The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-10-23
Chapter IL
Strange Bedroom


L fighting" Lynn f1ared. at is
such a senseless taking Of life"
81 hate stupidity myself, but
think you people of the West
value life too highly" said Temu.
"And you of the East value it
too lightly-when it's the other
fellows life"
Were not materialistic. We do
not think of death as the end"
She surmised he was teasing her
q bit.
"Nor do 1 think of death as the
end. But such faith is no excuse
for cruelty"
He turned facing her. do you
wonder that l am cruel to you?"
Are you-kind?" she asked,
setting her lips.
Il think that am. Your brother
put me in difficult position" He
caught himself. Sorry, l should
not have said that"
She beat her fist against her
palm. This mystery is madden
ing"
Some things cannot be ex-
planned in words. They must be
experienced"
More words!"
Sorry, he repeated again. They
rode for while in silence. The
motor had been giving trouble
continuously. They stopped on a
narrow. high. divide, and while
the men worked with the machin-
cry, Lynn took the kitten and
robe and StrOlled over TO the edge
of the cliff where she could look
down on the trail ahead of them.
She sat down near a pile of
stones built as an altar to the
nature spirits, the first they had
come upon, which showed them
to be in exclusive Mongol terri
tory.
The sun had just gone down
and clear, crisp twilight flooded
the landscape. A country of roll
ing hills, dotted with herds of
horses and hOming fiocks Of
sheep. In the valley clusters Of
gray native tents, in tWos and
threes were pitched beside the
wells.
The scene took Lynn back
somewhere in her existence to a
time and place where the world
was young and she was carefTee
with it, light-hearted as the white
kitten froIicking in the dry grass.
Temu sat down beside her and
began 90 speak. Fifty miles be-
yond these hills and valleys the
dunes of Shame begin. But we
cannot reach our camp tonight.
We took a short cut a few miles
back. The caravan will not come
this way and the men have an
all-night job repairing our en-
CINE. / shall ask shelter for you
IN the nearest tent we see down
there"
Il could stay right where | am"
murmured Lynn hugging her
knees Il think I have seen this
place before"
He turned and looked at her.
you are learning. Tara Lynn. ="
A profound emotion IN his voice
affected her like music and iso-
lated them IN a mood of aware
ness Of their unity with the earth
and evening sky. Lynn had never
before shared this lift Of con-
seriousness with another human
being.
Presently Temu DARN spoke.
The night will be cold"
The men pushed the car to the
top OF the grade and then were
able TO coast down 10 the nearest
ncampment Moonlight had
taken the place of twilight and
flooded the valley with silvery ra-
dance. As they approached the
camp. big black dogs charged
forth barking and snarling: hob
bled ponies snOrted and fed as
they could: a pair Of camels, pull
ing at their tethers, squeaketi and
bleated. Evidently none Of the
camp animals had experienced an
automobile heretofore.
The driver stopped with his
headlights bright on the most
prominent tent. Of white felt
shaped like an Eskimo iglOo.
Another Failure
MEN in monstrous boots came
4'A out Tightening their belts
around their sheepskin coats
Temu DARN went forward and
talked 10 them for few minutes
THE chief has given our party
the use Of his tent" he said on
returning TO the car.
Lynn stepped out and reached
back for the kitten.
Better leave it in the basket"
he said. The men will bring it
to you. The dogs here are dan
gerous"
She followed him into the tent,
which was carpeted with felt
mats and furnished with house
hold utensils and chests. a family
altar. and a pile Of furs and
sheepskins on a wooden rack.
Saddles and brides ranged the
circular wall OF the tent. In the
center Of the enclosure stood the
fire cage under an opening in the
roof similar to the smoke hole of
an Indian wigwam.
The French mechanic brought
in the fur robes and kittens bas-
ket from the car. For moment
he and Lynn were alone
do you understand English?"
she asked in a low voice. He
stepped back and left the tent
without a sign that he had heard
her.
She turned and found Temu
DARN standing at her elbow, his
eyes stern and disappearing.