The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-10-31

1Ortl 70 greet Lnem from one or
the rooms that fianked the court.
Mr.. Wallace jumped from the car
and took her in his arms.
HAS the month passed slowly?"
he asked.
Silly" she rebuked him, you
left only yesterday"
He turned and introduced Lynn
and repeated her story as they
walked into the house. Her new
friends marveled, but they did
not doubt the tale. Was she not
the tall, dashing type of handsome
American girl capable of coming
through any outlandish adventure
intact?
They let her go to bed early
and laughed the next morning
when she was compelled to ap-
pear at breakfast in Mr.. Wallace's
dressing-gown and a pair Of his
pajamas because she did not wish
to wear her heavy Mongol out
fit. Silk merchants and tailor
already waited in another room.
you were headed for an in
teresting place" said Mr.. Wallace.
"Shani Lun is in a peculiar posi-
ton, holding the balance of
power, as it were among Russian
and British and Chinese and even
japanese interests at the point
where they meet in central Asia.
The little country seems to have
a ruler born to fit the job. He
knows how to play one power
against the other to keep himself
from being gobbled up"
do you know what sort of a
person he is?" Lynn asked.
No one that have ever talked
to knows the sort of person he is.
He seems to be almost as exolu-
sive as the ruler of Tibet. Through
his representatives he has a GER
tain amount of commercial deal
ings with the American and Euro
pean firms here in Lanfou. Any
of their members would give a
leg. as would /, to get an invita-
ton such as you received to visit
the court at Delun. Europeans are
SCNQOAl4 "G4NOA1ACQ b1iC1E.
''Will you be resuming your
Journey" asked Mrs. Wallace po-
litely.
Lynn shook her head. Not just
now"
This misadventure has been
too much for you," she said SYM
pathetically. Il suppose you're
wild to hurry home"
Where To Go?
T YNN hesitated. Its strange
but I'm not homesick in the
least. may be little mad. feel
like a crusader or a migrating To-
Gust. don't know where I'm 60
ing but it's not back to America.
l hear there's a lilac tree in
Amdo."
Little Mrs. Wallace looked be-
wildered but her husband could
understand a persons travelling
halfway round the world to visit
q certain tree.
ITS the famous tree at Kun
Bum" he said. For those who
have the eyes to see, am told,
its leaves bear the mystic char
acters of the sacred mantra."
I'D love to see that tree" Lynn
cried.
Mrs. Wallace was bored by such
talk. Tive some news" she inter
rupted. "A specially conducted
party of American tourists from
San Francisco came in by airplane
few days ago. They chartered
river steamer for a. boat trip
through the upper gorges and are
returning today. Tonight we're
invited to dance on board their
boat. Miss Britton, that naturally
includes you, and you must have
a dress made" They rose from the
table.
Lynn was excited. People from
San Francisco? Have you met
them yet? Do you know any of
their nameS?" she asked as they
walked across the court to inter-
view the tailor and silk mer-
chants.
Il DON'T" Mrs. Wallace ans
wered. Il understand the party in
cludeS shipping heiress and her
husband who wishes to honey
moon in Central Asia. I believe
they were headed for Sham Lunl
but could not get permission to
enter the country"
Il might be Peggy ArminksnE
Lynn exclaimed. at soahds *
her. Could it be Peggy Armin-
ter?"
I'm sure I don't know Ar
Americans and Europeans In Lam
fou, not over dozen at present
outside the missionaries, are in
vited to the dance. There will also
be present a couple Of Chinese
avlatorS who married American
college girls and a Turkish
political agent and his Belgian
wife. l hope you will find friends
! among the tourist party"
I'm willing to wager I'll find
Peggy. This is just the sort OF
thing she would do" Lynn might
have added the two young women
had become interested in each
other in the first place because
Lynn had lifted Sam Telford OUT
Of Peggy's retinue.
That night Lynn discovered il
had also. apparently. interested
Peggy in Sam. She had married
him
The three met on the steamer
deck that had been prepared for
the dance and decorated with the
inevitable flags and Chinese Ian
terms. The girls fell into each 9TH
erS arms and little cries of sur
prise while Sam Telford stood by
looking slightly fatuouS. Lynn
turned with laughing eyes and
gave him her hands.
Dear Sam, ! thought of you
many times when I needed helm