SHORT STORY

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 621, 25 September 1909, Page 18

SHORT STORY

t;3§fKTHEBITO^ '' ■: A $■-"'■ /' ! ; vi;pA:-descendant?bf.the'.yictim of this : mystcrl-', !;Sous;;reyeiigO' is';'a: well-kriown'..Glasgow' lady,; IK? and 'ohe:of tho; jowols, ■ airing-of great vaUie, ;■.'..':; ;;'.>,,-, ./.'•'' '..'

I^W^PW^'^^^ysterlpus/Hindus,,'-■, fcy'iyDeadl.'Therb;^ pr'. Peter 'iDaioj' of; 'Larigsido' Lodgo^' had", really'. IxV'pas'seH'away, though hoV or why noboily quite' |; [. Koßihed-to know. I *.yFiye^minutes' before. his |v,doath", i'ho' had;;lrecn.;/in/tho, best of .health, |;; ;ahil'"was : planning some/improvements on his |T ; beautifill.-mansion-house, , which was ,:sur-; ££.rounded;by- grounds" that 'caused' his. neigh-i !£;'l>ours;daily' spasms of'.jealousy :as they cpnfc'ivteipplatea the.;spring's, promisejand the.sunv t';. : mer's':'pride "of llbwerand.shrub in tho garp;|deh}sft:i'^>";::;,U;;^ v; ':'r:Vl,^;- ; -r- •■'.'•' - i;'-;,': : ' H'i:-yHe^'had 1 : gone iindoors.itO'::r'est.>-;--A/.,fow, r^'.ininu'tes'later,'a'fbell rang: violently'inHhe; ser-|J;;.yints'':quartors;-;but:wheri he" was reached' by' |;j'his'pbr'tly hutlej l ).John .Stephen,,:as. faithful .'a." s;j v: *btl : ,as troubled with, |f;, ; and 'scantiness of breath, .life was found to be an.ho'urbf : : death',;also,\.the : SV,ibbdyi;hadi:swollen.'tb:'ah endrmbus size, ;and i':;, had ■become: almost .black.V'ln .fact,, so rop'ulI'jjsiyo did it become;/tliat,it was swiftly placed Sn' : thb;cbffih.andVscrewed:dowri; ■ ■:(■.-,; ,'-'. j>-r:i■ s^AjPeter^DaleJhadsno: child.. ■A; mystery ftr«eemecl;.tb ;h'ahg;bver, ; his- early life. He had fc'b^n''m'arried,'' ; Rut:'rcbprt.statcd;.that.'his < wife |rhad^die'd iyouiig;.^ > ari(l ; certainly, there" was a', 1,5/Bix)n6;brect«d]to>the memory of.-.'Ula'rtha;-the ff-;b'eloyed';wif6.:.of-}Peterr;Pale,'.' r .in.'.the)Gorbals,. P: was .understood to be l/itho'ilace. of ef;.Peter'.;Dale's •■ young-' '.v 4 !; ■:;::?/•■:■•>.■. ;.'■;. '.■V.-v,'- : ';-.-;i.-,;; : ;,.':'■. \- : -; - i':« : f;',The".ohly' had' w'e'ro.a'. »;; nephew'and-a. niece—Neil Bailey, and.Carrie., two:he'.had hiinself, sought but r;;''and^b'rought^ : together.;> They had ..not been. Kawafe : ofi.;each;'other's:existence-.-before, /but ?- shev had.'introduced v ■ each other ,;and,-. [:^in'tende^^.to^ma'k^■'tfiem' r fiiCa'rrio';had ; not.lbeen ■ long :m , each .other-s |": they fell ..desperately, itf -love,". E\'BtUrdy,.'muscu : lar ; face '.on -honesty,'ts ? flraight-forwardness,, and determination were : |?,':writ:largb:-','.Carrie,;,on:Jier, side,. was just a, |v.it6ntlb, ; .sweet; , .retiHng;g_irl,;whos;e:chief.charm: f;^la'y';ih' : 'her.soh;';'melodious :ybfc'e...arid.:'jn. ; her pla"rg'e';yustroM^ teth'e'.great'beautj^f<her;facb. r -" ■'!.'-''f '"'■•■■ ,'/. piS Solong/as' : P,eter,*a'le'livcd,.'Ncilarid.Carr!e, p'Jiio'Terlwanted a/.ho'rae. .... They;- were.; .both ■■ ■.had-- been: .fightingivtheirfway; f;:in the/'wdrld,friendless |'f 'when I this ;iihkho)yn', "relativb: and. £;- ohahgeVl,'the•'horizon-'of. both^'in'thb. 1 fe ;mbst';' :mar . For ~;Petor /.Dale' fe'was fact",'.was ranked S :'as'/:bne} of, the'iri'chesb' of /the, great; Glasgow E'imerchant; prihces-.W-:He. had • resided ;in India' or % many •; years/ JCiilcuttaV being: : . his;-_ head-; ;/.;then"».:h.b,''had, gone to. America , to, Ces'tablish>ibrahch(!