Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-12-21
HI
The Palace
Of Darkened
Windows
Bly,
MARY
HASTINGS
BRADLEY

coner when once committed to a plan
not to open his mind to the objec-
tons which besie8ed it. So that
night, at the fall Of dark, as the two
young men motored forth together.
ne maintained stolid resolution
which refused TO look back. The
approach OF the danger was turning
up his nerves, and whatever his
common sense might think about it.
his youth and pluck greeted the ad :
venture with a auickening heart and
rash warmth OF blood.
Both young men were rssolute and
confident. Eeither would have been
more than human If he had not look :
ed trifle askance upon the other
ana wished TO thunder that he had
peen able to go into 1t alone and 10
have tasted the intoxication OF de-
ltvering the girl singlehanded out OF
the den OF thieves. But tho success
OF the plan was paramount, as Billy.
reminded himself.
lie found himself hoping wildly
that she would see him as well as
Falconer
She has probably forgotten all
about me-" he thought ruefully, she
won't remember that dance with me.
nor that chat next moring. I'm just
an Also Met. She won't even perceive
me. She'll see that sandy-haired
deliverer-and she'll tell him how
right he was and how good to come
after her
Ihus jealousy darkIy painted his
undoing. But darn it | had TO ask
hlm! Thus he. downed his unEener-
Gus thoughts. ut needed two men at
least-and besides, don't want any
handicap Of gratitude in this" t>
They left the automobile in the
Mohammedan graveyard with exact
and impressive instructions. And
then they stole back among the
gloomy trees and ghostly tombs to
where the canal washed the foot of
the little terraces. and there the one
eyed man sat waiting in the canoe,
figure of profound misanthropy.
Silently he lifted q stricken but set
countenance, and they climbed in and
the three padded off, approaching
the back of the palace with wary
eyes. for they were afraid that a
guard might now be set upon the
walls. But Billy had argued that
kerissen was unaware of F'ritzrs
knowledge Of Arlee's identity: in
fact she had at frs, supposed her q
willing supplanter like herself, and
SO he would not be apprehensive OF
| any of her revelations. And he did
not dream that Fritzi's rescuers were
interested in Arlee
At the strip OF path the canoe made
SOFTLY to shore and the two young
men climbed out. while the Arabs re
manned in the canoe, his single eye
peering into the darkness. This time
Billy had provided three stout, bu,
narrow. ladders, constructed Of two
poles nailed together with occasional
cross pieces that gave narrow room
for foot. He set one Of these ir
place against the wall now. ground
ing Its ends deep in the soft earth
SO that 1T would remain in readiness
for any sudden descent. Then from
the top of the wall they reconnoi
| tered the scene before them
| 1t was very dark. The garden was
full of blotting shadows. and the Ions
| wing of the harem lay almost In
darkness, with only faint bean
from two adjacent windows to revea
sign of life. Those windows were
on the third story, next tho angle
made by the union of the banque,
hall and the harem, and Billy's hear,
! quicke!led as he recognized the loca-
| ton of the rose room.
That's it--that's her room" he
| whispered excitedly to Falconer.
Falconer stared and nodded "a
wish that beastly hall wasn't in the
| way ahead of us. Id like to see wha,
lights are in the windows in tina,
court beyond
I'VE might both go and take a
look" said Billy doubtfully, but
guess you had better make straight
| for your roofs. 1t wouldn't do tc
have us both nabbed. Do you hear
anything"
They listened, crouching flat upon
the wall, straining their eyes toward
the palace. There was high wind
blowing and above them the leaves
OF the palm trees were shaping
against each other, and below the
shrubs and flowers were stirrine
restlessly. But the noise of the wind
they felt, was helpful to cover the
sounds of their approach.
why can't l make my way around
on top of this wall and climb on the
roofs from the start?" Falconer uues
toned. and Billy answered, Il asked
her that. She said it couldn't be
done. You'd have to climb thru some
unsafe rubbish. The best way is
down and up again in that angle tina,
she showed me. Shall we start?"
The same impulse made both mer
examine their revolvers, then droI
them in readiness into their right
hand coat pockets. They moved
along tht top of the wall till they
reached the angle with the wall or
their right. and then they lowered
the same knotted rope which Billy
had used the night before, but nov
another rope added to it made it into
a rope ladder. Suspending that over
the top of the wall by iron hooks
| they slipped down it, each with q
pole ladder in his arms. and with an.
other hook of iron they drove the
! ends down into the earth, 40 that the
rope would not wave out in the vino
and either betray them or become
| displaced.
1t was insecure enough, anyway
but they felt it ought to be left il
readiness for flight that nigh
have no second to waste. Now, Will
eyes sharply challenging the shadows