The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-02-09

bare another bracelet, on the mans
right wrist. Size for size. this was the
same as the one that had been stolen
from himself.
Memory prompted him. He felt it's
outer edge with finger nail. There
was the little nick that he had made
In the soft gold when he struck 1t
against the cell bars in the jail at the
Mir Khan palacel He touched the
gold. 1t was warm. He repeated the
test on the woman's wrists. Hers was
warm. too. Both bracelets had been
worn by a living being within an
hour
He muttered and frowned in thought,
and then suddenly jumped backward.
The leather curtain near the bed had
moved on its bronze rod.
"Aren't they dears?" voice said in
English behind him. aren't they
swectr
Yasmini stood not two arms lengths
away, lovelier than the dead woman
because Of the merry life in her. young
and warm, aglow, but looking like the
dead woman and the woman Of the
frieze-the woman Of the lamp-bowls-
the statue-c0me to life, speaking to
him In English more sweetly than II
II had been her mother tongue. The
English abuse their language. Yas-
mini caressed 1t and made II do its
work twice over.
Being dressed as a native, he
salaamed low. Knowing him for what
he was, she gave him the senna-
stained tips of her warm fingers to
kiss, and he thought she trembled
when he touched them. But second
later she had snatched them away and
was treating him to raillery.
"Man of pills and bllsters - she said,
tell me how those bodies are pre-
servedl Spill knowledge from that
learned skull of timer
He did not answer. He never shone
In conversation at any time, having
made as many friends as enemies by
saying nothing until the spirit moves
him. But she did not know that yet.
'f knew for certain why those
two did not turn to worms" she went
on, "almost would choose to die now,
while / am beautiful! What would
they say, think you, King sahib, If
they found us two dead beside those
two? Speak, man. speak! Has kim
Jan struck you dumb?"
But he did not speak. He was star
Ing at her arm, where two whitish
marks on the skin betrayed that brace
lets had been.
ooh. thosei They are theirs.
would not rob the dead, or the gods
would turn on me. robbed you. in
stead, while you slept Fie. King sa-
hib, while you sleptl"
But her steel did not strike on flint.
1t was her eyes that flashed. He would
have done better to have seemed
ashamed, for then he might have
fooled her, at least for while. But
having judged himself. he did not care
a fig for her judgment Of him. She
realized that instantly and having
found a tool that would not work,
discarded It for better one. She
grew confidential.
II borrow them" she explained,
"but I put them back. / take them
for so many days, and when the day
comes-the gods like us to be exact
You were near death when took the.
bracelet last night. The time was up.
I would have stabbed you II you had
tried to prevent mew
Now he spoke at last and gave her
first glimpse Of an angle of his mind
she had not suspected.
Princess" he said. He used the
word with the Difference some men can
combine with effrontery. so that very
tenderness has barbs. "YOu might
have had that thing back II you had
sent a messenger for It at any time.
A word by servant would have been
enough"
"You could never have reached
Khintan then I" she retOrted. Her eyes
flashed again, but his did not waver.
Princess" he said, "why speak Of
what you don't know?"
He thought she would strike like a
snake, but she smiled ut him instead.
And whea Yasmini has smiled on a
man he has never been just the same
man afterward. He knows more, for
one thing. He has had a lesson In
one of the finer arts.
II will speak of what do know"
she said. mo. there Is no need. Look
Look I"
She pointed at the bed--at the man
on the bed-fingers locked In those Of
q woman who looked so like herself.
He looked, knowing well there was
something to be understood, that |
stared him In the face. But for the |
life of him he could not determine |
question or answer.
"What Is In your bosom2" she
asked him.
He put his hand to his shirt.
'Draw II outl' she said. as a teacher |
drills a child.
He drew out the gold-hjlted knife |
with the bronze blade. with which a
man had meant to murder him. Tie let |
1t lie on the palm of his hand end
looked from II to her and back again.