The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-10-24

freight. In the distance could be
seen the gray mud walls of a
Chinese trading post.
Lynn asked for Sherlock. He
had gone on to Pallichao. Of the
young officers who had been with
Temu and Sherlock in the tenn
pie, she recognized only one when
the men had changed to Mongol
garb.
"Chin PAX is his name" Temu
told her later. HE has a Mon
golian mother and a Chinese
father and he's a clever man with
his head. He handles the eXpedi-
TONS finances. We soldiers Of
Shani Lun are loyal to our coun-
try though all of US cannot claim
pure Mongol blood" There was
a twinkle in his eyes as if, in a
yelled way, he was answering the
question about himself he had
sensed in her mind that morning.
After a while lynn and the
Duchess returned to their tent
that she might rest a while.
Temu DARN did not appear at
their evening meal and it was
with an effort that Lynn kept
from asking about him. Nor had
she caught a glimpse of the
Frenchman since their arrival
that morning. But I shall meet
him at midnight" she thought.
She wished to roam about the
camp again, but Gersing insisted
that they 60 to bed. Tomorrow
would be a hard day.
Especially if you've never rid
den a camel" said TENT, sud-
denly appearing in the tent for
a few minutes. Poor girl, pity
you tomorrow night"
If she had her way, Lynn was
thinking. she wouldn't be with
them tomorrow night. I'm wide
awake" she protested. | can't go
to sleep with the chickens"
"We have no chickens" he
bantered.
''Then whatever it is we're 60
ing to sleep with. The dogs are
still barking; even the kitten IS
prowling."
He sat beside her cross-legged
| for a moment. "On the desert we
go to bed with the camel The
camel cannot see to eat in the
dark. He is a kind of chicken
think"
Dangerous Venture
ct OOK at his neck" laughed
l. Lynn. when he walks i
wabbles like chickens"
"And he's hen-minded." Temu
| jumped to his feet. 1--WE could &C
on playing games like this til
morning, but we Shan't. Coco
night. Tara Lynn. Good night
| Gersing."
Lynn lay long time with {
smile on her face. There was
something about Temu DARN thai
| had made her desire with all hel
heart to Illustrate his plans. ano
there was deep necessity in her
self to prove that she could.
Long after the camp hac
quoted down and the DucheS:
was sleeping deeply. Lynn rose
and put on the clothes she hac
laid out, apparently for morniEe
high boots, breeches, and {
leather jacket.
She stood for moment in the
doorway. looking out across the
sand plain cut by a boulder
Strewn wash separating the camp
from the Chinese trading post
The moon was high and bright
Except for occasional barking o.
the dogs somewhere to the rear o.
the camp, and the gurgling anC
snuffling of the camels, she heard
no sound. Banks of fieecy white
clouds sailed across the sky.
Lynn hesitated a moment tax
ing stock of herself. Her assets
were one unloaded automatic, /
sum of money, a strong, healthy
body. a determination not to e
to Delun against her will, and
rendezvous with. a French me
. chanic. One thing more, aiu1os
forgotten-the letters and The
mirror left behind. Her, liabifitie:
were unknown. ~. ~
She looked at her wristwatch-
midnight. She stepped softly pas
Temu Darin's tent and FASTENED
down the path to the slim shad-
ows of the bare poplarS about the
well. The Frenchman had not ye1
come, but when she looked back
at the camp she fancied she saw
form passing between the two
tents. A cloud obscured the moor
for few minutes and sailed on
She leaned against the trunk
of a tree and waited. Five min
utes. ten. twenty five. She began
to feel cold. And if she waited
much longer. she feared GerSins
might waken and miss her. Fin
ally. she decided that he was not
coming. Something had happened
to keep him or he had changed hi:
mind. She knew he had lively
fear of Temu Darin's displeaSure
She looked thoughtfully in the
direction of the Chinese trading
post. She might find someone
) there to help her. AT any rate
| having this opportunity sh {
, would be stupid not to try. She
started out swiftly and boldly
welcoming the brisk physical &C.
!, tivity after her long cold wait
But as the sand deepened anC
dragged at her feet her strength
, began to fail. She had been under
terrific strain for many hours
experiencing more terror and dis
; tresS and emotional disturbance
| than she had known before in al
i the years of her life.
She stopped and looked about
: Distances were deceiving She
seemed to be as far away from