The Raymer enterprise., 1921-11-24

NO u&uu Out yOulS muSt touCn lA~
pearls. Wrap them up inside the nl-
yer and gold" AlooAy he watched
the process Now advance alone, and
open the box. Place the pearls in
side. Now shut and lock It" Obedi-
entity the duchess did d she was bid;
then she stood waiting for further In
structons.
But apparently BY this time the
Great Brooding Spirit was beginning
to take effect. Singing q monotonous.
harsh chant, the Indian knelt on the
door, and poured some powder into
q little brazier. He was still close
to the open window. and finally he sat
down with his elbows on bis knees.
and his head rocking to and fro 10
his hands.
LESS light-less light" The words
seemed to come from a great distance
--ventriloqulsm in mild way was
one Of Lakington's accomplishments;
and as the lights went out greenish,
spluttering fame rose from the brazier.
A heavy, odorous smoke filled the
room, but framed and motionless In
the eerie light sat the Indian, staring
fxedly In front Of him. After a time
the chant began again; 1t 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 fioor." he
ordered. ''in 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 empty" she cried 10
amazement, and the guests craned for
ward to look.
Put not your hand inside" cried
the Indian In sudden warning, "or per.
chance 1t win remain empty"
!. The duchess rapidly withdrew her
hand. and stared incredulously through
the smoke at his impasslve face.
did not say that there was power
In the box7" 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 Dar."
said the duchess q 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
Il empty. ;" he waited motion
less, while the guests thronged ROUND,
with expressions Of amazemeDt; and
Hugh. safe from view in the thick,
sweet-smelling smoke. came even near.
er In his excitement.
1T is enough" cried the Indian
suddenly. "Slut the box, your grace,
and lock It as before. Now place It
on the table whence 1t came. u It
there3"
yes" The duchess voice came out
Of the green fog. a -.
"Go not too near" he continued
warnirgly. "The gods must have
space-the gods must have space"
Again the harsh chant began, at
times swelling to q shout, at times
dying away to a 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
quieti" 1t was not repeated, which
Afforded Hugh, at any rate. no sur
prise. For It had been Irma Peterson
who had laughed. ard 1t 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 q
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 . green light the Indians som.
Der stared round the group Of
0lm ...,.>.
ITO BE coNT1NuED3
The lbsrians.