Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-10-29

still and numb, watching his tall hgj
ure crossing the stone floor. All, what
a man he was! The little Persian wife
of Selim, after waiting for a full min
ute, gently touched the arm of the
princess. Genevra started and looked
down into the dark, accusing, smiling
eyes. She flushed deeply and hated
herself.
"Shall we go back?" she asked nerv-
ously. IL have seen enough. Come.
Neenah. Lead me back to-
"Most glorious e~xcellency." said Nee
nah. shaking her pretty head, I'VE are
to wait here. The sahib and Selim
will join us soon"
where are they going?" demanded
the princess, a feeling of awe coming
over her. Il don't want to be left here
alone" Chase and Selim had opened
a low. heavy iron door at the lower
end and were peering into the dark
ness beyond.
"Selim will explain. He has learned
much. 1t is the secret passage to the
coast. Be not afraid"
Genevra looked about her for the
first time. They were standing in a
long, low room, the walls of which
reeked with dampness and gave out a
noxious odor. A single electric light
provided a faint, almost unnatural
light. Selim raised a lighted lantern
as he led Chase through the squat
door. Behind Geneyra were n
nous casks. a dozen or more, reach
ing almost to the ceiling. A number
of boxes stood close by, while on the
opposite side of the chamber four
small iron chests were to be seen,
dragged out from recesses In the DIS
tant corner. Observing her look of
wonder, Neenah vouehsafed a casual
explanation.
at is the wine cellar and the store
room. The iron chests contain the
silver and gold plate that came from
the great rajah of Murpat in ex-
change for the five huge rubies which
now adorn his crown. The old sahibs
stored the chests here many years ago,
but few know of their existence. Seei
They were hidden In the walls over
there. Won Blitz has found them"
won Blitz!" In amazement.
"He has been here. He has carried
ty in ALL"
"And-and he will return for these?"
queried the princess in alarm.
"Assuredly, most glorious n Soon.
perhaps. But be not afraid. Selim
can close the passage door. He can
not get in. He will be fooled, Ell?
Why should you be afraid? Have you
cot with you the most wonderful, the
most brave sahib? Would he not give
his life for your The dark eyes
sparkled with Observation-Disclosures. ever
mischief. Genevra felt that this orr
entail witch knew everything. For a
long time she looked in uncertain mood
upon that smiling, wistful face. Then
she said softly. moved by an irresisti
BILE impulse to confess something, even
obscurely:
"Oh. If only ! were such as yot
Neenah, and could 1--we forever on ms
dear islandp'
But, most high. there are no
princes here. There is no one to
whom the most gracious one could be
sold. No one who could pay more
than a dozen rubies. Women are
cheap here. and you would be a wom-
an, not a most beautiful princess
Il would not care to be a princess,
perhaps"
=.
you love my Sahib Chaser de-
manded Neenah abruptly, eagerly.
'Neenah!' gasped Geneva, with a
startled look. Neenah looked intently
into the uns teady. blue gray eyes and
then bent over to kiss the hand of the
princess. The latter laughed almost
aloud in her confusion. She caught
herself up quickly and said with some
asperity: You foolish child. l am to
become a princes wife. How can
love your sahib? What nonsense!
am to marry a prince, and he is not
to pay for Inc in rubies."
"Ah. how wonderful cried Neenah,
with ravishing candor. "a prince for
a husband and the glorious Sahib