The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-10-08

"No hand but yours hust sill.
pearls Wrap them up inside the sn
yer and gold" Aloofiy he wa'' nnd
tho nrocess. Now advance alone al"
omen the box. Place the pearls ~
side. Now shut and lock 1t. opeu
emily the duchess did as she was ou
then she stood waiting for further III
structiOns. thu
But apparently by this time .''o
Great Brooding Spirit was besihhihs
TO take effect. Singing monotohou''
harsh chant, the Indian kneit vi ny
floor. and poured some powder ,n'o
q little brazier. He was still ciose
TO the open window, and finally he Sat
down with his elbows ON MS khee''
and his head rocking to and FRO Ill
his hands.
"I.ess light-less light" The words
seemed to come from great distance
-ventrloquism in mild way was
one of Lakington's accomplishments
and as the lights went out greehisii'
spluttering flame rose from the prazici'
A heavy. odorous smoke hlled tiie
room, but framed and motioniess III
the eerie light sat the Indian, staring
fixedly in front of him. After tihie
the chant began again; it grew ana
swelled In volume till the singer grew
frenzied and beat his head with MS
hands. Then abruptly it stopped.
"Place the box upon the floor" he
ordered. 'in the light Of the Sacred
Fire" Hugh saw the duchess kneei
down on the opposite side OF the
brazer, and place the box on the Hoor,
while the faces of the guests-stranse
and ghostly in the great light-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 empty" 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 it will remain empty"
The duchess rapidly withdrew her
hand. and stared incredulously through
the smoke at his impassive face.
ibid 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 a 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 it 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 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 amazemeEt; and
Hugh. safe from view in the thick.
understanding smoke, came even near
er in his excitement.
1T is enough" cried the Indian
suddenly. "Sfsut the box, your grace.
and lock it as before. Now place it
on the table whence it came. Is 1t
thereT'
EYES," The duchess voice came out
Of the green fog.
go not too near" he continued
warniEgly. "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 it 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
quiet!" 1t was not repeated, which
afforded Hugh, at any rate, no sur
prise. For it had been Irma Peterson
who had laughed. ard it might have
been hilarity, or it might have been
a 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
They're here. Mr.. Ram Dar."
In the green light the Indians SOM
Der eyes stared round the group OF
dim faces.