|-,|bf ihis; business';; in .'.'the p/iis'ingi'tbwhs,ph"! the'..Western, seaboard,/ 1 and' ;abput;.lß4o; t'.where he had/liyed until'the date of ..our story |, : i^'.Tho'i benefactor's .deathiwas 'f:'ifincreaseid,.:by.'th(i;:manner."of/it ahd:tho'/.cir-: p/cilmstances/attending' 'that Neil, and f^!Carrie/'could ; do;;'';h6wever,'was-tbremam,-', to-. : \\ .ge.ther;;and to'/endeavour.'jio/act.'as :he ..who •jSjHM;EoneV;wpUa';KaTO^^ j/a-/'.ln/:thb.:'state;in';'which,-the,:b'ody was,' the f,;vßobher. : .'it;:was;inte'rfed the/better. /Therefore. p.Neii.iiacting'/o'hVihe ■j'ihst'ructibns/of ,;Mr., John orders ;for;; /put.';, An; !§;mmeh>e'>cbncodrße;i : attracted -partly-/by ..'re:: |Vgard/:fpr/Peteri;Da!e::a'na/partly;;by /curiosity fi;to'? : a)iy^hin'g':iu f;;'coyere<d'.tb th'row'jlight'.fln/the mystery of,'his' |j;deathf_:fbllbweU r ;{thef'remains^;t fcriresting-place,';;the;Jfamily;vault/in, one of .'he 1 |/:blder^cnurchyaTdsSin';thp/city;:'; /;:;.;/< .;',■.:: figwiWheh ; allAwas!J)'yer, v'aiid.w'hehillr'./.Gbrdbh' «-; had ■',! retUrfled.;Mth/:Neir :I to /Ldngside: Lodge, Kihb/'/sMstP ilayo.to; |; ; makPfav I Yery;ciir;efur..''seajch |pinole's : /papers ,/fbfctJh/e/v will^'y^ich;4he;;fin- ; pitructed: Us i'to/i.drawS^ p jhphths// ago;". & ,?*-<£ %#£&&£&s' pwß.othvT'Jeilvand-.Carrioi'assisted hiin;to' go g?tWo'ugh^;all-:; : the;;papersYini/the house,' :;hut: fi*n.bthing- ; wasyo!iscpvcre<J; in; the'slightest/de-/ ffSgre'eV'pointihg-'/to'/thbSfact.^ jjS &;Jb;eeh'\m'ade. '■■ -;/^t^ilr?;Gor3pn'not/only, fcTemembered iitj/butTcpuld/bririgythptolerksiV pthis r'offiee."''ttfaSjearCthat ';theV.-haa ! : yiji4K^;.it. IS:;^iDo"iyou v nbvthinl^atithe^o"'pape^ who tidy f|;and jmethodical' ; man/. show, a .strange degree; j/^"Just/vth.e;yery,/thought/that .was'-,passing'' almost;s;looks,',as ipmepnb;; : ;/hadYgpne ;;:.thrdriglii thesp^ ! and, : 'what: theyJbelieyed/to'. iKh&'bf;'. ;value;;/;h,ad/'^ ;fe?;3But^vho/:cbuH f\f;out>soihe'.bf;;the 'sorVarits.:knowing?.-..5h?1l |y^e;'ask : Jphh'St^hen'?";^'.&^C'- , ;":// : S : l^ : ':' p/ivTho: worthy, butler' answered;tho.bell"with ; gf such;:: ama'zih'g.-'.'and/ |5/as //to/'giye/. : .rise;.toitlie' .surmise" that,he. had Kbeenimp'Fo^ s;at/jthe/;koyhblo.;;;;/..-;'/;.-:Y;-.-/•:,/; : / : v'. V- '/;:^/v' |3gHe/deriied/that/anyone!c6uld;obtaih' access: fc/to-vthe 1 ; place}':';.'unless '-'.with, his concurrence, k'but ie.; mphMphedvthat;.during i ;the/.paßt,two jhis'/mastef'had'/struckr;up fftajriepdsWp/.withu'.^air./bf,''^ • theffl,'s"andvyoU';heVer can, Straß't^ttem^bl'aot-divilsi'V-'ie^a'dd^^ Bientiously ] ..v,.:j,2-//;; " : -' /' • '.■.•.'■.■' p/y'ThisVis^hpw Jbhn^\' Why did Sv-v^;?' 6 ?^';^ '■. master-'said';a's'I• 'was "not;^tb; t; : ;th'pm:.there ,;bla,bk.":lrijiny, 'ahd : ■particularly',.! sV?'a,s,/notito/let pi;. to'Mr.;Neil/and Miss.Car r ; |;Vie'?&;!!»';'' -w'j : : ;gi:/^OTew,'^wtwhistled://Gordon":; under.vhis' :pv;breath,: v "l;am'affaid'-we are on/the eve of an/ ■Jmhpleasa'ht7discpy;dry.;;';WeUj'; ; w^^ p;p'cii;.;db;/.;wh'ttt ;.we'; cah, ; 'and/keop-what our fv,eouhtrymen;;! call ;ijs steekit; gab. -'./? ji'./:-'V/v ; ;'

