The Key West citizen., 1940-11-20
Thf Rad 70 5hAkN LON
Chapter 35
The Orchid Door

S@fAO ORIAACA 4AAo III AA4C
L morning to find Lynn sitting
beside him and a Mongol guard
at the door. Healthy color had re-
turned to his face. His hands and
feet were bound.
Il thought it best" she said. He
made no remonstrance. A man
came in bearing basin of water
and a shaving kit.
'Tll fetch your breakfast, "
Lynn said and left. His quietneSs
had surprised her. But then, he
was always surprising her, and
she remembered that acceptance
is part of the philosophy of the
East.
When she returned, he was
standing up, looking ruefully at
the bonds on his ankles and
wrists.
Now" he said, 81 know how
a hobbled horse feels"
Does that mean you will new
er hobble a horse again?" she
asked.
1T means that I will never get
into this kind of a predicament
again if 1 can help it. What are
you planning to do with me?"
Hold you prisoner for while"
She had the guard bring in a
camp box for Temu to sit on. She
stood at his side and fed him
cheese and tea and candied per-
simmons.
He bit her fingers and they
were soon laughing together.
'Tm helpless, tell me your plans"
he coaxed.
For one thing, I'm going to
Delun."
$50 have always maintained" ]"
he jested.
But l am going of my own free
will" she reminded him.
He looked at her with his clear,
tea-colored eyes. $50 you are,
Tara Lynn"
'fChin PAX and I are riding on
ahead to find out what luck Dick
and the Duke Of Sachto have
had"
Il hope its rotten" he grinned.
'FYour hopes don't seem to be
coming true lately" She sobered.
"PIl tell you thiS-if l have my
way your Prince shall not be
harmed. Neither shall he be i'm
prisoned. l wonder if he would
prefer to live IN Paris or Amer
lea"
Temu spoke sadly. q surmise
he would prefer not to live at
all"
With his cheek, he caught her
hand against his shoulder in the
only careSs he was free to give
her. q love to hear you talk, Tara
Lynn. wish I could put my arms
around you"
She met his eyes and some imp
of perverSity prompted her. Il
notice" she said, that you wait
till your hands are bound before
you make that statement"
Lynn felt the next instant as if
size had ignited a powder keg.
With one motion Temu rose,
burst the bonds on his wrists, took
her in his embrace and covered
her face with kisses. At first his
violence frightened her. Then,
when she had ceased resisting
him they clung together for
moment, that opened into para
disc. She broke away and ran to
the door.
Bind the prisoners hands"
she directed the guard. HE has
broken the cords"
She did not go near his tent
again. In half an hour she and
Chin PAX were on their way.
They arrived IN Dorchi that night
at dusk.
DO you know the house where
my brother and the Duke were
to establish headquarters" she
asked Chin PAX.
Il show you" he said.
The town was a great trading
station, with a motor road reach
ing to Delun and caravan trails
branching out to Tibet, to India.
to Sinkiang, TO Russia, and across
Cobb TO the Pacific Ocean. About
1t were irrigated farms and or
chardS. The streets of the town
hummed with an unusual activ-
ity, the hum Of holiday or sue
cesSful revolution.
AIagnihcence
CHIN PAX conducted Lynn to
~ a semi-fOreign house inside a
walled garden. AS Chinese ser
wants met them and bowed her
IN, he disappeared She ate din
ner alone and felt rather lost.
The servants could not talk TO
her or she 10 them. She longed
for Little Bamboo and Gersing.
Presently, walking through the
rooms all elaborately furnished.
she spled on a massive, rosewood
table, a pair OF gloves that she
had seen Dick wearing. She real
lied he must have been here re-
Gently. A servant brought her a
note from Chin PAX.
We are success as planned.
You 60 palace by morning. Wear
Chinese dress. Servants know. 4
come ReVerence.-Chin PAX"
Lynn interpreted the note as
best she could Tomorrow would
tell the tale if she were 10 have
any power against her brother or
not. And if not, what a tragedy
her coming had brought to Sher-
dock, 10 Temu, and the PrinceI
Despite firm intentions she
woke very late the next morning
and was dressed by servants who
had feared TO disturb her. Dom
ming the Chinese dress was a slow
and maddening process. After the
bath and the painting and the
powdering that made her look
like an Oriental doll, they wound
Eer from armpit to hip in bias
folds Of strong white silk and