Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-28
THE GHDED MAN
BY CLIFFORD SMYTH .

inner heart OF her own love rema ined as
1t had ever been. He was still David. He
needed her, he was unhappy. Outwardly he
might seem faithless as the most shameless
froteus of romance. Nevertheless, there was
something else, something that even Sa jipona
could not know. but that she knew and that
bound him to her II for this she had
followed him through inconceivabie adven-
tures-for this. one danger after another
had been faced and overcome. And now
all this misery had reached n happy ending.
He was here. awaiting her like some prince
in fairy palace. Sajipona had promised
IT. had brought them together at last. She
felt his presence before she heard his voice.
And then he spoke to her:
Una, what new witchcraft has brought
you here :"
He stood at a turn in the gallery up which
she was ascending As their eyes met. the
distant wind-blown music. the subtle fra
GRANGE of flowers. seemed to bring into this
palace of mystery and enchantment the fields
and meadows of Rysdale. There she and
David were again together. vowing their
frst love. The harmones of brooks birds
the ripples that sped their canoe past WOOD
land and down shaded valleys. the thousand
intimate details of the springtide loved of
lovers. were about them once more. For the
David who stood beside her in the queens
treasure house the David of that far
on. peaceful countryside, not the stranse
being she had met for that brief dark
moment In front of Sajponas palace. At
Tue NTSL glance Sne could see he mad passed
through some vital change since then Tfe
was no longer as a man walking in Ireams
There was no troubled uncertainty In his
face. no faltering in his step. He came
to her now. all his soul In his eyes. but with
perDlexed look for all that. as il the destiny
that had parted them had not yet consent ed
to their reunion.
II have been dreaming" he said simply
1T was an old dream, I find. Now that am
awake. some lights and shadows from nv
world n NM
His brief explanation Of the strange mental
experience he had just been through was
scarcely needed Una told him how they had
searched for him, how they had finally heard
OF this cave and of his first adventure in it,
And then. how, tracking him to this place
they had met Sajipona and learned Of the
wonders Of her underground kingdom.
We are awaiting the festival now" she
said wistfully. "She told me of it, and sent
me here to meet you. / think 1t must have
begun already The musc-it must he the
music for the Gilded Man-has grown louder
and louder as / have climbed this wonderful
gallery. Sajpona and the rest will meet
us--it must be just there. beyond"
THE festival know :" David exclaimed.
Then he turned again to Una taking her
hand and trying to disguise the grief that
was all too plain in words and manner He
told her Of Sajlpona's kindness. Of his graft.
tude TO her. He described something Of her
plans to redeem her people from the i'll
fortune that had shut them out from the rest
of the world. All this he said. could not be
accomplished right away; but the first step
would be taken now. David had a part to
play in the working out Of the queens plan.
But just what he was to do. what this part
was. he guessed only vaguely. The bringing
together of the ancient people with the new.
the Indian race with their white conquerors--
something of the kind was in her mind. The
vast store OF wealth, also. that they saw
about them was to be distributed among
those who needed It, Sajpona and her peo-
pie had long since ceased to- care for this
treasure that had brought such untold suffer
ing and misfortune to their race. But they
would not part with 1t until they were certain
OF their recompense And perhaps they
wouldn't part with 1t at all-there seemed to
be curse attached TO these blood-stained
!. emeralds and gold.
CONTINUED TOMORROW