Gunnison news-champion., 1920-01-30


he stter fstallsa q nSs-er dean-.
rMa ~ kAae = , . 9 . Q S-sa {
WY esy eut e sezsessD against tho
inevitable3 6oeqaf oe liter he must
ceStainly Daas 6sm 81 ~ fesneut Of
humanity. - He fdrsoetsa 10 some
quist cesnse. u nlgAt O. vsn - nov
~ any otAsr tims. sxcspt fer one thing
n ure.
For an instant Q Aame e bltter
hatred biased up ~ be thought cf the
crafty Hardinee. Had Il not been for
that subtle. hunnan scorpion ~ would
not Be lying in this horrid hole. wait
Ing the summons which would tesmi-
nate his ambiO. Jus life.
But the bitterness died away.
Hardinge was only another puppef
Of fate-a stuffed doll-like himself.
n mere marionette in the drama Of ex-
istence. for fate bears rule over all.
Presently he. too. would be thrust back
into the cosmic trunk BY the Great
Property Man Of the whole fantastic
show. and death. the wardrobe mis-
tress. would receive the battered au-
tomaton, the same as she would claim
him at sunrise.
The voice Of the chanting Hindu
grew fainter.
The drowsy American felt that he
was falling into the abyss Of all things
the place from which he had sprung.
Around him mysterious creatures,
with calm. untroutled countenances.
like Jitendra's face. swiried on sound.
less wings
The world Of strife and struggle. OF
bitter hate and burning discord. of
which he had been u part was blotted
out. and. instead. there was only a
superlative sense of contentment. .
divine peace. q sweet oblivion.
'Sahib Buck! sahib Buck!"
Williams struggled in dazed fashion
to his knees.
Between his dream and the dark.
ness he was 80 confused that he did
not realize where he was--or why.
Something cold. metallic, slender. was
forcing itself into his hands.
There Is little time. sahib." hissed
the voice. .See-the door is open and
the gods granted thy request. Make
haste. I pray thee. and depart. Be
ware Of the other who sits asleep just
within the gate Of this place."
.W-w-who-what the devil are you
talking aboutf Oh. L remember now
lAs~ vn,, ule~rAra l~usH a. ~
"Yes, sahib. but delay not. The
night Ii yet young-by dawn thou mus,
be far from here"
Unbelievingly the mine owner stag
gered to his feet. He tried to look
around the obscure Interior Of the cell
Then he saw that the iron-bound oaken
door leading into the corridor was
open. as a draft Of air came through.
Near II two flaming points Of light.
swaying rhythmically In the corner.
blazed back at him. Buck stumbled to-
ward them. cropping blindly.
Jitendrn's hand was on his arm
the Hindu's slender fingers bit down
on his biceps like steel tongs.
"Sahib. beware the vengeance OF
vishnu! Not that way!"
He felt himself drawn forcibly aside
and thrust Into the corridor. He
turned to glance at his friend. Two
other crimson. glaring points Of light
blaxed back into his startled eyes, but
these seemed suspended Just above the
white turban which the Oriental wore.
Like those the mine owner had seen In
the cell corner. they might have been
the angry orbs Of the gods 1t whom
he had scofRed.
Buck trembled.
A cold sweat streamed out on hts
forehead. He ct last realized that be
was IN the passage leading TO the gate
Of the carcel. and In his hands was O
riAe-the thing he had 3estingly com
inanded the patient, little brown n,ai
to secure for him through the exercise
Of his occult powers.
Hurry. Sahib Buck" whispered
Jitendra .'tarry not for me. for vishnu
and silva have me In their holy keep
Ing. Go thou-and' quicklyi"
The cool. Satiny ride barrel sent 9
thrill Of mAdly Intoxicating ecstasy
riodng through the Americans brain
Like the tiger. from whom he had been
named, be padded stealfhily along the
short passage leading to the gate oi
the prison. nlled with IN angry ven
geanes.
The. sleeping sentinel was lo3lIng In
his chair. His weapon thudded dowI
upon the head Of the somnclent sol
dier. who rolled to the ground.
Williams seized the ringed key from
the guards inert fingers and thrust 4
into the lock. The last barrier swung
inward, the soft breeze Of the reful
gent night kissed bis feverish face
and be was blotted out BY its protect
ing curtain.
Jalisingrao Jitendra squatted in tho
corner Of the cell from which tn.
American had 20 miraculously beep re
leased. and bent over the prostrate ng
ure Of the Mexican who had been OF
guard In the corridor.