The Washington times., 1911-08-19
CHAPTER XVI.
The Twenty-seventh of August


other party.
The place was broken and full of re
oesses that made handy closets TO
dressing; in some Of which were pool
of water. We carried soap, towels
brushes, and clothing into one OF thes
py-caves, and told the boys to Sit quiet
~ where they were, and not to be sur
prised If they saw change In our ap
pearance when we came back Inc!
looked puzzled, but said nothing.
In twenty minutes we had WaSheC
the paint from our faces, discarded th'
wigs and clothing OF magician ah'
neophyte. and appeared as GWynn
Roedler and Peter Gallomeade. l ha(
the sorcerer that l felt as If he ha.
suddenly returned from another world
and he said the same of me.
We couldn't help wondering what ef
feet the change was going to have OF
the chedas; whether they would losi
respect for US, or regard us with new
and increasing admiration. The re
cult was quite different from anything
anticipated.
The late sorcerer had hardly reachct
the open when Za-look came rushing
toward him with the widest expression
Gwynne stopped while eying the bo!
fternly-inq uiringly. What did the fel
low mean? What was he about to doi
Don't you know me, Mr.. Roedler?
he cried, stopping abruptly in his flight
TO be recognized. Then, tearing the skin
Jacket of the ge-tsul from his shoulders
and the wig from his head, he hurled
them to the ground-made some rapid
passes across his face, drew himself 10
his full height, and added:
Here! See! I'm Jack Narney!"
Gwynne stood and stared. The con-
5urer was outconjured. Tho tables had
been turned upon him-and all by
woman. What did 1t mean?
Wait! Let me go and wash my
face" cried the little fellow eagerly
Ea ha nff
Meanwhile, Kan, stood tugging at his
unnatural hair and garments in an ell
fort TO reveal his identity. But no, he
too must wash off the paint. and, with
Il sudden whirl, he dashed away in tie
direction Of the water.
rim stunned" Gwynne muttered.
II can't believe it-and yet"
I, also, was dazed. No trick of the
we were now asked to believe in. Could
It be that these ge-tsuls had been play
ing the part-that they had deceived
MS to the very teeth-while rubbing ell
ception had been carried on in the
glare of the midday sun, in the flicker
Of the fire and the light of the lamp?
That It had been continued day after
day without once exciting the suspicion
of the man who knew them-of the man
who had risked his life to save them
Incredible! But I remembered Gwynne
This sudden and complete transforms
fion in the garh of the sorcerer, and
that. although / was prepared for the
change, j should not have known him
But when Za-look and Kuh returned
ss Jack and Jill, there was no longer
room for doubt What was said at that
minute l do not remember, nor do 1
think Gwynne would care to have me
put 1t down II 1 did.
A very vivid impression of two un-
usually pretty girls will always remain.
Beyond this, the wonder of three, and
kCp q
and as fast as they could. and eacn
understanding all that the others said.
The marvels Of the Arabian Nights"
were not to be compared with tho
magic of that hour. We four had sud
denly become four others. The desire
Of our hearts had been fulfilled. We
could ask no more.
There was dance in the valley that
night, but the Englishmen were not In
Eited. Indeed. we never ascertained II
the party we had been following wei :
they or not; ana Fenchurch and Chum-
ley were referred to as wandering
1ayas, as zeal as the Ya-ti ghost. What
became Of them We never heard.
1t appeared that after Gwynne's es-
cape from prison, upon the occasion
Of his previous visit to Tad-sa-fuh, the
Varney girls were put under special
guard.
They were never allowed out of sight,
and later, as a more adequate and far
reaching precaution. were compelled to
adopt male attire; and still later. as
they attracted attention among the
newer lan.as on account Of their size,
were ordered to dress as boys, or ge-
tsuls Ctime students at the lamasery),
and to take new names. In this char
acter they had always to appear, AMI
in 1t they were trusted to roam at
will
They had kept some articles of their
girls clothing. however, which they
had brought with them, hoping to make
their escape good. 1t was the constant
dread OF recapture that had made Ia
look cry. Being the elder, she had felt
the greater responsibility for herself
and sister.
There were many questions to be
asked and many answered. We inquire
about the red light in the window, AMI
described our joy IN seeing it, and our
later surprise in finding that 1t was
still burning after being informed that
the girls had left.
They declared that they had been so
frightened by the lamas that they
though they would gladly have escaped
with the magician in preference to re-
manning at the gomba. Jack did not
laugh when she said that lie was an
pared with those contemplated to es-
cape from the tyranny OF their keep
ers. -.
Had we told you where to find tho
Varney girls" she continued, I'VE would
have been beaten-perhaps TO death
possibly immured in the wall of the
lamasery, If discovered. Thus you see
we were between two fires-our desire
TO escape and the dread Of punishment,
Jf any hitch should occur"
And did you never guess who we
were?' Gwynne asked.
Never! Your disguise was too per-
fect-though I confess that l was
strangely bewildered at times when I
heard you speak; and when you sang
that nursery-rime in the lamasery, 1
was nonplused.
Put explained IL on the ground that
you had probably oeen to Calcutta and
picked up some English words there,
though, of course, the explanation was
not satisfactory. was positively
startled whenever 7 heard Mr.. Gallo
meade call you Gwynne.
Il doubted my ears and looked the
harder, but there was no resemblance.
Your easy. natural talk to each other
was ineXpicable. consoled myself
upon the ground that there was prob
ably more than one Gwynne IN the
world or that had not heard correct
ly; and beyond this that, as magicians,
you had doubtless Travelled and mixed
with English-spealing people"
And so you willingly deserted us
for a couple of travelling mountebanks!' !
laughed Gwynne. !
Not willingly! Did we not keep the
red lamp burning for more than a
no further hope that l seized the op.
the possibility of reaching the world
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