The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-09-05
by RifA fa0Nlar hAnson -

pipe was required 10 make ~ Dear
able. But then, she realized re-
turning to the desert was not es-
cape.
They slept on mattresses on the
| floor without undressing, wrap
ping themselves individually like
cocoons in gay heliotrope and
orange quilts. ). ss
At daybreak a servant girl
rushed III with news that guard
had been placed round the palace.
+ No one entered or left except
under s4rict watch. There had
been s. aet Sighting during the
night Dc VA s ong the water front.
/ The Princess rose, brushed at
the wrinkles in her garments and
went out. Anne put on the riding
clothes she had worn under her
old woman rags. Somehow. this
nearest approach to masculine
garb gave her a feeling Of courage
and security.
The Princess returned and
spoke in a troubled voice. You
cannot leave the palace now, nor
/ are you safe here. 1t has been dis
covered the assassin had a sister
among the harern servants. She
was thrown from the tower an
hour ago. The Enir personally
will inspect the rest of III"
What can | do2" cried Anne.
Where can | hide?" The woman
was silent for a moment.
"There is no place to hide. Last
night my husbands eldest daugh-
1 ter went out to meet a lover. She
has not been able to return. You
might take her place. She has Per-
sian eyes and the Emir is not OBJ
servant"
But if he discovered the de-
ception he would kill me-"
Not kill you. Eventually he
might sell you. At present he is
curious about Western women.
Last year he saw moving pic
ture, the only one that has ever
come to our court" The woman
looked at Anne with puzzled eyes.
"Aii What strange lives you
American girls lead. Dancing in
mems arms, bathing with them.
kissing them before you're mar
ried.
'Let me become an old woman
again" Anne begged. 1T is the
safest disguise. !"
My husband is causing the city
to be searched for the Tibetan
lama and his old mother. He has
also heard of the young white wo-
man who disappeared from the
! village of Yani in the storm. The
| white men are kept in the palace
grounds, / do not know why"
If only | could talk to Them"
Anne urged.
The woman considered a mo-
ment. THE tall one walks alone
in the garden beside the river
she said. There is little door
through the wall of the kitchen
court. But if the Emir's servants
should catch YOU"
Blaze
I'LL take my chances" said
4 Anne. Seeing her aviation he'll
met among her possessions she
PIT il on, and followed the Prin-
cess to the designated door,
stepped through and ffattened
herself against the wall to take
bearings. Leafy fruit trees hid
her from the other part of the
palace.
At the foot Of row OF peach
trees Gregory Sherwood stood
looking across the river. She gave
a low whistle. He turned, saw her
and came up swiftly. She stepped
into a summer pavilion heavily
laced with grape vines.
Anne. he whispered. catch.
ing her hands in glad surprise
Because of these clothes you
wear. thought at first you were
Mackey, though / left him sound
asleep. How goes it?"
She told him and asked: What
are yol prospects,"
I dent 'SnoW." he confessed.
The En1ir admits that I saved
his life and declares that he's ex-
'ceedingly grateful. but he won't
let US leave. Says he must first
give me a sufficient reward. The
old devil Instinct led me astray
last night. / should never have
pushed him out of the path of
that bullet
Tears threatened Anne's eyes.
1t was so good to hear this dear.
delightful banter again. "WiIl any
OF US escape alive?"
We're bound to-" he assured
her. You might ask your Prin-
cess if there is anything that /
can do for her and her son. He's
fugitive right now conspiring
against his father. Tell her I apol-
ogize for saving the Emir's life
last night. And Anne. should an
opportunity come for me to help
you"
You've helped me already"
sne conIesseo, my spirit at feast
withdrawing her hands from his
clasp, a bit abashed by his steady
scrutiny of her face.
He shook his head. 81 made a
terrible mistake not kissing you
that time. Shall be such a fool
again?" W
He had her in his arms. After
a moments surrender she broke
away sharply, incensed at herself
as well as at him. 20
I'VE must stop playing like
this, she cried.
@Why-when it takes us to par
adise?" She refused to succumb
to his spell again.
Suddenly they heard the patter
of bare feet Anne turned her
back and stood there, head down,
tense as a game bird. Sherwood
had stepped to the opening and
kept the servant outside the pa
vilion. They talked; one voice
deep, virile, decisive, the words
sharply clipped, the other gentle
as the chatter of tinid morning
birds. Anne didn't know II she
was seen or not. She barely
- kt.,~ IL