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* SYNOPSIS. . Zucioru is left an orphan el ir. earlj ^ *age. Her father is kitted in u m>.c m;ne. W Zudorc and the fortune frcrn the mine, which grows to be worth $20.0ix\0j0. are left in the guardianship of Frark Keen p. Zudoras mother's brother Zud?*ra. giving promise or great beauty, rvr Ins tn<a age of eighteen. The ui. -le, wru h;is so; himself up as a Hindu n\/si>e c*nd .& , known as Hassam All. d-n-id^s that Zu! r^nct Ait* ^ c I chance to come inio possession ot her money, so that it may bt tc-fi ;o hnn. the. next of kin. Ha-ssam Aii sees an obstacl*to his scheme in tbe person oi 'oiv. Storm, a young lawyer, for whom M-: dora has taken a fancy. f?nd he c;.tL mands the girl to put the man out ol nr.^ mind. Zudora insists vhat if she carm; t marry Storm she wiH marry no or.e "Well, well," says llassarn Aii. "if you take such a stand I'll compromise. Solve my next twenty cases and you can marry him; fail In a single case and you must j renounce bim." Zutiura. usine the knowledge gained from years of association with her uncle, unravels a baffling mystery and wins her i first case?a case in which John Storm in , | * saved from being convicted of a murder ; V instigated by Hassam Ali himseif. \ CHAPTER II. The Sleeping House Mystery. rf I 1HE clearing of John Storm was a nine days' wonder, in court Hassam Ali testified that Burns bad been seeking some facts regarding the past and that be, Hassam Ali, had sacceeded in aiding bim to a certain extent But the name of BiecTeitb' had never been ftnrinn "fhr?<St? ?Pfinf>PS- EI(? UJCUliUUCU UUHiiQ , could not imagine why Barns had corn mitted tbe crime. There was do evi* -dence to be found that the two men bad ever exchanged a word. He was rather confounded at the turn of events. Tbe broken phrase "but another' was as mucb a mystery' to him as to the court It was inexplicable. Oas< sam All received a good deal of con j temptuous grilling fromabe district at torney. but the witness answered every question calmly and in detail. He ad mitted that he was a disciple of the W Hindu cult: admitted that he had the ~ gift of second sight at times. There were many who could testify to this A !i filJ'l'lr loft the WltHeSS chair with honors in i:?s favor. ; A subsequent investigation by the (police revealed nothing to Ins (lis red it so far as the law was concerned His past, from the circus days to the present day, was as an open book. Iv deed. Hassaui Aifi was himself the in stigator of this research. He wanted it delinitely understood that, while his cult was not looked upon favorably by the police, he was not the object of any justiSable suspicion. His grave air, his unfailiug patience tinder the gibes of the interrogator, his frank Eess\ ail won him art lea^t the-respeet V of his detractors The man Bums was Imried at the .expense of the city. and what was known ?s the fS^nreith <ase went into the public archive as oik-' more uu Wp .solvable .mystery It was reinar&ed. however. a morn; his associates that .fohn Storm tost ;? k -deal of tus impetuosity and :1 hat in his " subsequent cases he ?:&? uo longer brilliant and erratic, .but calm and ..steady. aJv.ays extremely well r??rtjrie<i within liis facts .New -York city ha? without rionht the most conglomerate jpoput&tiou of any city in tJj^ w-crici The only alien rate wUi?h does fv.n tiu<J haUitat in .\e\\ Vork ts tlj*> Aztec. and that is merely because (he A/.te<- j* extinct Ami L each rare lias quietly formed a <-u.\ or L its ov.n witJLijij .thf greater city IPfcere are .Little Italy, the <*iietto. China :town and fte.2iv.e11 ku<?ws bo.v; nuuiy , I -others. all fa?i:liaf to sightseers Kt ; there ia a lot goiu;: on ia Ae-w Yonk . .among shese aliens that even tile ; .Jice never hear aiiuut except by purest j accident Wlio can -say he know* the ! iieart of Chinatown .uuless He a-cti^ely .belwogs to it? O.u a certain night t>wo weeks after | the fiienreith case, recondcd in ri?e pr-e- , ceding chapter. Zudura Jbeard the cloe& ; .chime the lu*nr of 9. 