!■;'■);Jphii-Stephbirihformcd-them'also that the f/two vHindusy; nanieor*respectivje]y.;;Lal;'MahehK'dra'Bhbse ■and'JCailas jKooinar,Sjiigh,' see'med fpb/Mvb/been/ac^ fe'lndia/f and /hadßsb'nght'■-him//oirt; ; ''-At first* |jlie/had /tried-/tp/cp'ncealjhis.''ide'ntity/.'arid'/'t'o |-' affirm-/that/ they "/were: 'miking a/.fristake/j g But/the/Hindus; were;:;too; -well;? informed'/ £/and/within/ah :hqur : {/with .them,. 1 tintl .cohiinued/so.tb be' .tor/'aevei' p*al/foiirs : jpV.'^ipm'rih'afi/^ {ibis/master's/happiness, seamed 'to. disappear. |>HB; ? gaye'.the" ; ,'s-waiting "for•some, terrible to : overpake:>;him'/rf.>Always;/afterv:tho Hindus had appeared Utterly: broken .and .limp; s' ! 6tophen-.also/said "that: he:had."asked : to' be l;allo x wed/tp deny!;nis'master-.to them,/a'thing,' liWhich'Dale^declared twith/emphasis to' bo ut/impossible../He'wound/up.'.his story |iwitfoth'e' -strange/sehtehcb, //'They/possess f. powers; pf,'..#hich - : .we,; in ■ the :A\ r est.can ; from.nb /":.::';" : /.';v" £/ i/iWhoy/then, were/these Hindus:,whose visits beeniso-eonstant ahd'always. when !■Neil/and/Carrie -, '-were -vaway ?-: The;. butler' | : Could/4ive'ho"information beyond.tho.names,.. (■■ lutKat-'last/he/struck -a/cluo. that was to s>prbyb;:of/valuo.'-.^Maybo"/Mr; Simon. ;Lang t/could hblp.you./sirjv ho;said; to'-,Gordons and >> in:reply;tq the ; query<a3> to. whb "Simon Lang f :was, . ; they/leh£rned tliat" he, was an' Orientalist ir.'.of/considerable/reputation/,who' had been on. i'/terms /of /thp/blosest' intimacy 'with •' Dale,. !/«'ntil,'the advent of 'tho"two' Hindus; /Ho: had: ?/dendunccd : thenr'as/spies-grid thieves'/ ' and |;when ; ;hi3iiriend!; would iiiot:take. his/advice,. I:he'quietly.withdrew/from all in'tercoursb with [/him/leaving him; as it : wero/to/his'fate./''o ) y get;him)ibv. all' means," said Gordon. at orico, i'f'hb;may: hold the 'duo-'inhis hand.!?/ '/-/./> J'/f.iStbphen/was.:absent, about; half:.an: hour, /and ithenreturnod.with/a : wizened-little iolil" Sman/whoso face-was a network of countless [Slihcs and ■ wrinkles. .The gleaming, grey eyes, "so/ piercirig./so.-koen, so direct in: /.their gaze/'gave the pontradiction-'to inyMdea /.that./through/ago.either/ ;his : .powers -were /diminished or his-natural forces/abated.._/ ; //VOn;ent-ering the drawing-rooinj where they iteccived;:him,..,tho'-oriontalist ; -bowed/,, pro-' ;.fp\tndly;-first: tbiCarrie,/and then: to-Gordon ;'aritl/tb Neil;: 7 Then-heisaid-'in- quick,;incisive /tones,: ''My old.friend.John Stephen .informs Krho.that-you'desire to soe "me.'-I have como f/os'l/understandithe matter is one of ufgenoy,

