Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

THE CARAVAN hair was against his cheek, and he felt her warm breath on his throat. The girl clung to him trustfully, her faith strong that the man she loved would do what was best, under all circumstances. Hers was a love that gives in full, and once in a lifetime. ' They watched the flares splutter into smoky gloom as the Tartars. pulled down the poles. With this the shooting from the tree-tops dwindled perforce. The horses ceased their plunging, and an unnatural quiet settled upon the castle. Once Donovan caught up his rifle andl took a snap shot at a figure that explored the base of the tower from the summit of the hold. The form sank to the stone flooring, and presently crawled away. Again there was a brief clamor as the men below tried to take the tower ladder by surprise, and Aravang came into action. Donovan did not even think this important enough to go down the stairs, well knowing the advantages of position possessed by their burly friend. Presently this also ceased. The smoke currents eddied away from the courtyard. The néw moon brightened, casting a luminous half light upon the pla- teau, the walls of the kurgan—a light that blurred all outlines and was more treach- erous than helpful. Edith and Donovan watched it from the shelter of the dismantled beams on the tower top. The girl snuggled close to him. “TI don’t like this— this silence,’ she whispered. Neither. did .Donovan. was cheerful. ‘* Oh, it’s quite to be expected. Monsey is checkmated for a morfent. His men probably are disturbed by the failure of their plans, and our. appearance in the tower. These natives are superstitious. They must have been startled by my voice.” ‘“‘ Please, you aré just trying to say nice things. That is what I tried to tell you a little while ago.” Donovan, however, had been reasoning aloud. His mind was alert. He was dis- appointed by the complete withdrawal of But his voice the Sayaks—that the quiet of the plateau - OF THE DEAD 269 seemed to hint. What was Monsey doing? The Russian would not leave them unmo- lested in the tower, he knew. If scaling ladders were being prepared, he would have heard some noise. And if his enemies did not plan to rush the tower summit from without, what were their in- tentions? To wait for daylight? Dawn would give an advantage to Mon- sey, for the defenders of the tower would then be visible. On the other hand, delay would bring Major Fraser-Carnie and Ar- thur Rand nearer to Yahka Arik. No, Monsey would hardly wait. Edith did not try to think. She was resting wearily against Donovan, thankful for the interval of peace with him at her side. The peril of the kurgan seemed to draw farther off. Vaguely, she felt that all would be well, somehow. ‘“ Dearest, this is our hour of peace,” she heard him say. ‘“‘ We’ve cut ourselves off in the tower. We'll be together, now, won’t we, sweetheart? You are not afraid?” : r She drew slightly away from him, trying to see into his eyes that were near hers. “No,” she whispered. Then: “ You haven’t said yet that—that you love me.’ His arm tightened around her as he laughed. ‘‘ Love you, Edith? I have done nothing else since you came to Yahka Arik. Didn’t you know that?” The girl hid her face ean his cheek and her hand clasped his that held her fast. “Yes, Dono-van Khan, I knew. But then I wanted to hear you really say it to me. Now, everything’s all right—” She did not complete the words, for Donovan closed her lips with a kiss that seemed to draw the breath from her body. So close was Edith pressed to him she could feel the beating of his heart in time with her own, and hear him murmur from time to time inarticulate things in her ear, so that she laughed happily. So did these two, waiting in the tower~ for what would come to pass, voice their love that was to Edith the most splendid gift of this other world. Donovan moved cautiously to the edge of the parapet at a sound from below. COMmiclboo S C@