Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-08-07

D Surprise Them" She Said.
through the window which ne raIseu
for them, they unpacked the basket
while Morgan began questioning the
Spider. Silently the latter indicated
to the incomers the location Of the
party In the opposite suite. Gravely
Ram Chunder nodded.
1.-THE Holy silva will summon him
hither. And then"
Taking the small idol from the bas-
ket he laid the casket upon the table
before it; placing incense bowls and
powder about while Stadium took the
gong. Frustrating himself Ram Chun-
der began a series of lamentations and
mesmeric waving Of his hands in the
direction Of Johns room, while ever
the smoke of the incense grew thicker
and more pungent. Shallum meanwhile
striking the gong. filled the ROOF with
Its low tolling. Losing his patience at
last, Morgan burst forth.
what is all this blamed foolish.
ness about anyway? Cut it out and
get down to business" Ram. Chunder
raised a threatening hand.
Speak not, lest silva blast you into
dust"
With a convulsive movement the
Spider grasped Morgan by the arm
and pointed through the haze that had
arisen from the incense bowls. and
Morgan. looking in the direction indi-
Gated saw the vaguely outlined form
of Johns sleeping figure. With eyes
staring they sat rigidly, while the in
cantations Of Ram Chunder grew more
violent.
Look !" whispered the Spider. great
ly agitated. Staring still more in.
tently, the bewildered Morgan saw the
form of Ethel asleep in her bed, one
arm thrown over her head.
Great heavens" he said with a
shudder.
Within her room the girl, awakened
by what she did not know, slowly
opened her eyes. For a moment she
rubbed them after the manner of one
who has slept deeply and we'll, then
as she lay looking at the ceiling the
light of intelligence which had filed
her pupils gradually faded, while in
Its place came the CLASSY, staring gaze
of n who falls beneath the spell of
a hypnotist. Over her form a CON
vulsive shudder ran and twice she es.
saycd to arise, each time seeming to
be pulled back upon the bed by some |
invisible force. Then apparently the
mysterious power which was urging
her up t%riumphed, and slowly, uncer.
tainly as n moves when in a daze, |
she threw aside the GOV V and stepped
upon the floor.
Clad In her night robe, her white
and upper bosom cleaning in
the subdued light of her room, she
a thing ethereal as she slowly
passed from her bed toward the door.
Stepping around Rainface, who lay fast
asleep upon the rug, she opened the
door which led into the corridor, and
going into 1t crossed the hall. Nor
gan and Bellas stepped forward. hut
the voice of the old fakir arose warn
Ingly.
"Touch her not. The Child of
Silva"
John Davis, asleep in his room, ,
his eyes in bewilderment and
blinking at the wall.
"Queer dream. that. Had a vision \
dream or nightmare or something
hat Ethel was prowling around in her
sleep and threatened by some danger.
Guess I'd better investigate" Swing.
ing his feet to the floor he passed out
If the room.
Avoiding the Indian as the girl had
lone he fastened to the door leading
ntO the corridor, opened it'and glanced
Town the hall. Ethel was just dis
appearing into a room upon the other
tide, and to his partially sleep be-
ogged senses she seemed to he float
ng spiritlike rather than walking with
eet that touched the floor. Wonder
ng what on earth II meant, and wait
ng only until she had disappeared he
lind the opposite panel, with tSo
sounds he was at the door. It was
ocked. Already Morgan had turned
he key.
still beneath the occult influence Of
lam Chunder, Ethel CROPPED her way
nto the across the hall. RAM,
forward, whispered fiercely In
he Hawks ear.
HE Is coming after her." at the
anne time handing the other man a
ard upon which had been roughly
crawled:
ITO find where she whom you seek
as gone, open the casket." With a
rief glance at the hastily written
1Qrds, Morgan laid the card on the