Evening star., 1934-07-17

| you speak or oA4eeH
asked.
Certain Of the camels
carry baskets big enough for a grown
man 70 hide int" Firoz shrugged his
shoulders. The rest must be as Allah
| willis"
Then, at nlRhtfall on the second
! night from tonight. the Ingls Miss
Sahib must hide In the herb woman's
house viii tell hefl" said Shireen.
She chAfed at the prospect Of delay
but there was nothing to be done
Dismissing Firoz. she ordered the
admission of the herb woman. whose
arrival had been already announced
The crone set 10 work
Il have news OF the English
prisoner" she babbIed. as she pre-
pared the necessary potion. He is
an officer and is imprisoned in a
cell near that Of the blind fakir thou
knowest Of who, also. Is a sahib,
they say--but madI"
Can you get a letter TO this new
prisoner"
The herb women looked at her
cunningly.
Where money can roll, a letter
can followl"
Your messenger"
Him who is helper to the keeper
Of the beasts"
Can you trust him2"
The wrinkled mouth half smiled.
Fifteen years ago" said the wom-
an in low tones. "he who is to be
my messenger was a straight and
comely youth-a gardener in these
very gardens But one OF the Cobra's
women smiled at him, and breaking
of a rose-that flower Of love-he
gave II to her in thanks. Wherefore
the Cobra made him bury her alive,
as the Emperor Akbar buried his
favorite, the girl Anarkali; which
done, the Cobra sahib broke his bones
so that he might never be pleasing
to any woman. Yea, surely ! can
trust himl" she finished grimly. He
is my sonl"
Then he shall carry what I speak
of The Inglis girl will write 1t. :"
They went over to the couch where
Diana lay in deep sleep.
Some hours later, b ythe light OF
the Pickering lamps, pale and heavy
eyed, Diana sat penning letter to
one who at tat moment was for
her but an unknown Englishman:
This is from Diana Lindsay.
daughter OF the English resident In
Labak. / am in grave danger. Is a
rescue force on its way? Who are
you'd. L."
She handed it to Shireen.
Taking up a silver knife, Shireen
made slit In an orange and, folding
the paper very small. slipped it inside
the fruit, which she handed with q
sum of money to the herb woman.
But Diana, deep in reverie, was
listening to a far-away voice
bell-like, and so distinct that the
speaker might have been in the room.
It was the voice she had heard on
the first night Of her captivity, as she
lay wrapped in blanket looking up
at the stars. 1t had told her then
that love would save her. This time
1t was telling her insistently that this
prisoner was Colin Gray.
"Dianal" exclaimed Shireen, shak-
ing her gently. What has come
upon your Is he whom you love a
major -Sahib2"
Diana nodded, her face transflg-
ured with happiness. Her heart was
too full for speech, and, taking one
Of Shireen's hands, she kissed it.
Can not see or speak to him?"
repeated Diana, twtning agonized
fingers.
Listen, DIANA" said the Persian
firmly. Not even my messenger can
get to himl Let US sleep! See, the
dawn is already breaking"
MY letter."
at will reach him. The woman
knows one who sees him daily. ..
And an orange is not too large"
When will this Sahib'S answer
think you?" queried Diana, fighting
her tears, and finding defeat.
Soon. But there is another mat
ter. You know you are very pleasing
to my lord" she began slowly.