Evening star., 1921-05-06
Bull Dog Drum1m0nd
we're a signal to the defunct chauf-
By CYElL. McNEUE SappeF
A Novel Of Mystery, Love and Adventure.


feur.
Then a peculiar look came over the
Indians face. as his eyes fell on the
Chinese cabinet
where did the protector of the
poor obtain the sacred cabinet of the
Chow kings" He peered at it rev
erently. and the duke coughed.
zone of my ancestors picked it up
somewhere" he answered, apologeti-
cally.
Fashioned with the blood of men,
guarded with their lives, and one of
your ancestors picked up it, The
duke withered completely under the
biting scorn of the words. and seem
ed about to say something. but the
Indian had turned away, and his long.
delicate fingers were lowering over
the box. There is power in TINS
box" he continued. and his voice was
low and thoughtful. Years ago
dwells the Great Brooding Spirit told
me of this thing. I wonder - i
With cleaning eyes he stared in
front of him. and woman shuddereo
audibly.
What is it supposed to do?' she
ventured. timidly.
"In that box lies the power un-
known to mortal man. though the
priests of the Temple City have
sometimes discovered it before they
pass beyond. Length You know ana
height and breadth-but in that DoA
lies more"
You don't mean the fourth dimen-
sion, do you?" demanded man IN
| credulously. :. -:
II know not what you call 1t. sa-
hib," said the Indian, quietly. but
| it is the power which renders visible
or invisible at will.
For a momen. Hugh felt an irresist-
| ible temptation to shout the tru.n
| through the window and give Lax
ington away; then his curiosity 10
see the next move in the game con-
ouered the wish, and he remained
Silent. So perfect was the mans act
| ing that, in spite of having seen the
substitution of the boxes. IN spite pl
| knowing the whole thing was ounH.
um. he felt he could almost belleVe i.
himself. And as for the others, withou.
| exception-they were craning forward
| eagerly, staring first at the Indian ana
| then at the box.
II say, that's a bit Of tan an,.a order. Ter
isn't it. Mr.. Rum Bar? protesteo tne ne
say you can put something into that
box. and it disappears?'
"F'rom mortal eye. Protector OF the
Poor, though it is still there. an
swered the Indian. And !. ina. snnsass Nnts;
ssain. e " So runs the legged"
| well. stuff something in and lets
see," cried young Laidley. starting
forward. only to pause before the IN
dams outstretched arm:
TO you that box is nothing; to others
of whom am one of the ieast-it Is
sacred beyond words He stalked
away from the table, and the guests
disappointment showed on their races
"Oh. but Mr.. Ram Oar" pleaded the
duchess. cant you satisfy our curios-
| ity after all you've said
For a moment he seemed on the
| point Of refusing outright; then ne
bowed, a deep oriental bow:
| "for centuries that box contained the
] jewels-precious beyond Words.ot
[ the reigning queens Of the Chow dy-
nasty. They were wrapped in silver
and gold tissue-of which this Is
feeble, modern substitute"
From a cummerbund under his robe
he drew a piece Of shining material,
the appearance of which was greeted
with cries Of feminine delight.
You would s. not ask 3 me ss1s.csd to somme ahs
material in his belt and turned away.
and Hugh's eyes glistened at the clev-
erness with which the man was act
ing. Whether they believed 1t or not,
there was not a soul In the room Dy
this time who was not consumed with
eagerness to put the Chinese cabinet
to the test.
"Supposing you took my pearls. Mr..
Ram Dar," said the duchess difhdently.
81 know that compared to such his
toric jewels they are poor, but per-
haps it would not be sacrilege."
Not a muscle on Lakington's face
ltwitched, though it was the thing he
had been playing for. Instead he
seemed to be sunk in thought. while
the duchess continued pleading. and
the rest of the party added their en-
| treaties. At length she undid the
fastening and held the necklace out,
but he only shook his head.
] You ask a great thing of me, your
grace" he said. Only by the exer-
else of my power can I show you this
| secret-even IL I can show you at all.
And you are unbelievers." He paced
slowly, to the window. ostensibly to
commune with the gods on the sub
ject; more materially to fash once
again the signal into the darkness.
Then. as il he had decided suddenly.
he swung round.
II will try" he announced briefly.
and the duchess headed the. chorus Of
delight. "Will the presences stand
back. and you. your grace. take that?"
He handed her the piece of material.
CONTINUED in Tomorrow's Starr