Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-02

CHAPTER XIII. Continued.
Remember Florence Sidcombe of
Baltimore, who turned the frozen face
to me after got turned down at Har-
ward? That's the American girl. l for
get who the English women are.
They've got handles to their names,
though. They were taken in the ruins
of Nebosh, little way south of here.
1t was tipped off to Muley by their
dragoman It's only known, so far,
among the natives. What l propose is
this: Let 1t leak out that you are
going to view the ruins at certain
time tomorrow-the rich American
from the yacht, and his friends, who
are fine, picked fighting men. Muley
will capture you and your crowd and
take you pack to his strongholds in
the hills, where the ladies are. You
treat it as a joke, and be nice to Mu-
ley Zidan, promising no end of a ran
som, which will be brought to him
from the yacht. I'll bring the ransom
on mules. Five men with me wouldn't
arouse suspicion, dressed as natives
That makes twelve of ours, Your job
is to guard the women at the begin
ming Of the trouble until l can fight
my way through to you. Well have to
begin the fight with twelve, because
the rest have to be out of sight in the
rear and not show up till the row is
under way, and we at close quarters.
They won't dare to shoot then, for
fear of killing one another. The axes
will be on the mules; they won't
arouse any suspicion. The chances are,
the axes they take away from you will
be within reach; and you won't be
tied. Muley trusts to the cul-de-sac
where his lair is, and to mis- sentries,
for the safety of his prisoners. Re-
member, the great thing is to keep
In the thick of the fight Once we be-
gin to scatter we'll be potted-no
prisoners and no survivors! The odds
are about two to one, but when once
we get the axes going, we'll reverse
that in short order. Now suppose you
send for the captain, and tell MIN to
take orders from me in your absence,
and we'll pick the men with his
help"
Vandraken rang the bell, and sent
word to the captain. Through the open
door came the sensuous monotone OF
nautch dance music and the sound OF
drunken laughter.
Whats all that?" asked Dash
more.
MY friends, enjoying themselves,
answered Vandraken, laconically. He
had suddenly become aware that the
glamour of vice was growing pale in
the excitement of promised action.
why do you not come to the nautct
Standeesh? have a surprise for yor
"a new But who is this?'
1t was the Corba standing in the
doorway A clinging, indescently
spangled dress of black outlined the
curves of her svelte figure, a diamond
snake coiled round through her hair
the head resting on her fornead.
"Whew!" whistled Dashmore, soft
~. "That woman!" he thought, "ant
all the unpleasant things that have
been said, and Vandraken. looking al
unsullied as when l last saw him a
Harvard, a freshman! It's Incredible!
Aloud he said: 81 don't need any in
PRODUCTION Senorita. If you have for
gotten me, think of a little street OF
the Prada, in Havana, and a man witt
a knife stickingsin his right eye. How
did you escape that night?'
ooh, it was very easy, Monsieu
IAmericaine. did make love to tn
young officer, and he open the cage.
"You sent for me, Mr.. Vandraken?
said the captain, entering, and absc
lutely ignoring the presence of tn
Corba.