Evening star., 1928-03-25


- pulled himself up through ths
opening. which, IS Aghsr Plnu
i had said. was a small trap door
and found himself Stanalne III
6 cabin that was luXuricuSly furnished
IN a haroaric sort Of way He glanced
quickly around him. A divan piled high
with nultcolored cushions evidently
was in lieu Of hed or bunk. the walls anc
floor were covered With rich and heavy
Oriental rugs Of exquisite texture, and
from the center OF the ceiling there swung
. magnificent bronze lamp of antique dc
sign There were two doors; one that
opened on the main cabin, ii was ap-
parent for. from the other side. there
came the sound os voices, laughter. the
clatfer Of dishes: the other door. from
its position lust oppoSits where he stood.
obviously leo into an adjoining cabin.
Aghay Pln6 stepped silently across
the cabin. and, taking 3 key from his
pocket, nolSsleSS,y unlocked this second
door.
"Sahio," ne said. 'ih, way is open
The Miss Sahib is in there. But come
back swiftly If call. Talal Ais custom
Is 10 spend much time at his meat, but
tonight il may not be SO. II Is III the
MIND Of Ta}sl Ali that I. Aghar Pind,
have sIl this tir,le been inside here to
euar6 the Miss Sahih. and that stay
here until Tajal Ali returns, Does the
Sshib understand"
For the first time Peter saw The other
ii the light, and for a moment he
studied the man. AghaV Pind was tall,
muscular very thin Of face. and the
face itself wsS unemoional-UDread
able Ills skin was light brown in color.
but seemed. too. to posses s distinctly
yeliowisf tinge. which. with the mar
row eyes suggested the probability that
the man had trace of Chinese blood IN
him. But there was nothing distinctive
about Aghar Plnd, he was merely one Of
3 swarm from rongrel breed that we're
70 Be found from the coast OF China 10
the confines OF the Malay Archipelago.
A study of the mans face neither iln-
bgeG faith. nor sllaye6 dIStrust. Peter
srowne6. Il was as much of a gamble
ss ever And then Peters fTown deep
ensc as his eyes swept over the others
clothing Aghar Pind was dressed in
what had once been flowing white gar
naentS-5ut these were now in6eScrib-
ably dirty and covered with spots OF
oil and grease The crawl through the
tunnel Peter glanced al himself, He
was in little better case. But il Agnar
Pi7d had told the truth and had been
under orders 10 remain III the cabin,
the mans soiled clothing would
Aghar Pind seemed 70 read his
thoughts.
~sshib.'' said Aghar Pind. impas-
siyely. "cid not Tsial Ali himself send
me at the head Of six men TO search
the hold9 Why, then. should not my
clothes bear the marks Of the search?
Go. Sshib-go quickly!"
The door stood wide-Aghar Pind
had opened il without sound Peter
e6 The blood was suddenly Surging
through MS veins like a mill-race This
cabin, too was lighted and furnished
like the other: and figure Stooo there
"a slim figure II white. girl with
shoulders that dropped as though under
s1rae uncomfortable weight. as. with back
turned. she stood across the cabin from
him. her face 10 the porthole, staring
cut into the darkness.
Mechanically, Peter slipped the re-
volver he was still holding into his
pocket; and then he closed the coor
quietly behind hin.
Involuntary. unconscious of the act
n stretched out his arms to her.
Msr1oni" he said l1oarsely.
A lcE. cuiciz ytastled cry answered
him. as sire swung swiftly around: and
then Peter saw the blue eyes grow wide
sudden whitgness come into hsr face
and san her shrink sack against the
cabin wan
-Marion!" ne said again. THANK
Cod"
she vas still pressed back against
the cabin waI-aS though she would
retreat yet farther II she could.
'You-Tou here she said IN dull
monotone: 80 you have come into
He had forgotten-forgotterl for the
moment everything except that he had
reached her. He swung his hand now
across his eyes and drew back as
though be had bee2a struck blow.
She had not lest him long in his for
getfulness- Il brought him bitter hun
An insuferabie pain. He was Peter
Blake. alias Alec Dunn-tne murderer.
That was what she had just said
Because he found mis- voice with
AZ Effort an Oh board this ship
with its th3ev1ng. cutthroat crew
amongst wFetchex Of my own stamp"
And evidently Of some consequence
snaongkf them. since you are free 70
enter this caoiY3--Eaere no one else,
so far hss come" she added quickly.
IL cid not knoy whom 70 expect,
but-5ut not you. II there is anything
~ 6ecencg left IN you, anything OF
manhood, please go"
4SAsE y && &AEA&lA1@E WI h%S AsEsA s30Ns
her head hack. her hands tightly closed
AZ her sides The light fell upon the
golden beauty Of her hair. the full.
white throat. the haf-parted lips. the
glory Of hey--sne the misery In her
eyea Anc Peter caught his breath
snc wild. mad yearning cane-and
. fierce. passionate refusal 10 endure
fs1e condemnation in her @osce anc
words
No viii not go." His voice vas
lov'. uneven. Not yet II is not true.
ard"
Any more true suppose" she in
terrupiec duly. than ira. z few days
age you weYe also Alec Dunn
He fest The color al1sh his face
4 was Alec Dunn that night he
ss3d fercely. for the same reason
that. tonight. ] am here
She stared e. him ppcomprehend-
inasy
Z e. mn understand what you
near" she sale