Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-03-30
CHAPTER XXIII-(Continued).

lISll vi SIleS III lllCll uilldS, dIlo l.
saw that they had broken one of the
glass panels of the doors, and that one
of them a passed a hand through the
opening n was fumbling about inside.
There was a sharp click, n the hand
came back.
door open, and stood aside for his SUI
perior officer to lead the way.
whats wrong?" Simmonds asked.
Il don know-but the girl showed
a light at her window"
You heard nothing"
"Not a sound"
Simmonds hestitated. No doubt the
same thought occurred to him as to
me; for the lawyer-Tartarin in me
suggested that we scarcely had warrant
to break our way into a sleeping house
in the middle of the night.
But no such doubts seemed to dis
turb Godfrey. Without a word, he
caught the torch from Simmonos'
hand, and passed through the doorway.
Simmonds followed. l went next, and
the two other men came last. their
eorches also flarng. Three beam of
light flashed about the library and
showed it to be empty. One OF them
Godfrey's-lingered on the high-bached
chair, but this time it had no &C.
cupant.
Then Godfrey switched on the light.
| passed into the hall and switched on
the ngnl tneIe. Inc man,, 100, was
empty. and only the ticking Of a tall
clock disturbed the silence. l was
fatlering and ready to urn back. but,
to my amazement, Godfrey crossed the
hall at a bound and sprang up the
stairs, three steps at a lime
Make all the noise you cam" he
shouted over his shoulder, and the clat-
ter of our feet seemed enough to a
the dead.
The upper hall was also empty; ana
then my heart gave a sudden leap, for
the circle of light from Godfrey's torch
had come to rest upon a white robed
figure, which had stolen half way dow
the stirs from the supper story. 1t
was the maid, holding her nightdress
about her: and her face was as whlre
as her gown.
Godfrey sprang to her side.
what is it?' he asked. what is
wrong?"
Il heard a cry" gasped the girl.
Down here somewhere. And a scuffle
in the dark. a woman's cry. 1t was
choked off short
Godfrey leaped down amons us, and,
as the light of a torch flashed across
1t, I saw that his face was liviG.
who's got an extra gum" he de-
manded, and one of the detectives
pressed one into his and READY,
now, men, he added, crossed the hail.
threw open the outer door into ~ilve's
room. n hung PACK the drapery be-
You'd.
My heart was in my throat as I
peered over Godfrels shoulder at what
lay within; and then a gasp of amaze
ment from my companions mingled
with my own.
For the crystal sphere was glowing
softly, and seated Gloss legged on The
divan. his hands folded, his eyes fixed
in meditation, was Silva.
We all stood for a oln staring
at him, then Godfrey passed his hand
dazedly before his eyes.
you two men stay on guard here y
he said. "One of you keep your torch
on this fellow, and the other keep his
torch on the floor. There's a cobra
around somewhere"
An arc of light swept shakingly
across the floor, as one of the men
turned his torch toward it. But
saw no sign of Toto.
Lester, you and Simmonds come
with me-" Godfrey added, stepped back
into the hall, and tapped at the door
of Miss vaughan's bed room.
There was no response. and he
tapped again. Then he tried the door,
found it unlocked, and opened it. He
sent a ray of light skimming about the
room then he found the switch turned
on the lights and entered.
The room was empty, as We're the
dressing room and bath room adjoin-
ing. The covers of the bed had been
turned back, ready for it's occupant
but the bed was ~undisturbed.
Godfrey glanced about the room
in his gaze. and then went, out. leav-
ing the lights burning. 1t took but a
moment or two TO look through the
other suites. They were all empty.
III Miss Vaughan was anywhere
about, and unharmed," said Godfrey
! U{1,o %~;co -,1 ~,o5o ,a,,1l l..-
brought her out to investigate. There's
only one place she can be-" and he lee
the way resolutely back to the door OF
Silva's room.
The yogi had not moved.
Godfrey contemplated him for q
moment, with his torch full on the
bearded face. Then he crossed the
threshold, his torch sweeping the floor
in front of him..
Lets see what the Thug is up to-
he said, crossed the room, drew back
the drapery, and opened the door into
the little closet whe1e we had seer
Mahbub once before.
There was a burst Of acrid smoke
into the room, and Godfrey stepped
back with a stifled exclamation.
Come here, you fellows!" he cried
n Simmonds and I sprang to hi:
side.
For a moment 1 could see nothing;
SlC 1oAAAilS SlOouo VI SIilVhC Ol1liuSS
and choked me; l could feel the tears
running down my cheeks and m.
throat burned as though it had beer
scalded.
Then the smoke lifted a little, and
caught a glimpse OF what lay within
the room.
In the middle of the floor stood al
open brazier, with a thin yellow flame
lowering above it, now bright, nov
dim. as the smoke whirled about it
Before the brazier, sat Mahbub. hi!
legs crossed with feet uppermost. hi!
hands pressed palm to palm befor'
his ace.
But he'll s%uffocate!" 1 gasped. and
indeed, l did not see how any human
being could breathe in such an atmos'
phere.
And then, as the smoke whirled aside
again, I saw the snake Its head wa:
waving slowly to n fro, it's horrible
hood distended, its yellow, lidless eye
liked upon us.
Simmonds saw it. too, and r~etreatet
a step.
We'd better kept out of there HI
gasped. till that little pets put ava!
In his basket"
D,x <.as1.., - A. -,