The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-12-13
The Diamond
of Kali

of Kali
COPYRIGHT. 1890. bp Doubleday. Po0e
4 CO.. published bv special arrange
Bienf usih The wheeler
Syndicate. Inc.
Gen. Marccllus n. Ludlow lives IN
one OF tho decayinE but venorated
old brick mansions In the West
Twcrties The general In a member
OF an old New York family that does
not advertise. lie Is "a giobetrotter
By birth. a gentleman by prediction.
millionaire by tho merry OF
heaven. and n connolaaaur OF precious
Htonca by occupation
The reporter was admitted prompt
ly when he made himself known At
tho generals residence at about sac
on the evening that no received tis
assignment In tho magnificent u.
brary he WINS greeted BY tho distin-
guiahcd traveller and oonnoiHsc'ir.
tall. erect gentleman tn the early
fifticr. with a nearly white muntache.
and n bearing 40 soldierly that one
perceived In him scarcely trano Of
tho National Gunrdmnan. His
weather. beaten oountsnRnce NJ up
with a charming smile OF interest
when tho reporter made known his
crrand.
"Ah, you have heard of my latest
md. ] shall be glad To show you
what conceive 60 be one OF the Sia
most valuable diamonds In exist
once.-
Tho general opened n small safe In
corner OF the library and brought
forth a plunh-covcrcd box Opening
this. he exposed 20 tho reporters be
wildrrod KaEs n huge and brilliant
diamond--neariy an large an han
stone.
This sscno.- said Ore general is
something moro than mere t~wei.
II once formed tho CENTRAL eye Of the
three eyed goddess Kali. who Ia wor'
SHIPPED by on. OF tho fi~rcoHt and
uost fannticai tribes OF India II you
viii arrange yourself comfortably ]
will give you brief history OF IL for
your paper
General Ludlow brought de-anter
Of whisky and giaancs from cabinet.
and act comfortable armchair for
tho lucky scribe.
= The PhanaiEnrr. or Thugs. Of In
dla.- began tho general. ARE the
most dangerous and dreaded Of the
tribes OF North India They are en-
tremlats In religion. and worship the
horrid goddess % Kali In tho form
Of images. Their rites arc interesting
and bloody. The robbing and mur'
d~rinK Of travellers arc taught as
worthy and obligatory deed By their
strange religious code. Tho worship
OF the thrcc-~ycd goddess Kali IL con.
iurtod no nccrruy that no Traveller
has ever heretofore had the honor
Of witnessing tho ceremonies That
distinction was reserved for myself
while at Eakaranpur. between
Delhi and iShoiaI l used 20 explore
the jungle In evcry direction In the
hope OF learning something ncw
about thee. mysterious rhansigarr.
zone evening nj twilight l was
making my way thru q teakwood
forest, when I carp~ upon deep cir
cuiar depression In an open space. In
the center OF which was a rude stone
temple. was SURE that this was one
Of the temples Of tho Thugs. 20
concealed myself In the underground
70 watch.
when The moon ron she depression
In the clearing was suddenly filled
with hundreds OF shadowy. swiftly
gliding fUrrna Then . door opened
in the temple. exposing n brightly II.
Illuminated image Of the Goddess Kali.
b.forn which a whiterobed priest be
gan barharous incarnation. while
the tr1be OF woruhipers Frustrated
themselves upon tho earth.
'.But what Interested me most was
the CENTRAL eye OF tho huge wooden
Idol. I could 500 by Its flashing bril-
Ilancy that II was an immense dia-
mond of tho pur~rf water.
AMER the rttns wcru concluded the
Thugs slipped away into the forest
an silently M they had come The
priest stood for n few minutes In the
door OF the temple enjoying the cool
OF the night before closing his rather
warm quarters Suddenly n dark,
1.-THE shadow slipped down into the
hollow. icapcd upon the priest and
struck him down with n giittcring
knife. Then the murderer sprang at
the image Of the goddess Ike cat
and pried out the glowing central eye
Of Kali with his weapon Straigh,
toward mo he ran with his royal
prize. When he was within two
PAGES ! rose to my feet and struck
him with all my force between the
eyes. He rolled over scnseless and
tho magnificent jewel fell from his
hand. That In the splendid blue dia,
mond you have just seen-a stone
worthy OF moparch'a crown
That's a oorking story" said the
reporter. THAT dccs,nter In exactly
like the one John w. Gates always
sets out during an Interview
Pardon me- said General Ludlow
FOR forgetting hospitality In the cx-
citement Of my parrafiva- Help
Here's looking nj you said the
reporter.
what I am afraid Of now said
the general. lowering his voice. lis
that may be robbed Of the diamond
The jewel that formed an eye OF their
goddess IN their most sacred symbol
Somehow the tribe suspected me OF
having II; and members OF the band
have followed mo half around tho
earth. They are the most cunning
and cruel fanatics In the world. and
their religious vows would compel
them 10 assassinate tho unbeiiever
who has desccrated their sacred
treasure.
| "Once In Lucknow three Of their
agents. disguised M servants In n
hotel. cndeavored TO strangie me
with n twisted cloth. Again. In Lon
l -