The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-09-18
Chapter 40 sysxr.
Missing Dagg.erI.

Missing Dagger
= MAT sounds rather grand !.
= nurmured Anne. SIN vaung
but am ! bold?p
Inc Others laughed II think !.
SAID Beth, that the Nagaras mean
you and your husband
Everyone suddenly looked self.
conscious. Anne and Philip had
not spoken word Of their person
Al alfairs to each other. She de-
cided at once to take them ali int !,
her confidence.
Then I'm in a difficult sisua.
ton" she said.
Wen marry at once. If YOU
wish" offered Philip hastily.
She gave him her friendly
smile. Il don't suppose I'm 1epallv
1Tee. she told the story OF the
marriage plot in Arishar and Of
the Emir's subsequent scheme.
But | didn't die in the desert as
he had hoped, and ! still possess
the dagger
q
Diana was laughing softly Ia
herself. Imagine Blaze Sherwood
coming to the rescue OF d damsel
IN distressl Did you think Of the
idea or did he?"
Il did" said Anne steadily
where's he gone--to Russia for
quick annulnent?"
For all | know"
Philip looked at her sharply.
How did he happen to be on the
plane with your
His plane had crashed on the
desert. He's an old friend Of the
pilot and wanted a lift to Chuka. /"
Sounds Like a conspiracy to
me-, observed the doctor.
Absolutely agreed Philip In
Irritation, turning to Anne. @You
played right into his hands and
gave him a place in the prophecy. :
He'd have no rights" Anne
protested He'd merely be help
ing father win. What he wishes Is
to prevent this expeditions Sc
curing Shy-a Mayo. He told me
So"
Philip began pacing the floor.
agree with Sherwood this far,
that we never should have mixed
up with the Nagaras. I sometimes
doubt If Shy-a Mayo exists. ex-
cept as a myth. And if it does, it's
outside our original purpose. It's
not the thing we were sent to do.
We are making finds here that are
good, and that's enough. | begged
Doctor Willard to leave this thing
alone, but he wouldn't listen to
me. Now we see Sherwood at the
bottom of your parents being held
prisoners. We don't know all the
details Of the prophecy" he
paused. 1t is not the policy of
the Nagaras to free their prisoners
unless they happen to fulfill this
fool prophecy"
Anne stared at him In terror.
You mean fathers and moth
er's lives are really in danger
then? When do we meet these
natives?
we dent know yet, answered
Larry HUFF Were supposed to
wait for a delegation to come and
conduct US into the mountains.
But ! don't believe you need to
worry about DR.. and Mrs. Will
lard. with a black look at Philip.
"It's my opinion they'll make the
grade. The Chinese authorities in
Chuka warned us that we'd never
live to establish the camp When
we did survive the Commissioner
gave us few soldiers to act as
guards
Doddap Speaks
As HE talked, trying to bring
4 , things back to lighter vein,
Anne observed that the lama had
edged inside and squatted down
by the door counting his beads.
Blaze Sherwood's spy she
thought. And then her feeling for
the little man softened. That was
not true, for in his fashion Doddap
served the spirit and not the per-
son. He looked up and their eyes
met. They smiled at each other. 1t
was rather surprising expert
ence.
''Doddap," she demanded. "are
my parents we'll and safe2;'
They are well and safle.n
She smiled at the othersl SILLY
of me" she said, but do feel
cornforted."
Diana was the one who asked
about the dagger. Where is it2''
I'm my suitcase" answered
Anne reluctantly. THE priest
warned me that no one else
should touch il.
That's just silly superstition.
asserted Larry. Won't you let Us
see the weapon?"
Anne heard herself repeating
Blaze Sherwood's words. "Since
we're mixed up with these people
perhaps we should respect their
tabo0s.
Eyes, indeed, in their presence.
agreed Philip. But not when
we're apart from them. I'm ex-
tremely anxious to see that knife
II think Miss Willard is right
interrupted the doctor.
Larry looked at him In surprise.
'sDo you believe that stliff-tilaf
there are psychic forces in OBJ
jects?"
aFor certain people, yes. / say,
do as these natives ask us 70 DO
Respect their taboo"
ain their presence we shall, re-
peated Philip impatiently. But
now