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

that her uncle had deserted her. The.
strange idols fascinated her. especial
ly the heroic one before which were
grouped the sleepers. 1t was a mon.
ster. mans body with an elephants
head. AS she gazed up at its sinister
little eyes she began to see things as
through tilm OF rain. II seemed az
II some invisible hands were forcing
her down. down. There was no feeling
Of alarm, no sense of danger; just a
grateful dreamy sensation not unlike
that of going to bed after some strenu
Gus physical exertion. The oldest part
of 1t was that she was conscious Of
making no effort to fight of this sleep
AS she fell she clutched In her hand
a little ivory figure, a small elephant
which had evidently escaped the fn
gers of the princess when she sue.
cumbed.
Now there had grown in John
Storms heart an orientalism. doubtless
engendered by his frequency at the
house of Hassam Ali 1t consisted of
at those moments when she really was
in danger He could not have analyZed
this sensation. but he Immediately sur
rendered to it. He was this night In
the act of retiring when this sense
came to him. He at once went to his
desk and wrote note, which he at
tached to the carrier pigeon. In less
than a quarter Of an hour the bird
returned. The message had not been
received. Storm got into his topcoat
and hat and hurried over to the Keene
| place. AIMED answered his ring. but
hesitated TO admit the man his master
had forbidden the house.
where is your mistress" demanded
Storm.
"She is out, sahib."
"Where?'
81 cannot tell you" said the servant
gradually closing the door
But Storm was in no mood for par
leying. He resolutely pushed his wa!
in. In his hand there was an automa
tic.
"You will tell me where she has Gon,
or I'll kill your he said. making no ef
fort to lower his voice.
"Sahib. Hassam Ali will kill me II
tell you"' walled Amed
II don't care what he'll do. but
know what I'll do if you don't answe
me. Where has she gomez
The curtains stirred little, but nei
ther Storm nor the servant nOticeu
this. Hassam Ali peered forth eau
tioUsly.
The servant saw in Storms eyes
species of madness. and he was quit
certain that Sahib Storm would shoe
him. as he said Rapidly he recounte'
what had taken place.
"You can take me there just as sool
as you can"
Every well. sahib. But It will be tn
death OF us both in the end"
The curtains fell back gently. Has
sam Ali returned to his globe smiling
Both of them!
Storm was greatly astonished whel
the Hindu told him that he must b
bindfolded. He refused emphatically
very wen, sahib. Shoot cannO
take you where the memsahib is with
out blindfolding you"
Storm saw that the man was in eaI
nest. so. after much grumbling AM
warning, he submitted to be blindfold
ed. Half an hour later the bandag
was taken from his eyes
"Where is sheT' he whispered TO hi
guide.
THAT. sahib. Is for you to find out.
and with that Anied turned ava,
quickly.
Storm resOlutely moved forward ur
til he came upon the form of the sleeI
ing princess. He was rather awed i
spite of his democratic assurance
What in heavens name was going U
here? Where was he? In HindustnI
in the middle of mad dream? Sud
denly, even as he gazed. the woma
OH the rug before the idol stirred an
sighed. Her dark. sloelike eyes opeI
ed. Storm stopped and raised her {
her feet.
as Zudora here?' he asked.
Zudora lay almost at his feet. but b.
had not recognized her, due to the out
landish costume.
The princess looked at him bewilder
ingly. shaking her head Present.