The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-03-30
CHAPTER xxII-(Continued).

saw that they had broken one Of the
glass panels of the doors, and that one
OF them had passed hand through the
opening and was fumbling about inside.
There was a sharp click, and the hand
came back.
There you are" he said, threw the
door open, and stood aside for his SUI
perior officer to lead the way.
What's wrong?" Simmonds asked.
Il don't know-but the girl showed
a light at her window"
You heard nothing?"
mot q 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 mouse
in the middle of the night.
But no such doubts seemed to dis
turb Godfrey. Without a word, he
caught the torch from SimmondS'
hand, and passed through the doorway.
SimmOnds followed. l went next, and
the two other men came last, their
eorches also flarng. Three beams Of
light fla shed about the library and
showed X to be empty. One of them
Godfrey's-lingered on the high backed
chair, but this time 1t had no &C.
cupant.
Then Godfrey switched on the light.
passed into the hall and switched on
the light there. The hall, too, was
empty. and only the ticking Of a tall
clock disturbed the silence. was
fatlering and ready to turn back, but,
to my amazement, Godfrey crossed the
hall at n bound and sprang up the
stairs, three steps at time.
Make all the noise you cam" he
shouted over his shoulder, and the clat-
ter of our feet seemed enough to wake
the dead.
The upper hall was also empty; and
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 down
the stirs from the supper story. 1t
was the maid. holding her nightdress
about her; and her face was as white
as her gown.
Godfrey sprang to her side.
What is it?" he asked. What is
wrong?"
II heard a cry" gasped the girl.
Down here somewhere. And a scuffIe
in the dark. A woman's cry. 1t was
choked off short"
Godfrey leaped down among us, and.
as the light of a torch flashed across
it, saw that his face was livid.
Who's got an extra gum" he de-
manded, and one of the detectives
pressed one into his hand. "Pcady.
now, men," he added, crossed the hall,
threw open the outer door into -;i,Vn's
room, and flung back the draper% be-
yond.
My heart was in my throat as
peered over Godfrers 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 TIE
divan, his hands folded. his eyes fived
in meditation, was Silva.
We all stood for a moment staring
at him, then Godfrey passed his hand
dazedly before his eyes.
You two men stay on guard here -
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 pen
turned his torch toward it, But l
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 Swimming about the
room; then he found the switch turned
on the nBntS ana entered.
The room was empty, as were 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
again, a sort Of frenzied concentration
in his gaze, and then went, out, leav-
ing the lights burning. 1t took but a
moment or two to look through the
oil NJ
IF Miss Vaughan was anywhere
about, and unframed" said Godfrey,
the noise we made would have
brought her out to investigate. There's
only one place she can be-" and he led
the way resolutely back to the door of
Silva's room.
The yogi had not moved.
Godfrey contemplated him for a
moment, with his torch full on the
bearded face. Then he crossed the
threshold, his torch sweeping the floor
in front Of him.
Let's see what the Thug is up to-"
he said, crossed the room, drew back
the drapery, and opened the door into
the little closet where we had seen
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.
and Simmonds and 1 sprang to his
side.
For a moment I could see nothing;
the rolling clouds of smoke blinded
and choked me; l could feel the tears
running down my cheeks and my
throat burned as though it had been
scalded.
Then the smoke lifted little, and
caught a glimpse o. what lay within
the room.
In the middle of the floor stood an
open brazier, with q thin yellow flame
lowering above it, now bright, now
dim, as the smoke whirled about it.
Before the brazier, sat Mahbub, his
legs crossed with feet uppermost, his
hands pressed palm to palm before
his face.
But he'll suffocate!" I gasped, and.
indeed, I did not see how any human
being could breathe in such an atmos-
phere.
And then, as the smoke whirled aside
again, l saw the snake. It's head was
waving slowly to and fro, its horrible
hood distended, its yellow, hdless eyes
fixed upon uS.
Simmonds saw it, too, and retreated
q step.
wed better kept out of there" he
ora SDed "till that little pets put away