The Washington times., 1911-07-29

ping slowly down stream. l
had been watching an extraordinary lot
of baggage with Roed!erS name on 1t,
as 1t was carried aboard-Oddly shaped
boxes, bales of cloth, rubber tubing. and
rattan poles. In answer TO an inquiry,
Gwynpe muttered something about con-
Quering enchanted lands with enchanted
''weepons," and l had TO be content.
Later, when comfortably disposed of
In our sea-Chairs, he turned to me sud-
denly and said:
Jack, do you know
Perhaps you mean Pete, I suggested.
Perhaps l dO!" He colored a little,
and went on.
DO you know-do you realize-that
II this expedition of ours pans out
right it will give the world a mighty
shaee-up?'
How"
BY something I'm going to fetch
back with me-"
DO you mean the girlS?"
well, partly; but"
Whats the other part|'
The lower eyelid came down as he
answered:
Something the girls have got, and
Beauty, / suppose. You're going 20
introduce them to London society, eh?''
We'll, they certainly have beauty,
and-to be frank-everything else that
a woman ought to have; they're sim
, ply-but that isn't what 1 was think
I'ing of. The Himalayas hold many Sc
cretS. l know one OF them.
You know two of them"
''Yes-the Varney girls; but l know
another, not quite SO human, that will
help me find the lamasary-a fOrlorn
nope. at best-though not quite so for
iOrn as ii would be without the secret
which the Varneys receive! If we can
overcome the difficulties, Heaven bless
the girls for the solvent
l asked him to 40 on and explain.
but he refused, declaring that should
know all about 1t soon enough, and
that it would be better not TO talk. He
merely wanted to remind me that there
were other things in Tibet besides the |
girls-a fact that he had several times !
alluded to already
Assured that the day was not far
off when my eyes should be opened to |
forbidden land of mystery, l summoned |
what patience I could, and left Gwynno |
in the undisturbed possession of his |
secret.
Roedler had provided every comfort |
for the voyage, and the journey beyond. |
] sometimes wondered at the fellows |
etravaEance, and half resented his
treatment of the Ganders. But 1t was
useless to prod him with questions AM !
where the money had come from re-
manned a mystery.
Sometimes he would sit dreamily for
hours, watching the sky or the sparkle
or any one around us, and scarcely
deigning to answer my simplest ques~
ton. I concluded that he was in love.
and 1 was doubly assured OF 1t when.
at long intervals. he would turn and
address me as Jack. There was evt-
IDENTIFY nothing else he could think of.
Look here" I said at last, 'if you
mean Pete, say so, but hope you won't
ut least, not in my presence"
He laughed and begged nv pardon,
after which he was more careful, though
always liable to error.
frhf OF
joying our cigars on deck, Gwynne vol
unteered to explain about the luggage
'I don't mind telling you now" H.
eesa1 onf was asP bothered when you
thing behind. I was watching the
stevedores."
He drew meditatively on his cigar be-
fore proceeding. The light illumined tho
Gwynne had a long nose, straight and
we'll shaped, which 1 always thought in
dicated good sense and the power OF
seeing through knotty problems l gen
danger after a good stare at that nose.
You see. all that paraphernalia Is
part of my invention" he continued.
81 showed you the filer; when we get
TO Tibet I'll show you the air-ship."
Do you mean to say you've got an
other machine?'
My dear fellow, what l showed you
was merely the principle-all rigfN as
I
thing more comfortable, something to
carry US both together, something big
enough and strong enough for our sup
plies. Remember there'll be food,
costumes, tenting, water"
Possibly. yes-not to wash in, but to
drink. Nobody washes in Tibet, so YOU
may as we'll dismiss that thought OF
luxury from your mind: but the drink
ing-water is scarce-in fact, it's mostly
salt. We may find it advisable TO carry I
1t sometimes--that's all. Well, I've
simply brought the material to build
the work after we get there ]
Remember, Peter, were going to
another world-a world as different I
from the one we live in as the moon,
and almost as difficult Of access. !
hope we thought of everything-some- !
lines I'm afraid haven't But wheth-
sr l have or not-whether the machine
flies or breaks down-we must find the
amasary OF Tad-sa-fuh! We must do il
Or die in the effort!''
AS usual, Gwynne vas enthusiastic,
and had no doubt that he was think
ng about Jack.
You never told me the other ones
lame," said. /
'Haen't I? oh. we'll. it's Jinr' "
Jack and Jill, eh? We'll, Jack and $
ill surely went up the hill when they /
vent into Tibet, didn't they?" G
They went up. yes-the question is
Will they come down again. |
"Wen fetch 'em, and the pail of c
water, too" I answered. But, tell me.
Like Jack. There were times when /