The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-04-14

"No hand but yours must touch IN
pearls. Wrap them up inside the "a.
yer and gold" AIoofiy he watched
the process. Nov advance alone, and
open the box. Place the pearls in
side. Now shut and lock It." Obedi-
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 monotonous,
harsh chant, the Indian knelt 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,
and his head rocking to and fro in
his hands.
LESS light--less lightw The words
seemed to come from a great distance
---ventriloQuism In a mild way was
one Of Lakington's accomplishments;
and as the lights went out greenish.
spluttering fame rose from the bra5ier.
A heavy, odorOus smoke filed the
room, but framed and motionless In
the eerie light sat the Indian, staring
flxedly in front OF him. After 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 floor" he
ordered, "ln the light of the Sacred
Fire" Hugh saw the duchess kneel
down on the opposite side Of the
brazler, and place the box on the floor,
while the faces of the guests-strange
and ghostly in the great light-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 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 impasslve face.
'Did not say that there was power
In the box2" 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 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 1t 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 boz
| Is empty. :" He waited motion
less, while the guests thronged round
with expressions Of Amusement; an(
Hugh, safe from view in the thick
sweet-smelling smoke, came even near
| er In his excitement.
"It is enough" cried the Indian
suddenly. "Slrut the box, your grace,
4 Ia Mo 4
on the table whence 1t came. Is II
| there?"
"Yes." The duchess voice came out
of the green fog.
$50 not too near" he continued
warniEgly. 1.-THE gods must have
space-the gods must have space"
Again the harsh chant began, al
times swelling to shout, at times
dying away to 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
quiet!" 1t was not repeated, which
afforded Hugh, at any rate, no sur
| pIiSt. tut IL hdu DSSh anna CtCASOh
who had laughed, ard 1t might have
been hilarlty, or 1t might have been
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.
"Opeu; 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)