The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-01-04
CHAPTER xxx
The Catastrophe

eyed Eastern woman, wrapped in
long fur cloak, and Nicol Brinn,
gaunt, unshaven, fantastic in hi$
evening dress, revealed now in the
gray morning light.
Look whispered Nadia. TT is
the dawn. I must gor'
Nicol Brinn clenched his teeth
tightly but made no reply.
"You promised" she said, and al
though her voice was very tender
she strove to detach his arm, which
was locked about her shoulders.
He nodded grimly.
I'm keep my word. I made con-
tract with hell with my eyes open,
and III stick to it." He stood up
suddenly. Go back, Naidar' he said.
&c back You have my promise,
now, and I'm helpless. But at last
I see a way, and I'm going to take
it"
What do you mean?" she cried
standing up and clutching his arm.
Never mind" His tone was cool
again. Just go back"
You would not" she began.
II never broke my word in my life,
and even now I'm not going to be
gin. While you live I stay silent"
| In the growing light Nadia looked
about her affrightedly. Then, throw
| ing her arms impulsively around
/ Brinn, she kissed him-a caress that
was passionate but sexless; rather
! ~. nit II
| a beloved son than that which 4
woman bestowes upon the man she
loves; an act of remuneration
He uttered a low cry and would
have seized her in his arms but,
lithely evading him, she turned,
sitting a sob, and darted away
through the trees toward the house
For long he stood looking after
her. fists clenched and his face very
gray in the morning light. He
/ groaned and, turning aside, made his
way through the shrubbery to the
highroad.
/ He was become accessory to a muir
der; for he had learned for what
! reason and by what means Sir Charles
! Arlington had been assassinated. He
had even learned the identity Of his
! assassin; had learned that the dreaded
being called FYre-Tongue in India was
known and respected throughout the
civilized world as His Excellency
Ormuz Khani
Paul Harley had learned these
things also, and now at this very
hour Paul Harley lay a captive in
| Hillside Nadia had assured him that
Paul Harley was alive and safe. 1t
/ had been decided that his death would
| lead to the destruction OF the move
ment, but pressure was being brought
| upon him to ensure his silence.
Yes, he, Nicol Brinn, was bound and
manacled to a gang of assassins: and
| because his tongue was tied, because
| the woman he loved better than any
| thing in the world was actually a
member of the murderous group, he
must pace the deserted country lanes
| Inactive; he must hold his hand, al
! though he might summon the re-
sources of New Scotland Yard by
/ phoning from Lower Claysbury sta
/ toni
Through life his word had been his
| bond, and Nicol Brinn was incapable
| Of compromising with his conscience.
| But the direct way was barred to him.
Nevertheless. no task could appall the
| inflexible spirit of the man, and he
| had registered a silent vow that
| Or1nuz Khan should never. leave Eng
land alive.
Not a soul was astir yet upon the
country roads and sitting down upon
a grassy bank. Nicol Brinn lighted
one of his black cigars, which in times
of stress were his food and drink,
upon which Il necessary he could
carry-on for forty.eight hours upon
end.
In connection with his plan for
| coercing Harley, Ormuz Khan had
| gone to London by rail on the previ-
Gus night. departing from Lower Clay
bury station at about the time that
Colonel Lord Wolverham came out
OF the Cavalry Club to discover his
car to be missing. This same car was
now a source of some anxiety to Nicol
Brinn, for its discovery by a passing
laborer in the deserted barn seemed
highly probable.
However, he had matters of greater
uTkCuCy " Iililh dOOuls llO( lli6 l6dSl
of these being the necessity of con-
cealing his presence in the neighbor
hood Of Hillside.
His genius for taking cover, per-
fected upon many a big game expedi-
ton, enabled him successfully to ac-
complish the feat; so that. when the
limousine, which he had watched go
by during the morning, returned short
ly after noon, the lack-lustre eyes were
peering out through the bushes near
the entrance to the drive.
Instinct told him that the pretty
girl with whom Ormuz Khan was deep
in conversation could be none other
than Phil Abingdon, but the identity of
her companion he could not even
guess. On the other hand, that this
poisonably handsome Hindu, who
bent forward so soIcitously toward his
charming travelling companion, was
none other than the dreaded Fire
Tongue, he did, not doubt.
When. later, the limousine departed
again, at great risk of detection he ran
across a corner of the lawn to peer
out into the line. in order that he
might obtainNa glimpse Of its occupant.
This proved tdsbe none other than Phil