2&he went uj*- j stairs ?o her eoom and threw up the j r shade tor a tinaJ glance at tfce heavens and paused in amazement Coming toward the house was the strangesr procession she had ever seea Turbans, (lowing robes and white p.mtaJets here in this workaday city of New York! She rutibed her eyes as if striving to awake. &be looked a^ain. I They were trooping silently up the steps. She next heard Ihe thunder -of I the knocker, which noabody used in these days of electric buttons She j & then became alive to the fact that this ! "was reality. She reached t&e head of : tibe stairs just as her uncle's Hindu | servant. Amed. opened the door. He kbowed deeply and ceremoniously. He j was dressed a good deal like his strange visitors. Zudora came down the stairs undecided as to whether she was frightened br merely upset. The man who was M/iontic tho ip.iripr of this stranse ! H B??? ? - , |van advanced toward Zudora. wish," he said in broken English, | Bee him who is called Hassam Ali, I ver of light" w*ou wish to see my uncle?" said Bereatly relieved. fc?\art his daughter?" Bece. i will call him." ?ft the bat' way and sought the < B^^-oom, Trhere she found Hassam j ^^^^Pcrouched over tr's globe. He look- i W ed up impatiently. I "Well?" r "Some Hindus to see you. uncle." "Hindus, at this time of night? Why { Wk didn't you send Amed to me? It lowB ers you in his opinion to take upon - ?~s~ 1. ! IIS WUI&. L11UUUC ! Dt, I wonder?" t know nor care"?a I rebuffed by ber un- ! i AJi stood before his ?me tine wasted in n All. the maa wbo i I . .. . . ..i 4 "'Yanr s?rv m *< :??? you to us. Sahib, \\r h;*e tlu- <n: is of a strange mystery. ! : our ai*- I tfc'i ?0(1 of sleep comes < <! ' una wares. Our own ! s<<'-:jn ;.i Lave forgotten us T'.:S- dr-.-Ml t*:i 14 comes almost iiisi.Mjify. n:;<2 w,- -iiv Vaken in sh-ep tio i:i.::? . vhai we are in. That we are hei "i:s^riit and not under the evil - ' > is clue to the fact 'ha: i*"vvai!<-?i i?*rsid?? the octagonal moin " "The octagonal room." repealed Has sam A1 j thoughtfully. "You are known to us ?s :? irreat yogi, a seer into the future. T?Vill you aid us to find out what causes this dreaded sleep? Our religious ceremo Dies are being interfere*! with." All this was in an English that was only fairly understandable. Flore and there Hassan) Ali's inau ttt?er|K>late<l the right word. "You will accompany us. HuzoorV" Hassam Alt smiled and nodded Hero was an adventure that rather appealed to him More than that, it would banish from his mind, at least tpmporarily. certain psychological agencies which were making their power felt more ami more strongly as the days went by "I must izo. too. uncle." said Zudora "Hurry, then. I should like to see these people -before they come out their trance." They weut away to pet their wmfw Before poing do-wcstairs aprain Zudora ...I ? "TeiJ me where she has gone or J kill yo:;!" fondled for a jaiament the carrier pigeon which Storu bad given tier re ccntly .lotiis bad one for hiwseli. The birds carried messages. Aside lroiii its practicality it was very n> i.'antic and obviated tke necessity ot trusting oir?"s secrets to, the telephone girLs. And Zudora w;i-s not always sate titat seme oho in.tine bouse was Lot listening when she teiepboned As Liassain Aii never entered this room of * th.?t hu Ilers Slip was (juiit* ruiiuwtriu iumi ?*? knew ntittiinsc of thf pigeous Wheu they r-fturiK-d ro t&e visitors they were greatly astonished to I earn that they \ ere i<> uo blindfolded, jrarb ed in oriental eostuiKe. Has^am Ah objected Very well, then; file Hiii das deeiared ilial they would else where loi a.d They ciade this de'-i sicn unemotionally. Hassam Aii heut his h<jad to signify thai if they took that attitude he was ready to submit. Presently the procession tiled out into the street. Tiaey hnrried aking .for several blocks; then came a l<*?g automobile ride. Hassam Ali counted the turns and felt quite assured in tfce .end that tbev were being driven ifc circles and tbat the house of mysterj *:as not so far away as it seemed. W'.hen the bandages were finally takeu off Zudora found herself in a room which might easily have been