The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1921-10-07


pearls. Wrap them up inside the sill
yer and gold" Aloofly he watched
the process. Nov advance alone, and
open the box. Place the pearls in
side. Now shut and lock It." 0bedi-
entity the duchess did as 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 a monotonous.
harsh chant. the Indian knelt on the
floor, and poured some powder into
a little brazler. 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 lightr The words
seemed to come from a great distance
-ventriloqulsm in a mild way was
one of Lakington's accomplishments I;
and as the lights went out greenish.
spluttering flame rose from the brazicr
A heavy, odorous smoke filed 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; It grew and
swelled in volume till the singer grew
frenzied and beat his head with his
hands. Then abruptly II stopped.
"Place the box upon the floor" 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 a 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 1t will remain empty
The duchess rapidly withdrew her
hand, and stared incredulously through
the smoke at his impressive 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 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 notion
less, while the guests thronged round,
with expressions of Amusement; and
Hugh. safe from view In the thick,
understanding smoke, came even near
er In bis excitement.
at is enough" cried the Indian
suddenly. "Slnit the box. your grace.
and lock II as before. Now place II
on the table whence 1t came. Is 1t
there?"
"Yes." The duchess voice came out
of the green fog.
go mot too near he continued
warniEely. "The gods must have
space-the gods must have space"
Again the harsh chant began. at
times swelling to a shout. at times
dying away TO a whisper. And II was
during one of these latter periods that
low laugh. Instantly checked, dis
turbed the room. II was plainly audi
BILE, and someone irritably said. "Be
quiet" II was not repeated. which
afforded Hugh, at any rate. no sur
prise. For 1t had been Trina Peterson
who had laughed. ard 1t might have
been hilarity, or Il 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 a
row Of dimly seen faces above her.
''0pen; 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 Oar"
In the green light the Indians SON.
Der eyes stared round the group Of
dim faces.
lTo BE coNTINUEDJ