The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1921-07-26
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From the City of
4 Mystery
By DOROTHY wHITcoMB
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down with 2 fpsl tap The man Of
bids waved his hand towards the
cashiers desk. Earle Barton paid
four dollars, gave his name and ad-
dress, received package wrapped.
In tissue paper and regained his COM
panipn. Ward Tolman.
Whatever ipduced YOU to pay that
money for . toy that looked to me
like cross between a bahy's rattle
and a nutmeg grater3" rallied young
T0lman. t'
ITS prayer mill from Thibet," said
Earle. ut IL made by the priests in
that great city Of mystery, Lhassa, a
place where they visit the intrusion
Of stranger with death. The dew
otee, when he wishes to pray, sim
ply turns the mill and his work is
done for him."
II see" nodded Tolman carelessly;
"but how do you come to know SO
much about these curios?"
Earle flushed deeply and evaded q
direct response. He went on to tell
that he had certain liking for IN.
tiques.i The auctioneer had interested
him by n9rrating the story Of na.
tive priest Of Thibet travelling in the
United States, who had died in debt
and whose effects had been sold to
bury the poor fellow. The name Of
the man was engraved on the mill
"Zuelphi."
The friends parted, Tolman, who
had money and position, to attend
some social function, Earle, who had
very little, to prQceed to the nearest
express office and send the prayer
mill package to Miss yelda Tresham,
MaybroOk. Then he went to his
rather cheerless room where he was
making struggle Of life trying to
write for the newspapers.
Maybrook was the little country
town from which Earle had come six
months previous. Velda Tresham was
the one young lady In that village for
whom he entertained q warmer senti-
ment than she had ever OWNED. Tol-
man, making a visit to the city, had
come across Earle. Only casually had
Earle ventured to ask about Velda. He
had heard incidentally that Tolmdn
had been paying some attentions to
the young lady, and did not seek q
gratuitoys heartaehe by exploring the
Intimacy.
Earle knew that the erudite Profes-
sor Tresham, the father Of velda, was
q great collector Of unique oddities.
He had sent the prayer mill to yelda
hoping she might write to him.
The next day Earle happened to
meet Tolman. The latter dropped
into jewelry store and produced an
exquisite little ring. BI
II wish you would engrave this for
me-" he said to the 1eweler, and care
lessly scribbled on 2 card: Ward to
Velda."
Earle CHANGED to glance at the In
scriptlOn ordered.
The discovery killed a good deal
Of the ambition of the young writer
| He changed his room for q cheaper
one. Things did not 90 very, well
with him.
And then suddenly, by rare chance,
there awoke one day In the experience
Of this lonely city waif the most ex-
trayagant soul OF hope. Alagically
poverty was gilded and fOrlOrn dis
tress became fading wrath Of the
past.
A man, a lawyer, hunted him out
after II long quest, he said. Was he
Earle Barton? Yes, He lived at such
an address fOrmerly2 Yes, again. Was
he the purchaser, on such date, al
such an auction shop, Of certain
prayer mill?
The long and short of It was that
the owner of the prayer Mill was 9
member of one Of the richest, noblest
families In Thibet. His relatives hat
too late learned OF his fatal, stranded
situation. Now they had ordered his
remains returned to his native sOll-at
any expense. The mill must be found
III i took fortune.
Ten thousand dollars was Offered
for the return Of the prayer mill. l,
was at distance Then go for it
and expenses advanced. This was thu
gist Of the strangers proposal.
The first thing Earle learned wher
he reached his native town, was tina
Velda was not married. The mex
was that Ward Tolman had welded 4
lady In the next town named Velds
Morse. Then Earle Barton realized
his error.
In an hour he was at the Treshan
home. Through an open window h,
saw Velda. She was looking at {
photograph. Her face grew pale ant
she trembled as abe admitted him t.
the house. He told her Of his mis-
sion.
y will get the prayer mill for You,
she said, but In arising her unstead!
hand brushed the photograph to thu
fOor-his own!
"Wait." said Earle. a new light shin
Ing in upon his sOul-"why did y0,