Evening star., 1924-04-20

y WAND.
striving toward the heights of purity
such refreshments as are fitting bt
| brought"
THE servitor clapped his hands
portieres opened, and a slender
girl, swathed to the face in white
| entered bearing a tray. She movet
slowly, and. if the phrase be per
! missible, with mechanical grace. ant
stood waiting. The eyes of the servi.
tor did not lower themselves, but
! remained fixed on Alpin Stone.
"Enlighten us, master" said Alpin
and some subtle change in his voice
caused me to sit tense and appre-
hensive, lis not evil worked unde,
the shelter of virtue of blacker face
| than evil which stands fearless in the
| openT'
l looked to the Beggar. His head
rested upon his breast; his eyes were
closed, and his face was one of Der.
feet peace.
The master sleeps" said the SER
vitor.
TT is WELL" said Alpin. HE will
neither see nor hear
1T is well,'' replied the servitor.
"Rutton Lal," said Alpin.
Il am Rutton Lal''
AT first 1 was deceived. His good
ness deceived me-"
"It was we'll conceived" said the
fat servitor, rising. He laughed with
an amusement which was inexplica-
bly, repulsive to me. See" he said
You came to gain knowledge. Look
With sudden gesture he threw bach
| the folds which concealed the face ot
the girl bearing refreshments II
| was a white face, a western face
| "Marylin Graine," said 1 for her fea
lures had been made familiar in the
public prints since her disappearance
Rutton La1 spared me a glance
You know what you know" said he
and laughed again. Now the work
of your lives is accomplished"
Suddenly Alpin clutched my arm
1.-THE table" said he, and, remember.
ing, I began to recite those labors OF
my schooldays. "One times one Is
one, one times two is two, one time:
three is three. :" But even as
counted I saw things which were not
The Beggar of Benares vanished from
his seat, and in his place sat a woman
of gracious beauty, at whose facs
coiled a snake. and as I watched, re
citing mechanically. fighting to per.
ceive the real from the unreal, the
snake uncoiled and moved toward me
Alpin stood beside me, staring, wild,
of eye, wavering upon his feet.
tried to cry out, but no sound came
I knew. but 1 do not know how
knew, that the approach of that ser.
pent meant the approach of death
but I was powerless to move. Isl,
times six is thirty-six; six time:
seven is fortytwo; six times eight
I could not recall it. 1 struggled te
remember the. answer.
Rutton Lal came very close to Alpir
Stone and laughed in his face
I'VE who do the bidding of the
Maharaja of Sawnpore do it WE'LL
he jeered, and suddenly stopped jeer
ing, for AIpin no longer wavered or
lCSk Will oIo~Sy lace anu hAlI
shut eyes; Alpin's left hand clutchet
the fat olive throat, and there wa.
the sound of a blow as the butt oi
Alpin's automatic fell upon the lanL
hair Of Rutton Lars rounded skull
The man sank to the ground.
Jenkins" said Alpin.
T CLENCHED my hands, rubbed my
eyes. The beautiful woman gave
place to the sleeping Beggar; the
crawling snake vanished. 1 fei,
weak, nauseated.
HE almost had me-" said Alpin
He bent quickly and handcuffed thu
wrists of Rutton Lal. "Tie his feet
said he. Here is rope. We're no,
out Of the house yet-nor Marylin
Graine.-
parently sightless, unmoved by what
had passed.
"Rutton," said A1pin, "at the first
appearance of something that doesn't
exist shall shoot"
The Hindu Shrugged his shoulders
You escaped from prison in Aus
tralia."
Evidently"
why did you send the snake te
Mrs. Sandys?"
Rutton Lal maintained a stubborn
silence.
do you want him to know?" Alpir
pointed to the still sleeping Beggar
mo. No. He must not know"
IT thought so. Sublime goodness
can impress even such as you. Talk
| and / promise he shall not know
How is Mrs. Sandys concerned il