The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-06-15
BY JOHN REED SCOTT
{ CONTINUED from Our last issue.)
CHAPTER vi.
A Pencil and a Gard.
Copyright, 1910. by
John Reed Scott

CHAPTER vi.
A Pencil and a Card.
! As we neared the main stair
way, the guard lined up across II
and one of the officers came a
step forward to meet us.
"Your pardon, sirs," said he,
saluting stiffly; "the stairway is
closed temporarily"
THANK you" said /, running
my eyes over the guard critically.
With the women to protect 1t was
folly to venture an assault. 1--WE
do not expect to descend at pres
ent. We simply wish to look
down."
Il am sorry, sir-the orders
are that no one shall be permitted
to approach the stairway"
Until what time do your or
ders hold?" asked.
Until sundown!"
| raised my eyebrows in polite
surprise-and turned to my COM
panions.
I'VE may as well be going on"
| remarked - and we strolled
away.
We rounded the corner of the
sanctuary and were out of sight Of
the Ducal party. Here the wall
along the outer side of the pry-
amid gave place to two low build
ings, with the entrance to the
north stairway between them.
''If you will stay with the girls,
Fred" said |, "I'll see if there
isn't some opening in the rear of
this house."
Good" said he, and / strobe
through the doorway.
Originally the house was one
large room-now 1t was divided
transversely by a curtain of grass
The outer room was bare of oc-
cupants and bare of furniture. I
drew aside the curtain; within
was the chapel of the Ducal fam
| lily. But neither chapels nor doc
trines interested me at that mo-
mentor there, in the opposite
wall behind the reredos, shone a
narrow window.
| sprang across the chancel,
seized the chair from the reading
desk and mounted it. |
put my head through the deep
window and looked down.
Heaven be praised! At table,
some so feet from the base of the
pyramid, sat Hatch and his men
with as many Oblivions.
They were swapping stories and
drinking chicha; that is, the Obliv-
ians were drinking, our men were
not; they were on escort duty.
Dorwald's discipline was admira-
BILE.
And while / stood there, with
my gaze hard upon HatcS's face
trying to telepath him, he raised
his head and looked straight up
at me; for all the world as though
in answer to my call. Instantly
raised my hand in a command
to silence, praying that he would
understand the gesture.
And he understood-at least I
took 1t so, for his glance went
back to his comapnions, remained
moment, then upward again to
me.
To call would have ruined
everything. l could not wig-wag.
| was not familiar with the deaf
and dumb alphabet: and no more
was Hatch, I fancied,
| | waved visiting card had
nothing larger-and signalled |
would write.
He nodded and went on with
his talk. l dashed off this mes
sage:
I'VE are held prisoners on the
pyramid. Your return to the
launch is to be prevented. Recov-
er your rifles and revolvers and
force your way up the east stair
way. Eight guards armed only
with swords, are stationed at the
top of each of the four stairways
we hesitate to assail them be-
cause of the women. You must
act before sundown."
I folded the card tightly and
waited. In moment, Hatch shot
look upward. l signalled-and
dropped the card.
1t fell on the grass, about 20
feet from him. He marked the
place; then, with a word to the
others, he got up, handkerchief
in hand, and sauntered toward the
pyramid. Just where the card
lay, he dropped his handkerchief;
when he recovered it, the card
was In his hand.
At the pyramid, he seemed to
be looking at the Joining of the
stones; but / could see. by rea-
son of the shape of the building,
that he had unfolded the card and
was reading my message.
He read 1t once; turned back
and read 1t again; then. very
casually, he ran his eyes up the
pyramid until they reached me,
and nodded understandingly.
| did not wait to see more. /
felt that / could trust to Hatch.
| found the others waiting where
had left them, somewhat con-
cerned at my prolonged absence.
told them of my luck and our
spirits all went up.
We came back into the main
court. The Duke and Beauchamp
were sitting where we had left
them; the others were gone-but