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Monday, February 4, 1015
ASHLAND TIMXGS.
ZUB O-RA
A Great Mystic Story by Harold McGrath
Copyright, 1914, by Harold McGrath.
This Btory is being shown every Sunday and Monday evening in
photo-play at the Vining. One chapter will be printed each week in the
future and then be followed in the photo reels.
SYNOPSIS.
i
Zudora Is left an orphan at an early
age. Her father 1b killed In a gold mine.
Zudora and the fortune from the mine,
which grows to be worth tM.OOO.OOO, are
left In the guardianship of Frank Keene,
Zudora'a mother's brother. Zudora, giv
ing promise of great beauty, reaches the
age of eighteen. The uncle, who has set
himself up as a Hindu mystic and Is
known as Hassam All, decides that Zu
dora must die before she can have a
chance to come Into possession of her
money, so that It may be left to him, the
next of kin. Hassam All sees an obstacle
to his scheme In the person of John
Storm, a young lawyer, for whom Zu
dora has taken a fancy, and he com
mands the girl to put the man out of her
mind. Zudora insists that if she cannot
marry Storm she will marry no one.
"Well, well." says Hassam AH, "If you
take such a stand I'll compromise. Solve
my next twenty cases and you can marry
him; fall In a single case and you must
renounce him."
Zudora, using the knowledge gained
from years of association with her uncle,
unravels a baflling mystery and wins her
first case a case In which John Storm Is
saved from being convicted of a murder
instigated by Hassam All himself.
Zudora and Hassam All visit Nabok
Shan's house, where sleep overcomes ev
ery one whenever Nabok attempts to mar
ry a princess. Storm, seeking Zudora, is
made a prisoner. Zudora foils Nabok
Shan, restores the princess to her original
lover and saves Storm from death.
A maker of diamonds tells Hassam All
his secret. Storm informs Zudora that
his life Is being attempted frequently.
Storm suspects Hassam Alt Storm Is
arrested for stealing the diamond maker's
gems, but Zudora discovers the real
thieves a pair of mice.
CHAPTER IV.
The Secret of the Haunted Hill.
PERHAPS a mouth elapsed with
out any puzzling case coming
under Ilassuin All's notice. Zu.
dora and Storm bud their meet
ings, always previously arranged by
tbe carrier pigeons, ubout which Has
sam All pretended to know nothing.
Besides, be was busy with numerous
clients who wanted to know about
their business investments, their own
futures and somebody else's past
And be continued to build his pyra
mids of phantom gold.
Tbe one mistake be bad made was to
acquaint Zudora with the knowledge
of ber Immense fortune.
Tbe trustees bad always addressed
their letters to bim, and It would have
been an easy mutter to have kept ber
lu Ignorance. But evil asMie was
himself, be bad a profound respect for
Zudora'a word. She bad given it, and
there was three years' grace.
If In that period of time be could
not rid himself of that meddling at
torney be would tear down tbe black
velvet curtains with bis own bauds
and make a bonfire of them.
Storm bad urged Zudora a dozen
times to marry bim secretly, but she
steadfastly refused to accede to bis
wishes.
Of what use to marry If they could
not have a home of their own?
Of what use to burden themselves
with a secret which would Interfere
with their pursuits and bang threaten
ingly over tbeir beads?
More than that, she reasoned, ber
friends would always look askance at
ber if. after some months. It became
known that she was married and was
not living openly with ber husband.
No; she bad given ber word, and sbe
would not break it So John surren
dered gracefully. But fie waa always
feeling that mysterious cloud which
bung lowering over them both.
Many a night while alone be tried to
figure out tbe basic cause for Hassam
All's attitude. Some day. when work
easled up a bit be determined to go
back over Hassnm All's past with all
the searching Inquiry of a first class
lawyer.
There was something more than
mere physical antagonism. He never
confessed this belief to Zudora, bow
ever. It did not look quite fair to her to
put doubts into ber heart when be bad
nothing back of these doubts but In
Btinct
But there was no getting around the
plain fact that be feared Hassam All
feared bim fur Zudora'a sake.
