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’
“he soliloquized, eaven's name, a
enjeg‘ment did Uncle Tinus find here? He
as ¥ shut himself up on
oe
=
‘ TIE CHICAGO LEDGER, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1910.
to Habbertun he set out_at once to take up
“Mr, Polly, his late
f executor, hinted that he might
t The Larches somewhat tame,
1a
of fe in ondon and
welcome a change of any kin
hope you'll get along wi the T-
rT, Polly, “I have an idea that
ited your uncle better you al, than
a
the cab r himself ‘and
out,
“By Jove! where ere we?” he inquired.
en at the end of the trip,” was the
reply ys
‘e no house. Into what sort of
nom ting wilderness have you brought me?
“It's The Lar ches, sir. You'll find thé
house just back o° the trees, and good luck
0 you.”
Habberton had re. Juggage—he had left it
downtown—an moment he was alone
in the locality with the sounds of
the retreating vehicle in his ears.
“It's a beastly place, and it's all mine!”
mig!
Blacksheath or buried himsrif in one of the
i We: But by Jove! he
thought enough of me, Delos Habbertort, to
leave me this place.”
WZ between the rows sf ghostly
lungin,
trees, Habberton managed to pie i his way
apne t e came to what great
soury devoid of any semblance
a architecture or beauty. The night was
somewhat chill, & cool wind i
his face and he heard
chorus of frogs chat rendered him miser-
“Ne very pleasant introduction te my
future abode” ined. "Bat if the old
could stand “there for years Ican put
pith the wld trap for
servants in this country. Was-he a good
aster
* Sani Kalmah's brother.”
“The old sahib, you mean, of course, I
ike
ever saw him. What was he like?”
‘or first time the Hindoo
Habberton watched glide across the
floor with the noiseless tread of the wild
be o Indian jungles.
mystic’s lithe body
niche and the next se:
pang had jered the drapery aside.
berton uttered a er;
Before bin was a full length portrait 4 of a
man, saw at the stern,
ook face denoted craitiness,
's had eep, penetrating look, and he
fnvetuntarly shuddere: Was this the
relative who had left him The Black
Hab-
y——" he began as he turned sud-
bat he got no further.
was alone in the room!
CHAPTER I~
OLD DRUSILLA.
full minute Delos Habberton stared
I
genty, |
B
at he
currences which had welcomed him to The
Black Larch
“I'd ring for ‘the ola fellow if I had a call-
bell,” said he at last, comin;
greet their new master? If I ki new the ay
of The premises I'd rout them out.”
ted to his feet and crossed the
she said, hardly, above a. whisper, but the
words sank into Habberton’s soul
went's always Kalmah!” he so med with
a little oath. “I'll take care of that beast
:
last she opened
room, ona table in which burned 2 ttle
light.
“Shut the door!” she cried, turning upon
im a face which seemed to have lost its
sallowness in an instant. “Don’
find us together! “You've seen Kale
y?
“Why must it be that accursed Hindoo
all he tuner ejaculated the new heir.
himself against. the ae
whereat th the old woman smiled and s
to take courage,
scrutinizing her mhandsome fai ‘opind:
ing you in his jouse, you bec come my ser-
vant. hat sort of devil's den have I in-
herite¢
“Its the house of the Doom and th
Mark, the house of the Ace of plane
“The what?” cried Habbet
suddenly forward. “What aptrep a mae
You e% riddles, Drusilla. in what
way is the Ace of Diamonds connected with
my leg: acy
“That t question may “answer itself if you
remain,” was the r tare not spe ak.
I have seen the Withzrea
eh?” interjected the
you,” was he rejoinder,
won't ¢
“I hope ethaddora
jh, you're back onto Thaddora, are
you? ” united Habberton, “Is she expected?”
“Well drop her for a moment. I want
know something about my entourage.
t
How many servants had my relative when
he died?”
e—"
is not a a servant. Kalmah is the
the
ge!” cried "Tiabbert jon. “Don't get
the mystic till I “tell you te. You
served Tints Timpson. Who are the other
tor”
‘They Bs Marie and Jan
“Weil and good. We'll muster the whele
set tomorrow. Can I get a message into
the city?’
¢!
“Janus can take ‘
“Good! I'm sing to send for Clawson.
A house like, this will just suit him. 1
mysteries of pe Black arenes between us
o down to, the library now.
Send Janus to ime at once.”
send Janus, but for the love of God,
master, don’t add another victim for the
rk.”
