Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-07

have our existence forgotten. Good
night!'
! Stone calmly stretched himself on
the floor and went 10 sleep. Ryder SAT
and brooded at the bronze lauteru
Pickering In the distance. His hand
still caressed the bait OF his revolver.
| but with less confidence.
New York seemed many thousa ndS
of miles away touight-New York AND
! alluring Lena Shultz. He cursed heI
under bis breath aud wondered how
| many more men she would throw a.
| bait into that hidden, city in the hope
that one or all OF them might aid IL
the escape OF her husband.
There was an audible murmur of
sound without the thick walls. pierccC
| by sharp staccato cries. The thud OF
many pounding feet sounded in the
| courtyards above their heads. aud IN
an instant the six sleeping prisoners
were awake and on the alert The
Latins gabbled French TO one another.
while Stone and Ryder drew near to
an iron grating in the stone roof.
The American could make nothing
of the strange sounds, but the Eng
lishman's face lighted with sudden ex-
element.
by Jove." he whispered exultant-
ly, you've brought good luck after
all. Ryder. Something extraordinary
has happened, from what i can hear
change Of government indeed. Two
deaths and chaos every where. Time
for US to make a move, and DISCUSSES
are In order"
IL
pried up portion Of the stone flag
ging. He brought into view a mass Of
silk and satin. He threw rich gar
ments to each of his fellow prisoners,
and without a word they slipped into
the voluminous folds.
"Doubly a thief" muttered Stone as
he surveyed his companions. Then he
caught up one remaining robe and
thrust it under his arm. See IL we
can release Lena's husband, poor
devil We owe her a grudge, sure
enough, but white men must stand by
one anotherp
With the air of one who had studied
his ground and was well versed in his
undertaking. he unfastened the oaken
door and by the guiding sound Of his
slipping. padding feet the six followed
him into the outer darkness Of corri-
doris. They twisted and turned and
doubled, and at last Stone paused be-
fore another door.
"I don't know just how to get in
side," he admitted in a low tone. But
the pressure of his hand on the planks
pushed the door inward and revealed
to their shocked senses scene Of car
ha flc =
ted. they realized that Lena's husband
was dead, with his precious secret still
mystery behind his horribly grinning
lips.
'The syndicate has done well in
deed" said Stone. turning away. 81
lently they fled through the passages
until they reached the foot of the
grass grown steps where Ryder had
left the outside world behind. 1T is
here where the guard is set. Look for
danger. friepds," whispered the Eng
lishman.
The shadows were uninhabited.
They slipped up into the grove of
whispering trees and followed the
curve of the shining wall around to
the seventh gate.
"Once outsider muttered Stone fe-
verishly.
"Once outside" each man repeated
in his own tongue.
In the distance were muffled cries
and excited murmurings. Around the
seventh gate all was still-ominously
still.
The seven were pressed against the
bronze gate. and Stone was fumbling
with the complicated lock. There was
O rushing sound behind them, and they
turned their heads.
A file of soldiers was running to-
ward then. and their short swords
were raised In deadly menace Stone
pulled the door open and dashed forth
with his companions into pitchy black
ness. They crashed into a sedan chair
just entering the gateway. A wom- !
ans scream pierced the darkness, and |
from the tower overhead the watch |
man thrust his lantern.
A white face appeared for a brief
instant between the parted curtains of |
the chair.
Lena ShultzT' beloved Ryder ex-
citedly.
With one accord the seven victims of |
Lena Shultz ignored the oncoming sol /
diers. and. shouldering the bearers |
aside, they grasped the poles of the /
chair and carried the shrieking woman
away from the seventh gate-away /
from the Forbidden City beyond the |
outer darkness to the lighted consulate
buildings-to safety for all.
The next day Ryder and Stone left
for the nearest treaty port. "A fifth
story studio and paint pots for the rest
of my life. I'll take my foreign travel
book fashion hereafter" said Ryder
sheepishly to his companion as they
whirled along the railway. Whats
your first wish. StOne?'
The Englishman touched a matted
wig which hung well down over the
lapel Of his coat.
pink rubber ears he said sol