The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1917-02-03
CHAPTER XIV.
Victory. But

| trance.
Two orientals entered at the same
time and stood by the open door cs
though warned to remain on guard.
All Singh crossed to window and
looked out. He placed his feet well
apart and clasped his hands behind
his back. He was evidently deep In
that either of the terrified girls might
fathom his reconcile and crafty pur-
pose. They knew nothing whatever
of the CHASTITY compact he had offered
to Manning. Poor creatures, they i'm
agined he was even then determining
their own fate, whereas In reality 1t
mattered no more to All Singh wheth-
err they lived or died than that the
next gale should bring down a couple
] Of withered leaves from a plane tree
In front of the window.
They sprang up in terror when he
entered, but were so overwrought with
mere physical distress that they col
lapsed again to the bed on which they
had been seated and waited In stupor
|
The very presence of Ali Singh was
overpowering. The girls never knew
what his next move would be. Not a
| CLEAN Of consolation was to be found
In his stolid countenance.
| Ever and anon their fascinated eyes
would wander from the stolid Asiatic
faces of the guards to the erect and
| 1nn1innopin0 of hn mo xxyhn
they had been taught by bitter cir
cumstances to regard as the personif-
cation of evil.
His complete immobility and air of
absorption were more affrighting than
almost any words OF threats. The UNI
known, when it prolongs danger, Is far
more awe inspiring than actuality.
Probably neither of those two timid
and highly strung girls could have
withstood the strain for long. 1t is
not surprising, therefore, that they
screamed shrilly when Manning was
brought in by two other orientals.
His eyes were bandaged, but his
hands were free save in the sense that
each arm was tightly held by his es-
cort. He recognized their voices, Of
course, and his expressive lips opened
In reassuring smile.
Don't be afraid now, girls" he said
quietly. Nothing very terrible is 60
ing to happen. l am here Of my own
free will, and you will be set at liberty
quite soon. l have Ali Singh's guaran-
tee as to that, and believe the scoun-
drel will keep his word
Ali Singh himself. listening with a
grim smile, stepped in front of the cap
tive and tore the bandage from his
eyes. With n gesture he indicated
that the guards were to stand clear
and block the doorway. So, at last.
Enrol Manning and Ali Singh came
| face to face.
To all appearance each was unarm-
ed. The American. after swift glance
at Margaret and May, as though bid
ding them be calm and not interfere
and frank defiance which was not
without its spice of curiosity. This
was the first occasion that he had been
able to scrutiniZe his antagonists fea-
| lures at leisure. That he personally
was I'm position Of imminent peril did
not weigh with him in the least. 1t
| might he the Higher Ones intent to
strike him dead then and there. If
| that We're so not all the resources Of
| the United States could intervene to
save him. But he fancied that such
was not the mans design.
1t was almost certain thing, be
thought, that an effort would be made
| to extract from him some guarantee
of immunity-evens some pledge Of gov
ernment action favoring the mysteri
GUS cause which had converted this
man into q political maniac-and If
| that were so it would mean long
discussion. from which the girls would
necessarily be excluded
1t was n supreme crisis. because
each second that passed drew ever
closer ring of steel and lead from
| which neither Ali Singh nor any Of his
! gang might hope to escape. Above all
| else it behooved Manning not to give
his enemy the slightest inkling Of that
which was about to happen. His ex-
preston must be fnquiring rather than
| confident. lie had come there ostensi-
| bly, to place himself In the hands OF one
who had sought his death many times,
| and the sole consideration for this self
sacrificing act was the freedom Of the
| two girls.
| SO the sense Of overpowering curiosi-
| ty was really helpful, since 1t enabled
him to look Ali Singh squarely in the
eye while his brain tried to estimate
the resources of the most subtle mind
which he had ever encountered or was
ever likely to encounter though he
lived far beyond the allotted age Of
man.
Ali Singh, on his part, surveyed Man
| ming with a sphinxlike smile.
You accepted my word, then?" he
said, speaking somewhat offhandedly
and implying that he merely stated a
| truism.
YES" said Manning.
every well. Bid farewell to these
women. You will die within five min
utes! swear by the crescent that your
sister and the other one will be sent
| to your house in safety