The Washington times., 1912-04-22

/; IA quite sure he was not hurt in
- any way. 20 satisfy herself that
he vas safe and SOUND.
2 Then with Il little gasp of relief, she
ran to him. Her sLndaled feet lightly
disturbed the rubbish on :he lloor:. dust
rose. Stern checked her with an up
raised hand.
Eacf Back. Go back. quick" he
-- form cd the words cf command on his
trembling lips. The idea Of this girls
close proximity to the beast-hcrde ter
riiied him for the moment. Back
What on earth are you here for?''
she whispered
Yes, but didn't you read my letter ?
Ihis is no place for you!'
had to come! How could l stay up
mere. alone. when ,you-were--oh, may
ne in danGGr-maybe in need of me-"
. turbation i.eedless of the look she gave
hinL lie took her hand. Come we
, must get out OF this! It's too-tco near
The what? What is It. Allan" Tell
me. me, have you seen them? DO you
Even excited as the engineer was. he
realized that for the first time the girl
had called him by his Christian naTnl
Not even the, perious situation could
sure inc tnrlll that ran through him
al the sound OF it But all he answered.
NO. I don't know what to call them.
Rave no idea, as yet. I've seen them,
-maybe"
Let me see, too" she pleaded eager
y. rs It through that crack in the
wall? Is that the place to look?"
She moved toward it, her face
blanched with excitement, eyes shining
lips parted. But Stern held her back
H No tne no 5nouaeT 1tIe he took be her bs,.rsd
"You-you mustn't! Really must not
you know. It's too fierce!"
Up at him she looked: knowing not
Their eyes met. there in that wrecked
and riven place, lighted by the dull
misty, morning gray. Then Stern spoke,
for in her gaze abode questions unnum-
I'd much rather you wouldn't look
out at them, not just yet. said he.
speaking yerv low, fearful lest the muir
wall. Just what they are, frankly,
there's no telling"
You mean"
can talk Not here. Comet
She obeyed. Together they retreated
to & the inner court: COZ
the empty water-paii: II haven't been
TO the spring yet. Not Very likely to
get there for while. either unless
we'll, unless something pretty radical
happens. think these chaps have set
tied down for a good long stay In their
happy hunting ground, after the ight
and the big feast. It's a sort of a notion
I've got, that this place. here, Is some
ancient, ceremonial ground of theirs"
You mean. on account of the Tower?"
He nodded
Yes, II they've got any religious
ideas at all, or rather superstitions. such
. would very likely center around the
most conspicuous object In their world.
Probably the spring is regular voodoo
hang-out. The row last night must have
been a sort of periodic argument Ia
see who was going to run the show"
But" exclaimed the girl in alarm
but If they do stay a while, what
about us? We've simply got to have
water"
True enough. And, inasmuch as We
can't drink brine and don't know where
there's any other spring, 1t looks as
though we'd either have to make M
to these fellows or wade into them
doesn't IL? But Wen get water safe
enough, never fear. Just now, for the
immediate present, ! want 70 ge nay
hearings a little before going TO work
They seem to be resting up bit after
their pleasant little soiree. Now. II
they'd only all so TO sleep, itd be a
walkover."
The girl looked at him very seriously.
you mustn't go out there alone,
whatever happens she exclaimed. Il
Just won't let YOU But tell me- shf
questioned again. how much have YOU
really found out about them-Whater"r
they are?"
''Not much. They seem to he part 81
q nomadic race Of hslt-human things