Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1919-08-14

| Stenbed to the inner room where the
Hawk and Spider were.
"Siva has summoned him. He Is
here was his announcement.
Throwing their cards out Of sight
the pair arose. Ram Chunder, lead
| ing them to Il side Of the room, opened
a sliding door by pressing on a spring,
disclosing a grating. Obeying his
wave of command they entered, draw
ing the curtains together but leaving
a crack through which they could
both see and hear. Passing to the
other side of the room Ram Chunder
| opened another concealed door. and
at the clap of his hands four Hindus
in native costume appeared. Address
ing them in a low tone he began fill
ing the incense bowls so that their
smoke slowly commenced to arise.
While this vas being done, two Of
the newcomers placed a large chair
Of lockwood at the upper end Of the
table.
1--WE will now admit the Sahib,"
announced the fakir.
Having knocked at the outer door
a number Of times and received no
response. John on the point Of turn
ing away discouraged. was confronted
by Stadium. who with q low obeisance
motiOned for him to enter.
Ralnface. returning to the hotel,
an,,nbt N .Jfgtnpf ,rl,u, nf Ethn1 no p1,n
buried on her way. Instantly he fol-
lowed her. Seeing her board a troll
ley car, the Indian took the one next
behind il, standing on the front plat
form where he could look ahead.
Arriving ut Number 81 Horton
street, the girl promptly knocked at
the door. Joost Singh appeared, and
though he was surprised to see a
woman instead If the man he expect
Ell standing before him, he salaamed
and indicated that she was to go
with him.
"Where is Mr.. Davis?" she demand
ed as she hesitated. The Hindu
spread his hands I'm a gesture to in
t'u't hiS Sh' "h''s NV ibdis Wv
Gliding that her only chance of finding
her lover was TO trust herself to the
others guidance. she started down the
side street on foot. Rainface. who
had not lost sight of her, at once fol.
lowed upon their trail.
John, entering the room of Ram
Chunder. glanced about. Under each
of the four corbels that supported the
roof beams Il motiOnlesS. Statueliie
Hindu stood. Even to the sharp eyes
of the incomer the figures seemed to
be integral parts of the wall, so per-
fectly did their brown bodies and cos
tunes match the place. AS the door
closed behind him, Davis stepped be-
fore the fakir and addressed him
sternly.
Ram Chunder." The Hindu bowed.
"What were you doing Mt the Mac
kenzie hotel last night. Ram strewed
a handful of incense in a bowl be-
fore an idol.
The Sahib mistakes. I was not at
any hotel. Last night I communed
with the gods. Behold"
With an expression of disbelief and
disgust. John drew forth the batteries
and piece of paper.
what about these? They are
yours"
"Yes, protector of the poor, hut
stolen from me by a low dog Of an
impOster-a pnriah. VIII not the
Sahih sit and listen to his servant ex.
plain?"
Thrown off his guard by the friend
Illness Of the others name and
smile, Davis complied.
The room was 10 heavy with in
cense. Waiting only till the white
man had seated himself in the big
chair, Ram Chunder pressed a spring,
Instantly four steel bars shot ont
from the upper back and lower front
of the chair. the first two crossing
the trapped mans breast and the
other pair firmly gripping his legs.
Johns pistol had seemed to leap into
his hand at the first pressure of the
bars, and as II exploded n small image
OF one of the gods fell to the floor
with a crash. Rams escape had been
n narrow one. but John had been an
too late. |
M snoner had tho bars CLAIMED