The Key West citizen., 1940-10-17


priest. I'VE shall protect you with
our lives.
She looked at his serene, smil-
ing face and felt somewhat COM
forted.
Presently they sat down at the
table, lovely with silver and linen
and Chinese porcelain. l. the CEN
ter a bowl of pink roses from the
greenhouses of Peiping shed
their elusive fragrance.
we are sorry your reception
should be like this" remarked
Temu DARN. laying his napkin
on his knee. TRY not to think of
US as enemies"
Lynn wondered if there were
something mocking as well as
evasive back of his words.
How else can | think of you?"
she asked Lifting a spoonful of
soup to her lips, she slipped it
gently and sWallowed-a pretty
gesture when made by a pretty
girl. She saw his heavy-lidded
eyes on her throat and added ma
llCouSly My maid informed me
that you would beat her if I left
the ROOM"
mot at all" he answered pleas
antly. Chan, the head coolie, dis
clplineS the servants"
Lynn turned to the lama. do
you expect me to be philoSophi-
cal about men who beat women?"
His little eyes tWinkled. Some
women need beating"
Lynn sat back in her chair and
stared at the bowl of roses. Pres
emily, she laughed and resumed
1er dinner. What he had said was
true: some women do need beat
ing. She had known such women.
The old man beamed at her but
the young mans eyes were less
readable.
THE girl tells me she's a slave"
Lynn added. Does she mean
slave?"
She means slave. She's a gift
to you from the Princess Mother,
especially trained by her." Temu
answered carefully Though the
child does not understand English
very well. you will find her de-
voted to you"
Lynn took it for a covert apol-
ogy and her cheeks warmed bit,
but she was glad for the reasSur-
ance. Really a slave" she MUIR
INJURED. There is something un-
reconstructed in me that thrills
to the idea of owning a slave. |
accept her. but | suppose it is my
duty as good American to free
her at once"
Little Bamboo
THE lama shook his head. "You
L cannot evade an obligation
that easily. my dear. Slaves are
freed only from within. Hire her
to mistress or give her to a hus-
band, she is still a slave" Ser
wants brought the final course,
consisting of rice and tea.
You may as well keep the
girl" said Temu DARN. "Her
name is Little Bamboo"
Little Bamboo" Lynn repeat
ed. 81 shall write home. Dear
friends and relatives: l have been
given a slave girl; her name is
Little Bamboo. She was especial
ly trained for me by the Princess
Mother of Shani Lun.'" She
caught herself up suddenly. 81 am
being silly" she said apologeti-
cally, burying her face in her
hands.
Temu rose and bent over her.
This has been a trying day for
you. We shall leave you now"
Don't go!" she cried looking
up. Don't leave me alone. Stay
until we hear from Dick"
The young man turned to the
priest who nodded. They rose and
moved away from the table and
formed a group near a glowing
brazier. Temu directed a maid to
bring a foot stool for Lynn.
She tried to relax the tense
muscles that held her like a jack
in-the-box. ready to jump the
moment the lid was loosened.
Temu offered her a cigarette and
then a light. She turned to the
priest. smoking his long-stemmed
pipe with a tiny bowl.
Tell me-" she asked. what
consolation is there in the fact
that, everything is a mirage
which exists in the mind. springs
from it, sinks into it?'"
His bright little black eyes
twinkled again. 'The consolation
is that you are the one who has
the power to make the reflection" p"
Lynn Strengthened in her chair.
the lid of the charm box quiver-
ing to the pressure of her nerves.
She felt that she must take things
easy. be light and fiippant. "You
mean to say I'm the mother of
! this experienced"
He smiled and bowed, Surely.
you recognize your own child"
She thought a moment. Aren't
the rest of you related to the
urchin?"
( Temu chuckled. "You might
! call Sherlock its great-uncle."
1Ou dAS placing dlI IlS LSSPOII-
sibility on me. I didn't initiate
this visit to Shani Lun-I merely
accepted an invitation from the
Prince and his family" she pro-
tested, watching the men ex-
! change glanceS.
That still leaves you the moth
er of your experience" Sherlock
declared, "and reveals that the
Prince is its father"
Temu gave a quick, surprised
little laugh. "This is becoming a
| family affair"
Lynn looked at him. Sitting at
ease. his long legs crossed. he met
/ her eyes for a moment and then
glanced down at the ash on his