The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-12-20

Great Moses breathed Jarvis.
Hes had the cheek to send them
back again.
His excellency-" began the page.
when Jarvis snatched the shoes from
his hand and hurled them to the
other end of the shop. His white
beard positively bristled.
So positively ferocious was his
aspect that the boy, with appraised
arm. backed hastily out into the
street. Safety won ''Blimey," ex.
claimed the youth. Hes the warm
goods. he is!''
He paused for several moments.
staring in a kind of stupefied adj
miration at the closed door of Mr..
Jarvis establishment. He whistled
gain, softly. and then began to run
for the formidable Mr. Jarvis sud
denly opened the door Hi, boyr'
he called to the page. The page hest
tated, glancing back doubtfully
Tell his excellency that l will send
round in about half an hour to re-
treasure his foot
The boy departed. grinnine. and
little more than half and hour later
a respectable looking man presented
himself at Savoy Cour;, inqurins
of the attendant near the elevator
fol the apartments of his excel
lency," followed by AN uninteIligible
word which presumably represented
"OrmuZ Khan" The visitor wore a
well-brushed. but threadbare tweed
suit. although his soft collar was by
no means clean. He had a short.
reGdish-brown beard, and very thick,
curling hair Of the same hue pro-
trUded from beneath a bowler hat
which had seen long service.
Like Mr.. Jarvis, he was bespec-
tacled. and his teeth were much dis
colored and apparently broken in
front. as is usual with cobblers. His
hands, too, were toil-stained and his
nails very black. He carried a card
board box. He seemed to be extreme
ly nervous. and this nervousness pal
pably increased when the impudent
page, who was standing in the lobby.
giggled on hearing his inquiry.
Shut up. Chivers," snapped the
hall porter. Ring the bell" He
glanced at the cobbler. Second
floor, he said. te-sely. and resumed
his study Of newspaper which he
had been reading
The representative of Mr. Jarvis
was carried up to the second floor
and the If man. having Indicated
at which door he should knock, de
seconded again.
There was a short Interval, and
then the door was opened by a man
who looked like a Hindu. He wore
correct mo, ming dress and through
soid-rimme- pince-nez he stared in
Quiringly al The caller.
rs his eXcellency at home:v asked
the latter I'm from MI. Jarvis. the
bootfnakei
Oh said the other. smiling slight
y. Come in. What is your name?'
Parker. si-. From Mr.. Jarvis
As the door closed, Parker found
iiself in q small lobby Beside an
-i;brelll rack a high-backed chair
--; placed. sit down." he was di-
ICED. Il VIII jell his exceIency
chat you are here"
4 door was opened and closed again
and Parker found himself alone. He
twirled his bowler hat. which he held
in his hand. and stared about the
place vacantly. Once he began to
whistle. but checked himself and
coughed nervously. Finally the Hin.
du gentleman reappeared reckoning
to him to enter.
Parker stood up very quickly and
advanced hat in hand.
Crossing the room. the Hindu
raped upon an inne- door. opened il
and standing aside. The man from
the bOotmaker." he said in a low voice
Parker advanced, pee~ing about him
as one unfamiliar with his surround.
ings. As he crossed the threshold the
door was closel behind him. and he
found himself in a superheated at
mosphere> heavy with the perfume of
hyacinths.
He stood dumbiy before man WIN
lolled back in deep. cushioned chair
and whose almond-shaped eyes. black
as night, were set immovably upon
him. This man was apparently young
He Wore a rich. Drocaded robe
trimmed with marten fur. and out )l
it his long ivory throat rose statues
quely. His complexion was likewise
Of this uniform ivoryncolor, and from
his low smooth brow his hair was
brushed back in series OF glossy
black waves
One long. slender hand lay upon
cushion placed on the chair arm.
and a pretty girl was husily engaged
in manicuring his excellency's nails.
Although the day held every promise
of being uncomfortably hot. already
huge fire was burning in the CRATE
AS Parker stood before him, the
languid. handsome Oriental did not stir
a muscle, merely keeping the gaze
of his strange black eyes fixed upon
the nervous cobbler. The manicurist,
after one quick upward glance. con-
tinued her work. But in this moment
of distraction she had hurt the cuticle
Of one of those delicate, slender fin
gers.
Ormuz Khan withdrew his hand
sharply from the cushion, glanced
aside at the girl, and then, extending
his hand again, pushed her away
from him. Because of her half -kneel.
ing posture. she almost fell. but man
aged to recover herself by clutching
at the edge Of a little table upon
which the implements OF her trade
were spread. The table rocked and
a bowl of water fell crashing on the
carpet. His eXceiiency spoke. His
voice was very musical