Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-07
CHAPTER XIX.
Rutton's DAUGHTER.


In darkness the blacker for the sudden
disappearance of the light somebody
stumbled over Amher-stumbled and swore
in good English. The virginian sat up.
crying out as weakly as a child: Lab
ertouche." A voice said: Thank God-'
He felt strong hands lift him to his feet
He chung to him who had helped him.
swaying like drunkard, wits a-swirl in
the brain thus roughly awakened from
semi-hypnosis.
Here said Labertouche's voice, take
my hand and follow We're in for it
now"
He caught Amber's hand and dragged
him. yielding and unquestioning. rapidly
through a chaotic rush of unseen bodies.
The firing had electrified the tense
strung audience. With a pandemonium
of shrieks, oaths. shouts, orders unheard
and commands UNDECIDED. a concerted
rush was made from every quarter to the
spot where the doomed man had been
kneeling. Men running Numbered into
running men and cannoned off at direct
angles to their original courses, without
realizing 1t. Disorder reigned rampant.
and the cavern rang with a thousand
echoes. while the Bell awoke and roared
a raging tocsin, rebuilding the din. No
man could have said where he stood or
whittier he ran-Saye one. perhaps. That
one was at Amber's side and had laid his
course beforehand. and knew that both
their lives depended upon his sticking to
it without deviation. To him a rush of a
hundred feet in a direct line meant sal
walton. the least deviation from it, death.
He plunged through the scurrying masses
without regard for any hurt that might
come either to him or to his charge.
A red glare of torches was breaking out
over the heads of the mob before they
gained their destination. Amber saw that
they were making for corner formed by
the junction of one of the pedestals with
rock wall. He was now recovering
rapidly and able to appreciate that they
stood a good chance of winning away;
for the natives were all converging to-
ward the center of the cavern, and APP
parently none needed them. Neverthe-
less Labertouche. releasing him, put re-
volver in his hand.
Don't hesitate to shoot if any one
comes this way" he said. I've got to
get this door open and -
He broke off with an ejaculation of
gratitude; for while he had been speak
ing, his fingers busily cropping in the con-
volutions of the sculptured pedestal had
encountered what he sought. and now he
pulled out an iron bar two feet or SO in
length and as thick as woman's wrist.
Inserting this in a socket, as one famil-
lar with the trick, he put his weight upon
it; carved sandstone slab slid back 81
lently, disclosing black cavernous open
ing.
I'm with you," painted Labertouche, re-
moving the lever Don't delay :"
Amber did not. He took with him a
hazy impression of a vast, vaulted hall,
filled with ruddy glare of torchlight. a
natives in its center. Then the opening
received him and he found himself in a
black hole of an underground gallery-a
place that reeked with the dank odors OF
the tomb.
Labertouche followed and with the aid
of small electric pocket lamp discovered
another socket for the lever. a moment
later the slab moved back into place, and
the Englishman dropped the metal bar.
IF there were only some way of lockir g
that opening" he gasped, wed be fairly
safe. AS it is. we'll have to look nippy.
That was a near call-as near a one as
ever you'll know, my boy. and were not
out yet. What are you doing?' he added,
as Amber stopped to pick up the lever.
1T isn't a bad weapon" said the Vir-
gnian ''at a pinch. You'll want your
gun. and that she-devil Naraini got
mine.
Keep the one 1 gave you and don't
be afraid to use it. I've another and a
couple of knives for good measure. That
Mohammedan prince whom | persuaded
to change places with me was a walking
arsenal Labertouche chuckled. Come
along" he said, and drew ahead at a
dog-trot.
They sped down passage which delved
at a sharp grade through solid rock. Now
and again it turned and struck away In
another direction. Once they descended
or rather fell doWn-a short. steep flight
of steps. At the bottom Amber stopped.
Hold on he cried.
LabertOuche pulled up impatiently.
whats the natter
Sophia
Trust me, dear boy. and come along"
parcna6ad biund9rn2
on after Labertouche, who loped along
easily, with the confidence of one who
threads known ways, the spotlight from
his lamp dancing along the floor several
feet before him. Otherwise they moved
between walls of Stygian darkness.
1t was some time later that Laber-
touche extinguished his lamp and threw
a low word Of warning over his shoulder.
Simultaneously Amber discerned, far
ahead, a faint glow of yellow light. AS
they bore down upon it with unmoderated
speed, he could see that it emanated from
a rough-hewn doorway, opening off the
passage. Before 1t a man stood guard
with naked sword.
"Johar!" he greeted them in the Mahar
form: 20 warrior!'
''Johari" returned I4abertouche. painting
heavily. He closed upon the native conf
IDENTIFY. but was brought up short by a
peremptory sweep of the sword. coupled
with an equally imperative demand for
an explanation of their haste. The Eng
lishman replied with apparent difficulty,
as if half-Winded. '.It is an order. Johar.
The woman is to be brought to the Hall
of the Bell"
"You have the word?" The Mahar low
cred his sword. 1T hath been said to
me that
I.abertouche stumbled over his feet and
caught the speaker for support Inc
native gurgIed in a sodden fashion. drop
ped his sword, stared stupidity at Laber-
touche, and put an uncertain hand TO MS
throat Then he Iurched heavily and col
lapsed upon himself
The secret agent stepped back. drop
ping the knife he had used Poor devil!
he said in a compassionate undertone.
THAT was cold blooded murder, Mr.. Am
ber'
Necessary" gasped Amber, regarding
with horror the blood-stained heap of
rags and flesh at his feet
Judge for yourself said Labertouche.
cooIly. stepping over the body. Here,
he added pauSing by the doorway, you
go first; she knows YOU.
He pushed Amber on ahead. STOPPING.
the yirg1nian entered a small, rude cham
Der followed out of the rock of kathia-
pur 4 crude lamp in a bracket furnished
all it's illumination. filling it with a reek
of hot oil. Amber was vaguely aware of
in a corner, the other seated dejectedly
upon a charpoy. her head against the
wall. AS he lifted his head after passing
under the low Intel, the woman in the
corner fired at him point blank.
The Virginian saw the jet of flame
squirt from her hand and felt the bullets
impact upon the wall behind his head
He flung himself upon her instantly.
There was a moment of furious struggle
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