The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-02-07

L YUAN GAA 046Ct AA0 S4S0t0OASs -
our legs are better than theirs
which doubt--we might make the
coast ahead of them"
| There's a chance" unused
Grahame. They would travel more
slowly, fearing ambush. You could
never hope to hide your trail. II
H. worth the chance. We part here
Juan. You've been q good boy,
Head for the coast the best way
you can, and may luck be with yon. "
He held forth his hand.
/ And you, SenoT?"
while you so east, I win head
south, for a while. Later will con.
fuse my trail. If / can. and return
here. They will follow me. which
will give you the better chance.
NO." said Juan.
YES" corrected Grahame. This
Is an. order. have q plan. There
is white woman held captive In
the big pyramid. | must see that
she escapes. or"
II know" interrupted Juan sober.
ly. 1.-THE senor is not Catholic?"
Puzzled. Grahame shook his head;
whereupon Juan said.
well. that is doubtless a very
good thing. II will not matter so
much II you die unshriven."
Despite his concern the American
chuckled. Beat it now. son.
We've talked quite long enough.
Goodbye. and again. good luck"
"Adios." answered Juan with Sc.
cretfve smile. He turned. pressed
the Americans hand. and then
passed into the jungle TO the east
ward.
ITO Grahame, slipping southwark.
I half hour later. came the
thought that as Juan mad left him.
the boy had seemed ID be most care
less about the trail he left.
So Juan was giving him, Grahame,
break. just as he had intended
giving one to Juan. The American
shook his head. A good lad. Juan.
What a pity IL he could not make
the coast, and safety.
He noticed. to the right of him,
barren rocky expanse. dotted only
with spiny sisal and scrub cactus.
He entered 1t and carefully picked
his way between the vegetation. be-
ing sure that his boots touched only
stone.
He hoped those following him
would be careless, and conclude
that he was bearing south. Halfway
through the rocky field. he worked
to the right. finally making almost q
complete turn so that he headed
northwest. toward the habitation OF
his enemies.
In the late afternoon the sun
clouded over, and Grahame watched
the big iguana lizards slide from
the rocks and disappear into their
dens. He took a lesson from these
reptiles and kept an eye out for
shelter.
A few minutes later he found It
in a heap OF tangle-grown slabs. -
another ruin. He entered an open.
ing. and composed himself to wait
until the afternoon downpour was
over. Already he saw large drops
splashing over his back-trail.
The shower was O stroke of luck.
II he were not followed too closely:
the rain would obliterate any sign
he may have left.
The day became dark. Lightning
flickered. and thunder crashed
above: whereupon rain descended in
torrents. The sheets OF falling wa.
ter obseured his view past the en-.
trance. Then. as suddenly as 1t be-
gan, the down-pour lessened. and
again his sight of the outside jungle
was clear.
The rain diminished to { mist and
stopped entirely. Grahame arose to
his feet. and drawing his pistol from
its holster under his arm. was about
to dismount It for cleaning. while
there remained light enough to do
so. when he froze into immobility.
A shadow drifted past. coming from
the south. Another went by.
Slowly Grahame bent into the
gloom cast by the wall beside the
opening. His trailersi He counted
them as they faded ACROSS the
opening.
r Eleven. Enough. thought the
American. to settle his account. He
wondered at the skill that kept
them on his trail The rain had been
his salvation. He heard q cultural
voice speak in an unknown Ian.
guage, and the reply flung back
from ahead.
This puzzled the American, as he
felt that they would not be so care.
less OF sound IL they believed that
their quarry was ahead. Or per.
haps they had given up the chase
and were returning. Tat was T..
They had lost his trail within the
stone patch. and were returning
from the southwark TO their city.
Perhaps It was only . section OF
a larger party that had spread IN