One day Storm received a letter from
bis mother, and the contents first
amused, then alarmed bim. Ills par
ents were well to do country folk In
tbe south. Their forbears had been
southerners of wealth aud position up
to wurtlmes.
Piece by piece the One double Inheri
tance bad vanished.' and at the time of
John's birth they had sunk from af
fluence to the ordinary comforts of Ufa
There had been enough money to send
the lad to college, to flt bim for bis
wn battle In life.
He was a good son. writing home
once a month and making holiday vis
its wheueer there was opportunity.
Ofteu he had sent checks home, but
Invariably these had been returned.
They did not need the money; they had
enough for their simple wuuts. and
when they died ull they bud would be
bis.
Ula mother had written that an
alarming mystery bail confronted
them, one that promised to decliunte
the negro servitors on tho various
farms and estates. And Just now, when
all the crops were rle, It meiitit ruin
for a greut many whose solo Income
waa derived from their crops.
The negroes were not dvlncr: thov
were fleeing. This mvsterv was no
idle fancy, no idle rumor. It was a
living fact visible to the eye. She
and her husband had seen the thins
themselves, and they were normal
minded people.
Something must be done soon or
there would not be a servant left In
the county.
The bill back of the Storm nlace
was haunted. Night after night, against
the side of the bill, there appeared the
heroic skeleton of a human hand with
a black spot in the center of th nulin.
as if it had been made by nn enor
mous bullet
No one con Id get close to it In
variably it vanished at the approach
or any living being. This ghastly
-
Uteris
9
; .
r
Hassam All and Jimmy Bolton.
thing waxed and waned, something
after tbe manner of the coat of a
man's pipe.
Of course It was plain trickery, but
one could not Impress tbe excitable
negro mind with this fact, and, more
than this, there were many wblte peo
ple who were quite assured that this
skeleton hand presaged tbe coming of
tbe end of the world.
Something must be done at once.
Would her dear son come Immediately
and see If be could put thin mystery
where It belonged? He wired back
that be would.
Of course there was no doubt in
his mind that some one was playing a
practical Joke of a grewsome sort but
be also realized that It might turn into
a serious affair if it was permitted to
continue.
He laughed at one, moment and
swore nt the nest Why tbe perpetra
tors of the Joke bad selected the bill
buck of the Storm place set bim think
ing deeply.
ne decided to go borne and lay the
ghost as the saying goes. He packed
up, sent a letter to Zudora and left
town.
When Zudora received the letter she
was greatly perturbed. It seemed to
ber that what appeared as a bit of
coarse foolery might have as Its base
something serious regarding tbe wel
fare of ber love and bis people. Rather
diffidently she sought Ilassuin All's ad
vice.
Her uncle shrugged. "Some country
bumpkin Is playing a Joke on the more
simple minded. Go and solve it If you
wish, only you'll have your trouble for
your pains."
"But bow do you account for tbe
band?"
"Trickery, pure and simple; phos
phorescence mayhap. The negro mind
at least tbe southern negro Is full of
kinks, like bis hair. He will take it
us a sign that the world is coming to
nn end."
"Some necrroes hnve already desert
ed. It looks to me something more
than an Idle Jest"
Ilnssam All gave ber a quick, shrewd
glance. He wondered what was going
on lu tbe girl's mind. Had she any
suspicions? it was Inherent for ber to
speak tbe truth.
"nave you Intimated to Storm of the
gold?" be asked.
"No." rather scornfully. "I have
given my word. You ought to know
that 1 never break It"
"But often regret giving It?"
"Perhaps."
"Well, my advice Is. stay home.
There Is no reason why you should
take any risks on account of Storm's
people."
"You said It was probably a bump
kin's Joke."
"Yes. but tbe negroes cannot be
trusted In a case where their Imaglnn
tlon may get the better of their com
mon sense.. Better wait until you bear
from this fool of a lover of yours."
"1 am better able to Judge Jobn
Storm than you," coldly. "He Is not a
fool."
"Hoity-toity! Hasn't It ever occurred
to you that storm Is young, alone and
built like most young men?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Has be tojd you everything about
bis life before be met you ?"
