Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-11-23
CHAPTER XVIII. (contlnued).

Again he failed to answer. Some
where zeal him he heard a slight
noise as Of a man moving impatiently;
and then a whisper: Respond, thou
fool!"
Art thou come, o chosen of the
Gateway" the b~ell-voice rang.
Il l an come" Amber man
aged to reply.
Hear vel" rang the bell. Hear
ye, 0 lords and rulers in M~edhyama!
o children of my Gateway, hear We
well! He is come! He stands upon
the threshold of the Gateway"
A great drum reared like the crack
of doom; and Amber's jaw dropped.
For in the high roof of the temple a
six-foot slab had been noiselessly
withdrawn, and through 1t a cold shaft
of moonlight fell, cutting the gloom
like a gigantic rapier, and smote with
its immaculate radiance the true
Gateway of Swords.
Not six PAGES from him it ieaped
out Of the darkness in an iridescent
sheen; an arch a scant ten feet in
height, and In span double the width
of a big mans shoulders, woven across
like a weaver's frame with ribbons of
pale fire. But the ribbons were of
steel-steel blades, sharp, bright,
cleaning. With their pommels cum
ningly affixed SO that their points
touched and i~nterlaced, yet swung
free, they lined the piers of the arch
from base to span and all the grace
full sweep of the intrados, a curtain of
shimmering, trembling steel, barring
the way to the mystery beyond. Which
was-darkness.
20 ye swords!" belled the voice.
20 We swords that have known
no dishonor! o ye swords that have
sung in the grasp Of my greatest!
Swords Of Jehangar, Akbar, Alamgir!
Swords Of Alludin, Humayun, Shah
Jehan! Swords of Timur-Leng. Arung-
zeb, Rao Ruttonl . :"
The invocation seemed intermina-
BILE. Amber recognized almost every
name noted In the annals and legends
VI T1luuu6Ldu.
"Hearken, o my swords! He, thy
chosen, prayeth for entryi What is
thy welcome2"
One by n the blades began to
tshiver. clashing their neighbors, until
the curtain Of steel glimmered and
glistened like phosphorescence in a
summer sea, and the place was filed
with the music of their contact; and
through their clamor doomed the bell:
20 my chosen!" Amber started and
held himself firmly in hand. Look
well, look well! Here is thy portal to
kingship and glory!"
He frowned and took a step forward
as II he would throw himself through
the archway; for he had suddenly re-
membered with compelling vividness
that Sophia Farrell was to be won
only by that passage. But as he
moved the swords clattered afresh and
swung outwards, presenting a bristle
Of points. And he stopped, while the
voice, Indifferent and remote as al
ways, continued to ~harangue him.
IF thy heart, O~my chosen, be clean,
unsullied with fear and guile; If thy
faith be the faith of thy fathers and
thy honor rooted in love Of thy land;
If thou hast faith In the strength Of
thy hands to hold the reins OF empire
enter, having no fear"
"Trick-work," he told himself. He
set his teeth with determination.
Hope they don't see fit to cut me to
pieces on suspicion. Here goes" He
moved forward with a firm step until
his bosom all but touched the points.
Instantaneously, with another clash
as Of cy1nbals. the blades were de-
fiected and returned to their first po-
sition, closing the way. He hesitated.
Then, "Thai shan't stop mel" he said
through his teeth. and pushed forward.
heart In mouth. He breasted the cur.
Aaip md sAlt 1t give; tha blafses yield