The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-09-12

his presence, Ram looked up at the
ceiling just as the leaves of trap
| through which the body of Davis had
been dragged fell back into place.
He bowed low to the image of silva.
$50 perish the offenders of the
| gods"
From behind their grille where they
had been watching it all, the Hawk
and Spider grinned at each other ap-
provingly. Then Morgan laughed.
"rll be cursed if he didn't put it
| over" Selling the grating with his
hands he began shaking it, but 1t re-
sisted all his efforts. His voice arose
| in anger, as he drew his revolver.
| 'Let us out of here quick, you old
fraud. or I'll let daylight out of you"
| Carefully keeping to the side of
the wall and beyond the range of the
others gun, Ram Chunder made his
reply.
''The god has not yet directed your
release, oh worthy protector of the
poor" Shallum stepped into the room.
1.-THE Mena Sahib you called last
night, Master, has come again." he
| announced. lle ldhlT again
Morgan.
| "You little know the power of the
| gods, oh foreign born. The maiden
is here also. silva called" Cursing,
the Hawk cried.
| 81 don't know anything about your
internal gods, but don't you hurt that
girl or the whole bunch of you will
have to reckon with me. You can do
| what you like with the man, but"
Bring her in," commanded the
| fakir.
We left Ethel and Joost Singh GO
ing down the street together. Ar
rived at the outer door the Hindu
| knocked, whereupon Shallum opened
| it, expressing his satisfaction as he
admitted them. Rainface, coming up
on a run, found himself locked out
| and cast his eyes about MS he mentally
decided upon his plan. Seeing build
| ing close at hand in course of con-
struction with scaffolding surrounding
| it and no one at work, he at once
decided that by means of the scaf-
| folding he could get upon the roof of
the next building, and from thence to
the top of the place inhabited by the
| Hindu. OF he went as fast as his
legs could take him to carry out his
plan.
| Within his room, Ram Chunder
bowed to the girl as she came in.
"You seek the aid and counsel of
| Holy silva, maiden, pearl of beauty?'
Straight up to him Ethel walked.
"I want Mr.. John Davis. Is he
| here?"
With a nod Ram threw another
and once more the back of the room
became clouded with smoke. Three
times he struck gong, and from the
ceiling a gigantic image of silva, the
| lower part of which was carved to
| represent drapery, slowly descended
through the smoke. Down upon a
| dais at the end of the room it settled,
while Shallum running to 1t began
making mystic motions, while Ram
stepped TO the wall opposite the graf
| ing.
| Before him was a graduated quad
rant of metal marked in places and
with a perpendicular reversible arm
which could be swung along the arc
to points on either side. The skinny,
bony hand of the fakir seized the ar
mature and began to move it, while
the other hand pointed at the idol.
"BEHOLD," !" he cried.
Slowly, silently the front of the
figure opened and John stood revealed
within. He was fastened to the back
of the image by an iron collar about
| his neck, while iron bands bound his
waist, arms and legs; holding him
| erect. rigid and motionless. His mouth
was still covered by the cloth. His
eyes were open, and he was appar-
emily conscious of all that was taking
place. The voice of the girl arose in
| great distress.
"Johnl Merciful heaven What
have they done?" She sprang toward
him, but Ram seizing her with a
strength that was astonishing in one
of his age, held her back.
"Wait. He has not suffered vet.
silva is sometimes merciful. Per
haps-"
|
"Oh. reverend and beloved Master
! Your elixir of life lacks but one thing
Continue" commanded the fakir
as the other paused. Shallum lifted
a curious drinking cup.
s'This, filled with blood from the
heart, drawn from beneath the left
breast of a pure maiden and mixed
| with the other Ingredients will give
back your youth, if holy silva wills"
| Turning upon the girl, Ram pointed
! to her heart with long finger.
"Dost hear?" he said. Here's life
for my youth through thy blood l
/ Appalled,. she shrank back.
ct cannot be"
For n moment he looked at her with
an evil smile, then swung the arm
of the quadrant and pressed it into