Evening star., 1934-07-14


LV VOW shall a man without a
- tongue answer thee!" re-
torted one of the guards
Il Il to Gray. Go forward"
The Pickering red light
Of the torch revealed, yard or two
ahead, a heavily barred window about
two feet square.
A cracked and quavering scream.
Behind the bars appeared a face.
Livid. and pitiably emaciated, it was
surrounded by a dirty mass of matted
gray hair, from out of which stared
dull eyes.
The man was blind.
Gray stopped. Something-perhap
the warning horror of that livid face
behind the bars-made him stand his
ground. The man spoke. Gray's skin
prickled This wretched creature
spoke Englishl
Who are you2" Colin asked
hoarSely.
He is a fakir, and he is mad!"
broke in one of the guards. "Enter!'
BE silent, thoul"
Such was Gray's power over men
that the guard fell silent.
The torch sputtered.
"Simla's never Written!" quavered
the blind man, and burst into insane
laughter.
Gray was pushed violently into a
cell. The door slammed There was
a shooting of bolts and key ground
in rusty paddock. The footsteps of
the gaoler and the guards had died
away
Gray clenched his teeth till his jaw
muscles hurt. He knew now that a
few feet away from him was Capt
George Ian Galbraith, M. Gigs"
Galbraith-late of the Royal Kohistan
Rifles and the Secret Service. The
eighth man they had sent in quest of
the Yelled Man.
Brevet-Maj. Colin Gray. V. c., was
the ninth.
Di and Shireen Scheme.
For some minutes after Jafir had
gone, Shireen and Diana sat side by
side in silence. needless of Gulbudun
who, as usual, was chattering happily
Shireen looked at Gulbudun and
pursed red lips The young. she re-
f1ected. sometimes say wise things
Perhaps this child.
The Inglis girl does not wish to
meet my lord" she said suddenly.
"Why?" questioned GuIbudun, blue
eyes widening.
The women of the sahib log do
not eat alone with men of our race"
In spite Of herself a touch of hard
ness crept into the Persian's eyes.
''Di fear my lord will want to marry
her, I think he may Supposing
man asked you, Gulbudun, to eat
alone with him and you did not wish
to go-whst would you do?"
If the Cobra asked mel would be
glad!' retorted Gulbudun. contem-
plating a small. henna- -tlnteo nnger-
nail
The certainty which rang so proud
~ IN the girls tones reused Diana
from her numDlng apathy. Decision
came 10 her.
You must give me the poison you
promised to give TO me-now-Snl-
reen!"
The Persian took the English girls
cold hands in both OF ners
Nay. Di Open not the door into
the night, when hope is a gueStI DO
YOU not remember that poem? Wnen
there is no hope. then
Gould she not hide in the garden?
suggested Gulbudun hopefully. l know
places
Shlreen trowneo.
Il told that fat Jafflr she was Ill;
and Ill she must seem to be, she
olapped her hands, ano a stout woman
slave entered.
Go at once ana call the hero wom-
an who came to see me wnen 1 was
III: viii give ner gold II she comes
QUICKLY
The woman salaamed, enc was
gone.
Light OF my eyes" murmured Snl-
reen soothingly, the woman / nave
sent for will give you a potion wnIcn
Will make your BODY feel. 70 the toucn.
as II the fires OF teVer burn IN II: our
you VIII sleep and know nothing OF II.
When my lore SENDS Tor you, or comes
himself TO look for YOU, he viii know
that YOU are Ill., ana leave YOU IN
peace BY that time l snail nave
thought out a plan tor your es-
cape.
Diana looked ST her as a hunted
animal might look at one giving II
sanctuary: then. drawing ner TO ner
sne kissed Shlreens forehesu unuer
the parting in the silky black oanos OF
hair.