"Will yoa kindly explain T
"Let him explain," said nassam All
and, having planted this barb of doubt,
turned on bis beel and retired to his
den, rather well sutlstied with himself.
But Zudora'a love was llko a shield.
The barb bounded off harmlessly. John
Storm was a clean man In thought and
In life. She had not passed through
this pecuiiur schooling of hers without
being uble to reud between the lines.
She was absolutely certain that love
could not blind her to any defects In
John. All Hassam All accomplished by
bis innuendo was to enlarge that
smoldering suspicion which was ever
in her heart
A good many of us are nearsighted
mentally. It Is easier to Judge things
In tbe distance than close nt hand..
While the general world knew that
Hassam All was a miser, Zudora was
quite ignorant of the fact Had she
definitely known of bis Inordinate love
of gold, ber subsequent miseries might
have been avoided to some extent
Storm went south Immediately. The
home was simple and comfortable.
There were two or three bits of un
tlque furniture which had been saved
from the wreck. It was night when he
arrived. The country railway station
hud. with Its usual nondescript crowd
of Idlers, witnessed his arrival, and
the news traveled quickly. He regret
ted that be had not come secretly und
gone about his investigations unob
served. But the damage was done and
proved conclusively that he was not
cut out for a detective.
lie was greeted fondly by bis par
ents, aud they repeated with elabora
tions what bad been recounted to him
in the letter. It was downright serious,
no laughing matter. The help were de
claring that the mystic band was the
warning of the world's end. Not a few
of the iioorer class of white folk were
accepting the hoax as a Serious affair.
Some of the negroes were even going
so far as to kneel down to the hand
(from a safe distance) and - Intone
prayers.
"Humph!" muttered Storm. "1 want
a good look at this thing. And some
one is going to get a rattling good
kicking before I go back to town. Why
the dickens should tbey pick out our
hill for their tomfoolery?"
"Father says it's because some one
has a grudge ugalnst the family," Bald
bis mother.
"Piffle!"
"An imaginary grievance," she added.
"Who could possibly have a grudge
against you two. who have done every
thing to make life decently worth
while to the help?'
"You never can tell." said old Mr.
Storm, digging into bis pocket for bis
Pipa
"What time does It generally appear?"
"Oh, any time between sundown and
midnight"
"All right I'll take a shotgun and
go hunting for Mr. Ghost this very
night" Storm declared wrathfully.
But be wasted bis time. Also tbe
night following nothing came of his
vigil. The third uigbt be was called
to tbe door In time to see the band
flicker for a moment and then vanish
He, rushed toward the bill, but found
nothing. He began to grow very
angry, ne admitted, the little time he
saw It that It was grewsome enough.
It was eight or ten feet In height, with
a shadow in tbe palm like an embed
ded bullet Subconsciously be seemed
to recognize something vaguely famil
iar about tbe shape of tbe hand.
He did not go into the village, but
prowled around In the vicinity where
the" hand appeared most frequently.
There was no evidence of phosphor
escence, no footprints except those
made by the negroes some two or
three hundred yards below the bill
Jobn was puzzled and Irritated at the
same time. This Joke was being per
petrated by some one who bad brains.
Meanwhile the crops lay ungatbered
and were beginning to rot In tbe fields.
Something must be done In a hurry,
else be would be compelled to send to
the city for emigrants,- who would
doubtless take to tbelr heels after tbe
same manner as the negroes. So be
telegraphed for Zudora.
And Zudora came.
The Storm family had beard about
ber, you may be assured. But until
... su,
P. T- t. T-.
A
t
2T.
The Skeleton Hand Appeared on tho
Side of tho Hill.
she appeared In the flesh they bad en
tertnlned some doubts about this niece
of a man whose business tbey held In
supreme contempt They fell In love
with ber at once, rather shamefacedly
when up to that moment they bad
been quite positive that she bud laid u
siren's trap for their boy.
Old man Storm pondered a good deal
It did not seem possible that this Bleu
dcr, handsome, dark eyed girl was a
detective. It did not match up with
i the tales he had rend In books. She
was Just like any other girl, nothlnn
mysterious whatever.
