The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-10-28
Chapter Is
" Terrible Message

he Irall 101kS at the 1oOt OF
L Pallichao," Temu said. zone
branch going south to mission
on the Yellow River; the other
continuing on west is our road to
Shani Lun."
She looked at him with rising
anger. "Our roadI How sure you
are Of YOURSELF"
His eyes held hers. 81 want you
to be sure Of yourself, too"
i am sure you will pay for
this"
I'm not harming you" he said
reasonably.
She threw UP her hands in des-
pair. you're quarreling with me
and spelling the scenery" They
both laughed. That, she felt, was
the most maddening thing about
her nature; her special weakness,
a sense of the ridiculous that
adulterated any particular power
Of rage she might possess.
Temu's mount had been restless
all the time. Now. he sided up
to Lynn's camel and snarled and
ground his teeth. Lynn eyed him
doubtfully.
He's a big, black. Bactrian
brute!" She stumbled a bit over
the words.
Speak it swiftly" Temu COM
manded.
Hes a big. back. Blactrian
bootT
They both laughed again. THE
poor fellows showing symptoms
Of being in love-" Temu explained.
Last month, he had a fight with
a rival male and they almost
killed each other; wound their
necks together and twisted and
wrenched and kicked and bit the
flesh from each others bodies"
81 think I prefer horses" said
Lynn.
Suddenly, as if resenting her
remark. the big beast swung and
spat his cud at her. a huge mouth
full of a soupy substance that
seemed to Lynn like green grape
pie and smelled like a chemical
experiment gone wrong. She
could hardly breathe.
Temu dismOunted swiftly and
brought down Lynn's camel, then
helped her off with her sash and
Mongol coat, laughing helplessly
and apologizing. both at the same
time.
"Tm sorry, so sorry"
Lynn was half laughing and
half crying herself. Fortunately,
but little of the mess had struck
her face.
as there any in my carr" she
asked.
He looked. "Clean as a sea
shell" he reported.
SLynn shuddered, tanning her
face with her hands. "I'll never
smell right again. ! fear"
He broke into another gale Of
laughter.
so sorry. l never dreamed he'd
do such a thing"
$Men on foot know they have
to be careful of camelS, but a
mounted person is seldom as
sailed. Now you have been really
initiated into caravan life. You
are one of US" Because the air
was cool he wrapped a rug
around her shoulders while they
awaited the horsemen's approach.
Dicks Letter
THEY were staying over a day
L in Pallichao, Lynn had been
Informed, to give the animals q
day of good grazing before they
entered the stony desert with its
bitter water. The camp was set
I'D at the foot Of the hill below
the Monastery.
Lynn, who was very tired,
woke in the morning refreshed,
remembering that Sherlock and
Tenu had promised to tell her
why she was being compelled to
20 10 Delun. They sat after break
fast in the dining tent. Sherlock
in his priestly yellow robe, Temu
and the Duchess in their Mon
gol garb. and Lynn in a soft, knit
dress of silvery blue with white
at the throat and wrists. which
made her look particularly fem
mime and exotic in these sur
roundings.
Chin PAX brought in the dis
patch case and Temu took from It
the envelope address in Dick
Britton's handwriting. Handing ii
to her, he explained, This is the
final communication your brother
sent TO the Prince"
Lynn drew out the letter with
trembling fingers.
My sister does not know the
truth. I could not have per-
suaded her to leave America
had told her she had been
asked not merely to visit the
court at Delun, but to become
It's princess. She is the last girl
in, the world, ] have since dis
covered, who would be agree
able to a marriage arranged
after the French custom.
] took her to the temple vie
tage hoping that there ! could
break the news to her, but ]
found it impossible. If ever a
girl requires courtship, Lynn IS
that girl. However, ! have
brought her here and turned
her over to Sherlock according
to agreement. So ! consider that
] have earned the marriage set
Element.
The rest is UP to you. She Is
ct your mercy. Knowing you,
imagine you will take her and
marry her, and knowing what q
poor deal life is anyhow, ]
imagine she viii not find you as