but please bo brief, as. I .was deciphering a Coptic MS., which iniist bo completed and aisrjatchpd to-day.". -::■ -' S '-,Y-'- '■'■■'...•y/•'/;"" *:-After"he had. been'.presented• to Gordon by Noil, who had met him onco or twice m 'the old days, the lawyer proceeded to recount wUit bad happened, and how their suspicions ihad ilighted on .'th'o Hindus /as being in _somo way"accessory to,the :disappearance of the will,-which ho knew had,been r:drawn : up. "And yet," ho added, "we may : bo doing .theso men-a cruel-injustice. Thoy may bo ■quite innocent, yet'thostrangotluhg is that aftorHheir appearance, from being one of the happiest,of men; -Dale became a prey to. the •deepest melancholy and always seemed to be dreading somothing.'' ■• ■/ ''/;/,',v *'■ '" Simon Lang listened patiently; and then, on the conclusion 1 of' Gordon's, remarks, said: "Ybu'are quite .right. ■ I suspect, those men, because I got a "letter :', from,'my- friend, -Dwaricenath Behari Gliose in Calcutta, warningriio thatithey were going.to.Europe, and; that ho thoughtthey wereupto no good. . '■ ''Did he indicate the grounds of;his. suspicion.?", said Gordon. v ;'.■.,''' •■:.- ;.'•:■ / /"No, he appeared to be entirely ignorant of these. He only knew that Lai Mahendra Bhbs'e,/.arid Kailas Koomar' Singh' belong to the :restloss revolutionary section of Hindu ;sppiety,,,and ho would.havo'me'be on my 'guard" and'warn J all ray friends to be on ■theirs.' I warned Dalo, but he scouted my warnings,'practically: told, mo to, mind »my •'own"'business,-and'-that'l was maligning tho character of two good men. : I, of course, at once retired, and came to see.him no more, but,' as' I was leaving his. room, I had/the 'a : keen* ~,'sonse of. smell which -I. possess,;'that" theso. Hindus were, concealed in the little ' ante-chamber; .open/'study, and. that they had -heard all I 'said:/ At..any,Tate,.l pan account in'no other way, for tho bitter' animosity 'they have showed towards me ever since. ;Ndt.;that.l care'one. Half-anna for what they can : say, ■ or ': do," - but..evidently they dreaded 'me, • and'.iiow I wish an opportunity to pit my.powers against theirs." ;: ■;/■■■'■ '~■/■/ ■ '"Good.-: Ybu: : shall-have it hero:" ,'■•". I'O.n'c thing I-ask "is./this..; Say nothing to ■tho police;''wo/don't' want detectives'.- humbugging round here. This is a mntter ;be-' yon'd'them."...-'.Bnth'G.ordon and Neil agreed 'witfi' J him7 i and the long "duel;waß then' com-' monced. ;.'■ -;.:'.'', : "'-,■'."'.-.' •. "'' '•'