"It's realy serious, Zudora." said
John. "I've tried my bund at detective
work, bqt I haven't gained an inch. I
admit that I am totally at sea. I've
seen the thing once at a great distance,
and I don't wonder that the natives are
biking for other parts."
Have you any old time enemies V
sbe asked.
I come bock once or twice a year
for a day or two. I seldom go into the
village. I've been in New York tor
nearly fourteen years and have quite
forgotten how the neighbors look.
Uow the deuce could 1 have any enemies?"
"I mean your father. He may have
discharged some one who alms at hav
ing revenge." she suggested.
"There hasn't been any one discharg
ed from this place since 1 was a kid.
and you can take it from me that the
chap who is playing this game has a
brain better educated than the run of
help hereabouts."
1 am going to make some investiga
tions, and you must let me go my own
way. No tagging after nie when I
want to go Into the village. Some one
In the village will know what Is going
on. No one would come from the out
side to play a game like this."
"All right If any one can get to the
bottom of this muddle It will be your
lovely self. Good luck, sweetheart!"
Three or four days passed. Zudora
went ubout her work systematically.
One day she came upon a bit of news
that startled her profoundly. It was of
such a character that she dared not
Impart this news to John. lie must be
kept In total Ignorance. The brain that
had instigated this really criminal Joke
was In New York. It was the tool of
this cunning bruin she must bring to
light aud confusion. Her uncle! How
the man hated John, to piny so despl
cable a Jest upon his poopler The old
suspicions returned, stronger than ever.
She was growing a bit afraid of this
nncle of hers; she was beginning to un
derstand that flesh and blood did not
always count But why? Why should
be wish to harm John Storm? It was
an unanswerable question. She real
ized that from now on she must be on
her guard. Her uncle must never learn
that she entertained the least sus
picion. That night they all received a shock.
The hand suddenly appeared on the
side of the house, and even as they
rushed out to look at It it slowly faded.
Zudora threw a quick, circling glance.
order without capita L At any rate he
was determined to put tbe matter bold
1 lo Ilassuin AIL
Aiued was not going to admit him at
first Orders were orders. But when
Storm declared that be would come
back with a policeman A rued conclud
ed to accept the lesser of two evils.
Storm found himself In the familiar
drawing room. Zudora seemed every- t
where In the arrangement of tbe flow
ers, the pictures, the music rack.
"Well, sir," said a cold voice from
behind, "this Is an honor forced upon
s-Xi -r
ter'
The Old Man Accused Her, but John
Intervened.
but there was no spot of light In the
distance to confirm her suspicions that
a "magic lantern" was being focused
agninst tbe side of the bouse. The re
sult of this visitation was the final ex
odus of the help, with the exception of
the housemaid and tbe boy who did
chores about tbe bouse. The matter
had been fully explained to these two.
None the less they were budly fright
ened. When the spectral hand appeared the
next night old man Storm seized bis
shotgun and started out with blood in
bis eye. Tbe result of his rage and ex
citement was a badly lacerated arm fur
the housemaid. Tbe old man accused
ber. but Jobn Intervened. The poor girl
bad only been curious to see how near
she could get to the specter. She was
fortunate to have escaped with ber
life.
Later John began to show preoccu
pation, and when questioned by Zu
dora be admitted that there bad been
an episode of his younger days that he
bad all but forgotten. The dark spot
In tbe palm of the hand had finally
brought back the scene vividly.
"1 used to come borne during college
days to bunt u little. There's quail
and partridge galore In November. I
used to take young Jimmy liolton
along to carry the game. He was only
a kid. Well, to make a long story
short 1 was careless In handling the
gun. and some of the charge went Into
Bolton's hand. The best thing we can
do, then. Is to locate him. lie wasn't
always quite right in the upper story.
But how the dickens he should come to
think up sut-h u hoax and spring It
after all these years gets me."
, Zudora said nothing. There was
nothing for her to say.
"So we'll take a look Into Jimmy's af
fairs," concluded John.
