The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1912-03-18
". disclosing black cavernous open.

Amber did not. He took with him a
hazy impression OF vast, vaulted hall
filled with 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 4 black hole Of an underground
!, kallerY--A. place thk ! feeked With the
dank odof9 vi the tomb.
1abertouche followed and with the
aid Of q 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 dog-trot.
They sped down a passage that
delved at 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 onH he cried.
Labertouche pulled up impatiently.
Whats the matter"
"Sophia-!"~
Trust me. dear boy. and come
along"
It was some time later that Laber-
touche extinguished his lamp and
threw a low word Of warning over
his shoulder. Synchronously Amber
discerned. far ahead. q faint glow OF
yellow light. Az they bore down upon
1T with unmoderated speed he could
see that 1t emanated from q rpugh-
hewn doorway, opening on the pas
sage.
Labertouche pushed Amber on
ahead. STOPPING, the Virginian en-
tered small rude chamber followed
out of the rock of Katiapur. A crude
lamp in bracket furnished all its illu.
mination. filling 1t with q reek Of hot
oil. Amber was vaguely aware of the
figures of two women-one standing
In corner, the other seated detected
ly upon charpoy. her head against
tho wall. AS he lifted his head after
passing under the low Intel, the WON.
an in the corner fired at him point.
blank.
The Virginian saw the Jet of flame
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 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 aflame with rage.
you dog!" she shrilled in Hindi--and
spat at him like maddened cat. Then
he recognized her.
"Naralni!" 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 it like bird of prey; but |
before she could get her fingers on its |
grip. Labertouche stepped between
them, Tended her Off. and quietly pos
sessed himself Of the weapon.
Your pardon. madam" he said.
gravely.
Naraini retreated. 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.. 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"
interposed CURLY.
Eyes. Why?"
The Englishman explained without
from his sombre and morose
regard of Naraini. TOO bad-well
have to tie this woman up, somehow
She's complication hadn't foreseen.
Here: you'd better leave me
% attend to her-you and Miss Farrell.
90 on down the gallery-to the left.
III catch up with you"
The pistol which he still held lent
o his demand a sinister Significance
II which he was. perhaps. thoughtless.
But Sophia Farrell heard cav and sur-