The Washington times., 1911-08-06

sound could escape.
We now looked carefully to our lamps.
| lest we be left in the dark. There was
| oil enough to last some time, though the
| light was poor. We next examined the
walls of the apartment. At the farther
end was a door. Gwynne tried the lock.
| 1t was fastened.
ITS in there they've moved our
stuff" he said, tapping lightly upon the
panel.
| asked why he thought so.
Because there was too much Of II,
and it's too heavy to carry far. These
| fellows are lazy, or they wouldn't lead
| the life they do. They simply moved
our luggage out of reach, as they sup
! posed. But, Pete, We'll show them
trick worth two of that"
He was already trying the key, but
| 1t refused to enter.
There's a key to that door some
where, and We must get it, he said
''and we must get it before the moon
rises, if-murder-"
| "Hushr' | repeated.
In the yellow light l saw that Roed-
| Ter was determined. ] half believed the
lamasery was in his keeping. He went
to the outer door and looked up at the
sky.
| 1t would still be an hour before the
I moon could climb over the snow peaks
to the eastward. 1t was the stillest
| hour of night
There's a key to that door some
where, and I'm going % find it,"
/ Gwynne said again, turning once more
to the smoky chamber. How he ex-
! pected to accomplish his purpose was a
mystery. He pressed his hand to his
| forehead, and for a moment was buried
| in thought.
Peter! he said, looking up suddenly,
! I've seen a key-rack somewhere in the
place-but-Can't remember exactly
To the left Of the entrance door In
/ the great hall" l put in, recalling the
fact that l also had seen II there. But
there's one chance in a thousand you'd
! get the right one-and-"
We'll get 'em ALL" said Gwynne.
| It's impossible l reIorted. There
must be more than a hundred-and-"
| But l couldn't finish the sentence, for
he was, gone, leaving me alone in the
! ill-smelling, lamplit cellar. confess
| it was not cheerful
! In a minute he was back. The wind
| had blown out his lamp. / saw II was a
! case of more haste less speed, and beg
l remembered exactly where they were:
| He consented, giving me final word
! Of caution about noise.
Strangely enough, the main door of
! the lamaSery was never locked, its latch
| being controlled by a cord, which was
| supposed to be out of reach and knowl-
| edge to any but the monks. knowing
/ the secret of this, there was NJ trouble
about entering.
! | stepped Hghtly-moved siowly-but
| do what l would, the great portal
! creaked dismally as it swung open. l
/ had not observed this when we passed
! Out-perhapS Gwynne had been more
! careful. For a minute l stood listening,
! lest some member Of the establishment
! had been reused. But all was quiet.
The key-rack was still there, but l
I didn know what to do. / couldn't take
them all-it was impossble-they would
/ have weighed over a hundred pounds,
and | had nothing to put them in. So
| / picked out a dozen OF the most prom
| Using, gathered them in my aims, with
| the lantern, and started OFF.
! Again the pictures on the manis walls
| glared and stared at me as l passed
| Probably never had there been such
! cause for disapprovaL.
| Gwynne met ME at the door. He was
growing impatient. l dumped the keys
| upon the cellar floor, and ne began at
| once to try them.
One, two, three, four were thrown
, away in disgust. They would not even
! enter the hole.
Number fve went in, but wouldn't
move. Six, seven, eight, and nine were
| positively useless; but ten slipped in
easily and turned.
Entering the dingy trap. our baggage
Some Of these things we can do
without" said Gwynne hurriedly; Il
ought never to have brought EN-; but
We must fall to on the air-ship without
| a moments delay"
The most important parts were quick
| ly pulled out, and together VIC carried
| them into the great courtyard. Such
other articles as were necessary were
| carefully placed beside The mechanism
! of the vessel and, under Gwynnes di-
| rectiOn, ! went to work.
! From time to time We stopped to
! listen, for even with the greatest eau
| ton it was impossible not 10 make
| some noise. The monks were early
| risers, but we still hoped to get off
| ahead of them. 1t was hard to see in
! the duh glow of our lamps, for the
| moon was not yet risen.
| The work of putting the air-ship to-
gether went on quickly. Everything
had been carefully prepared and per-
fectly adapted to its place. | was filled
with admiration for Roedler's daring
and inventiveness.
| The ship was not more than twenty
! feet long by-probabIy-fve or six in
| width. l was amazed at the marvellous
arrangements for comfort and storage.
| Although largely composed OF rattan
| and rubber tubing, these were so COM
| pact and carefully put together that
| there was a sense of sOldity coupled to
| that of marvellous lightness.
Luxurious chairs, inflated cushions
| and beds large hampers, and wicker
| baskets toilet sets, and tiny table
We're some of the appliances. There
| was but one dread. Would IT fly?
Gwynne shot a glance of disgust to-
ward me when l asked If he were sure
of this.
A Confirmation of This story VIII
BE Found In TOmOrrow's