The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-12
Curious
Spanish
Dagger, Said
70 Be
Poisoned,
Given to the
Counties by
the Unhappy
Duke
Of Aguilar.

den In secret chambers
In the cave labyrinth. Ibeieve that many
OF them were bought from their parents In
distant parts Of the country and that after
they came to this place they never saw the
light Of day again
Within the cave formation there were
doubtless many miles Of columned pas
sages with vast chambers opening out OF
them at Intervals In these secret places
the devotees were performing strange
ceremonies. compounding drugs and poi.
sons and storing their treasure.
In what strange ceremonies did those
stolen girls figure? Everybody knows that
sensuous dances by treupes Of "bayaderes"
form part Of ordinary HINDU religion. But
the ceremonies in this secret retreat must
be stranger than anything that could be
seen in the outside world. / felt sure that
they administered their subtle drugs to
their captiyes and produced abnormal
states Of mind and body In them. Doubt
less their drugs had the power OF prolong-
ing woman's youth and beauty enormous
ly. I yearned to know all the secrets OF
this terrifying place.
Then suddenly ! realized that they IN
tended to keep me here a captive for l.te
With tremendous effort of will resisted
The fascination which tho place eyerted
over mo and determined that ] would
leave.
told my strange hosts that the time
had come for me TO resume my journey.
The chief devotee Informed me gravely
snd courteously' haste was the enemy
-. tt. n 4
to continue my stay with them. Many
other devotees sat between me and the
entrance to the cave. They raised no
hand against me, but l felt that super
natural forces were holding me there
Completely overcome, / resigned myself
to q further stay in the cave. | was now
becoming seriously frightened, for I felt
that was dealing with Invisible powers.
pondered seriously over my position, for
7 knew that something dreadful was likely
to happen to me at any moment and tina.
I might never see the outside world again.
How longed for the reckless, sunny gay
oty Of Cannes at that moment!
Then q happy thought occurred to me.
The moonstone OF the Mahurajah! II ever
there was a tine when this could be OF
value to me that time was now, | thought.
| summoned all my mental force to my
assistance. Then | took the beautiful
moonstone, which ] wore about my neck,
and holding II up by the chain exclaimed:
'By virtue OF this sacred gem call upon
all WHO respect the ancient religion OF
India TO help me and to offer no hind
. sance."
The effect upon the mystics was magi-
cal They bowed their heads in humble
consent Reckoning to the Princess to fol
low me, marched out through the cave
entrance into the daylight.
After that strange escape we wandered
FOR three months n some OF the least
known and most fascinating regions Of
India, and passed through many other ad-
ventures. This was but one OF my many
Journeys to the East, during which l
gained On insight into rs mysteries en-
loved by few American or European
women, and several times narrowly es-
capped from deadly perlls.
I enjoyed some very wonderful expert.
ences in Algeria, that great African colony
OF France There spent my idyllic honey.
moon with my second husband, Count
Roger de MartQnprey. Ills grandfather
had bsen a noted General Of the
oelany, and hence we enjoyed unusual OPP
portvnities for visiting It's most interesting
sGsnes.
In 1919 I made another visit ia Algeria
with Count dc Martlmprey. This time we
made our principal stay at Biskrs, Q Pic
tusesQpe, purely native settlement on the
vsses Of the sahara; Thess we were the
guests Of the Caia Bou Asia, one of the
most interesting characters In the world,
He ruled over the natives OF the psS&eR
around Biskrs with the approval Of tbs
French Government The natives vor-
shipped him almost as . god, and bis ser
vices were OF great value 10 France.