The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1921-08-12

NO ntn0 cut yours luust louSh "N
pearls. Wrap them up inside the Sh-
yer and gold" AlOofy he watched
the process. Nov advance alone, ana
open the box. Place the pearls IN
side. Now shut and lock it," Obedi-
emily 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 &nelt on the
floor, and poured some powder into
a little braZier. He was still close
to the open window, and finally he sat
down with his elbows on his knees,
ana his head rocking to and fro in
ht1 hands.
"lness iight--iess dght - The words
secm4& 20 come from a great distance
-vcntriiOquism in a mild way was
one of Lakington's accomplishments;
and 6s the lights went out a greeniSh,
srluttering llane rose from the brazier.
4 heavy, OGOrrIs smoke filled the
room, but framed and m%OtionIeSS in
the eerie light sat The Indian, staring
fXedly in front OF him. After q time
the chant began again il grew and
sWellcd in volume till the singer grew
frcnzied and beat his head with his
hands. Then abruptly il 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
b~razier, and place the box on the floor,
while the faces Of the gueStS-strange
and ghostly in the great iight-peered
like specters out Of the neavy smoke.
This was undoubtedly d show worth
watching.
"Open the box" Harshly the words
rang through the silent room, and with
fingers that trcmbled a little the Ouch
ess turned the key and threw back
the lid.
why, it's empty! !" she cried in
amazement, and the guests crancd 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 inCrcdulouSly through
the smoke at his impressive face.
Did l not say that there was power
il the bOX?" he said dreanily. The
power to render invlsible-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 lot
| 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, anne even near
or in his excitement.
ut is enough cried the Indian
suddenly. "Slrlt the box, your grace,
and lock it as before. Now place it
on the table whence it anne. Is -it
there?'
"Yes." 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, mt
times swelling to a shout, at times
dying away to a whisper. And it was
during one of these latter periods that
Il low laugh, instantly checked, dis
turbed the room. 1t was plainly audi
Bile. and someone irritably said, e
Quiet!" Ii 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
knclt in the circle of light, with a
row Of dimly seen faces above her.
open but as you value your pearls
touch them not" Excitedly she
threw back the lid and a 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 SOM
Der eyes stared round the group of
dim faces.
CTO BE CONTINUED