The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-11-03

T. ITS scat Wy sLr pulled hr-.Ir uu III.
>.rp' ne dr-.ucy "l.h which the
chauffeur "ctrI telling .aat Shc ha,i
gwen him some speedy directions
II" machine .lillrd out 81 .Irw with
a "hiSk. tut not unjl NV COMPANION
Ead applied glass t. liz eye with
The words:
you are good lit tiGure~-rernruAe
/ 2l3i2i2.' Then sentcntiolIsIy. ..Dur
work Is here, if it i really our work, :
and crossed the platform. \ lowered
door guarded the structure facing ou
! the next street. 1t had IN iron handle,
| and mere pressure upon this sent
| the metal barrier on pulley chains 10
| the ceiling. As we stepped across the
groorcd threshold of the door,
through some delicate adjustment Of
weight, closed after lis.
| was not given to exhibitions Of
surprise or unguarded utterunces in
The presence Of the ilnperturbabie
Marvel. What we now faced, how
ever, astoundcd me. ana noted plain
~ that he shared my emotions. II wus
IKE a step from ~guaIor into SPLEEN
dor, from gaunt harrpnueSS into the
CLEAN Of oriental grandeur. We had
entered Il large room heavily hung
with tapestries, rVel - the ceiling,
That must have cost fortune. 4
heavy velvet carpet made our foot
steps nOiScipSS. III fhr center % IN"
room was raised daiS. In front nf
his burned i varicnlrrnl lamp cover
81 with tie precious metals and rare
and costly jewels. 4 Globe giving OUT
q soft girasole glow Hooded the anart-
ment with Il mystic radiance. while
The inccnse-laden air enhanced 4 GER
tain dreamy effect that lulled tie sen
seS and suggested tie rare inner tenn
PIE Of some shrine Of the Indus.
The daiS supported throne, backed
by WondrouS static carved from
ebony or lignumvitne. representing Il
goddess perfect of frame and feature.
All around the room We're cushions
fashioned Of rose silk. and before each
was prayer rug.
"A translation TO the antipodes." re-
marked ReSliuS Marvel. and for all
the cautious Subjugation of his tone,
| traced the faini echo of scoff. Let
us explore to i practical end. This
layout had no legitimate promise in
the heart of in American city 1t is
here with purpoSe--we will tind out
what.
With the audacity of Il man not I'M
used TO penetrating where he chose
when In the line of duty. my friend
led the way across the apartment and
pushed aside the heavy drapery at
its far end. An autecorridOr contin-
ued the suite. II WAS as deliberately
furnished as the main apartment we
had just travrrsed No denzen Of the
strange place had as yet come into evil
dence, but as We entered a third apart
ment we came upon man hastily
rearranging IA disnrdercd attire.
Judging from his clustered manner
and the full Slceved Silken robe he
wore, he was the owner of the pair
of arms that we had seen thrust back
at his waist the man had stuffed into
his belt the fluffy veil or scarf which |
he Ind used as Il gag t" silence that |
heart-strickcn cry: "Oh. some one !
come into this house"
The man vas dark as the ebony |
statue in the first room we had on
tered. Instantly az the shadow of |
Marvel fell across his range of vision. |
he was erect. his arms folded, his at !
titude brash and challenging. My |
friend had kept straight on as il to
pass the drapcricS behind this arbi-
trary sentinel. Before the apparent
entrance TO another apartment the lat
ter sprang, his arm outstretched.
'Banal-banal :" he croaked sLrilly
''-nOr'
Il say. YES observer Marvel con-
Smptuously. and he placed his hand
across the arm Of the man and caught
at the rich hanging. The entire
lrapery was suddenly wrenched out
Of his reach. the Servitor fell To hands
md knees muttering some cabalistic
|aEEon ana liltn trtpl Out OF tne way. |
md We saU-NirvaS;i.
We did not know her then by thar
name; ii came later; but | was awed
md hreathlcss rs. like some splendid
being in the full bloom
# lovely womanlinr<s faced u.s. She
stood near II gilt stand Oh which rest
I'd a crystal globe. She was peerless
in her dress purely oriental, II Seem
ng Indian princess. Slightly dark.
Ter face had an understandable glow,
'nther that OF the richest rose than
leirate and clear. Her eyes were
iecp set, hut sparkling, enthrallin-.
INVITING.
She smiled upon lis. divesting her
Welcome of every tinge ri awkward
less. her attributes ot any effort 10
Impress and mystify. One flashing
dance froom those Intelligent eyes
ecfaed to envelope AMI consume us.
Md then, Ia my sublime establishment
he said, with steely self poisr and
Without Il shade Of hesitation:
Mr.. ReSilius Marvel. [ am hon.
red"
II she had not made the recognition,
ess speedily would my expert friend
AVE pierced the travesty. II she