The Washington times., 1911-07-27
CHAPTER III (Continued.

and why couldn't they &c
away?"
simply because they had grown VI
there and the native women were font
of them. They had been petted sine,
early childhood-they were regarded
by both men and women as some
thing superior to themselves. Tht
Tibetans, although peaceful, are yer!
superstitious, and had always looked
upon the missionary's children as &
kind of voucher for their prosperity
They had been treated with the ut
most respect and consideration, anC
when ] appeared at the gomba l wa!
regarded as an enemy who had come
to steal their mascot
The girls had always longed fol
their home in America. Again and
again they had tried to escape. But
what could they do, buried in such
remote and inaccessible faStnesSeS-
Then came the SHOWS of the first
winter, when l was unable to move
beyond the precincts of the station
,With the approach of spring it was
i was literally lost in that Karnia
basin, where the mountains rise in
sLlStenlng, unscalable walls to heights
winch VHry from ten to twenty thou
sand feet around ii. When / came il
was with guide. l knew not how
10 return, and had 1t not been for my
very excellent yak l should be there
yet. The natives threw every OBJ
stacle in my way. None would help
me; and when, at the end of the sec
ond year, 1t was suspected that 1 was
about to take the chances in my own
qahos ana carry the ladies with me,
I was imprisoned.
The young ladies had discovered
that the death sentence had been
passed upon me. They saved my life
San do less than try to do the same
hnN
rougheSt and scantiest outline of the
SITUATION. shall need your help
ATi!l you give it?"
It's a good deal of an undertaking,
i observed, beginning to weaken
More difficult even than YOU imap-
me- Roedler replied. TT was the
merest accident my getting that Man
chu guide, who knew the way into the
gap: We might not find another in
years, for the station is almost un-
known, SO seldom is it visited and s,
smut out from the world by those apDal-
ing ramparts of the Himalayas / am
quite willing to confess that 1 could new
er find my way there again. unaccom-
panied by such guide as we are most
unlikely to find. 1t is barely pos
Then what's the use of our going II
rupted.
Il consider it a duty"
But duty you can never fulfil I
mean that the probabilities are over
whelmingly against your being able to
Ind the station again.
True; but with your help the pros
poets are more tiattering. There is
chance"
1 laughed and told him he was a gf
'ganuG simpleton to suppose l could
help him, but the way I said II must
have given him hope.
Again ask you to take my word.
I've plan for reaching and rescuing
the Misses Narney, which I'm unwilling
to disclose at present. believe it will
work, but l am not sure"
How about the money!"
1t will be Forthcoming, though 1t
would amaze you were 1 to tell you
from what source"
the Ganders?"
Yes, and with interest All you've
got to do, Peter, is to put your trust
In me, as you once did, and do exactly
as | say. promise that everything
shall come out right. The first thing l
shall require is that you go to the club
IN the morning and cancel your en-
gagement for Assam. You needn't say
you've already found me-thats no ones
business but ours. When you've done
that come back to Burleigh Terrace; but
don't let me see your ugly face till
you've made everything right with the
Ganders."
Gynne pulled down the lower I'D of
when wishing to be impressive Then,
in a softer tone, he added:
Mind. Pete; there's more in the Kar-
MIA basin than the Varney girls"
l demanded an explanation. but he
only said. Hold on bit" and blew
another cloud of smoke at the ceiling
I'm waiting for your answer" Roed-
Ter observed after a minute.
And I'm to be at no expense?"
Absolutely none"
~And pderS IN he maid
"As I've already told you. yes. Let
me add that they'll be paid the sooner
II you will help me-
''Au right I'll 60 When do we start?"
Friday week-but you must ask no
prying questions. There are some things
]. positively refuse to speak of till the
time comes"
And when will the time Gomez"
Il don't know-perhaps never" was
al he would say.
There was the sound of a step in the
hall and again Gwynne flew to his cloak
and wig. In minute the step had
gone, but Roedler evidently thought it
unwise to discard the disguise again. |
So for the rest of my visit I was in
company with decrepit old man Feel |
Ing safer thus he unlocked the door and |
we both breathed more easily.
For some time we. sat and talked |
upon topics of current interest. Roedler |
wanted to know all about the club and |
what had happened during his absence.
[ explained that his unaccountable dis
appearance had been the principal |
theme. Some thought he had dropped |
Head in the wilds of Assam, some that
he was drowned at sea, others that he
had made off Intentionally with the
clubs funds.
And so they roasted me, 1 suppose?"
nuttered Roedler.
''WelI, rather-you must admit it's
only natural they should"
Perhaps"
thought and did not speak. Perhaps he
vas indignant with a sense of injustice
stood.
Pete" he said presently, II want
,ou to do something for me-something
o vindicate me forever in the eyes Of
he Ganders."
I promised to do anything in my
,ower.
ITS this" he went on. after a min
hat I'll turn up before next club day
october 15. Don't hesitate-I've got the
money for the stakes. and will put 1t
o your credit now. Just let 1t be
.nown that your confidence in me IS
mistaken. None of their business where
he cash comes from: you'll find a
aker. sure. If the feeling is what you
make them pay themselves that money
hey say 1 stole"'
AT last I got up to go, promising to
eturn the next day and report. and to
eceIve full instructions about the eXpe-
ition There were many things he had
} say, Roedler declared, and we would
9th be busy making preparations up to
he hour Of departure. mentioned my
for immediate funds-a delin-
,,ono,y p-Iicb ba DrorniSed to make all