taken bodily out of the "Arabian Nights." It was, -indeed, like some fabulous fairyland?the idols, the sleeping people, the strange, sweet odcr which seemed to yermeate everything. She was cat sure that she had not been transported by some jnagic carpet to the heart the ancient city of Bagdad. She becaxne childishly inquisitive. She moved about the recumbent fig ures. and suddenly she came upon what looked far ail the world like the sleeping beauty of the fairy tale. The sleeping woman was beautiful in the accepted seuse of the Caucasian race. Her skin was as light as Zudora's own, which generally wore a slight tan, due to her out of door habits. Near the young woman lay the figure of a fine looking native. Zudora surmised that these sleeping people had been in the midst of some solemn ceremony, possibly a wedding, when over- j taken. The ensemble resembled noth- j ing so much as a prearranged tableau such as she had often played at school. 1 "Who is this beautiful woman?" ask- | ed Hassam All, as keenly interested ns Zndora. "She is our ruler, our princess. Ai!" be murmured, darting toward Zudcra. j who "was now stooping over the sleeping beauty. "The xnemsabib must not touch!" "But"? began Zudora. "The memsahib's touch would defile her." said the man stoically. Meantime an idea had come to Has sam AIL He was beginning ro sense a ' peculiar heaviness about iiis eyes, and i be realized with alarm that this mys- I terious sleep was overtaking him. ! Quietly and unobserved he slipped from ! the room and managed after some diffi- j culty and so-ne explanations to reach the street- Z??dora was there alone. If she was clever enough she might ex tricate herself; if not?well, that was Hassam All's idea. Zuclora went on with her visual in-1 aestivations, quite oblivious to the fact i tliJlt lie." V'l. III' 3 lk*> i t'&U ?le?\ 'x h's strange kiois fas filiated her, tsperuiily the heroic oi/- before which \v?re grouped *'i?* s!> j^ers it vns a ir-onster. rv ' <>?ly v : : ii ?v *;{)!';? lit s he;t>: A <!:e il\"/*?.! i;> . :?> >ter lit' ' n!) t!iv..s as r, ti.rn ut r: iii. s.-em i! as if s<?;;/ invisible h i:*!1. wvr<* i: ^ li^r d ' '?: n. down 1'lrv:- \vs rw ' -el in:; ji'.-vriri. in* st r><4- oi uiui^t-r: ,u<t :i dreamy -sensrJi<;u. rro: nnrk?? Cf:::! of iroh:u t** I'ed jf'tcr so!::t' str?'nu ous f\.rrtioi! The o?Mest i>:u*t of !;t whs Thii.t she ir-v;is "f mnkin^ im ^fT-oit. I<> J uiit ?>fT this sleep As she fv'.\ sbe clut/hed in 4v?r h:md R kittle iwiry i&^urt, n small ?*le|?li.-iut 1 w'i.ii b esi-yptv? rIi?* fin J :frers -OT ?l>e ,orii:e^^s wherj <he suv tWmtHMI Now tiafc jrrtuvu i in John ; -Storm's %?aTt oxi criminalism. doubtless ' ^M:s?eirtier<?<3 *ly by; frequoi*?y at the 'house ?? Cbissam ^ li. It <*otsistod of a p<?t?r4tar?t nense-of danger to Zudora . at tlw^e menneiifeN when sli-ereaily was in Osity^r He r?s:*ld not hav^ analv/ed ' t'jis -sensation. hat he immediately sur ; r erid(gT;?d ite- it. 5He was fh4-"' niirht in ; ' i be of retfrsnj; whew !t*a:s sense ; i < .-jT&f bim at on<-e went to his : i taid vjvrot** a note, ^v'Kvn no ar : tw-hefi to the carrier pipeftK !n less j , lliiian -a Qisnrter r?f an tvmr ttie bin! j ! r**tn!riw*d. Ttiefinw?ss:ijr<* tojr/i not heen i ipft^epned. Stortn jrot into ?te;s topcoat j btft ancl burr.ed over to the Keene I jpihice. &med answered hif/ rin^r. hut ; IhetiitFied rto acfcrnit the mar, 'his master , , ih&tf jfe>rbk1deo;the house. j "OTiere is yea;r mistress?*<!demanded j ! "II -estM>*>t're$':'7011." ;?ke--servant, j ^ i^maily closii:^ 1 he do?r -SH'Tiu v^hs in no rwfniu for pariHiifiaiJ?. ilv rv-s-oliitely poshed his way in. 5ij'iij-i lintiZ there v:nk a-.j automatic. '"r5;ou ?vo!;l ft-j. me wheiv *'tK* has c;one ?>r '" :! kfT. yi)i';l~ !:< said. znnkvcjj n<> ef$?'< ' <> losvor i:-> voice flasstui A if will ici:: me if 1 Ski! waiter] A:iwd. *T don's rai> '\vhat fco. hut I I'ii'ilo if utu answer Hi-- Wh-re h;-.