The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1921-04-15
CHAPTER K.
A Costly Recapture.

As the speaker ceased he turned TO
leave the apartment by the door where
| was standing, but I needed to wait
no longer; 1 had heard enough to fill
my soul with dread, and stealing quiet
ly away l returned to the courtyard by
the way l had come. My plan of ac-
ton was formed upon the instant and,
crossing the square and the bordering
avenue upon the opposite side, ] soon
stood within the courtyard of Tai Ha-
jus.
l glanced up at the stories above,
discovering that the third was appar-
emily unighted. and so decided to
make my entrance to the building from
that point. 1t was the work Of but a
moment for me TO reach the windows
above. and soon I had drawn myself
within the sheltering shadows of the
unlighted floor.
Fortunately the room I had selected
was untenanted. and creeping noiseless-
ly 10 the corridor beyond | discovered
a light in the apartments ahead of me.
Reaching what appeared to be a door
way I discovered that it was bur an
opening upon an Immense inner cham
Der which lowered from the first floor,
two stories below Sne TO the d0me-like
roof of the building high above my
head. The floor of this great circular
hail was thrOnged with chieftains war
riors and women. and ait one end was
great raised platform upon which
squaued tie most hideous beast had
ever put my eyes upon. Eie had an
the cold. hard. cruel, terrible features
of the green warriors. but accentuated
and Gebased by the animal passions to
which he had given himself over for
many years. There was nor a mark of
dignity or pride upon his bestial coun-
tenance. while his enormous bulk
spread itself out upon the platform.
where ne squatted like some huge
the similarity in a horrible and star
Ting manner.
But the sight that froze me with APP
prehension was that of Deiah ThoriS
and Sofa standing there before him.
and the fiendish leer of him as he let
his great proUuding eyes gloat upon
the lines of her beautiful figure She
stood there erect before him. her head
high held. and even at tie distance
was from them ! could read the scorn
and disgust upon her face rs she let
her naughty glance rest without sign
of fear upon him.
Presently Tai Ha1us made a sign
that the chamber be cleared and that
the prisoners be left alone with him.
Slowly the chieftans. fhe warriors
and the women melted away into the
shadows OF the surrounding chambers.
and Deiah Thoris and Sofa stood
alone before the jeddak of he Thanks.
One chieftain alone hot hesitated
before departing; l saw him standing
in the shadows Of n mighsy column,
his fingers nervousIy toying with the
hilt of his great sword and his cruel
eyes bent in implaCable hatred uPon
ral HajuS. 1t was Tars TarSaS, and
could read his thoughts as if they
we're an open book. for the undiS-
-uised loathing upon his face. He was
of that other woman who.
forty years ago. had stood before this
beast and could have spoken word
into his ear at that moment the reign I
- iii iAdJuS Nohtd iiitN " RS-ti "
but finally he also strobe from the /
room. nor knowing that he left his own /
daughter at the mercy Of the creature (
he most lOathed.
Tai Hajus arose. and L half fearing. /
ialf anticipating his intentions. hur- /
red 10 the winding runway which led !
% the floors below. No one was near /
70 intercept me, and l reached the /
nam floor of the chamber unobServed. I
taking my station in the shadow Of I
he same column that Tars Tarkas had 1
but just deserted. AS I reached the |
loor Tai Hajus was speaking.