Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-08
CHAPTER XIX-Continued.

He yielded Unexpectedly. "Of course
you are perfectly right, Miss Farrell, .
said he. with little bow. I'm sorry
that circumstances But come! Shell
have this hornets nest about our ears
In a brace OF seconds Hark to that.
A long, shrill shrek echoed down the
gallery. Labertouche shrugged and
turned to the left. Come along" he
said. amber. take Miss FarrelPs hand
and keep close to me-. He led the way
that taxed Sophia's powers Of endurance
to maintain. Amber aided her as much
as he might. but that was little; the walls
of the passageway were too close 10
gether to permit him to be by her side
much of the time. For the most part he
had to lead the way, himself guided by
the swiftly moving patch of light cast by
Labertouche's bulPs-eye. But through l,
all he was buoyed up and exhilarated out
of all reason by the consciousness of the
hand that lay trustfully in his own; a
hand soft and small and warm and
Though he could not see it, white. al
white. More, it was the hand of his wife
to be; he felt this now with an unques-
tioning assurance He wondered If she
shared the subject of his thoughts
The gallery sloped at varying grades
more or less steep-mostly more-ano
minute by minute the air became more
dank and cold. At an unseen turning,
where another passage branched away. q
biting wind swept out of the black no.
where chilling them to the marrow
Deeper and still deeper, into the very
bowels of the earth. it seemed, the secret
agent led them, finding his way with an
unfaltering confidence that exalted Am
ber's admiration of him to the pitch OF
hero-Worship.
At length the gallery dipped and rar
level, and now. while still cold. the WIND
that blew in their faces was cleaner, bur-
dened with less of the clammy effiuvium
of death and decay: and then, abruptly
the walls narrowed suddenly, so that Am
Der was forced to surrender possession OF
the girls hand and to fall behind her
She went forward without question, fol-
lowing the dancing spotlight.
Amber paused to listen for sounds OF
pursuit. but hearing nothing save the
subdued sigh of the draught between the
straitened walls of rock, followed until
the walls fell away and his hands, out
stretched, failed to touch them. and he
was aware that the stone beneath his
feet gave way to gravel. He halted, call
ing guardedly to Labertouche.
The secret agents voice came from
some distance. Its all right, my boy.
Miss Farrell is with me. Come along"
There was an elan in his tone that be-
spoke a spirit of graduation and relief
and led Amber to suspect that they We're
very close upon the end of their fight,
near to escape from the subterranean
ways of kathiapur the dead. He pro-
ceeded at discretion in the direction of
Labertouche'S yOlce-the light being IN
visible--and brought up fiat against a
dead wall. Confidently he heard Sophia
exclaim with surprise and delight. some
where off on his left. and, turning, he
saw her head and shoulders move across
patch of starit sky. In half a dozen
strides he overlook her.
They stood on low. pebbly ledge. just
outside the black nav of the passage
an entrance hidden IN curtain-iiae fold
in the face of the cliff that lowered above
them, casting an ink-black shadow. But
beyond it the emblaZoned armament
glowed irradiant. and at their feet the
encircling waters ran, broad ribbon of
black silk purling between the cliff and
the opposing shores, where a thicket of
tamarisks rose, a black and ragged wall.
Labertouche strobe off into the water.
straight ahead lie announced; don't
worry-'tisn't more than knee deep at
the worst. I've horses waiting on the
other side
Horses Amber interrupted. Great
heavens, man, you're-you're omnfscient!"
mo - lucky" Labertouche retOrted.
briskly '.Where'd I've been without
Ram Nath? He's taking care Of the ami
mails. Come along. Whatre you
waiting for? Don't you know He
turned to see the girl hesitant, though
with lifted skirts. oh he said. in an
accent Of understanding. and came back.