Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-01-07


sleeping beauty OF the fairy tale. The
sleeping woman was beautiful In the
accepted sense Of the Caucasian race
Her skin was AZ light as Zudoras
own. which generally wore a slight
tan, due to her out OF door habits
Near the young woman lay the figure
Of a 6ne looking native. Zudora sur
missed that these sleeping people had
been In the midst OF some solemn cere-
uony. possibly wedding, when over
taken. The ensemble resembled moth
Ing so much as prearranged -tableau
uch as she had often played at school,
"who is this beautiful woman" ask
I'd Hassam All. as keenly interested as
Zudora.
"She is our ruler. our princess. Air
he murmured. darling toward Zudora.
who was now STOPPING over the sleep
ing beauty. 1.-The memsahib must not
touchw
But began Zudora.
"The memsahib's touch would defile
her," said the man stoically.
Meantime an idea had come to Has
sam All. He was beginning to sense
peculiar heaviness about his eyes. and
he realized with alarm that this mys-
terious sleep was overtaking him.
Quietly and unobserved he slipped from
the room and managed after some dif1-
Guilty and some explanations to reach
the street. Zudora was there alone. II
she was clever enough she might ex-
trtcate herself: II not-well. that was
HassaIu Ais idea.
Zudosa went ON with her visual In
veetiga lions. quite Oblivious to the fact
that her uncle had deserted her. The
strange idols fascinated her, especial
IL the heroic one before which were
grouped the sleepers. 1t was a mon
ster, mans body with IN elephants
head. As she gazed up at Its sinister
little eyes she began to see things as
through q film Of rain. 1t seemed as
If 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 it was that she was conscious or
making no effort to fight of this sleep.
As she fell she cIutched in her hama
a little ivory figure. small elephant
which had evidently escaped the fH'
gets of the princess when she sucV
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
a poignant sense of danger to Zudora
at those moments when she really was
In danger. He could not have analysed
this sensation. but he Immediately sur
rendered to 1t. 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 mistressY demanded
Storm.
"She is out. sahib."
"Where?'
II cannot tell you" said the servant.
gradually closing the door.
But Storm was In no mood for par
leying. He resOlutely pushed his way
in. In his hand there was an automa-
tic.
"You will tell me where she has gone
or I'll kill you he said. making no eff
fort to lower his voice.
"Sahib. Hassam Ali will kill me II
tell your walled AIMED.
81 don't care what he'll do but !
know what I'll do If you don't answer
me. Where has she gOneT
The curtains stirred little. but mel
Their Storm nor the servant noticed
this. Hassam Ali peered forth eau
tiously.
species Of madness. and he was quite
certain that Sahib Storm would shoot
him. AZ he said Rapidly he recounted
what had taken place.
lyon can take me there just as soon
as you can"
"Very we'll. Rahib But 1t will be the
death OF III both In the end"
The curtains fell back gently. Has
sam Ali returned to bis globe smiling
Both Of them!
Storm was greatly astoniShed when
the Hindu told him that he. must be
He refused emphahcaIly.
Every well. sahib. Shoot | cannot
take you where the nIenIsahib b with
out bIIndfOIding you"
Storm saw that the man was In ear
nest. ~. sitter much Erumbiing and
warming. be submitted to be blindfOid-