The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-09-29
Chapter %
Midnight Meeting

"A NNE laughed and took a quicl
= step towards him and he re.
treated step with a shame.
faced giggle. He knew she wa!
teasing him, yet nevertheless hs
intended to take no chances,
With quick move Mackey ,1n
bolted and pushed open the door
The young fellow was on him
with a bound. They rolled or
the earth and rose, facing each
other. Sherwood had come to the
door.
"cut it out. Pete" he called
sharply.
A guard from the big iror
studded gate rushed across. Both
natives seized Mackey.
Anne warned Sherwood as /.
he read her intention to inter-
fere.
I'VE just wanted to talk to YOU
a moment and give you the robe. =
she explained
Sherwood spoke to his per-
sonal guard. He had discovered
that the boy knew a smatterine
Of Turk. The two natives con-
ferred between themselves for 4
moment then said something to
Sherwood. He spoke to Mackey.
They say you can take the
robe from Anne and give it to me
Then you must return to your tent
and stay there" Anne handed
Mackey the robe and asked Sher-
wood:
did they let you eat your noon
lunch?"
THE guard and I ate it to-
gether. I'm not treated too bad
He was pushed back and the
door drawn shut by his guard.
while the other led Mackey to
the yurt.
Philip and Doddap returned
and the gate was barred.
Anne looked out and spied the
lama squatting beside the tent.
She went and stood beside him.
He rose.
eHave you been able to talk
to Blazer" she asked.
i fed him supper and washed
his face"
THAT was good" She smiled
at the picture he coniured up,
do you know what the Nagaras
intend to do with him?"
"They take him to the high
priest. Then. they say. the sacred
dagger will inflict vengeance as
It has on every one who sees
Shy-a Mayo without the right"
This dagger carry?" Anne
exclaimed, putting her hand on
the leather case.
1T has killed all the Others. I"
I'D like to destroy it." she said
slowly.
IT IS your protection. You
would destroy yourself and the
rest Of us"
"If only we could help Blaze
escape''
rYou wish to talk to him?"
Gould it be done?"
I'll give the guard deep
sleep"
with a club?" she asked hui
mor0usly.
with my magic" She stared at
him a moment.
"All right, Doddap. if you can
do IT,"
"Rest Just inside the door until
/ call you"
Instead Of joining the other
girls at the back of the tent
Anne did as the lama told her,
wrapping herself in a handsome
argali skin.
Philip reused and looked at her.
That's drafty spot, he said.
Il like il.
He closed his eyes and slept.
Explanation
COMETIME past midnight Anne
y was Weakened BY the lama
gently pulling her hair. She crepi
out quietly and they stole across
the dark yard. He opened the
door carefully and closed it be-
hind her. She stood quiet to gel
her bearings. In niche in the
wall sat a saucer of fat with q
rag wick burning in it. Otherwise
the hut was bare except for the
pile of felts upon which Sher-
wood lay, covered by the fIi
robe she had sent him, his duftie
bag for a pillow.
His eyes were bright upon hel
and a smile quirked his mouth.
"You seem to be all right" she
said. walking towards him. Ht
moved over, kicking the robe
down and she saw that his hands
were bound to the belt at Ill
waist.
'Sit beside me-" he said, After
moments hesitation she com
piled, examining the cords on hi
wrists.
DO they hurt?"
"only my free spirit win yol
take them Off"
i guess wed better let then
be- It might make your guart
suspicious if he discovered they'c
been tempered with. ! came e
see if we could plan an escape
for YOU"
Who wants to escape?"
Don't be silly" she said. "tili:
may mean death"
4 know it, Anne" he agreed
seriously, II have known all alorlf
that the Nagaras are not people
to monkey with"
Then why did you fly ovei
their territory?n
II had intended just to scou
the border searching for those
fool Russians. / saw a ruined vii
liage. Then saw high bare
basin and band of men riding
across it. | mistook them for thu
SIIRCrpIpE rOp THE