-". she ?OiK?V" 'i'\> curtaius-gtirml a iitrie. .out noiStonin roo^?the servant noticed tLir,. lit: sam 'Ali peered forth cau; txnH/lT i The serr-.Tint-t?vv/ in Storm's-eyes a ! ?j.kec.kiK of inadn'*s. and tve wt>s quite ! K-enstbi th^ SafKO Storm iron Id shoot; ; him. ^ Kr-pidly he recounted j i wLiai &ad tfakenipiace. ! run stake twe. there ja+ct as-soon ! j, ti> xj. . "V-.err weK. sahib. But it ?111 :l>e the ' dteathi -?f ik< ko?h irs.the end *' | Tlie ?wrtams fell .feaek jseiatly. I ' s:un A!i returned tftvllis ?lol*e unAiing } Both <>f .them! * -Storm was greatly :.asto?ishe>d when i tiie f-IiiK&u told him that he rwutit be! i j-.hlindfokkfj 11-e refused emphatically, j | "Very ?^11. s*:hii?. -.Shoot. J cannot i vake you wIihth .the tuernsahib is with { .<wut !?Iiu<1 !Ijiit f";>u " Storm ?hu- thai the -man was in ear 1 :Dest. so. after much grumbling ajid warning, be *ulm;itted ta.be bimarojaed Half an Dour later .She bandage was taken from his eyes "Where is s&je?" k>e whispered to fai? jiruide "That, sahib, is for you t<t find out." uud with that Aiuad tumod away <1?aiclv,v i ; Storiu resolutely mowod forward an- ' | til tie en me upon the form of the slee})- J j Iu? princess. He was rather a-sved in; j spite of ihis democratic assurance, i What in heaven's name *ras goisg on here? ' Where was he? to Hindustan. : in the middle of a mad <Jneanj? 8ud1 - J A.t denly. <even as ne gazeu. me wuiumi. ! oil tlie rug before the idof stirred ax)d ! j sighed. Her d*rk, sJoelike ey?s open-! : ed. Storm sfjt$>ed and raised her to; , iher feet. | "Is Zudora here?" he asked. JZudora lay riJmost at his feet, bat he ! had not recognized jker, due to the out- J iajidish costume. Ttie princess Jooked at him bewilder- j J ingi<r. shaking her head. Presents , i I . ' I f He Was Overcome and Taken Away j From the Octagonal Room. ( she spoke softly, but so far as his r knowing the intent of the liquid words . !t might ns well have been the wind ' moving through the treetops. j The handsome native who had been lying at the side of the princess now opened his eyes, saw the strange white man talking or trying to talk to his princess. The stupor left him almost instantly. He sprang to his feet, a vicious looking knife in his hand. Tennu'tii: he >ii"iii? a u lucn IIH'.MUS u foreigner. ^ Ot!i. :s came to life ;:l the s;mie mo- S1 nieiit. i.; 1 .J'1.11 : orm fouii I himself s' ill a {.I't'iii litlie l<? his iiliiim s' lie u:;> : ;1 sturdy. hut he was S( ho mai'-ii for the or so lithe -N East Indians. lit* \v;is m/inuui* tmw taken away from the octagonal room 1 He was east into :i steel dungeon in ^ tlie* basement ?>f the house. The sleepir.i: mystery of this house 1 laid its ebb and flow evidently. Zudora 1 awoke without any abnormal effect fur her short sleep, and the men who h:id gone to Hassam Ali's house also a woke. Xabok Shan demanded of them who this white -girl was. Were they be tray in;: him ? They should die in^e dogs in that case. They groveled and hastily 'explained that she was the j niece of the celebrated Hassam Ali and that she might be able to break the power of the sudden sleep by dis- ; covering bow ;t was accomplished. "Where is this man Hassam Ali. then?" demanded Nabok JShan, who had growa very suspicious. "lluzoor. we know not. Mayhap overcome as we were by the sleep But this memsahib is clever nud may lielp us." "Wbo was this man I just sent to the dungeon?" "We know not." "Weil, you speak the accursed English tamrue. Question her and learn what she has to say. And on your j beads be it if there is any sign of treachery." "It is just," said the leader of the I men who had brought Zudora. i They then proceeds to squat down | upon the rug, and Zudora plied her questions and culled a story which ran somewhat as follows: It began in southern India. A ceri tain native prince had in his extreme ! yu.ujh, as is customary in India, be| <*ome .betrothed to the .iitle princess : of a neighboring state. There were givj-'f festivities. Lrtit to say extrava gaur onos. :n honor of the event. w insi "the s;iri In'cjimo ;i young woman anil theJ.?ov j; young man tlie marriage cerw;ifi lirotighr Mhont. but not consummated. for the simple fact that a jprince of still another principality had stvn he princess ami hart determined