The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-09-02
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| tured by the Nagaras and for YOU
10 20 ahead as planned
| Wrong" she smiled. "They are
negotiating with the Nagaras, and
we are to 20 ahead as planned
But the only plan ! can think Of
was q hope to gain permission
| from the Chinese governor to sci
/ up radio they took with them
! Tor the purpose of sending out
news Z. w; Of any discoveries they
HE might refer to your plan
| to marry DIR. Oliver"
'Of course not" she cried Inn
patiently ut Is something impor-
| tant--sonething to do with this
| new project" Then she relaxed.
But DR.. Oliver probably knows
what he means by plans and
| prophecy and will tell me when
l see him--if see him."
| Sherwood put q hand over hers.
You'll see him--if ! know any
thing about prophecy. Sure you
don't want to tell me how this wo-
man is going to help your"
"Quite sure" she replied and
| turned her hand in his to clasp
lit. But want you to know I'm
grateful to you for bringing me
through alive today. And now
| goodby." A sudden constraint fell
between them. Khalima went to
another shed on some errand and
while she was gone Sherwood
left.
Anne heard the dogs barking
outside and feared for a moment
that the head man might have
come looking for his prisoners.
Khalimia returned with the as
surance that he was undoubtedly
deep in his usual opium sleep by
now. She herself was ready TO
travel
Old Lady
BLOWING snow obliterated
~ their tracks almost as soon as
made. When they had passed the
last house in the village and
struck off up a side canyon with
a black ribbon Of water running
between snowy bands, Anne
caught hold Of the older woman's
belt bent her head to the storm
and plodded doggedly along. On
the far side of the divide they
found the wind less severe.
Very little snow had fallen. The
path led down to bare stony
ground. How Khalima could find
her way was more than Anne
knew, but within the hour as she
had promised, they came to q
caravanserai. 1t was a mud
walled building of rows Of rooms
surrounding a court on three
sides. Khalima took Anne into
the owners section of the inn and
the Mohammedan woman of the
place promised to help them.
The next day was clear and
warm with a return of spring
weather. Anne expected to see
Sherwood and Mackey come BY
some time during the day on their
way to the capital. but they did
not show up.
She and the women spent the
afternoon perfecting her disguise,
blackening her teeth with laquer,
rubbing her face with grease and
SCOT, building a cotton hump for
her back and selecting the ragged
clothing appropriate for a pill
grim grandmother.
ITS good thing for me-" she
thought, "that Chinese influence
makes the aged respected in this
Mohammedan section of the coun-
try
Finally she took her purse mir
ror and looked at herself. "Heav-
ems" she cried in dismay, .can
this be my parents daughter?"
The women giggled, though they
didn't understand her. sMy face
looks like polished cannon ball."
she moaned and proceeded to
streak 1t with wrinkle lines, ac-
| cepting a striped shawl to wrap
her head in.
That evening she went out into
| the public kitchen for practice
and crouched down in corner
and began muttering to herself as
an old crone should.
A camel caravan Just came in
from the south. The men were
squatted about in little groups
! drinking tea and ehattering in
half a dozen dialects.
II Khalima, sitting near by, her
fingers busy with a spindle maxi
ing yarn, watched anxiolisly when
one Of the men, q little bird like
! fellow with a bird like voice, APP
preached Anne. With the air OF
{ kindly fellow remembering his
: own mother he offered the old
woman a pinch Of tobacco. Kha.
lima hastily produced little clay
pipe, tamped the bowl full
E brought coal and gave Anne the
pipe to smoke.
!. She took an experimental puff
with mixed emotions remember,
ing that many of the natives ado
opium to their tobacco, and ther
handed the pipe to her woman Il
] finish. The man dropped dowr
crosslegged and began talking K
S Khalima who listened as intent
ly as If he were making love K
her. He was telling her fortune
E Anne learned afterwards. He hac
a shaven head, an ageless, sexles.
a yellow face. wide. humerou.
ve mouth uuirked like bird bill
lie and the brightest little black eye
lie Anne had ever seen outside tn
/ animal Kingdom. 1t,S,
Presently he drew from th
II blouse Of his garments bon
N flute, a little drum made Of
e. skull. a book and a bell. The
IS Anne knew he must be lam;
He began beating the drum an
e. informing a prayer. 800 $50
DEL TO be continued