New Britain herald., 1924-01-08


 describe her. c..cebt to say that she was so darllly lovely that | doubted the evihcnce of my senses; tall and 1.-the, with the grace Of some beau tiful jungle creature.
 When she saw that was awake. she paused and lowered her head in confusion.t She wore gossamer robe Of shecny golden silk. and. stand ing there with the light of the dawn behind her. sine made q picture that ' think would have SiNen painter crazy.
 This is not the time nor the place for personal "reminiscences. am here for another purpose. One Of those accidents which are really due to the hand Of fate had prccipitated me into the garden Of the house of Naida. and she in her great compass sion had rendered 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. so Naida informed me. To my great surprise she spoke almost perfect English. and that sort of un- dcrstanding sprang up between us Immediately which, in the case of Il man and a beautiful woman thrown together as we were, can only ter minatr in one way.
 She was some sort of priestess Of the temple which l had seen from the top of the cliff What else she was l very shortly learned,
 "ln accordance with one Of the many strange customs Of the City of Fire. her personal servants, or rather slaves. were blind mutes.
 "Naida. for such was her name. told mo that the Brahmin. Nadi who had acted as my guide. was one oG the followers of the Prophet Of Fire. 10 whom had been given the duty Of iutcreepting mo.
 Tn this way. gentlemen. entered upon a brief period of my life at once more sweet and more bitter than any had known, Next to that strange. mNisiblp prophet whose name was l'irc-T0ngue, Naida held unques- toned sway In this secret city. Her house was separated from the others, and shc travelled 10 and from the temple in a covered litter. To look upon her, as upon Fire-TonEue him. self, was death. Women, I learned. were eligible for admission to this order, and these were initiated by Naida.
 AS the days of my strange but delightful captivity wore on, learned more and more of the weird people who, unseen, surrounded me. There were lodges of the Cult Of Fire all over the East, ail having power to make initiates and some to pass disciples into the higher grades. Those who aspired 10 the highest rank in the order, however. were compelled 10 visit this secret city in the Indian hills.
 Then at last I learned secret which Naida had for long kept back from me. These followers of the new Zoroaster were polygamists. and she was the first or chief wife Of the mysterious parsonage known as Fire Tongue. | gathered that others had superseded her. and her lord and master rarely visited this marble house set amid it's extensive gardens.
 Her dignitics remained. however. and no one had aspircd to dethrone Fer as high pricstess or the temple. She evidently knew all inc secrets of ihe organization. and I gathered that she was indispensable to the group who controlled it.
 'Eesp"ctiBe i'iFe-TonEue himself. his origin, his appoarancc. she was rcsolutsiy silent. sccond Artr. faith ful 10 tho last That the ends Of this cut were not only rcsisions but political she did not deny. but upon this point shc was very rcticent.
 tContinucd in Our Next Tssueb