Evening star., 1928-03-22
Continued from Yesterdays starr


"But-but meanwhile-my daugh-
ter?"
''She will remain"-again Tajal Ali
shrugged his shoulders-'in my very
good care until you return"
Behind his back Humphrey Garth
twisted at his lashed wrists, twisted at
them until the cords cut into the flesh.
A week-two weeks-a month-perhaps
morel Marion in this beasts power!
A sweat bead oozed out upon his fore
head. He fought for control Of himself,
for control Of his voice.
Admitting for the moment that /
agree to pay you the sum you ask for"
he said steadily, your conditions are
wholly unnecessary. It Is quite true
there is no such amount, or any amount
even family pproxinating It, aboard
this vessel, but my name and word are
good for it in any financial center,
and"
1T is because ! am perfectly well
aware Of that" interrupted Tajai Ali
with a short laugh, that my little
brig out there Is alongside your yacht
tonight; it is precisely because Mr..
Humphrey Garth Is good for two
hundred thousand pounds that your
hour you sailed from Sydney. Did you
imagine 1t was merely chance that
brought you 10 the rescue of ship
Ii distress this EVENING""
Watched" II was Capt. Stone, the
Yachts commander, who spoke now.
| He Jumped 10 his feet. and took step
| forward toward Taial Ali, his head
outthrust belligerently from between
huncked shoulders. Il don't under
stand this! Do you mean TO say you
knew beforehand what this ships posi-
ton would be at any given hour this
EVENING""
Tajal All turned 10 Lahat Khan.
Sing for them, Lahat Khan, my
| friend, with that sweet voice OF yours, "
he smiled: but sing this time In Eng
/ liSh SO that they may understand"
! And then Lahat Khan laughed-and
began 70 sing. The words were grotes-
/ que, but under the spell Of the mans
wonderful tenor voice they rolled out
mugicaily. rising and falling softly and
IN perfect cadence through the cabin:
and the words he sang we're those that
had been posted on the little green
| oaize notice board at the head OF the
main cornpanionway at noon that day
| the yachts latitude and longitude
her run in knots for the previous "a
hours, the course she was steering. And
Laf1at Khan laughed again.
Shall / sing It now, o TaJal Ali, IN
the native tongue, like one OF the songs
Of an ayah 10 child, so that they may
the better understand"
you have done well enough" said
Tatai Ali with a malicious grin.
The four men stood for moment
As though. gpeilbound, staring at Lahai
Khan.
Rand broke the silence.
GOOD Cod" he said heavily.
The singing steward" gasped the
little redhaired skipper.
"Ayel" said Capt Stone. "Aye!" Hi
| voice choked; and then with sudden
| rush Of fury: "You-you sneaking. rat
eyed little devil. you've been broad
casting my ships position from the
lounge, have you? That's what you've
been up 10 In there with your damned
duster and your snirking facet Well
I'll wipe the gn1irk Of 1t forever II
ever ] get free Of this and have the
blessed luck " lay my hands on you
agaln!'
Capt. Stone is very angry" mur-
INJURED LAhat Khan: hut he will not
d. Wnat he says. though / shall still
be On this ship with him for many
dass," .,..,,
PED Capt. Stone.
That you viii be under his orders.
interposed TaJai All sharply; "or y0t
and this ship together VIII be under
-~~-" lie jerked his thumb ezpressiyelJ
downward.
Humphrey Garth sIumped again int
the chair he had previously occupied
Let's get " the bottom Of this" h'
said thiekIy, you imply that Laha
Khan came aboard here for the eH'
press purpose Ot keeping you Informed
of the yachts position esch day, anc
that from the moment we left sydnel
you we're planning 70 trick us as yot
did boi1ight2"
'Exactly." said TsiaI All. a hal
BlockiDg, halt nlenacing note IN hii
voice "And there was very littl'
trouble about II. We heard that Mr.
Garth, the millionaire, whose fanou
yacht possessed even s broadcasting set
was about ~ make q trip Do the Is
lands. accompanied by his daughter
We needed only 10 put somebody els
ia the place 81 & certain steward. !
vas not ditlcuit The steward~-Wha
gaG his name1~~ RDbeTts?~~Was Offered
position tle could not refuse Anf
/ think you win sdmit, Mr.. Garth. tina
tie references and eFeUeflt&&lk R1IekEutEf