The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-09-10

IgfdIllbE Till DGSANtI W lfANtt =
ING sand dune was beginning 20
Invade the basin. The remarkable
1 thing, however. was q little blue
lake lying in the bottom OF the
water" cried Anne.
an a bed or SALT" supple
kmented Sherwood grimly.
Beside the upthrnst cliff stood
q large pavilion tent flying the
lcolors of Yangsar. At one side
burned q fire before which SER
! wants worked. Several camels
were tethered near by.
Castle in the desert. muttered
How beautiful" Anne ex-
claimed, "and how strangeas II
lit were the landscape of another
planetY'
Sherwood regarded it with a
more sonber gaze.
The afterglow was dlmmlng
rapidly as they descended into
1.-THE basin. Lanterns had been
hung in the tent when they ar
rived. Anne and Sherwood
walked down to the waters edge
Immediately, crunehing salt UNI
der their feet.
ssIt,s almost thick" she said.
feeling the fluid. Then the twilight
faded and the moon became yisl-
Bile high in the sky. He spied wa
ter springing from the rock wall
of the cliff and falling in veil
of mist. Look" he pointed. They
went over to the little stream
that flowed the few feet into the
lake. Sherwood tasted it.
"Cool and fresh" he said. Anne
drank eagerly from his cupped
hands.
'Heavenly after that stuff. in
the goat skin bag" she murmured.
When they returned to the tent
the riders had arrived. Mackey
lay ON the piled rugs in the tent
trying to find yet softer place.
"Of all the new twists that
camel inventedp he moaned,
"She could give shutting pointers
to a darby hoedown.
Sherwood scrutinized the bales
and boxes lining the walls of the
tent. "The brides doWry." he
said.
The Swim
~ THEN this, !" murmured Mackey
significantly, must be the
castle in the desert"
Sherwood looked at him. Have
you any idea what the old devils
up to2"
Maekey shook his head. 1.-THE
games beyond me- At least we
Leaf, as a servant brought in a
| low table.
aLet's take a swim first" sug-
gested Anne reStlessly.
He gave her a reproachful
glance. Girl, you're asking me to
60 through all the motions of
Standing up and walking to the
water?''
A plunge will do you good"
! Sherwood advised. 1T appears
that we're here to stay for a
while
The two men looked at each
Eothcr. Eat. drink and be merry,
eh?"
For all know" agreed Sher-k
wood.
Do they really think that to-
morrow we die? Anne wondered.
her pulses suddenly beginning to
race. There was something cleo
trio in the air. Mackey got to his
! feet.
where's my warbag? You got
a pair Of swimming trunks for
yourself?"
4 have" said Sherwood, sun
LESS one of the Emir's servants
like the looks of them"
what color?"
"Black."
you've got them. Now if they's
been fuchia-or green and mag
enta striped"
Anne opened her suitcases that
had been placed inside the tent.
Where can one find privacy?"
she asked.
| Mackey looked around. There
sure isn't much cover in this
crater. You might try the shadow
of a camel
| Sherwood had begun letting
| down the tent front. Come on
i Pete. Anne can change in here
| while we take the whole out
| doors"
i Then he thought of something
and returned. Let me open your
| bag" When it lay open he asked.
what color?"
"Black. / can"
"Let me-" He lifted the folded
| clothing carefully.
-Mackey came and watched
1 Whats this?" asked Anne sud
denly, "a customs inspection?"
| Mackey grinned. Our good
| friend, the Emir. has been known
to smuggle deadly little desert
vipers into the possession of peo-
pie he does not like"
i Anne shivered and stepped
back.
There are none here Sher-
wood declared, handing her the
bathing suit and closing the bag.
rs it safe" she queried, ITO
leave the dagger here while ]
swi;s1??" q
q think so. Remember it is as
Iinviolate as your person to these
people" The men went through
their own luggage and then
stepped outside.
When Anne was ready she
strapped her bathing cap under
her chin, wrapped a long coat
around her, called and stepped
out.
Both men pointed sinultane-
ously to her fiery toenails.
With bullying eyes the servants
and soldiers watched the three,
as they waded into the lake hand
in hand; and made no effort to
restrain them.
tt(ly,o <J,f,, q - y,1tYr,,,tfr,1 Gborr.