Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-07-09

| 1SCence, Tor rate pears RUE over all
Presently he, too, would be thrust back
into the cosmic trunk by the Great
Property Man of the whole fantastic
show, and death, the wardrobe mis-
tress, would receive the battered au
tomaton, the same as she would claim
| him at sunrise.
The voice of the chanting Hindu
grew fainter.
The drowsy American felt that he
was falling into the abyss of all things
the place from which he had sprung
Around him mysterious creatures
with calm, untrOubled countenances
like Jitendra's face, swirled on sound
| less wings.
The world of strife and struggle, Of
utter hate and burning discord, OF
which he had been a part was blotted
tut, and, instead, there was only
uperlative sense of cOntentment.
Irvine peace, sweet oblivion.
u i :: X
''Sahib Buck Sahib Buck !"
Williams struggled in dazed fashion
% his knees.
Between his dream and the dark
less he was so confused that he did
lot realize where he was--or why.
Something cold, metallic, slender, was
forcing itself into his hands.
There is little time, sahib," Kissed
he voice. "See-the door is open and
he gods granted thy request. Make
haste, I pray thee, and depart. Be
ware of the other who sits asleep just
within the gate of this place"
"W-w-who-what the devil are you
.alking about? Oh, remember now
It's you, Jitendra, isn't it?"
"Yes, sahib, but delay not. The
night is yet young-by dawn thou must
De far from here"
Unbelievingly the mine owner stag
gered to his feet. He tried to look
around the obscure interior Of the cell.
Then he saw that the iron-bound oaken
door leading into the corridor was
open, as a draft of air came through.
Near it two flaming points of light,
swaying rhythmically in the corner,
blazed back at him. Buck stumbled to-
ward them, cropping blindly.
Jitendra's hand was on his arm
the Hindu's slender fingers bit down
on his biceps like steel tongs.
"Sahib, beware the vengeance of
Vishnu! Not that way!"
He felt himself drawn forcibly aside
and thrust into the corridor. He
turned to glance at his friend. Two
other crimson, glaring points of light
blazed back into his startled eyes, but
these seemed suspended just above the
white turfan which the Oriental wore.
Like those the mine owner had seen in
the cell corner, they might have been
the angry orbs of the gods at whom
he had scOffed.
Buck trembled.
/ A cold sweat streamed out on his
forehead. He at last realized that he
was in the passage leading to the gate
of the carcel, and in his hands was a
rifle-the thing he had jestingly com
manded the patient, little brown man
to secure for him through the exercise
of his occult powers.
Hurry, Sahib Buck" whispered
Jitendra starry not for me, for Vishnu
and silva have me In their holy keep
ing. Go thou-and Quickly"
The cool, satiny rifle barrel sent q
thrill of madly Intoxicating ecstasy
rioting through the Americans brain
Like the tiger, from whom he had been
named, he padded stealthily along the
short passage leading to the gate OF
the prison. filed with an angry ven
! geance.
The sleeping sentinel was lolling In
his chair. His weapon thudded down
upon the head Of the somnolent sol
der, who rolled to the ground.
Williams seized the ringed key from
| the guards inert fingers and thrust II
| into the lock. The last barrier swung
inward, the soft breeze of the reful
gent night kissed his feverish face
and he was blotted out by It's protect
ing curtain.
Jalisingrao Jitendra squatted in the
corner of the cell from which The
American had so miraculously been re
leased, and bent over the PROSTATE fig
ure of the Mexican who had been OF
guard in the corridor.
Back and forth on the breast Of th'
soldier, who lay rigidly upon his back
swayed two sinister, menacing points
of crimson, and In perfect unison
swayed also two others upon the heat
of the Hindu.
"Wouldst thou have life?" sternl.
demanded the little brown man of thu
PROSTATE figure.
ISL, senor"'
"Then heed we'll what shall say,
went on the other in cold, precise &C
cents. eff they wake to find Sahil
Buck gone, thou, instead of he, will
die. So, thou too must depart"
He leaned closer to the man, who's
face was distorted with a hideous ter
ror. AS the Mexican comprehende'
the half.friendly attitude of the Hindu
hope struggled with despair in hi
eyes.
"Teli me, is it true that I, too, an
to die with the coming of the sum-"
The Mexican nodded. "But that