Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-12-16
The Palace
Of Darkened
Windows
Bly,
MARY
HASTINGS
BRADLEY

\ ufOIG.
Il should think II would be-"
I Something In her tone suggested
that the inviolated solitude of the
asylum suggested itself TO her as a
/ fitting spot. We'll, we won't Inter-
! rnpt you any longer. You've been
most interesting. 80. The sun Is
quite hot, isn't it?' and with one
long, lingering look OF The picture,
a look convinced against its will.
che went her way toward the victor
/ ia
But Lady Claire stood still. Billy
had fairly sforgotten all about her.
and now as he turned suddenly from
the Glowing with her cliaperon, he
found her gaze being transferred
from his picture to himself. It was
a very steady gaze, calnl-eyed and
kdeliberate.
j I'm afraid you're making game OF
tas!" she said, in her muslical. high
bred tones. her clear eyes discomfort
Iingly upon him. Aren't your" she
gently demanded.
That's not fair" Billy was uncom-
Portable and looked away in. haste.
He felt erin coming.
Perhaps he was shade too late.
for Lady Claire laughed suddenly
and with note OF curious delight.
Il You're too amusing" she said.
s..What made you? !. How did vol,
think Of 1t all? Are ytu just be-
ginning?"
"oh. began twenty y,,ars ago.
he smiled back, "bnt 1 haven't done
anything in the meantime"
I Again she laughed with, that ring
of mischievous delight. However you
could think of 1t all! shan't tell on
you--but she'll never be done won
dering." She turned away. her pref
| ty face still bright with h,imor, and
| then she turned back hesitantly to-
/ ward him.
1T 10 hot here In this SUM-" she
said. ut can't be good for YOU. Shall
we drive you back ?''
4 She had lovely eyes, dark, smoky.
blue under black lashes, and when
they held gentle. half-sfy, half
proud invitation. az they did then.
they were: very unsettiing eyes.
And It was hot on that Internal
camp stool. And there was a crick
i In the back OF his neck ana his err
rand was glaringly q FOOLS errand.
He half rose, and az he did so the
door in the palace opened crack
and a yelled face peered fiirtiyely
out. Billy sat down again.
| No, thank you." he said, IT think
I'd better do a little more OF this
! In such light ways il the gate of
opportunity, closed and opened. Ev-
Eerything that happened after wards
with such appalling startlingness
hung on that instnnt's decision.
For the moment he felt himself a
donkey as Lady Claire turned quiet
~ away and the victoria ratified off
with brisk finality. Then the door
Eopened again, and again the girl
peered out. and furttvely, stealthily
slipped just outside.
Billy caught up a pad and pencil
and called out request to sketch
! her holding up some silver. Instant
| ly she assumed d fixed pose, with a
nervous giggle behind her veil, and
| he came quickly near her, pretending
| to he drawing. Her dark, curious
eyes met his with questioning signi-
Nficance. and he threw all caution
| aside and plunged into his demands.
Dip she want to earn money, he
said quickly, in the Arabic he had
been preparing for such an encount-
er, and on her eager assent. he asked
| if there was a foreign lady in the
| palace, American.
The flash of her eyes told him that
| he had struck the mark before her
half-frightened words came.
! His heart quickened with excite.
| ment.. He might have suspected this
thing bit he had not really believed
lit! He asked. stamrnering in his
| haste, Does she want to get away %
Again that knowing nod and the
quick assent Then the girl burst in
ito low-toned speech, glancint, back
constantly thru the door she held
lnearIy shut behind her. Billy was
forced to shake his head. IT was
one thing TO have picked up !, little
casual Arabic. and another and hor-
ribly different, thing to comprehend
the rapid outpouring behind that
muffling veil.
Baffled, he went hurriedly ON with
his own questions. Was this lady
safe? Again the nod and murnaur Of
assent. Did she want help? Vehe-
ment the confirmation. He repeated,
with careful emphasis. II will re-
ward you we'll for your help" and
this time the direct simplicity of her
reply was entirely intelligible:
How much?"
zone pound. Two" he added
as she shook her head.
-Four" she demanded
1t was maddening to haggle, but it
would be. worse to yield.
''Two-and this" said Billy, draw
ing out the gold and some silver
with it.
She gave a frightened upward
glance at the windows over them and
stepped closer. II take it," she said
Listen" and that was all that Billy
could understand of the swift words
she whispered to him.
'Slower--slower," he begged. Once
more-slower."
She frowned, and then, very slow
~ and distinctly, she articulated,
'T'ala Ill genaina /. /. end eltursl"
He wrote down what he thought it
sounded like. go on
"Aliailade," she continued