The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-01-09
CHAPTER XXXIV
NicoI Brinn's Story (Conc:uded)

THE incidents of the next seven
years do not concern you, gentlemen.
I had one aim in Hfe-to forget From
the time that I left India until the
moment when fate literally threw me
in the way of the late Sir Charles Alb
ingdon, had heard nothing of the cult
of Fire-Tongue.
Then, lunchng with the late Sir
Charles after my accident in the Hay
market, he put to me a question which
literally made me hold my breath.
DO you know anything of the sig.
nificance of the term Fire-Tongue?"
he asked.
Il am not accustomed to any dis.
play of feeling in public. and I replied
in what I think was an ordinary
tone:
In what connection, Sir Charles?'
Well said he. watching me odd
ly, I know you have travelled in In
dia. and I wondered if you had ever
come in contact with the legend which
prevails there. that a second Zoroas-
ter has arisen. to preach the doctrine
of eternal fire.
I have heard it, l replied guard
eddy.
"I thought it possible continued
Sir Charles, and am tempted to
tell you of a curious experience which
once befell me during the time that
was a guest of my late friend. Colo
mel Banheld, in Delhi. My reputation
as an PSYCHOLOGIST was not at that time
Z ftrfr FoE - Tos
but 1 already had some reputation in
this branch of surgery; and one eve
| ming a very dignifled Hindu gentleman
sought an interview with me, saying
that distinguished native noble. who
was a guest of his. had met with a
| serious accident, and Offering me a
fee equivalent to nearly $500 to per
form an operation which he believed
to be necessary.
CT assured him that my services
were at his disposal, and blankly de
clined TO accept so large a fee. He
/ thereupon explained that the circum-
stances were peculiar HIS friend be-
longed to a religious cult of ex-
tremely high order. He would lose
caste if it became known that he had
| been attended by Christian surgeon;
! therefore my visit must be a secret
one.
/ Accordingly l was driven in a
car which was waiting to some house
upon the outskirts of the city and
conducted to a room where the pa
tent had been carried. I saw him to
| be q singularly handsome young man,
/ 0k1 . -
there was something effeminate about
him which repealed me, l cannot say
in what way: nor did I approve Of the
presence of many bowls of hyacinths
in the room.
" However, l performed the opera
ton, which, although slight, demanded
some skill, and with the nature OF
which will not trouble you. Intense
anxiety was manifested by the young
mans attendants, and one of these
a strikingly beautiful woman, insisted
on remaining while the operation was
performed.
"'She seemed more especially fo
concern herself with preserving in
tact lock of the young mans jet
black hair, which was brushed in
rather an odd manner across his ivory
/ forehead Naturally enough, this cir
cumstance excited my curiosity and
distractlng the womens attention fol
a moment asked her to bring ms
something from a table at the oppo
site side of the rOom-I lightly RAISED
this hayward lock and immediatel!
eplaced it again.
] cd
Mr. Brinn?
Il assured him that 1 did not.
"a mark, apparently natural, re
sembiing a torch surmounted by I
tongue of fret
Strange though it must appear
at this time I failed to account 70
Sir Charles confiding this thing to me
Later, I realized that he must hav
seen the mark on my arm, although
he never referred to it.
ct moved at once. l inserted il
the Times the prearranged message
hardly daring to hope that it woul
| come to the eye of Nadia; but it did
She visited me. And I learned tina
not only Sir Charles Abingdon, blu
! another, knew of the mark which
bore!
81 was summoned to appear befer
the Prophet of Fire.
Gentlemen. what 1 saw and hoV
succeeded in finding out the loca
ton OF his abode are matters tina
can wait. The important things ar
these First. l learned why 81
Charles Abingdon had been done u
DEATH
Ehe unwelcome attentions of tn
mar known as Ormuz Khan led ST