The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-07-22
THE FATAL RING
abs. crowding closer about

eNSSSSSS'SSS'SSSSSSSS SSSSSNSSSSSSS,SSSSS
/ the Arabs. crowding closer about
Amf.
The Setting Returned.
Accused one" cried the high
priestess f!ercely.
! The American and his secretary
were waiting for me-" went on ANTI.
They examined the violet diamond
and found Il desirable! From their
store OF wealth they paid me two
bags of gold. and. prying the violet
diamond from the ring. retained the
stone and gave me back the setting"
They gave you back the setting?"
cried the high priestess, leaning for
ward. rs this true. dog?"
Yes, yes. have it here. Through
all my wanderings 1t has never left
me-" protested ANN. thrusting his
hand into his clothes and drawing
out a band of gold carved with
/ strange figures.
with a cry OF satisfaction the high
priestess seized it and examined II
carefully.
! Yes, 1t is the ring" she whispered,
as the others crowded her close. But
the stone is missing! OF what use is
the ring without its GEM"
The stone must be in the possession
of Pearl Standish STILL" cried ANN,
for it was to her father, Samuel
Standish, / sold it,
| The high priestess leaned nearer to
him, searching him with her ewes.
lis this all you have to tell?" she
asked
AL" answered ANN, making obeis,
ance.
Then die. as all must die who set
at naught the Order of the Violet
God" she cried, and made a sign to
the Arab who still held the shining
knife. With fearful cry Ami sought
to break away from his captors, but
his struggles were useless. Swiftly.
silently, the knife rose and fell-rose
again and fell. And the figure OF him
who had been ANN. the Faithless, lay
still upon the floor.
Calmly the high prIestess turned
from him to face the Others gazing
expectantly toward her and waiting
for the next move in the game.
Followers OF the Violet God of
Daroon," she cried. leaning forward
in her throneIike chair. You know
been missing from the finger OF the
| god. It has come back again into our
possession after endless searching for
the culprit who lies dead at my feet
But 1t has come back. minus the
violet diamond set that formerely
adorned II. You know the value OF
this diamond set. You know the Sc
Z cret of this diamond that makes IL
worth a million times more to US than
il would bring in the diamond mar
kets of the world, We must regain
possession OF this stone"
The Sacred Lizard.
YES, yes, we must" cried a score
OF voices.
IF Amfi's words are true. it is now
in the keeping OF a girl Pearl Stand
ish To wrest this treasure from
girl should not be difficult work. One
man should be enough to do it, So
let us call upon the sacred lizard to
choose which OF you shall seek to re-
cover the stone"
Cries of approval went up at her
words. and with one accord her fol
lowers turned and moved toward
huge table. about which chairs were
placed, one for each man present And
before each chair on the le.top
wss fixed a tiny basin.
The priestess seated herself In a
raised chair overlooking this table.
Her followers seated themselves
around it and watched intentIy as
servant appeared carrying a small box
OF ebony. This he placed in the
priestess' hands-and withdrew.
The priestess leaned over the table
and opened the box and out OF It
crawled a lizard. its gelatinous eyes
blinking in the light. its loathsome
little body moving slowly.
All eyes were fixed upon II as il
hesitated an instant in the center Of
the table and slowly turned its head
from side to side as though regarding
the breathless men who hung over Il.
L No one spoke. No one moved. In
stinctively repealed by the loathsome
little beast, each man watched with
horror its indecision-8nd feared to
tear his eyes away lest in that in
slant II start TO move towerd him.
An instant passed-anOther-t
the lizard started oward he basin be-
fore Babur Din-and Babur Din
caught his breath sharply and began
10 tremble. But half way toward its
the lizard hesitated and
furned aside. Babur Din sighed In
Swift relief and cold sweat broke out