Show I The Lord of o Thunder Gate e By SIDNEY HERSCHEL SMALL I IJ c Copyright by The Bobbs Babbe Co J j Continued CHAPTER 1 I 22 22 1 I I am nm saddened be beyond ond expression that I annoy you ou dear deaf Mr Williams and shall make to the pod god od of my house that all nIl shall be well with you OUt ion I have brought the word that I Mr Ir Sanderson desires Is It permitted permit permit- te ted that I go to set get et It It Sanderson nodded wearily Whatever Whatever Whatever What ever you ba have bae e from my ny boy I must see Fee With a bow Wells opened the door which led Into the hall bowed boned again The room broke Into a n babel of Bound sound the Instant that the door closed behind Wells It was as ns If he be hod had held beld them all bound b by his person person- 11 11 t his detached air nil his calmness Now Alberta Albertn and Williams realized how Insecure was the rock upon which their mansion was how proof tram from this Japanese would bring It town Bonn own upon their heads There was no doubt as ng to what Sanderson would Ji do o If It the Japanese made good his promise V Why h had the Oriental said these thanes thin is What hat was It to him A mischief maker The Time v thing timing I Alberta shrilled at nt her uncle He lIe took no notice of her and she turned vixen like upon EIlen Ellen Ellen El El- len who sat apart from the rest trembling more through excitement than fear You YoU ou you H Alberta gasped for words Her lIeI case was desperate If the uncanny devil n did have ha proof Everything Everything Every Every- thing would come out Panic sur surged e Into her throat the seconds that she was speechless seemed an hour her tongue clove to her palate As words returned to her she became more compose composed composed com com- pose posed and becoming composed bitterly bitterly bitter bitter- I ly vitriolic There was nothing that lie Jle could have ha A letter from Bob noh I telling all the details when the Japanese Jap- Jap anese had said Bob Boh was almost dead when he found him But nut oh the fright I the fright It had d given iven her Phrases whole sentences flowed from her as ns one Inspired b by the Hermit of Hate all nIl directed at Ellen all humiliating humiliating sting cutting as a scalpel painful as ns asa n a probe In a wound wound wound-of of a white woman wom wom- woman an who would marr marry a man of another race race race- Ellen tried to be brave under It Hot lIot tears came Vh Why must she hear l t Hh 1 1 1 h 1 1 hn t HilI a r I 1 U H y err I H ore UL t i nj my HUH ram JJ per L I husband left left her so She started to her feet walked blindly to the door heard It click behind her and alone In the dim hall stumbled Into a great carved canoed chair to lie there sobbing a pitiful huddle of silk The Lord of the Thunder Gate GateI I walked slowly across the hull after len ln the and with deliberation deliberation delibera delibera- leaving library tion walked up the stairs The cabin cabin- bo boy through the crack of the clo closet ot door saw him suddenly pick his kimono kli kl- kl i mono mone up above e his knees and with n a great grent bound followed by others ns as fast ast and hu huge e. e roach reach the end of the hall ball clear past the rooms faster than the cabin boy could draw a n surprised breath The n assassin p peered ered hastily from hiS bis vantage e point then thon followed stealthily stealth stealth- Ily lIy The lord mounted the Iron stairs two at a time d the time door of 1 the tower toner room and shut It t Immedi Aaa Ann but hut It wn was a R beautiful happen happen- In Ing The cabin hay need not wait walt weary hours The floor was deserted All of the people were In the room of books hook Up the stairs after the lord he mounted silent a as n a talking stalking cat cot passed the door cautiously and took tool up ip a po position on the ne next t turn of the I spiral stairs It was very Tery simple but hut the h- h heating beating of his frenzied heart seemed battering down Iown the tho wall of his detest chest He lie was above nho the door from which the stealer rice tealer must emerge e. e He TIe could reach rench the others other's back from above e There was no risk No possibility pos pos' of failure A sund from the room The fanatic lifted his knife and pol polled poised Ell It IJ lie ire would he be quick a as thought mh drive ive down clown his Ms knife pounce ponnee upon th the lord for fora forn a n second strike Then ho hp h became suddenly eyed with amazement Out of the tho room sprang a n whiteman white man buttoning hh his hl e vest t and pulling his necktie together MS us he be ran A white man No face concealing distorting dis dis- distorting bandage no narrowed oyed eyes 8 or tightened lip lips Th Tho cabin boy saw aw un un- that the black block kimono hun hung In lusterless histories folds over o this imm's imms left arm What had happ happened to the lord Before Detore time fellow could piece Ilece together the fragments of reason which remained the white man was UR gone one The cabin boy stole down the stairs looked Into the empty tower room n without moving inn Ja arno nn had hod been heen spirited away He could not have ha climbed through the window for tor even een evena eena cn cna a fool could see that It was u n great groat dl distance t. t tu to time the street below helow Then Then- was UN but one ono solution The god of fit the lords lord's family hind lind rescued am San In some unknown n way from the peril of the knife which waited Perhaps the god od was still hovering IJ about the room perhaps he lie might ht strike him the cabin boy the thought was but hut halt In his mind when fien he Wets was already out ont of the the- hall and slipping down the stairway to the street Suppose he lie was even eyen thinking suppose he be hind bad struck at nt Ku i iThe The he sod od would have e turned the the knife blade to Der t I T Bob BOD