:j; ; Cods are Avenged, _•..;'_';■ ':■'Th'oVfirst'-'thing.'Larig did-'was to ask to see ■ all/ Dale's papers.' /He. was: taken' to. 'the', study, /and ' ; ho immediately, began to smell,'them; all.' t 'The moment• ho did so:a 100k'■ "of trium'ph/*crossed - his;, face.-,'. "They have been'herevery recently,-in fact, within ; thb,: past'fifteen minutes.'','. At .this '.Gordon.; looked'"a. little contemptuous; and\oxplained that they, had, been : there,, all three, up to within ;haif. an hour .before',' when -.they, went to ■ meet,'him.,on. his arrival. ./Lang, -how-, ever,;'held' stoutly.;to;his'-.'opinion';' and,'suddenly;;pbinting'Vto'the''fireplace,;.:he .'.said, •"Tljere - is; proof, that" within the •' past ten" minutes'.or-loss these men/havo been here." "Within .tho' fender'. lay .• a'/ half-consumed aromatic match,. used>for offering sacrifices to, the.gods/'and. a.heap .of "partially-burned ■MS.; :iLang t ,.picked.:,the;bundl6. , :up' and."read, "Item,;,! ,also : begueath'-arid/'devise. to my deaf, niece,': Caroline Mary,; Miller, the "other moiety .'of my/estate, real /and; personal, whatever... on. being realised, it may. : ,. '•'. .!' On : another "sheet: was*;"ltem,;, to my faith'ful i biitler,-:' John Stephen, I.' ■. .•'-. the 'sun 'of.;;:-/;;•?".';■'/ r: " ; -'-- .';;;' -,:;;"Now,"r,;said. Gordon,'"you. see what that is. Wo have . interrupted. theso fellows in bur.hing 5 your uncle's will, Mr"./ Bailey, for T'recognisd my,dwh wbrding.pf the will." V. "But how/did .they;get',,here,' and.how; did they; get away, without .being .seen," , said Stephen /wonderihgly.; ;', .1. / ~ ."That. was a : simplp matter,, to men who could;'kill your:uncle and then".disappear," ,was ; Larig's;.reply:; : : -: ~; .. .': '."Whtit l>j-D6'-yo,u' moan to say- that-it .was these;'villains:'who killed poor uncle?" said /Carrie ; hptly.'■■"■;':.''■' '/■"'-;;:;,:,/;.;// ■''■;.•/*././ '/"Therbjis.hbt.a doubt'bf.it, Miss Miller," said Lang.";''-'Now;that /we' hayo/tp find out 'is: and'why'they'did "jt.. ; --It/Strikes'me that .'.we /shall discover ') the" 'how! after wo' have.'obtained':a r clue'.:to jthe :'.why.' : To'.my mind-the "one is dependent on tho other." '.His.: quiet confidence /reassured them,, and. they..-, him 'to make/, a/close, overhaul/of, if. thbcluo; ■wuid; |-beZ' ; picked;/upi'^thefe.fi;Sufeaffei< two] d£ys 'spent in this work,vh,e,fbuha.,h(msplf. no, .'nearer.: the/eludication'of; the ;mystery.;,.. / -,

