Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1914-12-28

Storm Saw the Walls Slowly and Re-
lentlessly Contract.
his soul told him that she would re
turn unhurt
But how did you escape, uncle?"
They wanted you" he said glibly
They blindfolded me again and sent
me about my business, What did You
earn?'
Enough to determine me to see what
| can do, or course it is colossal
trick of some sort, but it would not he
wise to suggest that. 1t must he
proved
MY child, this is altogether strange
business These orientals are quick
to distrust If they find you gone
when they wake up II is quite likely
they will try to kill you"
1--WE made up my mind"
Then she ran upstairs. She was anx-
ious to send II message to Storm by the
carrier pigeon. She wrote a short note
explaining the situation and liberated
the bird. Storms housekeeper received
the bird and naturally read the mes
sage. She scribbled on the back of
| this message and informed her mas
ter's sweetheart, that he had left the
house in haste the night before and
had not yet returned. The return of
the pigeon left Xudora in a fair state
of excitement She Immediately set
out for Storms apartments, but the
housekeeper could add nothing further
than that Mr.. Storm had sent pigeon
to her and it had come back with the
note.
Zudora returned home and quiZzed
her uncle: but. of course. he piously
denied having seen Storm. Surrepti
tiously she piled the Hindu servant
This man secretly worshiped the young
memsnhib. and by and by she got the
facts from him. So! She had not only
to solve the mystery of the sleeping
house. but to save her lover also. He
would be without mission in that
fantastic house. and 1t was quite likely
that he would be made to suffer for his
audacity.
|
Nnbok Shan and boldly she demanded
admittnnce. The servant nj the door
recognized her, but ii took bride to
open the door wide enough for her 10
slip through.
The persistent ceremony was being
started again To Xudora II would
have been laughable but for the new
tragedy underneath. The nun who had
brought her to the house originally
finally disclosed to her what had been
done to Storm. His death had been
decided on.
AS Zudora gazed wildly about the
room she saw man In II garb quite
different from that worn by those In
the octugOnal room. She stole up to
where he stood and cOvertly watched
him and became suddenly conscious OF
the desire to sleep, She breathed
through her handkerchief. never let.
ting her glance waver from the hidden
man. He turned, smiling ironically,
and she saw him raise stone In the
flooring. He disappeared into pit,
letting the stone fall carefully into
place.
Sleep had again attacked those de-
termned upon the ceremony. One
would think that they would have at
least given her some chance to inVesti
gate before proceeding again in IN en-
deavOr which had so many times prov.
ed failure, This very sleep. how.
ever. gave her freedom of action. She
stole from the octagonal room. found
the stone, raised II and discovered
tunnel II was not the safest tunnel
in the world, but with Johns life hang
ing IN the balance she accepted her
chances The tunnel led 10 room
under the cellar. This room bewilder
ed her fur more than the octagonal
one. There was large vat, which
mad the appearance OF a distilntlon
vat, with many little pipes leading up
from II. The men gathered about this
strange contrivance were evidently OF
n different caste from those In the up
per room. A tall. graceful young man
seemed to be directing the others. One
Of them. however, saw the shadow by
the door, drew his knife and stole
quietly up to the girl. She was caught
Ready witted. she asked. "Do you
speak Engllsh?"
The man paused. He nodded grimly
II am friend. | would save your
] princess. ! would defeat Nabok Shan