II ut Jimmy had not been seen by any
one for several weeks. Tbe specter
suddenly ceased operations. A week
passed, and both Storm and Zudora
concluded to return to town, but to
return secretly the first time the hand
made Its appearance again.
Oddly enough Storm also had vague
Mispleions regit riling the brain behind
Itolton, but perhaps foolishly, he re
frained from confiding to Zudora. He
had become reasonably sure that Has
snm All was somewhere in the buck
ground. Jimmy liolton was Incapable
of perpetrating a hoax of this peculiar
M 1 jf if, A
fit 1 'x i y . ' k ' S
i. i f i A i "i ' xjj
the slightest hesitancy she sought the)
shack, knocked Intrepidly and was sud
denly dragged in and securely bound.
In tbe dim light she could see that Bol
ton was not untouched with Insanity.
Storm bad promised not to follow,
but she never went out at night with
out bis being somewhere near. He too
bad seen the flashing eye. A brief
tableau f Zudora struggling In tbe
doorway was enough. He was nearly
ns mad as poor Jimmy Bolton. Ho
used the fellow roughly and left hlra
exhausted and thoroughly cowed In a
corner and then liberated Zndoru.
In the attic of the shack was a giant
sterenpticon, capable of throwing a
concentrated rty n thousand yards or
more. The plate projected was really
an X ray exposure of Bolton's bund.
John threatened and cajoled und ever
offered money lo Bolton If he would
confess who had set hlin up to this
trick. But Jimmy rerused to dlvuiga
bis secret lie feared the threats of!
Hassam All far more than the threat
of his victim.
A week later the crops were belnij
harvested, and Zudora mid John re
turned to the city, each secretly won
dering what tho next ordeal would bold
for them.
ITO BE CONTINUED.)
He Suddenly Drew Back His Hand, but
Storm Was Too Quick For Him.
me. 1 have forbidden you the hospital
ity of this bouse."
"I am well aware of that." returned
Storm, quite as coldly as Hassam AIL
"1 have not come for hospitality. What
I demand to know Is, what the devil
do you mean by setting a half wltted
boy up to such n beastly game ns that
spectral hand?" Storm shook his fist
under nassam All's nose.
All the fury ugalnst this young man
bubbled up In nassam All's heart aud
incautiously was permitted to over
flow the brim, ne wanted John Storm
dead, dead at his feet He suddenly
drew back bis band, but Storm was
too quick for him. Amed, seeing his
master in danger, seized a vase and
stole up behind Storm.
But from her boudoir above Zudora
had beard the loud voices. She held
In her hand only a book. She flung It
with more accuracy than Is generally
credited to the feminine arm. It hit
Amed squarely on the shoulder; and
the vase clattered to tho floor.
John flung Hassam All from bim and
faced Zudora.
"I am sorry, dear, to have a rumpus
like this, but I lost my temper."
"And erbaps I lost mine," said Has
sam All, recognizing the need of a bit
of diplomacy. "1 had forbidden him
tbe bouse. Zudora. He pushed Ills
way In with threots of police."
"You were wrong. John." said Zu
dora. with no small diplomacy herself.
"There is nothing to prevent my see
lug you when and where I will, but
this Is my uncle's bouse. He has n per
feet right to deny you admittance if
be so wishes."
John swallowed hard, ne was not
expecting a rebuke from such a quar
ter. He apologized again and left the
house. At bis apartments a telegram
awaited hint The specter had return
ed, und the farmers were patrolling the
THE MOST FAMOUS SONG.
V- yt'",.
Zudora Was Suddenly Dragged In and
Securely Bound.
county with shotguns. A carrier pi
geon acquainted Zudora with the fact
Tlie next morning the two left for the
south. Zudora nor John referred to
the row with Hassam AIL
"U-t me work alone. The sight of
you may scare away this boy," she
said.
"All right" he agreed, but with the
mental reservation that he would fol
low ber and remain within call.
Zudora found Jimmy Itolton and Jim
my Bolton found her, much to ber dls
comfort and alarm. She hud gone far
opposite to where the specter hand
usually appeared, nnd she discovered
Id ii window of a shack on the op
posite hill the Cyclopean eye she had
hitherto buuted for in valu. Without
An Air Familiar to Almost Every Coun
try In the World.
