Evening star., 1934-07-11

tween two walls Of sheer rock She
could Just see a marrow ribbon Of blue
sxy far above
Al the top Of the precipitous rise.
however, Shireen's voice brought d.
ana back 10 grim reality.
The defle We have just passed
through is called the Throat Of the
Snake" she announced gayly, spur
ring her horse close 20 Dlanas
There are stiIl some men in 1t; they
look like ants craving between two
tonbstonesl" The Persian had al
the Oriental's love OF metaphor.
A shan. scattering Of stones caused
Diana 10 glance over her shoulder.
II was the Cobra, followed by a
group Of his sirdars, galloping fu-
Tiously past.
The other half Of the army is
coming by another road" Shircen
said. and then stopped abruptly. She
realized she had said too much.
At once Diana knew that the Cobra
had split up hts forces 10 confuse
his pursuers. The fear that she
might never see Colin Gray possessed
her mind. The stress OF conflicting
TfGtElEH mace tAAEi AiFSAti NaAAS
II vas all 30 horribly groteSque.
shireen. wild creature Of impulse
though she was, glanced at her curl
ously Womanlike, she decided 10
fnd out Disnas secret.
Are you happy now that I am your
friend?" she asked softly.
For a moment Diana--who had been
deep in a day dream about Gray
vas at a loss for a reply.
There was no sun in the place
we Just came through How shall
any one be happy where there is no
AInlight2" was the quiet reply. 1t
was a lame remark, and Diana knew
It; but the child would not have
understood her true state Of mind had
she dared to reveal it.
THE night is 10 thank for the
starsl' retorted the Persian quickly,
quoting from an Isphanhani poem.
Without the beloved, night is
desert!" countered Diana, who, thanks
to her father, knew her Persian poets
well. And, bending forward, she
patted the geldings neck.
"Shabashi" exclaimed Shireen de-
lightedly What pretty hands you
havei But tell me, why did you
laugh Just now?"
Because you have promised to help
me to 60 to him whom iovel"
Diana's tones were grave, and the
light OF truth was In her eyes.
Shireen, sensitive and quick
minded, knew she was referring to
the poison she had promised to give
the English girl, and quickly changed
the subject.
"Seel" she said, laying hand
gently on Dianas shoulder There
CLOSE under the belly of that hill
is the Palace Of the Mirror"
Normally. when the Cobra re-
turned from one of his raiding ex-
petitions his progress up the steep
incline leading to the palace was
made amid a savage triumph. To-
day there was no sign OF II.
There were no prisoners to gloat
over, no fierce, haggard faces and
blood-stained bandages such as were
invariably the signal for savage
outburst of threats and insults.
Therefore there would be no savor-
ing of public torture in the Place
OF Fights.
The Cobra's people felt they had
been defrauded of something that was
their right by long established Gus
tom.
How we're they to know that the
Yelled Mans orders CHS messenger
had met the Cobra on the way were
that there was to be no raiding dur
ing the several days ride to the palace.
and no triumphant entry2
He was shrewd enough to know,
however, that this kidnapping of the
British residents daughter might
mean the crushing Of the coming
Mongol- Hillmen revolt If Simla mo-
bilized its troops and struck first.
Mongol army under Khoon the dwarf
would sweep India as the Tartar
hordes had swept 1t centuries before.
Doubtless the Yelled Man realized
the delicate balance of things and
did not wish the kidnapping OF the
English girl to be in any way stressed.
Still those last words of his written
order rang in the CobraS ears as ne
galloped.
The first person to meet him as he
entered was Jafflr, the eunuch, VINO
ruled the palace during his masters
frequent absence.
20 Magnificent, o Magnanimousi
he squeaked, incllnlng as one VINO sa-
mtes a sultan. BE pleased to hear
the report OF this miserable sitter IN
the dust!"
Speak quickly" urged the Cobra,
f1icking the dust from curved snoe.
"Gulbuoun. wanton child that she
is" began Jaftir.
IF one OF my harem be wanton,
then her soul shall JOIN eunuch's on
It's way to hell" exclaimed MS mas
ter turiously.
Jafir cringed.
Hast thou naught to say?"
'Naught, o Light of the Universe!
am dumb, o King OF Klngsl"
'Hearken. thenl' said the COBRA
flercely. According 10 my oath,
bring a red-headed girl to the sanio
race"
did he not swear he would DO soY'
interrupted the eunuch, relying on ms
fulsomenes for his safety. Allah.
how mighty is He!" he added fervent-
", addressing the ceiling IN an ecstacy
OF serville adulatlon.
Cease thy chatter, fat ape! This
white girl is TO De more precious 10
thee than thy Swinelike eyes Pre-
pare apartments for her. ana beware
lest she have any complaint against
thee!"
AS an houri in the Seventh Hea-
ven OF the Pearl shall she be lodged"
fswned Jaffir. The Lord Khoon's
apartments are large
''Nay!" answered Alan Khan.
"Khoon the Mongol returns in day
from today. For him, his apartments,
Let the Inglis girl be lodged near the
Lady Shireen'
He stopped as Shiv. her broken gold
chain dangling, bounded into the