The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-26

main tent which had been Maurice's private
dwelling. DeeminQ IL best to take tho bull
by the horns he hurried across tho plain in
the SHINE direction. Tho lieutenant and
tho doctor were leaving tho tent ms he ar
rived. Both were pale and appeared un-
easy.
The three men saluted. and the professor
with well-assumed interest asked after tho
welfare of the two Kerdicd, who. he sup
posed, had remained behind at Teheran.
whit do you mean, sirI' asked Lieut..
Guyon; "are not our friends herel"
mo, my dear Lieutenant; have not seen
them for days md days, and felt certain
they. were visiting the capital"
"done!" said the doctor and lieutenant in
q breath. "Whenl Whereof
THAT is just what l don'tknow.'' answered
the German. "Their camp has been
deserted for ten days; even their Greek
servant has Disappeared"
But have no inquiries been made. 1t is
certain that they are not at Hamadan? Is
1t certain that three people could disap-
pear, and Leave no trace whatever behind
them2"
"Ah! Monsieur, / have thought myself ii
was a little mysterious. But what could l
doS You know yourself how reserved these
Two young people were. and how they
would resent any officious interference. And
l myself, too, have been 80 much occupied
with my discoveries"
"What discoveries?" cried the lieutenant,
with sudden suspicion. ~ heard the noise
of some work as we arrived here. Did not
the governor forbid all excavation?"
The professor lowered his eyes nlodestly.
1.-THE governor Of H%amndan, his highness
prince of Abdoulazim, taking into consider
alton my age and certain services l nave
rendered him, has deigned to authorize me
to make certain explorations, the results of
which will be handed to his hlghness-"
I'm other words, SIR interrupted the
I1antanRnf hYnannnlv stynu hava aucoaada.}
in having Monsieur Kerdio's work inter
dicted and have stepped into his shoes.
That may be very clever, but, for my part,
l should hardly call it honest"
"Sir," said Hasselfratz, "such childish
accusations cannot hurt me. They are too
absurd.''
WELL" observed DR.. Hardy, dryly, "per-
NIT me to tell you, in my turn, that l am Of
precisely the same opinion as the ~lieuten-
ant, and to add hat the part you have
played appears to me decidedly suspicious
and unworthy of an honest man."
"Calumny! slandern!' cried the professor,
raising his arms to heaven. "We will see
about this! You shall take back your
words"
He turned to go away, but the lieutenant
made u sign to two of his escort to stop the
irate sayant.
"One moment, STRIP he said, politely, but
with firmness. 81 am the bearer of a tirman
bearing the Shah's own signature and au-
thorizing Maurice Kerdic to conduct. to the
exclusion of any other person. all excava-
tions which may be made around the city
of Hamadan. His majesty has given me
full power to represent him in this matter
and to see that his wishes are carried out.
As find your conduct. under the circum-
stances, decidedly suspicious. l shall place
you under arrest until such moment as
Monsieur KeIdic and his sister are found.
If, then. you know anything about their
| wharanhnnfu IL 10 RI vnnr own intaraot To
speak"
"What. monsieur? Do you suppose they
are in my pocket?" cried the enraged pro-
~fessor. II protest against such arbitrary
conduct! 1 will appeal to the governor"
Here is his majesty's firman;' said the
lieutenant quietly, and he produced a parch-
ment bound with u green ribbon and sealed
with the royal seal.
At the sight of the imperial document
each man among the escort Frustrated
himself, sweeping the dust with his fore
head.
"Well.'' retorted Hasselfratz f%iercely; 'you
have the advantage for the moment mon
sieur. but we shall see! He laughs longest
who laughs last!'
The lieutenant instructed the guard to
keep the German in sight, and having read
aloud to the laborers the shah's decree, in
company with the doctor he set out in
search of tidings of their friends. 1t was
all i'll vain; not a sou could furnish them
with any clew or explanation of Kerdic's
disappearance. FINALLY they agreed; poor
as was the pro- ect of any success coming
from it, that the doctor should ride over to
the city of Hamadau and institute inquiries
there, while the lieutenant should inspect
the excavations which had been don by the
professor and his laborers.
This programme was carried out. When
the lieutenant, having made a thorough ex-
animation of the trenches and the newly
flIIntl nnnn1n ~ nin1t fn J1nrnf hIS hnrca
be felt a light touch upon his arm.
Turning round, he saw little Hassun
standing tlmidly behind him. his face pale
and bearing a most woeful expression. Dur
idg Guyon's former visit to the Kerdic camp
the gueber. Goucha- Nichin, had made his
irst visit to the French archaologist and
had allowed the boy Hassan to accompany
him. The lieutenant had noticed the boy
at the time, and now, when he was prepared
to clutch at II straw in his dilemma, he
was overioyed to seea face he knew.
"Ah, my boy" he cried. We'll met!
"Where is your master? Where are my
friends, the Feranghis?'
Hassan made q gesture of despair.
ALIAS, Sahib" he said, "many days and
nights have passed and my master has not
returned. For certain he has been swal-
lowed up by the earth, together with the
Leila and the sahib's sister waited for them
at our dwelling q long. long time, until
their patience was worn out. Each hour
the sister became moro pale and sad. In
vain did Leila try and console her. At last
they, too, went away. leaving poor Hassan
alone and desolate. Not one of them has
returned. And the sacred fire, which only
the mobed is allowed to touch. is extin-
guished. dare not remain there. The
master left them in my charge, but they
went away to join him and the sahib-"
what are YOU saying? Where did they
go? Speak, in heavens name!'
The master and tho Feranghis have de-
scended into the earth at Goul-Hek."
"Goul-Hek?"
Yes; the we'll which is only known to
the mobed."
"Do you know where this we'll is?"
"fes, Sahib; but the master would never
permit me to descend"
well, not only will l permit YOU, but l
order you. If your disohedience gets YOU
into trouble, my boy, | will take the blame.
Come! get on my horse with me-. We must
lind them.'
SO g eat was his fear of the mobed that
Hassan still hesitated. But ut last he
mounted i'll front of the lieutenant, who,
with the boys guidance, gulloped away
toward the woll of Goul-Hek.
When they arrived ut the spot Hassan
showed tho lieutenant the place whore the
Gueber had concealed the iron bar, and the
latter, with n vigorous effort. soon displaced
the stone. The ladder hung Town from the
opening as if inviting them to ascend. They
quickly did 30, and. thanks to the little Ian
tern which the lieutenant carried Mt his
belt, had little difficulty in finding the pas
sape which had beeu Dppuol nm nv tina