Crittenden record-press., 1917-10-25

tH"HS boNneTs Win hn uuuSunl SUt
# torch; and as there was no answer
King drew his pistol, took about thirty
seconds aim and fred. He fired
straight Mt the blue light.
II vanished instantly, into measure.
less black silence.
"Now you've jolly well done It,
haven't your the Hangar laughed IN
his ear. THAT was her blue light
Yusmini's!"
II WIS minute before King an
swered, for both animals were all but
frantic with their sense OF their rid.
ers' state of mind 1t needed horse
manShlp 20 get them back under con.
troll.
How do You know whose lght II
wasr" King demanded. when the
horse and mare were head to head
again.
"lt was prearranged. She promised
me signal at the point where | am
10 leave the track :"
King drove both spurs home, and
set his unwilling horse to scrambllng
downward at 0n angle he could not
guess, into blackncss he could feel,
trusting the animal to find footing
where his own eyes could make out
nothing.
To his disgust he heard the Ran
gar Immediately. To his even greater
disgust the black mare overlook him.
And even then, with his own mount
stumbling and nearly pitching him
headforemost at each lurch, he was
forced 10 udmre the mares goatllke
agility, for she descended into the
gorge In running leaps. never setting
n wrong foot. When he and his horse
reached the bottom at last he found
the Rangar waiting for him.
This way, sahib"
The next he knew sparks from the
black mares heels were kicking up
IN front Of him, aud Wild ride had
begun such as he had never yet
dreamed Of. There was no catching
up, for the black mare could gnll0p
two to bis horses one: but he set
his teeth and followed into solid
night, trusting ear, eye. guesswork
and the god Of the secret service
men. who loves the reckless.
once In every two minutes he
caught sight for second Of the same
blue siren light that had started the
race. He suspected that there were
nanny torches placed ut intervals.
His own horse developed speed
and stamina he had not suspected. aud
probably the Rangar did not dare ex-
tend the mare 10 her limit In the
dark; ut nil events. for ten. perhaps
fifteen, minutes OF breathless gallop-
ing he almost made a race of 1t. keep
Ing the Rangar either within sight or
sound.
But then the mare swerved sud.
denly behind bowlder and was gone.
He spurred round the same great rock
n minute later, and was faced by a
blank wall Of shale that brought his
horse up all standing. II led steep up
for thousand feet 10 the skyline
There was not so much as goat
track 10 show In which direction the
mare had gone, nor sound OF any
kind TO guide him.
He dismounted and stumbled about
on foot for about ten minutes with
his eyes two feet from the earth, try
Ing 10 find some trace Of hoof. Then
he listened. with bis ear to the
ground. There was no result.
He knew better than TO shout.
After some thought he mounted and
hegan to hunt the way back. remem.
h"rIng turns and twists with gift
FOR direction that natives might well
have envled him. lie found his way
back to the foot Of the road at =
iro'. where ninety.nne men out OF al
most any hundred would have been
los, hopelessly; aud close to the rond
IL" overlook Darya Khan. hugging hIs
rife and staring about Ike scorpion
nj bay.
Did YOU expect that blue light. and
this galloping away?" he asked.
"Noy, sahib; ! knew nothing OF II.
was told TO lead the way to Khin-
jan"
Come on, them"
On the level road above King stared
about him and felt In his pockets for
n fresh chcroot. lie struck match
and watched II to he sure his hand
did not shake before he spoke. A
man must command himself before
trying II on others.
Where are the o,hersf" he asked,
when he was certain OF himself.
Gone" doomed Ismall.
King took dozen pulls at the
chcroot and stared ubout again. In
the middle OF the road stood his sec
ond horse, and three mules with his
baggage, including the unmarked
medicine chest. Clc'r to them we're
arcc men, making the party now only
siA nj told, Including Da-ya Khan,
himself and Ismail.
"Gone whitherr Ismairs voice was
eloquent o: shocked surprise. "They
followed Was It then thy baggage
on Ia other mules? Were they thy
menl They led the mules unl went !"
"Who ordered themy