Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-11-23
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ing received him and he found himself
In a black hole OF an underground
gallery place that reeked with the
dank odors 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
delyed at 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 fight Of steps.
At the bottom Amber stopped.
Hold on!" he cried.
Labertouche pulled up impatiently.
Whats the matter?"
"Sophia-l"
Trust me, dear boy, and come
along"
II was some time later that Laber-
touche extinguished his lamp and
threw a low word of warning over
his shoulder. spontaneously Amber
d~iscerned, far ahead, a faint glow of
yellow light. AS they bore down upon
1t with unmoderated speed he could
see that 1t emanated from a rough
hewn doorway, opening of the pas
sage.
L~abertouche pushed Amber on
ahead. STOPPING, the virginian en-
tered a small, rude chamber followed
out Of the rock of Katiapur. A crude
lamp in a bracket furnished all its illu.
mination, filling it 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
ly 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 fred a. him point
blank.
The Virginian 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 fur1.
ous 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 a
white-hot iron, and tore out through
the cloth on his shoulder. He twisted
brutally the wrist that held the weap-
on, and the woman dropped It with a
cry Of pain.
you would" he cried, and threw
her from him, putting a foot upon the
pistol.
She reeled back against the wall and
crouched there, trembling, her cheeks
on fire, her eyes afame with rage.
"You dog!" she shrilled in Hindi-and
spat at him like a maddened cat. Then
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
I u%nguarded, and the woman swooped
down upon 1t like a bird Of prey; but
before she could get her fingers onaits
grip, L~abertouche stepped between
them, Tended her off, and quietly pos
| sessed himself Of the weapon.
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. The 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
les without n 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.. Amber?'
mot 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 i~nterposed curtly.
Eyes. WhyT"
The Englishman explained without
turning from his sombre and morose
regard of Naraini. TOO bad-we'l
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
90 on down the g~allery-to the left.
I'll catch up with you"
The pistol which he still held lent
to his demand a sinister s~ignif1cancs
of which he was, perhaps, thoughtless.
But Sophia Farrell heard. saw and sur
missed.
Not" she cried, going swiftly to the
secret agent. moi" She put a hand
upon his arm, but he shook 1t off.
did you hear me, Amber?" said La
bertouche, still watching the queen.
What do you to do?" insist
ed Sophia. you cant-you mustn't"
This is no time for half-neasures,
Miss Farrell" L~abertouche told her
b~rusquely. "Our lives hang In the bal.
ance-Mr. Amber's, yours. mine.
Please 60"
(To BE CoETINUED)
What Chance Has Ae7 y
Johnny-"Grandpa. do lions 60 to