veins--made him fear this unknown priestess of fetish worship.

"Well, Battersea," said Isabella, kindly, "how are you to-day?"

"Very well, lady, very well, indeed. I met Mr. Alymer, and he gave me half a crown."

"That was generous of him. But why?"

"Because I said that a certain lady was--"

"Now, now," laughed Isabella, "no more of that nonsense, Battersea." She turned and ran along the veranda into the house. The tramp and the negress were alone.

"What de doctor say?" asked Dido, in a low-voiced whisper.

"Two words. The devil-stick!"

The negress started and threw up her hands in surprise.

 

 

 

 

 CHAPTER IV.

VOODOO! VOODOO!

 

Evidently there was an understanding between these two strange creatures, and thereby an occult connection with the ideas and doings of Dr. Etwald. What the trio were plotting against Isabella and her lover remains to be seen; but it can be guessed easily that the message of the devil-stick carried by Battersea to Dido was of some significance.

Battersea himself knew nothing of its esoteric meaning, but to the negress the mention of the emblem conveyed a distinct understanding. She let her arms fall listlessly by her side, and, with an unseeing gaze, she stared at the green trees bathed in hot 

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