New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-25
An Encounter i'm High Places.
BY MAYNE LINDSAY.

rock couple OF PAGES TO the rear OF the wound
ed man. was more than ready for him His
haste died; he came to a standstill upon the
broken ground. his figure clearly defined upon
q slight incline. his enemy snug in cover. barely
perCeptihle among the great drab powders.
Throw that revolver down" Oakley said He
was looking along the shining barrel OF the
mans own rife. and he addressed him in his
mother tongue. Raise your hands above your
head and walk I'm 10 me"
He came slowly. white 70 the lips with pas
sion. He halted
Please 10 turn your back"
Again he obeyed.
Thank YOU Oakley said. slipping a hunting
knife out Of his belt. and relieving him OF "A
let us look each other in the face. Keep your
distance. please
The Russian turned to him. and they stood
silent for a minute or two. eyinE each other.
weighing the puzzle Of their jealous national
titles. the one with livid hafHed face. the other
with the fash Of success upon his cheeks, his
cheerful eyes belying a studiously Indifferent
manner
why did YOU kill my sulde?' Oakley said
The other man shrugged his shoulders and
You shot him in the back at sight. He had
not attacked you" Oakley continued
He was my enemy"
THAT is so So for the matter Of that am I.
want the papers sold to you by the
Khan Of KaIsi."
The prisoner made an involuntary forward
movement and Oakley checked him significantly
by the movement Of trigger finger
1t is no good he said You. dare say, are
a soldier. too; YOU must know when resistance is
useless. I must have those papers-and. by God
Il you will not hand them out 10 me 7 shall take
them by-by a force don't want to use IL Il
can be avoided"
The whistling wind played with his words.
The wounded man grOaned heavily and drew up
ms knees mere were no conscious witnesses
TO the encounter. The white mountains. hand
in hand about a pale blue skyline the broad
burning sunshine. the great silence OF the high
desert engirdled the two men
viii you fight for them? 1t IS an affair OF
honor" the Russian said.
!
my private business But I viii burn them IN
der your nose If that suits YOU. And-oh-taIk-
ing about fighting. 7 viii meet you in Europe II
you like. the next time are both there. and
give YOU the satisfaction Of a gentleman VIII
that do"
IT is better than nothing" the prisoner said
and stood frOwning over the proposition. biting
the back OF his fOrefinSer. 1t VIII do he
agreed unwilhngly, and slowly unbuttoned his
coat.
Pin them down with a stone" oakley sug-
gested as the papers futtered frantically in the
wind Thanks, Nov step back again. AMI
keep your hands up while i look through them"
His inspection took some time; the swift de-
struction which followed was not So long. In
the end he rose 70 his feet and heaved sigh
Of deep relief
And now we 90 our separate ways" he said
Il suppose must wait here and watch YOU out
Of sight on the Shawa road. There Is
the wounded man, tcO-a very awkward COM
pication.
The Russian. free 70 move. came across to the
Kalsi. looked him over. and dribbed little
brandy between his teeth
Leave him 20 me" ne said Il know these
fellows. they hard the rocks they live
among. Oh. will take the ShaVa road az soon
as have got him on his legs; my way is ar
ranged, believe my return journey is likely
O. be easier than yours. after all. Word %
honor OF officer, But il viii give me
the greatest pleasure 20 meet you when take
my leave next year"
with pleasure also Oakley said He scrib-
bed his name and club upon the leaf OF pock-
etbook. and gravely handed Il over
The Russian began to gather up his effects
You might leave ne my rifle ne said. Il
ROY nat haH NOT civ ~~o
thing 70 look forward 10 7 should have followed
you up and done nv best TO wipe out your tri-
unph Of to-day by any means But as IL is I
am content: and you need have no further
anxiety about my movements This VIII find
you-next year,
"Oh yes. There IS your rife. then 1 viii
take the spare revolver" Oakley said. H
watched the regai1ed COmpOsure % the other
pest, q retCent tranquility 70 the fury OF
outwitted cOnsDiratOr: dignity 20 the grotesaue
helplessness Of appraised hands He reflected
that his return journey. at whatever risk. must
be by way Of the khan's citadel lest this phII0-
scphical person should play The game twice
over.
. He lifted his cap and went 70 Yusuf to do the
last Offices tor him. little iuconprehensive oS
his attitude toward Yusuf's murderer I{uc
they were cut upon the SUBMITS OF a strange
land; he had been through weeks OF abnormal
Incident the snOwdrifts and the wide drearv
valleys justified strange happenings. T. they di1
rot altogether elucidate them. Only what hal
he promised 70 do next year in matter-Of-fact
That IS the part OF il that VIII annoy Silver"
Oakley reflected. The rest brutal but u
came naturally enough: he would understand Il.
But what else could do And IL
happened, Il solved a very pressing problem"
He moved away.
'Au revoir. Mr. Oakley" said the Russian
from his patients side.
And "Au revoir." said Oakley and turned his
mind 10 the labors OF return iourney.-(IIlus-
tr=1-d LnndaH Nan.