The Key West citizen., 1940-11-14

the circumstances of life here in
Asia"
Certain white men," Sherlock
admitted.
"Dick tells me that your Prince
is weak man sunk Il vice and
crime"
He studied her face shrewdly.
But you have refrained from
telling him that the Prince is a
man of your own race. Why?"
What would be gained? 1t is
your secret and Temu's and the
Princes" She shook her head
wonderingly. Il don't understand.
Your country possesses strong,
native men. yet. you struggle and
fight to keep a man like this mis-
Sionary's son on the throne" She
resolved to sound him out. "Sher-
dock. / might be interested in
seeing a man like Temu DARN as
ruler of Shani Lun."
He smiled slightly. 81 see you're
strong-headed girl, but then we
need strong heads in this world.
They become wise through use
and reflection. Some day you will
comprehend that a higher power
makes the plan and you and and
Temu DARN follow the design"
you're fatalist." she said and
left him. The men were breaking
camp.
A camel-puller brought her the
same animal she had ridden from
Pallichao to Watch Towel Wells.
Presently Lynn noticed with a
little feeling of compunction that
Temu's beloved black bactrian
had also been taken in the raid on
the camp at Watch Tower Wells.
Though at the low ebb of his vi
tality. due to the moulting season,
the animal was acting ugly, grind
ing his teeth and rolling his eyes
and refusing to obey the young
Buriat trying to subdue and
mount him.
Desert Tragedy
.CUDDENLY the beast lashed out;
y the man went down, his face
crushed and chest caved in. Com
panions rushed to save him, but
too late. Already flesh and blood
mingled with the mud of the
desert.
The animal, as if sensing that
he had completed his task, broke
wildly through the men and fed
across the desert. The men stood
strangely silent.
Dick was cursing wildly but the
Mongols accepted the tragedy
apathetically. I'VE did wrong to
steal him from Temu Darin," they
said. ~The devil spirit of a man
resides in his personal camel and
If that master be strong man, no
enemy. unless he be stronger, can
mount the beast"
Lynn rode that day with a sense
of deep depression. They were
skirting a high mountain range
that separated them from the bor-
der region of Shani Lun. It was a
particularly deSolate strip of
country as If, at some time in the
past. cruel and inhuman. deeds
had been committed along this
ancient. pilgrim road and the
spirit of murder and madness still
fingered to haunt the men who
passed.
Sherlock rode a little de-
sacned from the rest near the
head of the column. The Duke
Of Sachto rode dejectedly at the
rear. Between them the men were
particularly quarrelsome. Once,
Dick was compelled to take his
whip to a pair on horseback who
were flashing knives at each
other. Lynn urged her animal for
ward to the side of Chin PAX who
rode a tall, rangy mule.
$50 you deserted Temu Darin?"
she said. His eyes shifted. then he
spoke.
"Yes, Missile"
'He trusted you"
Chin PAX dropped his head. 'T
loyal to the Tara"
She eyed him sharply. "You
mean that, Chin PAX? You're loyal
to me?" Y
Eyes. Mfssie."
She lowered her voice. Loyal
to me above my brother?"
"YeS, MiSSie. He say / come
with him l serve the Tara"
Lynn's pulses cuickened; evil
IDENTIFY she had found a friend.
She was beginning to see into the
psychology of these people, and
she did have power among them
if only she could use it wisely.
At sunset they came into a diff
ferent type of country and made
camp at the base of a steep, red
mountain where a spring gushed
out and watered a grove of false
phoenix trees. The men shouted
and sang at their work like chill
dren on a holiday, complete re-
versal Of the feeling of the day.
Then Sherlock made his an
nouncement my time has come.
I shall die tonight" he said.
Lynn's first impulse was to laugh.
As if a man could die by simply
making up his mind to do so. But
the sudden look of apprehension
that came into Dicks eyes when
he received the message sobered
her.
Such a thing is impossible"
she cried.
"Oh, no it isn't. Not among
primitive people. If Sherlock
chooses to die, he can surely do
It"
81 wouldn't call Sherlock priIn-
tive. He's more highly civilized
than any man I know"
He possesses the personal pow
ers of aboriginal people. But. IL
he thinks he can force me into q
compromise, he's bad1y fooled. I
still have you to represent the
gods and If he compels US to,
well carry his body to Delun in
state and collect tribute all along