MiNever mind, Drusilla,” exclaimed Hab-
berton. “Send Janus to ary.”
the new owner yr The Black
Larches opened the door and paced gown
he dim hallw: ine few seconds
again in the ‘ary, an we inveterate
pipe was once more ing du
me time Habberton sat motionless
of the table. he hastily scraw led a note,
which he s
He had nothing to do new but to wait for
‘anus.
mn
While he waite 4, surrounded by those
gence. led the niche in whic: e had seen
¢ portrait of his uncle.
“Till take another look ‘at shat singular
aid
face,” he sai If aloud, risin;
Th t moment he had F eached fhe
niche @ drawn asi the cur’ be
d ace of
which was te in a white canvas where the
portrait had bee
CHAPTER IIL
THE WITHERED HAND.
An ace of diamonds
ra second I Habberton could not credit
he evidence ‘ht. anishnrent of
the portrait of his deceased relative and the
substitution. he nge sy 1 both
tal d and mystified him. If the change
had_ bee ade befo: his very eyes he
‘would not have bee ‘e astonished. -
It seemed to fascinate him. ‘The diamond
appeared fi oO im an
ack to his chair.
In a few minutes a little man entered the
room and gravely announced that he was
Janus.
Habberton. remembered . the _ message »
which he ha@ just sealed and, taking it
from the table, he extended it toward the
strange man.
“You know the city?” he queried, watch-
“the play sef light ana shade in the
searching eyes that regarded hi
janus knows the town” was” “tie an-
porartea
caught a vine by throwing out his hand he pod oven ene snerpents, totally unlike any ne haven't seen Clawson for five weeks, but ie
vos. ve tumbled headieng upon His curiosity was fast getting the better | B'S im the city yet. If we don't get at the this is to be delivered at once. It is 3
Wondering if the noise he had made |0! him. He was burning to know what lay :
would not rouse some of the servanis, Hab- | beyond. the top u se. The >
berton crossed 6 the door | Soom above seemed o dare and defy him.
and found an old-fashioned knocker, which It’s mine—all mine! he said in answer
he vigorcusly assailed, So far as he could |‘ his thoughts, @ right to investi-} — -
there was no sign of human habitation | 84te, 80 here goes.
about the premises and, as the echo of his| 7 dilowing minute he wa .
ing greeted him, he jaushed once more | Steps, treading under his feet the little idols
to himself. * and the writhing serpents, guiding self
. AI ce” |Upward by one hand on the nearest w: :
he eerstomabody’s living in the old place” He heard no noise. The soft carpeting Into : if
reached his ears, and the next moment he| Which he sank his feet drowned any noise 5
heard the click of @ key and the rattling of [he made and at last he reached the top of
bolts and a door opened in his fa . . *
. He caught sight of a partly shaded light}, Catching his breath, he drew a ne the 1
and the next sceond had-enteved from his pocket and scraping it along v :
de wae conirented by & human being |Wall produced a Wt hich proke &
ee ing to the shaded lamp, he |@arkness. He wi a hall dike the -
could not precisely determine, but he asked | OP& ey but he could see moth ne vith-
- ot questions but moved forwar. Ma, nm, ee oethe
A door to the right of the larse high | out sanierance, ne ee Cae ceewonte
ceited hall epened and Habberton turned {™moved forward. “Til ca ool hee
aside. The lamp was d ted on a table |Eether Ip the motning ondnet Hi doo the
and the following moment a figure glided | Understanding. | 111 pours that fiindoo
past him &nd vanished and he was alone. first thing, for I don’t inten pur Up we .
it was all so strange and uncanny that craniisms that evidently ruled the
© ee et fo Tageh, but [Ot TY tomes Habherton paved and held -
ie a himself’ in en inviting chair and | All a ting mich nae pada _
|. Something ha corridor.
he old man’s library, eh?” he esate | eee pot the strange ma en
. but on the contrary it was a member of the -
ther sex, an ols pee 80 hideous! ErO-
jabberto acry
t Delos Habverton uttered @ ery If you had positive proof that a certain remedy for
Breas that ran along one side of the shteaus oe said he, almost female ills Had made many remarkable cures, would you
S rerRubbish!” he said after a brief inspec aver what sort of devil nest have ¥ in- not feel like trying it? .
° tion. “Tl send this whole outht to the (eee aw was hugging the wall _ If during the last thirty years we have not succeeded in .