u> miike her his own regardless of the ^vossibility tb*' throwing the thKee states ! into a tribal war The British raj iuight fciiterfere. hut not unti{ a good lieal of damage was wrought. The rii-itw-u vi u \':?lif?lr ,<h:i n hni Vf. i kitrdy a&d nwue too scrupulous chiefU'jji. IJ.?r succeeded in carrying off the prateess. liiur J*e was beset by sc many triai* .that he tied from India to America wjth .titie bu/k of his treasure and the jjiirjiwied ^princess. The house vviiii its oriental .trappings had heen th?" properly of .;tn uncle, who had <Uo*?ejj America ifcg&ca.use his neck iiad been in dauKer. "Kut ?he mystery is this, memsahib'. It is written that :the marriage ceremony siiali take plt.ee before our god. the ejepltaut headed, and always when we begin I lie ceremony we are inns Htm lively overcome by sleep. Solve ; tbis riddle for us and my master wiil : pay you well." TUe spokesman addressed a few words to Xabok Shan. The priuce smiled and dandled a rope 1 .of superb pearls before the girl, inti- j .mating that in the event of her success they would become .hers. 1 .Now. Zudora did not seek monetary 1 reward, but she was wise beyond her * years in understanding the oriental ^ . * . .. ...... i mma, uue tu uie several years luat ner > uncle bad employed Hindus as servants. If she signified that she asked * for no reward these dark eyed men , would instantly begin to suspect her. j and ouce they suspected her her life : would not be worth a snap of the tin- j gers. fiesides. it would not be such a j r very ha rd ordeal to -accept such a mag- ; c nilicent gift. So she told the leader to ! say to Nabok Shan that she hoped to I solve the mystery for the sake of the i s pearls, being a normal woman. But: 11 ?lin rrmcf- hnvfl fraf? rnn nf tho hniwu i t This was agreed, but under no circum- ^ .stance must she leave,yithout being ^ blindfolded, and. oioredt'er. she tust ^ remain that night ^ Zudom accepted the conditions philosophically She never wore Nabofc 1 Shan's rope of pearls, however. ^ She would have lfced very much. * though. to acquaint her /over with her v whereal>out?. Her uncle's disappear- 11 a nee puzzled her. Rut perhaps he had ^ already begun his investigations. The night passed uneventfully. Those who t] sloyt did so naturally Zudora. how 11 ever, wauuficu in ana oui amoug iue i " curious' alcoves and quaint balconies, j & She peered behind the grotesque Stat- j ues into the fountain. Whenever the j P ceremony began sleep came. This fact kept ringing through her mind. She just must solve it. It would be anoth- w er step toward her lover and happi ess. One thing she ascertained for fu- & ture use and this was the exit more or d< less carelessly guarded. She might have to take to her heels. i Ami :>!! thp while* in tho stool rlnn I ^ ieon below. Storm saw the walls slow-i ^ Iv and relentlessly contract. He had ! *11 % i beaten upon the unfeeling steel until j m liis knuckles bled. He had shouted un- j 111 til his lungs hurt, and smaller and | c^; smaller grew his prison He recalled I ur i certain tale by Poe and touched the! netal from time to time to see If it 01 ivere growing hot. But it was evident ;hat he was to be crushed only, not in- va :i Derated. fr' Morning came. The feast of the | light before was resumed. Nautch ! u ;irls danced; musicians played the sad! inri wnilins? mnsic of the east. Zudora lad quietly wet her handkerchief in he basin of the fountain and at the noment the ceremony begnn held the (lu ret cambric to her nose. She showed ^ ler foresight In this, for shortly after SP he music began me people in the ocagonal room fell to nodding and from nodding into peaceful sleep. Even witb P11 )e ai.j <;I ??:? <1 : ii- <i ha;ni.M-r. hief ^ i;d<>ra couid n >t u-hoily escape the 1. lbtle and amazing nareotif. She p n;tr^!ed Mindly toward the exit. II< \r Ik* managed t<? r??-ti the street was r >njethiiiu -<lie could never remember. ;j .?!../! f,, 11* I, *1? t?\ >tlO W ;iN _,i.m iu . 'c\v York :jir:iiu. fur she tud heen 13.