The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-02-09
CHAPTER XVIII
Story Of The CITY Of rIr looniipuedD

Ff"ts ~ -" 49, - -
MY awakening was a. strange az
anything which had hnfaiien me. ]
las upon q siikcn bed IN pavilion
which was furnished with exquisite.
II somewha, barhaFic. taste.
Il waa lying therc. In a curious
and Rpathetic state: when the cur.
iainz drapcd In tho doorway were
pulled more widely aside aud a WON.
an came In.
"Gcuilemcn. I win not endeavor 20
describe her. sxccp, TO say that hho
was SO daTkly lovely that I doubted
the evidence Of my senses; tall and
lithc. with the grace Of some beauu-
ful jungle creature.
when she Jaw that waa awake.
she PAUSED and lowered her head In
confusion. She wore a gosuamrr robe
OF sheeny golden silk. and standing
there with tho light OF the dawn be.
hind her. she made a picture that |
think would have driven a painter
crazy.
This Il not the timn nor the place
for personal "reminiscences. am
here for another purpose. One OF
those accidents which are really due
10 the hand OF fate had prcclpiiated
mo into The garden of tho house Of
Nadia. and she in her great compass.
sion had tended me and sheltered
me- keeping my presence secret from
those who would have dealt with me
in summary fashion. and. indeed. who
were actually on the lookout FOR my
arrival.
Yes. 40 Naida informed fnc. To
my great surprise She spoke almost
perfect English. and that sort Of IN.
Eprang up between US
Immediately which. In the case Of n
man and a beautiful woman thrown
together as we we're. can only termi.
nate In one way.
"she was some sort OF priesteas OF
tho temple which had seen from
the top OF the cliff. what else she
was very shortly learned.
I'm accordance with ono OF Tho
many strange customs OF the City Of
Fire. her personal servants. or rather
slaves. were blind mutes,
MAZDA. for such was her name.
told mo that the Brahmin. vadi. who
had acted as my guido. was one Of
the followers Of tho Prophet Of Fire.
to whom had been given the duty OF
lntercepting me.
I'm this why. gentlemen. entered
upon brief period Of my life at
once more sweet and more bitter than
any had known. Next 10 that
strange. invisible prophet whose
name was Fire.Tougue. Nadia held
unquestIoned sway in this secret city.
Her house was separated from tho
others. and she Travelled 10 and from
the temple IN n covered litter. To
look upon her. as upon Flre.Tonguo
himself. was death. Women. learn
cd. were eligible for admission 20 this
order. and these we're Initiated BY
MAZDA.
As the daya Of my strange but de
llghtful captivity wore on, learned
more and more OF the weird people
who. unseen. surrounded me. There
were lodges OF tho Cult Of Fire all
over the East. al having power TO
make initiates and some 10 pass
disciples into the higher grades.
Those who asplrcd 20 the highest
rank in the order. however. we're com
PEELED 70 visit this secret city In the
Indian hills.
Then OF last learned secret
which Nadia had for long kept back
from me. These followers OF the now
Zoroaster were polygamists. and she
was the first or chief wife OF the mys.
FERROUS parsonage known as Fire
Tongue. gathered that others had
superseded her. and her lord and mas.
ter rarely visited this marble house
set amid It's extensive gardens.
Her dignities remained. however.
and no one had aspired 10 dethronc
her as high priestess OF tho temple.
She evidently knew all the secrets
Of the organization. and I gathered
that she was Indispensable 10 the
group who controlled n.
Respecting FireTongue himself,
his origin. his appearance. she was
resoluteiy silent n second Acte.
faithful 10 the last. That the ends
Of this cult were not only religious
but political. ahe dld not deny. but
upon this point she was very reticent.
Continued in Our Next ISSUE