BSe Tr man. volumes are
Greek to mn hens the titles are in'@ gearcely, ten feet away. ber. Bee Deady exes convincing every fairminded woman that Lydia E. Pink
janguage I never heard ef. I say, Habber- : :
thon, you come into the strangest legacy a | her wrinkled lips larked a sinister smile ham’s Vegetable Compound has cared thousands and thou
man ever . sands peculiar eir sex, then we
He was ranning the light along one of the .
shelves eb conscious that he “youre ed oe long for an opportunity to do so by direct co: mdence. :
* ©) Fae not alone. ie ha fa heard no note, bot Meanwhile read ‘the following letters which we e guarantee
occupant of the ¢ ng slowly eR MAY God help Foe ee ceened the to be genuine and truthf
while he com mselt, he came face to Me i Bee i peally thes thought of such
face with one of the strangest bein: aon ughed a! oe Hadson, Ohio.—“TI suffered for along time from a wea!
had ever se; “F pad a seach month and su
On a rug of tizer skin not five feet away | | “1 bad hoped soa would never come.” ere d been doctorii ing only temporary relict when
tood a man of dark face, turbanned, with A hid friend advised me to take Lydia E. Pi 3 Ve
rien. or thought. he he might have left the len vi me ake Lye Pinkiam’s Vege!
pair of lithe snake-like eves that looked | tone pound. I did so, and wrote to you for advice. I have faithful:
fume. ‘That he wae a Hino, Habberton |. “Who's ‘Thaddora? interrupted Habber- followed directi nd now, after taking « only fi five bottles
guessed at once, for he had seen such tn {ten don't know?" the lavghi the Vegetable Compound, I have every Lam .
London, but just why he meet one “an, zou don’ er haee lett the place tn awell woman, I give you full permission ta use may testimonial”
af thia ‘mystic race at The Larches waa & ween . dors, bu qe might read hove been the Mrs, Lena Carmoci Huds io. Te S
deep puzzie to him. woul ¥ :
All a e dark man saleamed, bend- e 'y Ne ¥. ears ago I was
ing hie. inte ieee and then straightened to Ay at moment the. the Tickering | match felt So bad thatt had to take to my bed every month, :
become a statue on the Tui te the floor, but Fa ae ee ee » wou! st fi two to three weeks, I :
“Wel,” ‘sald. Habberton, catching his One hand, cauxht the ol ¥ wrote to you for advice and took Lydia E. Pink. :
breath, 3 ‘ve come at ‘m Delos Hab- sages ‘en shant escape me. I '3 Vegetable Compo: ndindryform, I am {
lezates, and you" to know who you are and what sort of happy to say that I am cured, thanks to your f
med once more. irene 2° no ite. all it. be the medicine ‘ou may use m
et ine devil spare, whe are you? library below, or have you @ room of your} | wien, for the Zood, of athers.” — Brs, Je tt
The Hindoo crossed his hands on his im: oun tried to twist out of his grasp, but ; yere, tegis Falls, ‘
: Tegily eet Tiunverton’'s weeth on edge: {he held her fast and felt her fetid breath pahere j is. absolutely no “doubt about the be.
“1 am Kali on his ” - ability of thi: :
som ne uncle Lest inn, 1 suppose? |, lave you seen the Mystic One?” she th ty $s grand old remedy, made from bp
Take that ch der and we'll compare /*8°9, mean the fool who calls himself f € roots and herbs of our fields, to cure Fe
suites sindoo did not move. Kalmah, Te already encountered him. But emale Tseases We possess volumes of proof of this fact, ~
ho are you :
J As you yp e bo enou Oo convince m
: not & little Irritated by the fellow's “Tm old Drusilla. nts ro 5 the most skeptical. :
persistence. “Yes. [Ive served s Timpson many r 30 years Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable
. gre omly specimen of your ase in the years. I wove the shro ina Tor his body, but emer i No been the standard remedy for
House now belongs to the young #ahtb.” 1 dia nvt place the mark on his Torehead.” rself who Se a nae woman B does js tuntice tc
does," smiled Habberton.} + "t know! You haven't try ee
ee Teg Taones Tm colon to tule the noni you don’t know! You been Made e exclusively fron from | roots and herbs, and
roost. How long have you served the late] “xo, ee just come—tonight.” its credit.
Tinve Timps “Hat and you know nt of the Mra. =. Pinkham invite all sick women
“Three hundred years? eatd the indvo, | mark?” ite her for advice. She has
with his face as immobile as ever. “What mark, I say guided thousands to health free of charge.
“That's longer tRan they generally keep! “They all get it i ‘ime~Kalmab says,” Address Mrs, Pinkham, Lynn, Mass,
Sen: s ar
