The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-02-08
GODDESS

Il GQuarely. IL was much larger IMAM
/ It had seemed from the plain below.
There was no opening at the side
/ facing Grahame, but he observed
that glow came from'around.a cor.
ner,-the exposure facing the sheer
drop to the cenote.
He knew that there was a. door,
way facing eastward, toward the
small ruined pyramid at the edge Of
the city. from which point he had
made his observations Of the pre-
vious day.
In the center Of the light from
the western door, and standing
halfway toward the edge. was q
huge slab Of stone supported 40 q
pedestal, waist-Eigh, by four smaller
Stones at the corners. It was evi-
IDENTIFY an saitzr Of some sort Even
in the dim light Grahame saw that
Il was covered with elaborate cary.
l.ings. The surface of the slab
seemed to slope toward the brink.
With swift certainty he covered
the space between the stairs top
and the shadowy corner OF the
house. A glance assured him that
the altar side OF the house was IN.
occupied. He slipped within the
doorway. There was q corridor
ahead, and at the end OF It there
showed . glimpse OF star-studded
eky,-the eastern door.
| TEEMINGLY there was no one
- about. He penetrated farther
into the place. At the middle be
found that another corridor. blind
at both ends. bisected the other. At
the intersection stone brazier
burned, throwing smoky shadows
about.
He turned to the left. and pro-
ceeded toward the end. On each
side were tioorways, evidently the
entrances to the rooms that lined
this pyramid-house.
He paused. Dark Jumps lay be-
fore two Of the doorways. He heard
the sound OF human beings breath
ing evenly. The red light from the
central urn threw stabbing flashes
about the wallis and he caught
glimpses OF reflected light upon the
metallic equipment Of the sleeping
guards.
He retreated softly. and stole
down the corridor to the opposite
end. There were no guards before
the doorway.
He nodded his head and COM
pressed his lips. He returned into
the left corridor and approached the
end until be stood over the sleepers.
He reached under his arm. His au-
tomato cleaned duly In the fitful
light.
Silently, like q cat COMPRISING
itself. for Q spring. he bent over. His
left hand closed accurately upon o
throat. A whisper died with the
pressure OF his finger muscles: he
brought the barrel OF the gun down
upon the spot over he ear.
Grahame made an uiilnteIllgible
sound in MS throat and reached Tor
the Others neck. There was q
whistling OF the guards breath as
be essayed q shout and he writhed
within the sudden grasp. His back
bowed and he pounded at the Amer
leans face with his nst.
Grahame threw his leg forward
and pressed the mans arm 20 his
side. Again he chopped down the
barrel OF his pistol. and the figure
collapsed TO the stone.
He paused. holding his breath.
There was no sound but the sput.
tering of the central urn.
A glane3 at his watch told him
that It was nearing three o'clock. It
would be getting light soon and there
was little time to lose II he were to
find Janice. and get down the pyra-
mid into his hiding place.
He was feeling faint from lack OF
food. and his imagination was be-
ginning to play tricks with his sense
OF smell. He would have sworn that
he smelled food. ever since he had
topped the pyramid.
He found that the doors of these
side rooms were casually fastened,
trough wooden pegs pinicning b
metal llatchs The doors were wood
en-. He lifted the peg and pushing
open the nearer one he entered.
There was q lamp burning dimly IN
the room be entered.
At the farther end he made out
q pallet and = figure reclining upon
II. He approached the figure: his
shadow bounded about the stone
wallis like Q huge misshapsn phan.
tom. He bent over the couch: al
most he exclaimed aloud.
The wide-open eyes OF Janice
Kent. their blue lrises glowing with
q dark contempt. stared at him. He
watched them widen IN astonish-
ment. Her lips parted. as II she
we're about to speak. but his palm
swiftly covered her mouth.
~Dont speak he cautioned IN
the barest Of whispers.
tcstssissf. 1885,. ., Rss6sss Is.sssl
TomeFross, Janice esmplleassa