■ The 'situation : was- becoming a - very/very trying,one, as.day/after.Vday passed and no explanation/was ;forthedming.':. Yet never for-:a'v'niomerit;':'did'/Slmoh:-Lang :loso: r his'/calm.. ■selfrppssession-.;- .J'Gourage,'r.-he;- would - say,, "wfl.-sh)illjwm;H"p^^ all ;his 7 ch'eerihess':t6': bear, up '.'against 'tho'perj sisteht;-laek/of ..success.', ..' .//:;/'• /v/'/::' /": '. A"; week, .had nowelapsed ./since ]Mr. 'Dale's ■death'.'. Simoif Lang/professed/to/ find traces that the' Hindus /were still ..about, and ho. begged Ms companions' not -to irclinquish the 'struggle: ; "I'.'am convinced -wo shall secure these 'fiends;!!the 'confidently-' asserted., ~.; : '; Carrie -and; Neil were;now joined ( 'by -. their friends,-, Mr.':,-and,Mrs.:. Aldsworthy. . Tom ; Aldsivotthy/was.a/sDlendid 'fellow, 'who-.had liyefl for':Boino-:ye'ars in 1 Indiaj'a'nd.wastherefdire -aicapitakcoadjutor of Simon -Lang. Tho two- worked intb v 'each-other's Hands admir-ably.-".Thb arrival bf'the'Aldsworthies enabled/Langnow. to have/a- "night.shift" and ;ai-i'Mayj/shif,t," ■ as _Jie^called-;them.-:";-: Aidsworthy- and John:Stepheh l?ept w'atcli by day, while Lang,: Gordon, and Jfeil'tpok thenight hours*''/--' '■ ; -' ;, '/ ; i: : ' :; ''./:' \-j'--'-'<: : '.V-\ : ' : \ / , ■'.' Those who were on guard by .nignt Uaa ' evidence' at : last 'that thero : were "other':. ip-" .matfes' of the: mansion-house,,than what - were. immediately known'tb'them.- ; Food.ibegan: to 'disappear from: the larders; and from - the butler's pantry.'- ,On two occasions at least the /watchers/saw. shadowy., figures.. stealing along the'eorridb'r. towards/the library at'the i ; dead :hour/of tho; night. ".They, rushed for/ : ward /to/intercept the ;'iritfuders,/ but'"', when they got there the. moonbeams playing on .tho. backs of the books ; ahd the hum of the night, beetles;w'as all that was seen and-heard.-lTip point of searohhby ithe/mys'teripus,,visitants■ ■seemed for"some'unknoym;'reason/to; ; bethp : libroi7 : ;'••v>' 7 V';::v .->.-:;/r:'/-,::.,...;,,'-, / Carrie was becoming, nervous-ana strained.. Thb; last, sound 'caused her. to 'start.// /One morning.'shb ha'd,.risen.earlier.than usiial, and oame down.to. the/brcakfasfc parlour. She felt very.-thirsty,.^her-mouth'-.boing*dry- and,hot, wieh just:-before' her. she saw, sot. a tempting ■ glass jug.'Of/ice-cpld:,w'ater and a.'tumbler;be-, side it/.' ■!, Jflst asVshe /was raising 'a /glassful bi'theiatter; to ; hor\lips"it ; was" struck .from• her. grasp,/and dashed oh the floor.in a thou-;sahd:jp"i<»es7';::-v*:;'-.:'//:; ,-;'.:"///■/ ■■-."."•'.':'. '.. .' Qh turning round, anger'.express'ed'in every .feafcurp',-slie ;.saw, Lang .'standing-beside her. /'Poison; 1 ' he-said rapidly.. •: ' lj : /;//>> ; /. - /Just ithen"; Stephen; entered,-, attracted /by tlie.nbisb.'."Did youplace'these on'-the table;. Jolm,"-said Lang quickly. /;:/;' : --/:-; // ■;;,."I?:. : . No,/hot:l,"'said';'the/ ; ''-qld,nian.'-.;in amazement. •:-:;■. '*■ ,- . : /:-:.- ./ ■■/,. .;//'-' : ''^/'/',:

/Lang took the liquid L that/was ; ,in.thejjug/ and pouring some of. it 'into, a saucer/ he said, "If poison is present tho fluid should berame a'deep, green colour when I add three'drops "of this acid to it.'f. Hb:did so, and instaintly the chango;he had,oxpepted took place.-.-'// : 'Poor-'Car'rio'trembled with fright over tho escapo!she.'had', just had;. "But Gordon /.and Lane declared "that this' playing fast and loose wifchTife had gone/far enough, ,'These fiends for! somo;/reason:want.to/remove you..', two/ Wehavo-yet'to' learn-why,!'; said -Lang -'.to '. Neil and Carrie>:<'.- .'/v'-; '':::':-,/

