The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-01-13
CHAPTER M.-(continued.)

Il gathered from what she told me-.
Safd Swain. his face flushing with ang-
er. that she has been practilly pris-
oner ever since the yogi arrived. Be-
sides. even IL she had succeeded In
mailing the letter. 1t wouldn't have
reached me until too late"
In what way too later"
Her father seems to have had a
sudden turn for the worse yesterday:
he became almost violent In insisting
that she consent to his plan. He told
her that the life Of his own soul. as
web as that Of hers, depended upon 1t.
He threatenej-I don't know what the
yogi talked to her afterwards. He. or
course, believed. or pretended to be-
lleve, as her father did; moreover. ne
told her that her father would certain
ly suffer q serious mental shock II she
refused. perhaps a fatal one. In de-
spair, she finally agreed. on the condi-
ton that she be given three days IN
which to prepare herself. II she did
not hear from me in that time. she had
made up her mind to consent.
Swain stopped again, and lay pacK
In my chair. wondering IL such things
were possible In this Twentieth CEN
fury. here within the boundaries OF
Greater New York; My brain Teeled al
the absurdity OF II!
~Vaughan was undoubtedly suffer
ing from MANIA" said DIR. Human, In
a low voice. THE symptoms, as Mr..
Swain describes them. are unmistak-
Rbie."
at was that argument used. >" said
Swain. II told her that. since ne was
clearly mad. she must, in self defense,
place herself beyond his reach. But
she refused to leave him. Then, ar =
Rued. In kindness to him she must
have him committed to some tnstitu-
ton where he would be taken care OF,
and where he might, In time, regain nls
sanity. I told her that 1t would be
criminal folly to permit him TO remain
longer under the influence or the yogi
She had to agree with me; and she
finally consented to sign an affidavit 10
the facts as I have told them, and
petition asking that a commission pc
appointed to examine her father. You
were to have drawn UP the papers To-
day, Mr.. Lester, and / was to nave
taken them to her for sig nature tonight
That would have settled the mat
ter" said Godfrey, thoughtfully. It's
too bad it wasn't settled IN mat T., way
What else happened, Mr.. SWAIN?
Miss Vaughan had grown very
nervous, with all this discussion, and
at last she sprang to her feet and SAID
she must go, or her father would dis
cover her absence. We rose 10 leave
the arbor. and at that instant. a
white robbed figure sprang to her side,
seized her and tore her away from me-
1 was too startled for an instant to
resist; then, as l started toward them,
Marjorie pushed me back.
10! Co.. she cried. 1t is my
fault
But he stopped me. In a voice shak-
ing and husky with rage. he warned
me that If I entered the place again.
my life would be forfeit. l cant re-
peat the horrible things he said.
could see his eyes cleaning like wild
beasts. He cursed me. l had never
been cursed before" and Swain smiled
thinly, ''and l confess 1t wasn't pleas
ant. Then he led his daughter away.
Il stood staring after them. l didn't
know what to do. / felt like mad
man myself. l sat down and tried To
collect my thoughts. 1 saw that some
new plan must be made-that there was
no hope OF meeting Marjorie again. 1
was sick with fear for her; l thought
Of following to the house and COMPEL
ing her to come with me at once. And
then, suddenly. saw two eyes gleam-
ing at me. They were not human eyes
they were too close together-and
they were swaying gently back and
forth In the air. about foot from the
ground. gazed at them. fascinated,
and then I heard a soft, low whistle,
followed by a faint kissing as the eyes
fell forward.
I'm a flash. knew what it was-the
cobra; l knew why 1t was there
Vaughan had said my life was forfeit.
] sprang up with a shrek, dashed along
the seat to the door and out into the
something's tree, l suppose; but /
kept on, and reached the wall and got
over 1t somehow-it is all confused,
after that. I seem to remember hear
ing Marjorie scream, and finding her
lying beside her father, who was dead
but can't put things together" anG
he rubbed his head help.essly.
I'll put them together for you" said
Godfrey. when you ran into the tree,
you suffered a partial concession. It's
lucky 1t wasn't total. or Toto would
have got you!"
"Toto?"
That, believe, Is the cobras
explained Godfrey. with a
smile: unless, of course, there are two
of the events which had followed.
Swain listened with staring eyes. II
did not blame him. Indeed, felt that
my own eyes were staring a little,
though 1 already knew the story. But
with a gift or narration born
or long newspaper experience, told II
In a way that made its horror salient
and left one gasping.
There Is one question i want to ask
you, SWAIN" he said, In conclusion,
land want you to think carefully be-
fore you answer II. During your alter
cation with Mr.. Vaughan. did you at
any time touch him."
Touch him? No. Of course not" and
Swain shook his head decidedly.
You are sure OF that?" asked God
frey earnestly.
Perfectly sure" said Swain, looking
at him in establishment. II was never |
Within three feet of him"
Godfrey sprang to his feet with a |
gesture of relief.
Il seem to need cocktail" he said. !
IN another tone. Isn't that the pre- |
scription for all of u.s. doctor?'
Yes" assented Human. smiling, !
and, after that complete change Of
subject"
CHAPTER XII.