Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1922-01-04


toric pearls, and as the Indian bowed
low over her outstretched hand, his
eyes cleaned for a second.
1t had been the marquis of Laidley
himself who had suggested getting
hold of this most celebrated perform
er. who had apparently never been
in England before. And since the
marquis of Laidley's coming-of-age
was the cause of the whole evenings
entertainment, his suggestion had
been hailed with reclamation. How
he had heard about the Indian, and
from whom, were points about which
he was very vague; but since he was
very vague young man, the fact
elected no comment. The main thing
was that here, in the flesh, was a
dark, mysterious performer of the oc-
cult, and what more could a house
party require? And in the general
excitement Hugh Drummond crept
closer to the open window. Suddenly
his jaw frightened; Trina Peterson had
entered the room with young Laidley.
DO you want anything done, Mr.
Ram Dar?" asked the duchess-''the
lights down or the window shut?"
mo, l thank you" returned the In
dian. 81 am ready. Who first will
learn of the things that are written on
the scroll of Fate?"
And it was at that moment that the
intent watcher outside the window
began to shake with silent mirth. For
the face was the face of the Indian,
Ram Dar but the voice was the voice
of darlington. 1t struck him that
the next ten minutes or so might be
well worth while. The problem of re-
moving the pearls from the duchess
neck before such an assembly seemed
to present a certain amount of diff
Guilty even to such an expert as Henry.
And Hugh crept little nearer the
window, so IS to miss nothing.
Evidently the scene was now set
the necessary props were in position
and Hugh waited With growing inn
patience for the princi. u event. But
the principal performer seemed in no
hurry. In fact, in his dry way LAX
| ington was thoroughly enjoying him
self An intimate inside knowledge
of the skeletons that ratified their
bones in the cupboards Of most Of
those present enabled the gods to
speak with disconcerting accuracy;
and as each victim insisted on some
body new facing the sands that came
from beyond the mountains, the per-
e.
nitely.
At last a sudden delighted burst of
applause came from the group, an
nouncing the discontinue of yet an
other guest and with it darlington
seemed to tire of the amusement. En-
I crossed though he was in the anticipa-
ton of the main item which was still
to be staged, DrummOnd could not but
admire the extraordinary accuracy of
the character study. Not q detail had
been overlooked; not a single flaw in
Lakingtons acting could he rGtice. 1t
was an Indian who stood there. and
when a few days later Hugh returned
her pearls to the duchess, for a long
! time neither she nor her husband
would believe that Ram Oar had been
an EngItshman disguised. And this
was what happened as seen by tie
fascinated onlooker crouching near the
window outside.
superbly disdainfuI, the Indian
after Il short, meaningless patter, to
hold the attention of the audience,
stalked to the open window. With
arms 0utstretched he stared into the
darkness, seeming to gather strength
from the gods whom he served.
''Do your ears not hear the whisper
ings of the night?' he demanded. Life
rustling III the leaves dealt moaning
through the grasses And suddenly he
threw back his head and laughed,
fierce, mocking laugh; then he swung
round and faced the room. For a while
he stood mOtiOnless, and Hugh, from
the shelter Of the bushes, wondered
whether the two quick flashes that
! had come from his robe as he spoke
flashes such as q small electric torch
will give, and which were unseen by
anyone else-were a signal to the de-
funct chauffeur.
Then a peculiar look came over the
Indians face, as his eyes fell on a
Chinese cabinet
"Where did the Protector Of the
Poor obtain the sacred cabinet of the
Chow kings?' He peered at it rever-
emily. and the duke coughed.
Zone of my ancestors picked it up
somewhere" he answered apologeti-
cally.
Fashioned with the blood of men,
guarded with their lives, and one Of
your ancestors picked it upI The
duke withered completely under the
biting scorn of the words, and seemed
about to say something, but the Indian
had turned away and his long, delicate
fingers were lowering over the box.
With cleaning eyes he stared in
front of him. and a woman Shuddered