'' Singularly: enough/the 'reason.;:was-'to bo found,that same day.i -.worthy.in the library wa:s attracted by a title of. a. bobk'-he had never "known.. ; .-. It •;-.- was styled in bad monkish "'Latin, - : ''Elementa Psy'chioa Vifcae." '.Boiought/tp'take ( it;oiit,. ibut found that'it.was a'fixture/thatitfifaot the book was a dummy, -' "In/its'/side, libw-': • ever,-,was-an aperture,'and ih' tho'.cavity/.so. formod.-iverb some ipapers'• and; /parclimonts: yellbw:'with age. -/Aldsworthy/handed them overtpLang, who, uttcrcd/a cry of delight, and eagerly .beckoned the 'others/over . ..to him. /■.■•"'.-.-•... ~' / -.':..■ .::-.'-.:■■-;-/./.;

. The.papers wore.certain.letters addressed ..■grime■year's'before by Lalj.Mfih'endrn Bhbse and-Kailas -Koomar Singh-to -Peter-Dale, : demanding; that he.should marry th.eir kinswoman:, .."whom" lie had .carried '•' off from - tho Jain 'temple at Jeysulmerej in . Eajputana; along with certain jowols'of-great value; also that he should tnako~his will: in terms of . tiie;;pledge they .held- of him—namely,- .that a' : inoiety of all.ho,'then had.should bo hers. They reminded him-that;thc pledge to make that will was sworn before tho altar of Siva, and that therefore ;noi other -will could ' be valid, according to uativo law. Tho letter

than, went on to say that tho two Brahmans in question had been ordered by Mabavira, tho 24th Tirthakara or Jina (deity) to.pursue tho dosecrator of tho shrine'of Vishnu,. India, and Siva. If, bowevor, the Sahib would not marry Gitlia, and by will endow the temple with a moiety of his wealth, then on the anniversary of his crime—Juno 21— they should vindicate tho majesty of tbo gods by letting loose on him tho sacred snake.' ' . ' ', ' "Can that bo tho explanation of our friend's death?" asked Gordon,, with something lileo an oath. ; "Wait a moment until I refresh 'youi ( memory by reading something from my iiote-' book," said Lang hurriedly.',,..;.. ' •■'; He had been reading this'letter close to tho. shelves of tho library; and ho dropped it oh to the, protruding ledge which divided the; folio volumes from theso which were of loss.sizoi The letter remained lying on this ledge, while Lang was looking for 'the memoranda in his note-book, which ho wished to read. Suddenly there, was- the faintest, possible sound of a panel sliding along its. groove; a long, vertical slit or ape'rturo appeared in one of the divisions of books, which were thus shown to..be, in part at? least, "dummies," and a muscular,•< darkskinned arm protruded through the opening and seized the papers which Aldsworthy had just found. . ■' -' ■ ..- ' ■'.:'.''■■..'■ But the latter was■ a man 'on his,/guard against, all surprises. His suspicions had been aroused by something he had overheard.' Therefore, when the arm-arid hand emerged from behind ..the rows of books, ho had his revolver, which he ! kept-in readiness, out in a twinkling, and 'fired twice into tho'apenturel With a deep groan, the hand was seen to fall down until it rested on. the ledge, limp and inert.' ' ■,-",. ' • :.''■"".- , In a moment Aldsworthy and •Lang';had rushed to the aperture, while the latter, in passing him thrust his revolver into Neil's hand,' saying earnestly, "Run to : tho front .door. < Let no one pass out. Shoot him down .if necessary." ",:,■:.. Neil darted'.to the entrance hall, and'-for-, tunntely' was first. A second later,;a whiterobed figure rushed along tho corridor, ■ and would have passed out, but was met by Neil's stern, determined face,; backed by the revolver, ' ; ' ,

