The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-09-03


When she had LEFT Machey
asked: DO yop suppose this old
lady would screech an alarm Il
we bolted7v = g E
"She might, and ii would give
Us 4 chance to see if she has any
who cares Il she has any
teeth, demanded Mackey in IL
sShe looks angry enough to bite
nails, said Sherwood and
Laughed Miss Willard, the getup
, Aane started. Maeksy's eyes
Sweet seTpents,'' he nuttered.
rs that Miss Wiilardgn
Anne saw that MackeV was in
n0cent though Sherwood had been
leasing her all along.
asked eoldly.
Il made Khalima tell me when
I left you the other night. was
worried about you. 4 cQ,ildn't let
you disappear like that"
You mean YOU wanted 10 l.ecq
track Of the taiisman carry" she
retorted sharply.
II do want you to be careful
with that dagger" he confirmed.
And whatever you do, don't let
any court officials know that you
carry 1t. You see, the Emir has
also heard of Shy-a Nago, II
means treasure and loot to him.
a native came in, having been
told there was a white man pres
ent To the natives all white trav-
eiers are doctors. This man
rubbed his stomach and made the
appropriate gestures to explain
his plight. Sherwood dosed him
and ordered him out.
k1alima returned with the fire
cage and resumed her spinning.
Mackey lay down with his face
close to the Goals In hope that the
heat might relieve his pain.
Would ynu like to try opium?H
Sherwood asked. :
Mackey shook his head. I'm
afraid Of the stuff, It almost got
me once"
Sherwood threw q sheepskin
over him and then came and sat
down beside Anne.
Forgive my teasing" he said.
''but ! couldn't resist the oppor-
tunity. Somehow. just the sight
of you suggests fun and happi-
ness"
Anne felt depressed and cold
and dirty. 4 don't feel happy,
she replied gleOmily.
Shy-a Mage is not something
one finds Alone he limited.
She misunderstood him. Il
shan't be alone My parents share
it with me-
you don't mention Oliver" he
observed, keeping his eyes ON the
ground.
''And Philip Oliver" she added
gravely.
In the silence that followed they
heard the hum Of native voices
from the adjoining ropms. Com
planning camels moaned and CUR
gled in the covered stalls in the
] courtyard Somewhere close by.
a misguided rooster crowed.
A man brought in q child with
an infected foot. Sherwood
cleaned and bandaged the wound
and sent them away again. Then
he returned to Anne.
What is the book you were
reading?" she asked.
My desert island book" he
smiled. 'FYou know in foreign
lands an archaeologist frequently
gets cast away on desert Islands.
! If you and Mackey weren't here
tonight this would be desert
island
3 ought to have such a book
murmured Anne.
ives especially now that
you've really graduated into the
| tribe
He put the book away. Where
do YOU carry the dagger2"
1t wouldn't do you any good
| to take it away from me-"
Il might take you both" he
threatened, a speculative look In
his grey eyes.
The Dagger
A NNE drew hack her native
a cloak and showed the leather
case fastened to belt about her
waist.
sThe priest said no one will
harm me while ] carry the dag
GER She opened the case and
drew out the knife.
! Sherwood's eyes glistened. He
spoke softly. Besides your par
ents, you and ! are the first mod
ern white people ever to see that
knife.
Anne turned the weapon over
| In her hand.
Sherwood caught her wrist.
Look" he cried, .sthe Eye Of
Shy-a Nago!" He continued to
| gaze in awe at the figure carved
i On this side of the handle Among
| these native peoples of the present
| day a green eye in man implies
| the Incarnation of a spirit of
| supernatural origin-god or devil
1 or both.1
when first took the knife in
| my hands that pair Of natives
| watched me to see what would
| do Anne told him. The weapon
| felt alive and I guess showed
| it. The man asked. DO you wish
| TO kill yourself2' and he didn't
| seem TO mind If / did,
'sWilat else did they say?'
i after we got to their camp
i they warned me that any one
i touching the knife without the
| right Of ownership would suffer
| misfortune and die.1
go you believe THAR" he
| queried. giving her a sidelong
| glance.
Il don't know. Do your" With
| an inpulsive gesture she held nslt
i the dagger to him.
4HH - -. - - ha1rk n