A London paper recently asked the
question, "Which is the world's most
famous song?" and then proceeded to
make nn unexpected answer namely,
that it Is not "Auld Long Syne," "An
nie Laurie," "Home, Sweet Home,"
"God Save the King." "America."
"The Watch on the Rhino," "The Mar
seillaise" or "The I-ast Rose of Sum
mer." all of which would seem to bo
probable candidates for the honor.
What is It, then? The answer Is "MaU
brook," whose refrains, "We won't g'
home till morning" and "r'or he's a
Jolly good fellow," are equally familiar
In Europe nnd In America.
The air of the song nas heen sung in
Europe since the tluie ot the crusades,
when It was carried to the east nnd so
became familiar to Turks and Arabs.
The modernization of the song date
from some time after the battle of Mai
plaquet when It was first sung by it
French muse nt Versailles, whence 1
spread to Paris and throughout France
end, as bns been said, gave the great
Duke of Marlborough more celebrity
than nil his victories. The words were
printed on fans and screens and wer
sung In palaces aud on the streets.
Tlie still further modernization for
the exigencies of roistering melody
was the last touch which Insured tho
song universal popularity Incorpo
rated In opera boulTe by Hlzet. sung bjr
Marie Antoinette In the Tulleries, In
troduced by Ueauuiarchals In "The
Marriage of Figaro" nnd by Beethoven
In his symphony and hummed by tho
greut Napoleon whenever he entered i
buttle, the air of "Mulitrook" nas liter,
ally sung itself Into the heart of the
world.
And Du Mnurier understood Its Infi
nite possibilities when lie had Trilby
transform It Into a great lyric tragedy.
A Lucky Imitation.
Marshal Gourko. the famous Russian
general, was a terrible autocrat Uu
one occasion an linperstniutor of cele
brated men was performing at a thea
ter In Odessa. One eveulng he receiv
ed a mysterious message, which read.
"Study General Gourko." In ltusslii
It Is better nut to inquire Into mutter
that one does not ifuderstnnd. and so
the artist spent uu hour lu privately
Impersonating the autocratic Russluo.
Just as the evening performance was)
about to commeuce an order of arrest
signed by Gourko was presented to the
Impersonator, and without explanation
he was led through tbe streets to tbe
marshal's pa luce and Into an upart
meut where the terrible man wus seat
ed. "Tbey tell uie that you imper
sonate celebrated men," he roared.
"Impersonate me!" Giving a hasty
look at Gourko, the performer turned
to tbe mirror to "make op." It was an
anxious time, for if the marshal should
take exception to the representation
be bad unlimited power to Inflict pnu
Ishment Tho Impersonator dragged
himself together and turned to tho
marshal a copy of his own face and.
overbearing manner. Gourko burst
Into a roar of laughter, and the dan
gerous moment was over,
When Paderewskl Was Poor,
Paderewskl's first really Important
engagement as a pluntst was lu Parts.
He was engaged to play In the draw
ing room of u lady famous for ber ino
slcules. and bis fee, which seemed to
hlui enormous, was $'.'0, He managed
to persuade the humane agent to pay
him in advance, and when Pnderew
ski had redeemed his dress suit from
pawn and paid for shoes, gloves, tlo
and other essentials be hud no money
left for cab hire, so he was forced to
walk to tho scene of bis engagement
The music loving audience Inspired
bim. He played with feeling, passion
and mastery of his Instrument as nev
er befora His success wns instant
and unmistakable. The poor player
bud suddenly become the lion or the
hour, aud fume aud fortuue were as
sured bim. At last, after disengaging
himself from his admirers, De turned
to leave, when bis hostess, remember
Ing with regret tho sum linens of tho
fee for bo marvelous a performance,
offered him ber carriage for bis return
home. But Paderewskl's pride came
to the rescue. In bis courteous yet re
served way be made a formal bow,
and. saying. "No, thank you. mndame:
my own Is waiting," he stepped out
for bis long walk homeward.-Pear,
sun's Weekly.