- s no miles away in spirit if not in fact tiii. silo determined to return and olve the riddle She had already ^ ormed n campaign. What simple fool* < hese orientals were in some respects' Ilass:im A1 i concealed Ins astonish ! [lent. Vet something deep down in 1 t i r i I / " I 1 -v.' i I ; >L . 4 s |, ; * I I Storm Saw the Walls Slowly and Re- I tentlessly Contract. his soul told him that she would re turn unhurt"But bow did you escape, uncle?" "They wanted you." he said jjliblv. ' ""They blindfolded me again and >?*nt ine about my business. What did you; learn?" "Koough to determine me to see wbal j 1 cau do. Of course it is a colossai trick of some sort, but it would not b-.? th.of It must he V\ I?*tr l \J ? proved." "My chiid. this is altogether n strange business. These orientals are quirk to distrust. If they find you goue when they wake up it is quite likely they will try to kill you." 'Tve m.ide up my mind." Tben she ran upstairs. She was anx ions to send a message to Storm by the <-arrier pigeon. She wrote a short note explaining the situation and liberated the bird. Storm's housekeeper received the bird and naturally read the mes sage. She scribbled on the back of j this message and informed her mas j ter's sweetheart that he had left the house iu haste the night before and j had not yet returned. The return of file fijgeon Jeft Zudora in a fair state j of exejtement. She immediately set our for Storms apartments, hut the housekeeper could add nothing further , tlL-in ibar Mr. Storm bad sent a pigeon ; to iier and Jt ffcid come hack with the J bote. /Sudora returned home and quizzed Iier uncle: buf. of course, he piously leniPd having see;** Storm. Surrepti tiousjy slie plied tL^ Hindu servant Fhis man secretly wo: Viified the young memsahib. and by and .V ^r?t ' 'acts from him. So! She not only :o solve the mystery of th* .?? n . louse, but to save her lover a ,1<r ivould be without a mission . ^ tljat < 'antastic house, and it was quite j hat he would be made to suffer for ^ ; ludacity. Bravely she set out for the bouse of *>'abok Shan and boldly she demanded j idmittance. The s.rvant at the door ! ecognized her. but it took a hribe to j pt.n the door wide enough for her to i !ip through. The persistent ceremony was being ' tarted again. To Zudora it would mve been laughable but for the new raged y underneath. The man who bad , frought ber to the bouse originally inally disclosed to ber wbat bad been J lone to Storm. His deatb had been ecided on As Zudora gazed wildly about the oom siie saw a m:m in a garb quite lifferent from that worn by those in j be octagonal room. She stole up to .here tie stood and covertly watched )m and be<*aine suddenly conscious ot be desire to sleep. She breathed lirough her handkerchief, never letr ing her glance waver from the hidden i ^ lan He turned, smiling ironically. ^ nd she saw him raise a stone in th.? ^ ooring He disappeared into a pit lung cue jsumu ?iiii vjiiiciuiij iutv i ^ lace. | j; Sleep bad sixain attacked those de- ; j sriuiued upon the ceremony. One < c ould think that they would have at j u ast given her some chance to investi- j j. ite before proceeding again in an en j jj ?avor which had so many times pruv- j t< 1 a failure. This very sleep, how- I D rer, gave ber freedom of action. She l t, ole from the octagonal room, found j ti ie stone, raised it ana discovered a j o] innel. Ft was not the safest tunnel cl the world, but with John's life hang- I| g in the balance she accepted her a lances. The tunnel led to a room r( ider the cellar This room bewilder- hi 1 her far more than the octagonal gi ie. There was a large vat, which fr id the appearance of a distillation t, with many little pipes leading up Dm it The men gathered about this range contrivance were evidently of tc different caste from those in the up ec r room. A tall, graceful young man m emed to be directing the others. Ono i ic; them, however, saw the shadow by st e door, drew his knife and stoie w ietly up to the girl. She wa3 caught! is Ready witted, she asked. "Do you & eak English?" th rhe man paused. He nodded grimly, be -I am a friend. I would save your g[ mcess. I would defeat Nabok Shaa. hi i\ low!" is ii'"-j . ' liji-wluMt- ill Ibid <c Saw 1111n. V.::tl 1 will save tbft riucess." The man turned f? see it Mis < <?blades had observed turn. They were il busy with the vat. "1 will -o wiih tile niein>abib. if he ha> lied she sbab die % "1 a^'iee lo that." Onee in>me sbe ran upstairs fur her urtomalie \Yh?