The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1917-11-09
CHAPTER VIII-Continued.

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The packs were laid on the ground,
aad the mules shook themselves, while
the luClals that haunt the khybcr
came closer, to sit In ring ana
watch. King dug flashight out OF
one of the packs, gave 1t to lsmail 20
hold. sat on the other pack ana began
To write on a memorandum pad. IL
was n minute before he could persuade
Ismail that the flashlight was harm
less, and another minute before he
could get him to hold it still. Then,
however he wrote swiftly.
In the Khyber. mile below you.
Dear Old Mani would Ike TO run In
and see you. but circumstances don't
permit Several people sent your their
regards by me. Herewith 90 two mules
and their packs. Make any use OF the
mules you like, but store the loads where
I can draw on them in case or neef
would like to have "A talk with Yea Sefoie
taking the rather despera's rep l In
tend but I don't want to be seen enter
ing or leaving All Masiid Can you come
down the pass without making your In
tention known? II is growing misty now:
II ought TO be easy. My men VIII tell
you where ! am and show you the way.
He folded the note and stuck post
age stamp on 1t i'm lieu Of seal. Then
he examined the packs with the ala OF
the flashlght, sorted them and ordered
two IF the mules reloaded.
"You three !" he ordered then. Take
the loaded mules into Ali Masjid fort.
Take this chit, you. Give 1t to the
sahiB in command there"
"ro hear Is to obey!" said the near
est man. They took the mules leading
reins 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'
peripg of jackals.
Ismall came nearer and squatted al
Kings feet. Darya Khan came closer
too. King had tied the reins or 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 ar
eyelid. Din burst into being. A volley
ripped out of the night and thunderet
down the pass.
''How-utt! Hukkums darr came
the insolent challenge half a minute
after 1.-THE proof positive that AL
Masjids guards neither slept nor were
afraid.
A weird wall answered the chal
lenge, and there began a tossing TO ant
fro of words, that was prelude to
shouted invitations:
"Ud-vancc-frrrennen y
English can he as weirdly distorte'
as wire, or any other supple medium
and native levies advance distortion 4
the point of art; but the languag
sounds no less good In the chilly gloon
of a Khyber night.
Followed another wait, this time o
half an hour. Then mans FOOT
steps-a booted. leather-heeled mar
strldng carelessly. Not far behind hir
was the softer noise of sandals. tn
man began to whistle "Annie Laurie.
"Charlesf That your" called KIM
"That you, old manT
A man In khaki stepped into tn
moonlight. He was so nearly the In
age Of Athelstan King that Ismail an
Darya Khan stood up and stare'
Athelstan strobe to meet him. The
walk was the same. Angle for angl
line for line, they might have been on
man and his shadow, except for three
quarters Of an inch Of stature.
"Glad to see yor. old man." sal
Athelstan.
"Sure, old chap!" said Charles; an
they shook hands.
whats the desperate proposal'
asked the younger.
"Tll tell you when we are alone"
His brother nodded and stood ste
aside. The three who had taken Il
note to the fort came cl0ser-partly
call attention to themselves. partly
claim credit. partly because the OUT
silence frightened them. They elbowe
Ismail and Darya Khan, and one
them received savage blow In Il
stomach by way Of retort from Isma
Before that spark could start an q
plosion Athelstan interfered.
'Ismall! Take two men. Go dow
the pass out Of earshot, and kee
watch! Come back when l whist
,s,i- '"' NJ s9oner"