The Key West citizen., 1940-11-18


ter him, a knife In his hands.
Obeying instantly, Lynn was on
her feet ready for action. One Of
the pair opposite started to lower
his hands She sent a bullet into
the ground at his feet. It was all
the warning they needed.
From the corner of her eye she
watched Temu's struggle, his skill
and agility matched by the others
maniacal strength and size. Temu
managed to get the knife tipped
away but could not break the fell
lows hold on himself. They had
gone to the ground almost iname-
diately, Temu fighting for his life,
the other fighting to kill.
Quickly, Temu managed to get
on top and clutch the mans neck,
ram his thumb joints violently
into the windpipe and jerk until
the fellows grip on him relaxed
and the death gurgle had ceased.
Then he rose painting. "On your
guard still, LynnI" He went to the
door and cut strips of hide from
the camelSkin that hung across
the opening. With this he bound
the other men hand and foot,
Now" he said, coming back to
Lynn and taking the gun and the
fiashlight from her hands, now
your job is done. Are you going
to faint?"
The question was just what she
needed. 1t jolted her. mo-" she
replied, I'm not going to faint. Is
the man dead?"
"Quite dead, poor fellow"
Would it help any to kill the
other two?"
He gave a quick, surprised
laugh that eased the tension. Not
at all, Lynn, dear. They can free
themselves after we are gone. We
must brew tea and get on our
way" He sat about enlivening the
fire and brought in snow to melt.
Cant we go at once?" she
asked, crouching down near him.
Its best to eat first. Take the
grain bag and go feed the horses"
She did as he bade her and then
washed her hands and face IT the
snow.
When she came back, she saw
that the dead man had been taken
to corner and decently covered
with his Sheepskins. His friends
lay trussed like cattle.
will they bury him?" she
asked.
That's not the way Mongols
usually do" Temu looked at her
keenly.
He caught her fingers and drew
her down near the fire and gave
her bowl of tea.
Danger Ahead
MORE snow fell last night"
N1 she said. ''The horses carry
white roofs on their backs"
That day they crossed another
bleak plateau and dropped over
another divide, striking the trail
that would take them down to the
border town.
Shall we reach the town to-
night?" she asked.
Il don't know" Temu replied.
looking anxiously at his horses
hoofs and ankles. 'This nag is 60
ing lame on me. I've an idea I'd
better walk him the rest of the
Wav"
She said, eff the revolutionists
have taken the country it will not
be safe for you to enter Dorchf."
Don't I know If, Lynn"
What" she asked diffidently,
what will you do if such is the
case?"
Lets not face it now"
PerhapS-perhapS you and I
could work out something to-
gether."
Il don't think so, Lynn" He re-
fused to talk about it. 1--WE know
we have the present together.
Let's play. Dine with me tonight
in Peiping."
Make it San Francisco" she
suggested, entering the game.
mot so good" he objected.
Your friends would take you
away from me-" s
She looked at him remembering
his fine appearance in army uni
form. They'd probably take you
away from me. Well make it
Peiping."
We'll take table in an alcove
and l shall forget the Prince and.
make love to you"
Then I must look very beauti-
full. It would be fun, Temu, to
make you lose your head"
'You don't know whether it
would or not"
She wished he wouldn't look at
her so steadily. She lowered her
head.
Wear white with blue violets
to match your eyes," he told her.
There's a soft, white velvet
dress l brought from San Fran
CISCO"
Tell me about it."
Her eyes became starry. at has
train, and not too much above
the waist and not too little. Real
ly, Temu, I hardly know myself
in it. I look like dream"
i imagine you do, Tara Lynn.
I've seen pictures of you in almost
everything, in cap and gown. in
tennis dress, in bathing suits"
She looked startled. did Dick
show around all those silly snap
shots / sent him?"
He gave them to the Princess
Mother"
She must have been shocked,
considering how thoroughly the
Chinese cover themselves.
$50 was the Prince-pleasantly
shocked He has built you swim
ming pool in the palace grounds"
Angry color mantled Lynn's
face. "1 deSpiSe a man who's so
sure Of himself. Why are you con-
tent to be a slave to such a per-
son?"