Evening star., 1921-05-07
Continued from Yesterdays StarO


mo hand but yours must touch the
pearls. Wrap them up inside the Sill
ver and gold" Aloofly he watched
the process. Now advance alone ana
onen the box. Place the pearls in
side. Now shut and lock It" Ooe-
diently the duchess did as she was
hid. then she stood waiting for fur-
ther instructions.
But apparently by this time the
great brooding spirit was beginning
to take effect. Singing monotonous,
harsh chant, the Indian knelt on the
floor. and poured some poWder INTO
little brazier. He was SUI, sun ciose ps cat at
down with his elbows on his knees.
and his head rocking to and fro in MS
hands. ,ds
seemed to come from a great distance
one of Lakington's accomplishments
and as the lights went out a greenisn'
spluttering fame rose from the bra,
zier. A heavy, odorous smoke n!leo
the room, but framed and motloniess
in the eerie light sat the Indian. star,
time the chant began again: it grew
and swelled in volume till the singer
grew frenzied and beat his head with
his hands. Then abruptly it stopped;
"Place the box upon the moor. ne
ordered "in the light S,otasu OF me saGrsJ anseI
down on the opposite side of the bra
zier and place the box on the moor
while the faces of the guests-strange
and ghostly in the green hgnt-
peered like specters out OF the heaVE
smoke. This was undoubtedly show
fCt n
"onen the box" Harshly the words
rang through the silent room. and
with fingers that trembled little the
duchess turned the key and threw
w "Why. it's empty she cried in
amazement. and the guests craned
Pat mot YOUR hand inside" cried the
Indian in sudden warning. "or per-
chance it will remain empty.
hand, and stared increddlously
through the smoke at his impassive
..Did I not say that there was pow
er in the box" he said dreamily.
'The power to render invisible-the
protection to the jewels Of the Chow
That's all right. Mr.. Ram Oar"
sa i'd the duchess a little apprehensive-
". There may be power in the box.
but my pearls don't seem 10 be.
The Indian laughed.
None but you has touched the cabi-
net. your grace: none but you must
touch it till the pearls return. They
are there now; but not for mortal eyes
to see."
Which. incidentally. was no more
Look. oh! sahibs look: but do not
touch. See that 20 your vision the
box is empty; :; :" He waited mo, mo.
tionless, while the guests thronged
ment; and Hugh. safe from view in
the thick, sweet-smelling smoke,
came even nearer in his excitement
at is enough" cried the Indian sud
denly. Shut the box. your grace. and
lock it as before. Now place It on
yes" The duchess voice came out
Of the green fog.
| Go not too near" he continued
warnins'y godr must goqs have mss. seace
Again the harsh chant began. at
! times swelling to a shout. at times
dying away to a whisper. And 1t was
during one Of these later periods
that low laugh. instantly checked.
audible. and some one irritably said
| BE quiet" 1t was not repeated.
| which afforded Hugh, at any rate, no
surprise. For it had been Irma Pc
terson who had laughed. and it might
have been hilarity. or it might have
been a signal.
The chanting grew frenzied and
more frenzied: more and more powder
was thrown on the braZier till
dense clouds OF the thick vapor
were rolling through the room. COM
pletely obscuring everything save the
small space round the brazier. and
| the Indians tense face poised above it.
Bring the box. your grace" he
| cried harshly. and once more the
duchess knelt in the circle Of light
| with a row Of dimly seen faces above
| her.
"Open; but as you value your pearls
touch them not" Excitedly she
threw back the lid. and a chorus OF
cries greeted the appearance OF the
gold and silver tissue at the bottom
| Of the box.
They're here. Mr.. Ram Oar"
In the green light the Indians SOM
Der eyes stared round the group a
dim faces.
Did ! not say" he answered. thai
there was power in the box? But in
the name Of that power-unknown tc
lyou-I warn you: Do not touch thos,
EnAaYla till hA A1hA haa hurnAA LA