Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 125: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE CARAVAN “T thought slaves were a rear of the past. ” “Not in Central Asia to-day. Gold is power, and women are g6ld.. So much for Abbas. I tell you, _ am leader here. And I only came for you.” He touched a strand of her hair. “‘ Do you think I would tell you all this if I was not sure of my cards? I want you to understand how you are fixed—with only my word to keep you from these men. Think about it. You won’t be so haughty, then.” He paused as the Ala- man touched his arm and thrust a stocky forefinger out at the plateau. ‘“‘ Now who is that?” . From the rocks at the further end of the level space a figure was advancing toward the castle. Edith saw that it was John Donovan. He had taken only a few steps before a patrol challenged, and he halted while a pair of riflemen examined him. Presently the trio began to walk back to the kurgan. Donovan wore a sun-helmet, and was im- maculate in his flannels and white jacket beside the short, dingy natives. Edith had rejoiced at sight of the man she loved, moving toward her out of the wilderness of rocks. Her heart beat a brief refrain of exultation. Then she bit her lip, and repressed a cry of distress. Apparently Donovan was unarmed. He seemed to take no notice of the two guards. The light of the newly risen sun was dead in his eyes. And he was coming straight into the trap Monsey had set 10: him and the Sayaks. The Russian himself was more than a little surprised. Quickly he scanned: the near-by woods beyond the rocks, where there was no sign of further movement. “An Englishman, that’s certain,” he mut- tered to himself. ‘‘ No one else would walk or dress like that—here. Now who?”—he glanced at Edith, then peered at the visitor. “ By the head of the Prophet: it’s Dono- van himself, without a beard. I didn’t know him at first. Look here!” He gripped the girl’s arm viciously. “ Silence, you hear? Not a word out of you! Or I'll order my men to shoot him down. Be- sides that, Abbas may skewer you with his cursed knife on his own account.” 8 Arcosy OF THE DEAD 257 He flung a word at the Alaman, and scrambled toward the stair. ‘““T’m going to welcome the kan who is your friend,” he called over his shoulder to Edith, and disappeared. She heard him mutter something about his “ WOME ques 3 Abbas drew nearer her. The girl stared at Donovan in utter dis- may. He had looked up, coolly, at the tower, but appeared not to recognize her. The guards had halted him a few paces from the ditch. She wanted to call to him, to warn him. But she feared—not for herself —that it would be fatal. Presently Monsey appeared, going down the entrance steps. She watched him join the group and search his visitor for weapons. After a moment Donovan drew a handkerchief from his pocket and one of the men secured it about: his eyes. Then Monsey guided the blindfolded man up the steps, across the courtyard, where the awak- ened natives stared at them curiously, and into the kurgan hold. An explanation of Donovan’s appear- ance flashed upon her. He had reasoned that Monsey would not know him; perhaps, even, her protector was unaware that Mon- sey was in the castle. He must have hoped that Abbas and his men would not connect the arrival of a well-dressed Englishman with the Sayaks. And she had unwittingly revealed the identity of the white man at Yahka Arik to Monsey. Knowing the Russian, she un- derstood how great was the peril into which Donovan had walked unarmed. —Her heart told her why he had come. It all seemed perfectly hopeless to Edith. She had been comforting herself through- out the night with the thought that Donp- van, somehow, would manage to aid her. Abbas signed to her. “You come,” he grinned. talk. No, by God!” His hand moved swiftly to his girdle, and Edith caught the flash of steel. In the same instant, the knife thudded into a beam, across ‘the stairs. The Alaman tugged it out, with a meaning glance at her. He laid his hand on the beam. | ‘““Dono-van Khan,” he answered her. The girl passed down the stairs with “ Don’ you cComicoooks C@