Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-11-09
CHAPTER VIII-continued.

s.
The packs were laid on the ground,
and the mules shook themselves, while
the jackals that haunt the Khyber
came closer, to sit in a ring and
watch. King dug fiashlight out OF
one of the packs, gave 1t to lsmail to
hold, sat on the other pack and began
20 write on a memorandum pad. 1t
was a minute before he could persuade
Ismall that the flashlight was harm
less, and another minute before ne
could get him to hold it still. Then,
however. he wrote swiftly.
In the Khyber. a mile below you.
Dear Old Mani would like to run In
and see you. but circumstances don
permit Several people sent your their
regards by me. Herewith go two mules
and their packs. Make any use OF the
mules you like. but store the loads where
1 can draw on them In case of need;
would like to have q talk with you before
taking the rather desperate step IN
tend. but I don't want 10 be seen enter
Ing or leaving All Masjid. Can you come
down the pass without making your IN
tention known? 1t Is growing misty now
II ought 20 be easy. My men VIII ten
you where I am and show you the way
why not destroy this letter3-Atheistan
He folded the note and stuck post
age stamp on II In lieu Of SEAL Then
he examined the packs with the aid Oh
the flashlight, sorted them and ordered
two of the mules reloaded.
"You three y he ordered then. Take
the loaded mules into Ali Masjid fort.
Take this chit. you. Give 1t to the
snhlb In command there"
"To hear Is to obeyl" said the near
est man. They took the mules leading
relns and before they had gone ten
PAGES were swallowed In the mist that
had begun to flow southeastward. The
night grew still, except for the whim-
pering of jackals.
Ismail came nearer and squatted at
Kings feet. Darya Khan came closer
too. King had tied the reins OF the
two horses and the one remaining
mule together in a knot and was sit
ting on the pack. Solemn, almost
motIonless, squatted on their hunkers.
they looked like two great vultures
watching an animal die.
They sat In silence for FIVE minutes.
Then suddenly the two hillmen shud-
dered, although King did not bat an
eyelld. Din burst into being. A volley
ripped out Of the night and thundered
down the pass.
"How-uttl Hukkums darT came
the insolent challenge half minute
after 1.-THE proof positive that Ali
Masjld's guards neither slept nor were
afraid.
A weird wall answered the chal-
lenge, and there began a tossing to and
fro of words. that was prelude to a
shouted invitation:
rennen-orsss-werrul! !"
English can be as weirdly distorted
as wire, or any other supple medium,
and native levies advance distortion to
the point of art; but the language
sounds no less good in the chilly gloom
OF a Khyber night.
Followed another wait, thfs time Of
half an hour. Then a mans foot
steps--a booted, leather-heeled man,
striding cnrelessly. Not far behind him
was the softer noise of sandals. The
man began to whistle "Annie Laurie. I"
"Charles7 That your" called King.
"That you. old manT
A man In khaki stepped into the
moonlight. He was so nearly the nm
nge OF Athelstan King that Ismail and
Darya Khan stood up and stared.
Athelstan strode TO meet him. Their
walk was the same. Angle for angle
line for line. they might have been one
man and his shadow, except for three
quarters OF an inch Of stature.
"Glad to see you, old man." said
Athelstan.
"Sure, old chap" said Charles; anC
they shook hands.
whats the desperate proposal 2
nsked the younger.
"rll tell you when we are alone"
His brother nodded and stood a steI
aside. The three who had taken tn,
note 10 the fort came closer-partly I,
call attention to themselves, partly I,
claim credit. partly because the cute
silence frightened them. They elbowe,
Ismail and Darya Khan, and one o
stomach by way Of retort from Ismai
Before that spark could start an ez
plosion AthelstAn interfered.
"Ismaill Take two men. Go dow
the pass out Of enrshot, and kee
wntchi Come back when / whistl
thus-but no soonerT
He put fingers between his teeth an
blew until the night shrilled back 9
him. Ismall seized the leather bag an
started to obey.
leave that bag. Leave II, say
"But some man may steal IL. sahiI
How shall n thief know there Is n
money in itF'
leave II and goF'
Ismall departed, grumbllng, an
King turned on Darya Khan.
Take the remaining men and 20 q
the pass!" he ordered. "Stand out
earshot and keep watch. Come wht
| whistler"
"But this one has bellyache whel
Ismail smote hlm Can n man with
bellynche stand guard7 His moanir
win betray both him and mep O
jcctcd Lord OF the Rivers"
"rake him and gow command,
King.
"But--"
King was careful now not to she
his bracelet. But there was somethI,
In his eye and in his attitude
subtle, suggestive somethIng-or-oth
nbrat him--that was rather more &C
vir,nLg than pistol or a stick. Dur
Khan thrus. his rifles end into the hi
nan's stomach for encouragement a
starred OF 10 the mist.