The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-07-04
y. s. 3. 1R<H0

VI tAc uOOI LAY. IuolAcl, pSSu1IoA
thing Of bronze, cast In one piece,
handle and all. The mullah took it
in his hand and struck the stone floor
sharply once-then twice again-then
three times--then a dozen times in
quick succession. The floor rang hol-
low at that spot.
After. about a minute there came
one answering hammer-stroke from
beyond the wall. Then the mullah
laid the mallet down and though King
ached to pick 1t up and examine it he
did not dare.
Excitement now was probably the
least of his emotions. 1t had been
swallowed in interest. But in his
guise Of hakim he had to beware Of
that superficial western carelessness,
that permits folks to acknowledge
themselves frightened or excited or
amused His business was to attract
asalittier attentioMrt6S himself as POS.
sible; and to that end he folded his
hands and looked reverent. as if enter
Ing some Mecca. of his dreams.
Through his horn-rimmed spectacles
his eyes looked far-away and dreamy.
But ii would have teen a mistake to
suppose that a detail was escaping
:
him
The irregular lines in the masonry
began to be more pronounced All at
once the wall shook and they gaped
by an inch or two, as happens when
an earthquake has shaken buildings
without bringing anything down.
Then an irregular section of wall be-
gan to move quite smoothly away in
front of him leaving a gap through
which eight men abreast could have
marched As 1t receded he observed
that the lowest course of stones was
laid on a bronze foundation, that key
ed into wide bronze grooves. There
was oil enough in the grooves to
have creased a ships ways and there
was neither squeak nor tremor as
the tons of masonry slid back At the
end OF perhaps three minutes that
section of the wall had become the
fourth side of a .twenty-foot-wid
island that stood fair in the middle of
a tunnel, splitting it In two to right
and left. Judging by the angle OF the
two divisions they became one again
before going very far.
The mullah stood aside and motion
ed King to enter. But the one-eyed
guide who had led them to the
mosque thrust himself between Darya
Khan and Ismail pushed King aside
and took the lead
Nay" he said, II am responsible
to her"
It was the first time he had spoken
and he appeared to resent the waste
OF words.
The tunnel that led to the left was
"
for rihe-fre: score Of men with
enough ammunition could have held
10 forever against an army. But the
riyht.hand way looked undetended.
Nevertheless. the guide led TO the left.
and King followed him, filled with
curiosity.
MANY have enterer!" sang the lash
less mullah in a sing-song chant.
More have sought to enter! Some
who remained without we're wisest!
count them! I keep count! Many
went in Not all came out again by
this road"
Then there is another road?" King
wondered. but he held his tongue and
followed the guide.
II proved to be atty yards through
part natural, part hand-hewn, tunnel
to the neck OF the lOrk WneTo the
left and right hand passages became
one again He stopped at the fork
and looked back. for none Of his men
was following. He caught the sound
OF scuffling--of Gathering hoofs, and
grunts and shouted oaths--and start
ed to run back, since even native
hakim may proter: his own, should
lie care to. even in the Hills. For the
sake OF principle he chose the other |!
passage, for Cocker says, Look! |
Look! Look!" But the guide seized |
him by the arm from behind and !
swung him back again.
"Not that way!" he growled. But |
he offered No explanation. In the !;
Hills It Is not good TO ask why" Of i
strangers. Il. is good to be gled one
was nca knitted. and to be deterrent !
until more suitable occasion King i
started to run again, but this time !
along the same defended passage
down which they had come. And now
tho guide made no objection but lean.
I'd on his long gun and waited. The
,harger proved to be making the
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