The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1921-11-18


pearls. Wrap them % inside the sil
yer and gold" ADoofiy he watched
the process. "Now advance alone. and
open the box. Place the pearls In
side. Now shut and lock It." Obedi
emily the duchess did ~ she was bid;
then she stood waiting for further In
structions.
But apparently By this time the
Great BroOding Spirit was beginning
to take effect. Singing q monotonous,
harsh chant. the Indian knelt on the
floor, and poured some powder Into
little brazier. He was still close
to the open window, and finally he sat
down with his elbows on his knees,
and his head rocking to and fro In
his hands.
LESS light-less lightv The words
seemed to come from great distance
-ventriloquism In a mild way was
one Of Lakington's accomplishments;
and as the lights went out greenish,
splutterlng flame rose from the brazler.
A heavy, odorous smoke filed the
room, but framed and motlonless In
the eerie light sat the Indian. staring
fixedly in front Of him. After time
the chant began again; II grew and
swelled In volume till the singer grew
frenzied and beat his head with his
hands. Then abruptly 1t stopped.
"Place the box upon the floor" he
ordered. ain the light Of the Sacred
Fire" Hugh saw the duchess kneel
down on the opposite side of the
brazier, and place the box on the floor,
| while the faces of the guests-strange
and ghostly In the great llght-peered
like specters out Of the heavy smoke.
This was undoubtedly a show worth
watching.
"Open the box!" Harshly the words
rang through the silent ROOM and with
fingers that trembled little the duch-
ess turned the key and threw back
the lid.
"Why, It's emptyw she cried in
amazement, and the guests craned for
ward to look.
"Put not your hand inside" cried
the Indian in sudden warning, "or per-
chance 1t will remain empty"
The duchess rapidly withdrew her
hand, and stared incredulously through
the smoke at his impassive face.
did not say that there was power
In the box?" he said dreamily. "The
power to render invisible-the power
to render visible. Thus came pro-
lection to the Jewels Of the Chow
queens"
that's all right, Mr.. Ram OAR"
said the duchess little apprehens-
lively. "There may be power In the
box, but my pearls don't seem to be-"
The Indian laughed.
"None but you has touched the cab
met, your Grace; none but you must
touch II till the pearls return. They
are there now; but not for mortal
eyes to see."
Which, incidentally, was no more
than the truth.
"Look, oh 4! sahibs, look; but do not
touch. See that to your vision the box
is empty. :" He waited motion
less, while the guests thronged round,
with expressions Of amazement; and
understanding smoke, came even near
er In his excitement.
"It is enough" cried the Indian
suddenly. "Slnt the box, your grace,
and lock II as before. Now place II
on the table whence 1t came. Is II
there?"
"Yes." The duchess voice came out
Of the green fog.
go not too near" he continued
warniIgly. '"The gods must have
space--the gods must have space"
Again the harsh chant began, at
times swelling to shout, at times
dying away to whisper. And 1t was
during one of these latter periods that
low laugh, instantly checked, dis
turbed the room. 1t was plainly audi.
BILE, and someone irritably said, BE
quietr' 1t was not repeated, which
prise. For 1t had been Irma Peterson
who had laughed. ard 1t might have
been hilarity, or IL might have been
signal.
Bring the box, your grace" he cried
harshly, and once more the duchess
knelt In the circle of light. with
row Of dimly seen faces above her.
"Open; but as you value your pearls
touch them not" Excitedly she
threw back the lid. and chorus OF
cries greeted the appearance Of the
gold and silver tissue at the bottom Of
the box. 4c
They're here. Mr.. Ram OAR"
In the green light the Indians SOM
Der eyes stared round the group OF
dim faces.
$50 tTo Be coNTINUED)