Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1917-01-26
THE AMULET OF MARDUK


Mrs. Tarrant took a great fancy to her
and trusted her fully. Needless to say,
neither of us was aware that Miss
Blythe had been dismissed from for.
mer situation for theft. AS we discov-
cred afterwards, she had stolen four
valuable rings, which, in spite of the
threat of prosecution, were never re-
covered. The girl claimed that she
/ had forgotten where she had hidden
them, but fully acknowledged her Of
tense and repaid the value of them out
of her savings. In spite of careful in
vestigation of all the pawnshops in the
city, however, the rings were never
found.
ga few weeks after we had engaged
Miss Blythe my wife began to miss
valuables of hers Rings seemed to
be the young woman's penchant. An
opal, diamond and sapphire, and a
magnificent emerald in a fifteenth
century setting disappeared successive
ly. We changed our servants without
result. At last, by force of a con-
stantly dwindling number of hypoth-
eses, the suspicion came to rest upon
Miss Blythe's shoulders.
However, as Mrs. Tarrant locked
away her valuables, nothing more was
taken, and we should probably have
kept the young woman in our employ
ment but for what happened. The gov
erness was a great student of antiqui-
ties; in fact, she had knowledge of
Hittite and Babylonian archaeology
which astonished me and was a pri-
mary factor in the securing of her posi-
ton. She had half days leave every
week, and invariably spent it at the
museum. She became wellknown
figure there, for she al-~ays haunted
the Assyrian room, in which, as you
may know, are nCZnber of engraved
gems, of Unreasonable value, brought
from Babylonia by the expedition
which l sent there for the purpose of
excavating the mounds of Nineveh.
Some ten days ago the Waterman, who
had somehow become suspicious of the
young woman, discovered her with the
half of a sacred amulet in her hand
ring supposed to have been worn by
the high priest of Marduk. AS you may
know, that half amulet is one Of the
most cherished possessions of the AS
syrian department. The Waterman ar
rested her and summoned the curator.
When he came it was discovered that
the half amulet still reposed in its
place inside the case. The half which
Helen Blythe held in her hand was
mine-the other half, and willed by me
to the museum. The young woman
made no resistance, but suffered her
self to be led away, as If In comatose
state. She was brought to my house,
identified the half of the charm,
and the girl was placed under arrest,
to be released under suspended
sentence yesterday"
where is the girl?" asked Doctor
Emmanuel.
why, DOCTOR" said Mr.. Tarrant,
flushing, 81 am ashamed to say that
have taken her back"
Good" calculated the doctor, puff
ing vigorously at his cigar. But she
will steal again."
Indeed, no." answered the million
aire with conviction. I'VE had a very
serious talk with her, Mrs. Tarrant and
I. We told her that we felt, under the
circumstances, which we had not fully
understood, that we ought not to turn
her adrift into the world We thought
that by the force of example, perhaps,
we might cure her of her unfortunate
propensity. And so she was re-engaged
not, of course, as governess, but as
a sort of aid to my wife"
"And she was penitent?"
Entirely so. She protested that she
would conquer her weakness; she
vowed never to touch jewelry again,
or to look at it. She pleaded earnestly
fol our confidence, said it was only
rings which she felt an irresistible temp
tation to take, and"
"And she will steal again" said Doc
tor Emmanuel
''Well, doctor, you have poor faith
in human nature, considering your hui
manitarian profession" said the mil
lionaire.
Il tell you, Mr.. Tarrant, she will
steal again." persisted the doctor.
You cannot eradicate the instincts de-
rived from a former incarnation with
kindness only. Doubtless she was a
wealthy gem collector in Rome or
Athens-or Alexandria. more likely
about the year 100 A. d.
Paul Tarrant smiled skeptically.
will you tell me how you arrive at
your date so exactly, doctor?" he
asked.
by the analogy of the lilac tree"
replied Doctor Emmanuel. The lilac
blooms for two weeks in every fifty
two-is that not so? Then we may say
its sleeping lie is twenty-six times as
long as it's life in physical form. Now,
il we take the normal human life to