The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-07-18
CHAPTER XVIII.
The High Priest.

THE high priest stood silent until
the shouting ceased Then he
faced US His chin was dark and his
features were not unlike those Of the
Indians around US, yet there was
some thing about him that spoke Of
another race. and II needed no speech
to tell as VINO he was
so. Dir. Scott he said, slowly, 'and
meet again.
Yes" j answered. as calmly as I
1 could We meet alphabetically for as,
Count Trumanof."
eyes
Luckily he questioned, in a tone
Jnat chilled my blood. '-Why2-'
For obvious reasons" / returned.
though 1 don't know wether il IS safe
70 state them here
1t is perfectly safe-if you mean that
you uOn want 10 be overheard. Nor e
1 OF these people understand Englisn.
state your reasons, Mr. Scott"
certainly, x you 50 advise. OF course,
you nave come 70 rescue US"
rescue yOu2 MOI I've come to offer
you a barsaln-Or rather TO offer Miss
I-alour one. Mademoiselle wish 20
know tne Wherea % Its OF II. DOrth. VIII
you De good enough 10 tell mey''
Marian shook her head
NO. she answered, firmly
Noz Are you sure? Think welI!''
The Russian seemed to consider.
Ihls Is not case for chLd's play,
HiadelnOlselle, he said, AZ last 4 want
% know the Whereabouts Of n 1Orth
y Ell nae and 1 viii do ny best TO rescue
al OF You from the clasp Of the B.grn-
ING Image I may fail, FOR nay infut nee
mere Is not all-pOW erfUl, but 1 viii do
my best
Refuse aad-weu. the old scoundref
mere mas told you of the Burning Image
Refuse, and by Heaven. III send you 10
lt-1u OF you VIII you tellZ''
Marian looked at me pltfulIy-
Forgive me- she murmured. You
Eot III this trying 70 save me, and now
J can not save you I can not tell this
man what ne wants 10 XIV II is a
point of honor"
Then tell him nothing" cried.
Don't think OF me- Tor an instant IL
you knew why came
Silence Numbered the count II
ala n0t speak 20 you, Mr.. Scott spoke
10 Miss LatOGr.
-MademoiseIIe, give you ore last
cilance. answer nay question or iii
hlh8 you 70 The Indians here 20 do yyiLn
as Jhey viii
As the vile words rang out q fury
swept over me ] rautened my muscles
ana the cords that bound me SNAPPED
IKE pack threads The guards sun
cEoucned beside me- and from one OF
mem snatcned MS sword AT a touch
or It's keen edge CurlyS bonds feu
away another touch and Marian was
iTEe- Then sprans toward the dais.
.
ms mead with single blow and grasped
the count by the throat
Tel them 70 stand back cried, cor
by heaven III snap your neck like a
The count threw up his hands md
shouted something and the mob. leader
less and astOnished, hssltated and stood
stu Before IL had time 20 recover Cur
ly and Marian were by my side. support
inE the bishop between them. Curly
stopped ana SuatCheG up our property
from the 'front.' Of the dais as he came
Is there a way out al the back2r I
demanded. shaking the count Ike a rat
quick. II you want % see the sun
Not FOR an instant did he hesitate
through the wall behind you
ordered
. Here's the door It's open. All right
looteDant- Let her roll
I glanced behind me, saw Curly and
Asr1an urging the bishop through a dim
0rsong door and backed after them,
dragging the count with me.
But, struggling fUrIousIy, he clutched
the Intel of the door
Let me go" he prayed Let me
60 told you the truth Let me 30.
FOR heavens sake. let me E0."
Not mUch-' ] tore his hands loose
and flung him through the door and
sprang after him, jerking the door
smut behind me
AS it closed a falling bolt GLANCED
At the sound the count shrieked aloud
Curse you" he yelled Curse your
and sprang at me like a wildcat.
scratching and biting
I flung him against the wall. and
turned 10 the faStentugs Of the door
by which / had entered I had no
doubt that the worshipers Of ChacrnooI
would Try TO break il down. and
hoped TO see some means at hand
could make Il stronger
But the door had vanishe ed or. rath-
er- IL fitted so closely into its opening
that I could ind no trace Of it. The
entire vail seemed TO be a rough
hswn solid rock
7 listened, but no sound from the
temple came through its thickness.
and, slightly dismayed. I faced about
70 see into what sort OF place fate had
thrust US.
AS 7 turned. the count. white and
CHASTITY, mOuthed at me from the moor.
where he had fallen
You fOOlt' he Snarled- You triple
fOOli You've killed Us all
What do you mean
7 mean that you have locked your
self in the altar-room OF the Burning
Image No one except a priest can
open il from the outside, and nobody Z
at all can open IL from the inside--