leaving tn
house, / heard step coming dow
the stair. A moment later Mis-
Vaughan stood on the threshold.
had taken it for granted that, re
lieved of her fathers presence, sh
would return to the clothing OF ever!
day; but she still wore the flowinl
white semi Grecian garb in which
had first seen her. could not bu
admit that 1t added grace and beaut,
to her figure, as we'll as certain i'm
pressiVeness impossible to petticoats
and yet l felt a sense or disappolnt
ment. For her retention of the cos
tune could only mean that ner tather
| influence was still dominant
You wished to see me?" she asked
and again 1 was surprised, for ha
supposed she would apologize for tn
DELAY to which had been subjected. In
stead, she spoke almost as to q stranger
Il had an appointment for. this ar
ternoon," 1 reminded her striving I
keep my vexation from my voice.
"Oh, yes" and she came few step
into the room, but her face lost none O
its cOIdness. i had forgotten. 1t l
| not to sneak of business"
mo" I said: 1T is to speak OF you
going to friends of Mr.. Swain and III
for" a time. at least"
You will thank your friends for me.
she answered calmly; "but I have dc
cided 10 remain here"
'"But-but,' stan1mered. take
abaek at the finality Of her tone. d
you think II wiser"
"Yes--aar wiser than going to peopl
/ do not know and who do not know
Ine."' 49,
SAFER" she echoed, locking at ME 4