Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-24

more brilliant, more triumphant than
he had even seen them, stood Zoraida.
"Can you say now, Senor Ameri-
cano," she cried out, the music of her
voice rising and vibrating, that have
not set the spell of my spirit upon your
spirit, the influence of my mind upon
your mind? You stood here and the
chamber was empty about you. 1
came, but 20 that you might not hear
with your ears and might not see with
your eyes And yet, looking Mt you
through a pin hole in drawn curtain,
l made you conscious of nc and called
vcicelessly to you to come and you
came ~
There was laughter in her oblique
eyes and upon her scarlet lips, and
Kendric knew that it was not merely
light mirth, but the deeper laughter of
conqueror, a high rejoicing, the
winged joy of victory.
Il am no student of mental forccs;"
said Kendric.
But to my knowledge there is moth
Ing unusual in ones feeling the pres
! which your mind can exert over mine,
/ don't admit it. It's absurd"
| Contempt hardened the line Of her
mouth and the laughter died in her eyes.
Man is an animal Of little wisdom, "
she murmured as she passed by him into
| the room, because he has not learned
to believe the simple truth"
"If there Is, anything either simple
or true in your establishment, he
blurted out, II haven't found it."
She went to the table before she
turned. A flowing garment Of deep blue
| fell about her; on her black hair like q
coronet was crest of many colored,
| tiny feathers, feathers of humming birds.
he learned later; throat and arms were
bare save for many blazing red and
green stones, feet bare save for ex-
quisitcly wrought sandals which were
held in place by little golden straps
which ended in plain gold bands about
the round white ankles.
Slowly she turned and faced him.
But not yet did she speak. She clapped
her hands together and the curtains at
man stepped before her, bending deeply
| in genuhection No Yaqui, this time
no Mexican as Kendric knew Mexicans.
The man was short, but few inches
over five feet, and remarkably heavy
muscled, the greater part of the body
showing since his simple cotton tuniC
was wide open across the deep chest,
and left arms and legs bare. The fore
head was atavistically low, the cheek
bones very prominent, the nose wide
and fiat. the lips loose and thick. The
man looked british, cruel and ugly as
he stood face to face with the noble
beauty of ZOraida. And yet Kendric
glancing swiftly from one to the other,
saw a peculiar resemblance. 1t was
the eyes. This squat animals eyes were
like Zoraida's in shape though they
lacked the fire of spirit and intellect !;
long eyes that sloped outward and up
ward toward the temples.
Zoraida spoke briefly. imperiously.
Kendric did not understand the words,
though he readily recognized the tongue
for one of the native Nahua dialects.
Old Aztec it might have been. or Toltec.
The man saluted, bowed and was
gone. But In moment he returned,
another man with him who might have
been his twin brother, so strongly pro-
nounced in each were the racial phys
iognomic characteristics. Between them
they bore a heavy chair Of black pol
ished wood, the feet of which were
eagles talons gripping and resting on
crystal balls. They placed it and stood
waiting for orders or dismissal. She
gave both, the first in a few low words
in the same ancient tongue, the latter
with gesture. They bowed and disap-
peared. Zoraida. one hand resting upon
the stand near the Jewel glowing upon
the transparent stem, sank gracefully
into the seat.
"All very imposing" muttered Ken
dric. but If you have anything to say
to me I am waiting"
From somewhere in the room parrot
which he had not seen until now, and