*n <1u* <aine down ijrain t lie stranger had vanished. \Med refuse<i tu >;.eak a:;d ilu>sam \li did not know what she was talking ibout "lie came in behind me." she de:1a red "Then he took to his heels the mouent your hack was turned" Over - *K - 'i? " * il'i^ciiii a (i ic^nf :ier suouiuei iu aun U .... _ i terrible irlance. and Amed knew that leath awaited liim if be opened His lips, fie was still breathing heavily || from the struggle. Zndoia iffi the house more deeply puzzled than ever. Two hours later she had cleared op the mystery of the sleeping house and rescued Storm from his areadfui prison. The fact that the ceremony could take place only before the elephant headed god made it a simple game to the enemies of Xabok Shan Zudora did not go to the octagonal room, but proceeded directly to the secret cham ' ? - ber. Fur one briei momem ucuw stared her in the e.ves. but she spoke bravely. In return for the liberation of her lover she declared that with the aid of one man she would bring the princess down to them. The young prince struck h!s forehead !n rase. He had never thought of such a thing. His one aim hail been to force Nabok Slum from the house and then to seize his betrothed. s nmnlru fho np X \\ Lien me prmctws time she found her tnie lover gazing down into her eyes Thou they starred out in search of Storm, and they v -re just in time. The steel chamber tad become a box, cottin shaped, three -Vet I square and ei^rht feet high. S; -rui ! was in bad shape, but food and svMer ! Jind an hour or so in the outer air rei vived him. I "Will yon he good hereafter?" he , I *>uid to Zudoru. ! !i "Yes." :,j ^ "\ou promise never to go anywhere i nvithout first sending the pigeonV" j "Yes." i "And now what the dickens made \ tthose chaps go to sleep?" She explained. The vat was a brew "ttf an oriental narcotic, the vapor of i Found th?e Stone, Raised Jt and fiksco yered a Tunnel. ^Hperimtuced sleep. It was ,f * . jmwsftwy and harmless. The f 3uite to ^|| the eleDlmnr fmnto D1I>es \ ;time -the ceremony began theuid ea<. ^ ^berated at a signal Iron* rapor w;, r<abwe rhe watclit- .^pental nund. John. That s ti. Ht nnjtjjjng jn a riiey cannot ^ lt mugt &e fllJ straightforward ? uystery and tnck, he 8aid "Do you Know, uininatively. "Know what?" v. "That I've an idea we'l.^ >efore the year is out!" ^ [to be continued.j n : \ \J The Age of Veneer. Veneer is usr-d upon buildings, jewe?7 and peopie. It can be observed iir . )otel lobbies, legislative halls, schools md colleges and libraries. It 13 used extensively in large cities, and it is lonbtful if Newport or the suburbs ould subsist without it Veneer comes u various thicknesses. Some achieve t. some are born with it, but in this ountrv scarcely anybody has it thrust pon him. because it is valued so highs' that no one wishes to part with : Sometimes the question is asked as ) what is the difference between veeer and the real thing. -1 is difficult 3 find the answer, fcecruse the real sing is so rare that tht^ is no basis f comparison. Veneer flourishes In all imates. It is no rppecter of persons. ; is cultivated Dy coiiege pruiessora. uthors and lawyers. It probably caches Its highest state of perfection, owever, when exhibited by young trls who have just been graduated om some finishing school.?Life. Qjjnirl Fip? Run. l^tvrio ? IM^I? .. v ? Colonel Isaac/Newton Lewis, inveL ir of the rapid tire gun which aid1 the Belgian^ to put up such a rearkable resistance, is a retired Ameran army officer, late of the United ates coast artillery. The weapon, hich easily fires 500 shots a minute, said to be' the most perfect of Its nd in the yrorld. It was offered to is country, to Germany and England >fnro rVilrmel Lewis took it to Bel am, wfcer?a be perfected terms for Its Raofactave. / )