The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-02-15
CHAPTER vIIl--continued.

CHAPTER vIIl-continued.
3d.
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 a flashlight out OF
bne Of the packs, gave 1t to Ismail to
hold, sat on the other pack and began
TO write on memorandum pad. 1t
was minute before he could persuade
rsmail that the fiashlight was harm
less, and another minute before he
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't
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
can draw on them in case of need: l
would like to have talk with you pe1ore
taking the rather desperate step ] in
tend. but don't want to be seen enter
ing or leaving All Masjid. Can you come
down the pass without making your In
tention known? It is growing misty now;
It ought to be easy. My men Will Tell
you where I am and show you the way.
why not destroy this Observation-Disclosures.
He folded the note and stuck post
age stamp on 1t in lieu Of seal. Then
he examined the packs with the aid OF
the fiashlight, sorted them and ordered
two Of 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"
ITO 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-
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 knot and was sit
ing 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
eyelid. Din burst into being. A volley
ripped out of the night and Numbered
down the pass.
"How-utt! Hukkums DART" came
the insolent challenge half a minute
efter 1.-THE proof positive that Ali
Masjid's guards neither slept nor were
afraid.
A weird vail answered the chal-
ienge, and there began tossing to and
fro of words, that was prelude to a
shouted invitation:
s'Ud-vance-frrrennen -orsSs-werr r.
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, this time Of
half an hour. Then a mans foot
steps--a booted, leather-heeled man,
: stridfng carelessly. Not far behind him
was the softer noise of sandals. The
man began to whistle "Annie Laurie"
Charles? That your called King.
''Ihat you. old man?"
A man in khaki stepped into the
moonlight. He was so nearly the i'm
age of Athelstan King that Ismail and
parya Khan stood up and stared.
Athelstan strobe 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 chapl" said Charles; and
they shook hands.
whats the desperate proposal?"
asked the younger.
"I'll tell you when we are Alone"
His brother nodded and stood step
aside. The three who had taken the
note to the fort came closer-partly to
all attention to themselves. partly to
claim credit, partly because the outer
silence frightened them. They elbowed
Ismail and Darya Khan, and one of
them received savage blow in the
stomach by way Of retort from Ismail.
Before that spark could start an ex-
plosion Atheistan interfered.
''Ismaill lake two men. 60 down
he pass cut of earshot. and keep
Watchl Come back when I whistle
tbus--hut no rsanerr'