The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-08-31

hay impression Of a vast, vsulted hall
filled with a rudy glare of torchlight.
a raving rabble Of gorgeously attired
natives in its center. Then the open.
ing received him and he found himself
In a black hole Of an underground
gallery-a place that reeked with the
dank doors OF the tomb.
Labertouche followed and with the
aid OF a small electric pocket lamp dis
covered another socket for the lever.
A moment later the slab moved back
into place. Labertouche chuckled.
Come along" he said, and drew ahead
at a dog-trot.
They sped down a passage that
delved Mt a sharp grade through solid
rock. Now and again 1t turned and
struck away In another direction.
Once they descended-or rather fell
down-a short. steep flight Of steps.
At the bottom Amber stopped.
Hold on" he cried.
Labertouche pulled up impatiently.
whats the NATTER"
"Sophia-l"
AiuSt DiO, aSci wy uAo SShlo
along"
1t was some time later that LAber-
touche extinguished his lamp and
threw a low word Of warning over
his shoulder. spontaneously Amber
discerned, far ahead, a faint glow OF
yellow light. As they ore down upon
II with unmoderated speed he could
ran -hnt t. A,a~y SD~, ~x~
hewn doorway, opening off the pas
sage.
Labertouche pushed Amber on
ahead. STOPPING. the Virginian en-.
tered q small, rude chamber followed
out Of the rock OF Katiapur. A crude
lamp in a bracket furnished all it's illu-
mination, filing 1t with a reek OF hot
oil. Amber was vaguely aware Of the
figures of two women-one standing
in a corner, the other seated detected
~ upon a charpoy, her head against
the wall. AS he lifted his head after
passing under the low Intel, the wom-
an in the corner fired at him point
blank.
The V%irginian saw the Jet Of fame
squirt from her hand and felt the bull
let's impact upon the wall behind his
head. He. flung himself upon her In
stantly. There was a moment Of furi-
Gus struggle, while the cell echoed
with the reverberations of the shot
and the screaming OF the woman on
the charpoy. The pistol exploded again
as he grappled with the would-be muir
deress; the bullet. passing up his
sleeve, creased his left arm as with q
white-hot iron, and tore out through
the cloth on his shoulder. He twisted
b~rutally the wrist that held the weap-
on, and the dropped 1t with q
cry Of pain.
You would" he cried, and threw
her from him, putting a foot upon tho
pistol.
She reeled back against the wall and
crouched. there. trembling. her checks
on fire, her eyes afame with rage
You dog!" she shrilled in Hindi-and
he recognized her.
"Naraini!" He stepped back In his
surprise, his right hand seeking in
stinctively the wrist Of his left. which
was numb with pain.
His change Of position left the pistol
unguarded, and the woman swooped
down upon 1t like a bird Of prey; but
before she could get her fingers On It's
grip, Labertouche stepped between
them, Tended her off, and quietly pos.
,A.-@l L;-r1Ie -f Al
Your pardon, madam" he said.
gravely.
Naraini r~etreated, shaking with fury,
and Amber employed the respite to
recognize Sophia Farrell in the woman
on the charpoy. She was still seated,
prevented from rising by bonds about
her wrists and ankles, and though un
naturally pale, her anguish of fear and
despair had set its marks upon her
face without one whit detracting from
the appeal of her beauty. He went to
her Immediately, and as their eyes
met, hers famed with Joy, relief and
he dared believe-a stronger emotion.
"YOu-yOu're not hurt, Mr.. Amber2"
Not at all. The bullet went out
through my sleeve. And your" He
dropped on his knees, with his pocket
knife severing the ends of rope that
bound her.
I'm all right" She took his hands,
helping herself to rise. Thank you,"
she said, her eyes shining, a flush OF
color suffusing her face with glory.
did you cut those ropes, AMBER"
Labertouche ~interposed CURLY.
yes. Why?"
The Englishman explained without
turning from his sombre and morose
regard OF Naraini. Too bad-we'Il
have to tie this woman up, somehow.
She's a complication hadn't foreseen.
... Here; you'd better leave me
to attend to her-you and Miss Farrell.
Go on down the gallery-to the left.
I'll catch up with you"
The pistol which he still held lent
to his demand a sinister Significance
OF which he was. perhaps. thoughtless.
But Sophia Farrell heard. saw and sur