: The' fugitive, who was .a/Hindu of "loiddlo age, surrendered at discretion, and Neil, conducted'him,back to the library. 'Here" they found tho' members of the household grouped round the sofa, on which/lay an elderly man, evidently rapidly dying:/ ;_ •'., • '• . "Who are you, and who is this?" asked Lang sternly,'as he pointed to the sofa and addressed his.remarks'to Noil's prisoner. ' : :;,"This is Lal<Mahendra Bhose,; and I am Kailas'Kopmar Singh," was the reply. ■) "By what authority;do you shoot,men down in this ■ way ?"; he inquired in excellent English. i "By. the same • authority as you arrogated when you killed Peter Dale, by means of -the, poison of your sacred snake, when. you; entered this house without.,,permission, and wneniyoii plotted/against its inmates;"; ../- ':• "It is false," said Koomar ..Singh hotly: "We entered this house by tho,invitation of. Mr. ; Peter Dale.. Headvised us,/to "occupy •the secret, chamber that is-behind l tho panels of:his library."'-. ■■.-'..' .'':■',', ;, '. i "Stop,"" said \tho dying man '/.'faintly., "Vishnu-s'majesty is, vindicated,. India is satisfied," and the sleepless eye of Siva has bnlyj looked on justice dono. Peter Dalo failed to keep liis.promiso.to wed' tho holy Githa, the.'priest'k daughter. Ho carried lier : off and .left her to die in: Ceylon, but ,ho.,took.from her the.'sacred jewels; which

'he'still lias.",: .'..:;-■' .'• - //-, ' ; -',■•-'.■; I J "Yos, they are lockedyawayin'that safe," said Lang. :."■' .'■ ; : ■';' ,'■; "Sahib,"- said . the ■ dying^LaM'Jlahendra Bhose; turning to Neil Bailoy, whom he thus recognised as master, "take those jewels whichI, now hand you; they /ore of 'equal;' nay, superior value to those that, belonged to; the shrine, but they 'havo'nevor'been consecrated hy hanging on tho ; personof tho gods. Take these-' in 'exchiinge for: tho others,.-'• and you will be everlastingly ,fdrtunate. . Refuso them and yon ; and your betrothed will'die.. .'Then you/;riiust■'.let, my/companionVgOj .'and-ybii must". inter, me,, somewhere , silently ' and secretly."/ , .'.".' N > ;,■: ■/';/, ".\t"!,'' ' ["-."But you killed Peter Dale,": cried. Neil ha 4 to. slain.by his neglect, tho holy, maidon.'Git'ha, and though; ho repented, yet he.had to die to expiate-his crime, oven as I have.to'die for. having killed; him..: "But here/itj.ends..,..Sly blood will notbo required ofi, you,.sahib;'', he' addoo]; turning to'Aldsworthy. ./..',£,.V.:'-,- ; ,, /; In' another .moment'Neil had gone ;-tb 'the ■ safe,'-taken .out • tho. ;conseprated;• jewels, -had placed them in the dying man's hand; and. had recoived from liim the: other'packet. ; ',-.. "Now, go,Va said Bhose to his colleague,' "and,rest. n6i until you return tho sacred jewels tb .'the shrine at Joysulmere," '. . <

. Koomar Singh .only stopped.to. kiss','most' reverently'the hand of Ma|ie n dra:Bho'se, then he passed'out,of the room and.was-.s'een'no. more.': Thedying man then signed" to Neil; Bailey and to Carrib Jliller to approach him, and,having drawna jewel; of immense faluo from, his finger, ho placed the ring on hers, and ga/vo. tho handinto Neil's'keo'pijig., Then :he'lay baqkrand almost immediately;;expired. ■ Tho greatest secrecy was maintained' over the' whole episode of the ' death: of . Peter' Dale. , Tho body of Mahondra Bhose was privately interred in the garden of tlio'maJision-: house,'but no' one knows of his- sepulchre, until this day. The jewel which he placed on the, hand of Carrie Miller, however, is torday w'om' by.her descendant,, a well-known Glasgow:lady, v and is a ring of great value. ' '"•*>.■■ . The justice, of the East was vindicated.. A 'life 'was oxtracted for a*li.fe ; and a life' was paid for a life, until the majesty of .tho gods was : .satisfied!," . But m. the y Jain Temple of Joysulmero in Rajputana ; , 'tho recovered jewels blazo on the broast of the god, and the .priests, tell .the story, of the. Sahib who stole the jewels and the holy maiden, butwho expiated his'dual crimo with his hfo in far distant ■ Scotland.' The • arm of yishnu' is long, 'arid ; the eye of. Sleepless Siva' seos^far, and 'sin ever meets with, its punishment,' be'the day. of reckoning longer or shorter.—-"Weekly Scotsmaji.";:,.;,. ■ '■• .:'■:■, :■;'"/ ;// f ;..