The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-07-22


dow. she would have realized that
her wish was to be granted. For she
would have seen the face OF a masked
man looking in.
Outside, on the shed of the YER
anda, he had been crouching, watch
ing her for some time-a tall. slender
man with a black mask hiding his
face, a soft hat pulled down well
over his eyes and his coat collar
turned up.
Though he was. to all intents and
purposes, a burglar, however, he was
really no ordinary thief.
An hour before, he had had no
thought OF DOMINIC the black mask.
But to his club on the avenue, had
come a swarthy skinned individual
with a note written on violet paper.
and in the note in violet ink had
been written the words:
Come with bearer at once. I'm
perative."
This summons he had not dared to
disobey. For It came from the High
Priestess OF the Violet God or Da-
room. And as a sworn member OF
this gods followers. the word OF the
High Priestess was his law. to dis
obey which meant-death.
ne OOeA TO the lempIes
Accordingly. he had accompanied
the Arab TO the east side of the city,
where-hidden among the crowded
shops and dwellings OF Chinatown
the Temple of the Violet God of Oar
oon had been reared.
New York has more different ma
tionalities, creeds and religions than
any other city in the world. And
among them, the followers of the Vio-
let God of Daroon passed unnoticed.
Through the congested East Side, the
followers OF the Violet God came and
went unheaded. For they wore their
strange foreign garments only in
doors where the casual eyes OF the
outside world could not rest upon
them. In the street, they dressed in
garments OF the country in which
they were temporarily stationed.
Nicholas Knox, upon his arrival at
the temple, found all of the followers
OF the Violet God, gathered together
in the council chamber. There, by the
dim light, through the incense-laden
air, Knox sav the High Priestess sit
ting in judgment upon ami, once a
priest Of the order, and for years
fugitive.
Advancing. Nicholas Knox made
obeisance to the priestess. And, turn
ing, she gazed at him with eager,
triumphant eyes.
Ami, who has so long evaded our
pursuit, is found at last" she cried.
THE thief of the Violet Diamond has
fallen into our hands"
At her words, cries of approval and
satisfaction fell. from the lips Of her
followers: but Ami. crouching in alb
ject fear between his stern captors,
walled:
No. no. I know nothing OF the
diamond. am innocent"
The high priestess regarded him
with grave and merciless eyes.
A Critical Ordeal.
oh. Children of the Immortal Vio-
let God" she said quietly. I'VE are all
gathered now to sit in Judgment upon
ami. Bring him hither, and do one
of you hold a knife above his head.
II he speaks freely, well and good. If
he refuse to speak. ind the jugular
vein in his neck and sever it."
NO. no." walled ANN. shuddering.
The followers of the Violet God
drew nearer. One raised a sharp and
shining knife and held IL close to
Amfi's neck SO that he could feel the
GOODNESS OF the steel and the sharp
mes Of its edge.
viii you confess" asked the High
Priestess in a voice OF unyit Gliding
grimness
Yes. yes, will tell will telI."
shrieked ANN.
The knife was lowered. ANN was
released, to fall in fear at the High
Priestess' feet. He wet his lips fe-
verishly. and tried twice to speak be-
fore he finally found voice:
Il stole the diamond" he whis-
pered, for money-muCh money Of
fered me by an American traveller
who came to Arabia in earCh OF rare
gems. How he saw it in the ring on
the finger OF our god. know not
But he saw it and coveted 1t. and
learned that ! was High Priest in
charge OF the Temple"
A hoarse cry escaped some Of the
Arabs nearby, and ANN crouched
lower. wetting his lips again.
AT first / refused his bribes-but
the sums of gold he offered were so
great my reluctance was overcome.
He camped on the edge OF the desert
with his secro tary and waited. And
In the darkness OF the night tore
the ring from the finger of The Violet
1od and carried 1t TO the tent OF this
American"
Traitor! seOundrel! Dog" Kissed