Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1911-09-14
Is JOSEPH MNCE

ulu IL not leap uIIl0 NJ Tue LuOuBnS
Of meeting me?"
With a quick gesture she threw her
veil aside and lifted her incomparably
fair face to his, and he was conscious
that he trembled a little, and that his
voice shook as he answered evasive-
ly: Thou shouldst know. Rance"
Thou wilt not draw back in the
end" Her arms clipped him softly
about the neck and drew his head
down so that her breath was fragrant
IN his face, her lips q sweet peril be-
meath his own. Thou wilt brave
whatever may be prepared for thy
testing, for the sake Of Naraini, who
awaits thee beyond the Gateway. o
my Beloved"
II shall not be found wanting"
1.-the as q snake, she slipped from
his arms. May, / trust thee not!"
she laughed, q culver Of tenderness In
her merriment. Let my lips be mine
alone until thou hast proven thyself
worthy Of them" She raised her
voice, calling: "ohe, Runjlt Singh!"
The cry rang bell-clear in the still
ness, and its silver echo had not died
before 1t was answered by one who
stepped out Of the black shadow Of
spreading bantam. some distance away,
and came toward them, leading three
horses. AS the moonlight fell upon
him, Amber recognized the uniform
the man wore as that Of the imperial
household guard Of Khandawar, while
the horses seemed to be stations he
had seen in the palace yard, with an
other but little their inferior in mettle
or beauty.
Now" announced the woman in
tones Of deep contentment, I'VE will
ride!"
She turned to Amber, who took her
up in his arms and set her in the sad
die Of one Of the stations.
The sowar surrendered to Amber
the reins of the other stallion and
stepped hastily aside. The Virginian
took the saddle with flying leap, and
a thought later was digging his knees
into the brute's sleek TANKS and saw
ing on the bits, while the path flowed
beneath him, dappled with moonlight
and shadow, like o ribbon Of gray
green silk, and trees and shrubbery
streaked back on either hand In q
rush Of melting blacks and grays.
Swerving acutely, the path ran into
the dusty high road. Amber heard q
rush Of hoofs behind him, and then
slowly the gauze-wrapped figure Of the
queen drew alongside.
Marc! Let him run, my klngi |
The way Is not far for such as he.
Have no fear lest he tire!"
But Amber set his teeth and
wrought with the reins until his
mount comprehended the fact that he
had met a master and, moderating his
FIRST furious burst of speed, settled
down into q league-devouring stride,
crest low, limbs gathering and stretch
Ing, with the elegant precision Of
His rider, regaining his
poise, found time to look about him
and began to enjoy, for all his cares,
this wild race through the blue-white
night.
They circled finally great, round,
yrassless hillside, and pulled rein in
he notch Of a gigantic v formed by
.wo long, prow-like spurs running out
lpon a plain whose sole, vague bound
Try was the vast arc Of the horizon.
Before them loomed dead Kathiapur,
IN island Of stone girdled by the shall
ow silver river. Like the rugged
PEDESTAL Of some mammoth column, its
lifts rose sheer threescore feet from
he waters edge to the foot Of the
'utermost Of its triple walls. From
he notch in the hills q great stone ,
auseway climbed with a long and
asy grade to the level Of the first |
reat gate, spanning the chasm over /
he river by means Of q crazy wooden
ridge.
A gasp from the woman and an 1
ath from the sowar startled Amber {
ut of somber apprehensions into I
1hich he had been plunged by contem-
lation Of this impregnable fortress I
desolation. Gone was his lust for I
eril, gone his high, needless Joy Of
gone the intoxicatlon which Z
ad been his who had drunk deep Of a
be cup of romance; there remained 4
My the knowledge that he, alone and
was to pit his wits r
gainst the invisible and mighty '
1rces that lurked In hiding within h
hose walls, to seem to submit to r
heir designs and so find his way to II
he woman Of his love, tear her from
he grasp Of the unseen. and with her
5cape.
Naraini had, indeed, no need to CRY
loud or clutch his hand IN order to
pprise him that the Eye was vigilant
e himself had seen It break forth,
rid star Of emerald light suspended
Igh above the dark heart Of the city. b
Slowly, while they watched the d
ar descended, foot by foot, dropping II
ltil the topmost pinnacle Of q hidden c
nipple seemed to support It; and 6
Iere It rested, throbbing with light, C
1W bright, now dull. n
Amber shook himself impatiently. q
3illy charlantry!" he muttered, irri- 81
ted BY his own susceptibility to its q
I =