rushed rusher down the steps headed for the library door He saw a n chair Oiled filled with familiar silk a bowed boned and sunken head crowned b by the time flaming naming glory of hair Ellen I He gathered her to him In a great grent sweeping move meat ment I My I dear my dearest he whispered I cant can't tell you ou now now now- there ther Is no time for explanations e but soon soon soon- She lifted a wet tear-wet face I tOr know some some of of It I know and some I have gues guessed already already- They made you ou cry i 1 he said fiercely fierce fierce- ly Now snarled the time Thunder God to the time Keeper of the time Stars look closely close close- f fEllen I ly I There will be fighting Ellen felt the tweeds tweed's rough surface surface surface sur sur- face against her cheek Yell Wells whispered ed Alls nearly o over er comfortingly Ellen oh Ellen I love lo you you you-don't don't dont cry tear dear girl Ills His arm tightened about her From the d depths of ot the c co coal muffled muffled mat mat- fled lied Are you ou about to beat me my lord For answer Wells Yells lifted her radiant face and kl herA herA herA her A kiss Is not foolish as fiS you said she breathed still In his arms My Iy my head And he must kiss her again They stood another moment so Then together they entered the room CHAPTER Sanderson was still de deep p In his chair his hits face away from the door n He had not moved mo since Wells Yells had left Williams cupped a light for his cigarette was absorbed momentarily so that Alberta first saw the quiet opening of ot the door first saw say the man with the black kimono over his bis arm The Instant of horrified recognition was unendurable More awful because of ot what It stood for It was Bob nob was It Bob nob had been that robe the time darker skin he had hud been the Japanese She would never be he able to explain things to Sander Sander- son Not after what the Japanese e What Bob had said And she had urged ed him on Never Ne reinstate her her- self Never She had no thou thought ht of I 1 r 1 t tHo Y Ho Admired That Was Wasa i ia a Mighty Blow Williams now Never Ne The sickening sickening sicken sicken- en In ing futility of that word made her case the more desperate nn other moment of this silence and she he would rave herself mad malt The rime proof Bob said er very evenly In his bis Japanese voice Sanderson's lu head nd did not lift He lie was far o a away he be saw his Bob Boh In that hut strange p land lanet so o unutterably alone Williams raised hl his hie head The maters match burned against t the nail null of his I finger er charred and went out omit A ghost It must he a ghost Some trick o of the time Japanese lIe He hind had heard that they could produce phantoms no it sis 18 real rent Ills face wavered way way- ered between surprise and ond quick com ing fear lie Ile was unable to speak or move his hand hond He tried to smile achiever achieved an art upturning upturning up up- turning of his lips in tam nn nil expression that tha t held steady neither waxing nor waning He lie lowered Ills his eyes p. and ond fixed them In desperation on a point at the tables table's cd edge eo That point whatever whatever what what- ever It was as was a speck of dust chest t. t perhaps seemed to grow and grow until It was Ulon monstrous trous and a burden burrIen Intolerable to endure With n a great effort he out nut hl his hand toward Welts Wells In greeting Alberta sot sat hold bold upright tr trying to reason renson out ont item her misery with wide tearless s e eyes es and a hand hanel pressed to tn la keep ep down clown the tumult In her tier breast She Site attempted to Sl speak uk but hut could only motion with her dry tips lips She noticed for the time first time the steel hue of nf Wells Wells' eyes ces that had always alwa's been heen bo so o brown and allet friendly Wells llIs smiled and Williams tried to Imitate him him Ills desperate grinning made mude his Jaws ache and his nails went wens to 10 blE l w re lowel lowered ed to his side as ns Wells took another step Into the room Sanderson had not moved mo Wells Veils Ellen by his side moved to time the edge of his uncles uncle's chair and very ery gently touched the older mans man's der ler Uncle HUnde Jim I he said His uncle looked up So rapidly that lint his face was still In sorrow while his eyes ees moved into the new expression expression expression sion of jo joyful ful unbelieving half rapture rupture rap rapture rap rup- ture he stretched for Bobs Bob's hand grasped It convulsively unable to tp speak But nut understanding Veils Wells knees trembled as he turned to Williams Heres 11 eres ere's your our proof Hn Ray A gurgle of attempted words I Why how Why how you ou- ou What hut do o you think of It I glad we we glad to see you ou back hack back Still 1 lying bring Hay lay You would lie wouldn't you ou J I let I let me explain Bob If If If- If the proof had been paper paper likE like the proof you ou were looking for and preparing to perjure you against against you ou lie He Hewell well Ill I'll sa say that for you OU Ray it'd Ray Ud have hano been destroyed lon long ago For Its It's been rained on and kicked and spat at its it's been left outside In all nil ers Ill I'll bet you ou wept when you ou were told about me you ou crocodile His voice olce raised like e wind In a brass tube and he dropped his arm from about Ellen and reached a sud sudden en hand to Williams Williams' coat collar whirling him out of his chair and to his tats feet Unmindful of Albertas Alberta's whimper of protesting fright Unmindful UnhearIng Unhearing Un- Un hearIng rather I promised you Jou proof You should His Ills bond band flicked ht- ht ask for tor proof lightly lightly light light- ly Iy against Williams' Williams cheek Take a good look at It your Jour proof Ray flay It waa was wa wasa a sad affair wasn't It You tried to help me didn't you ou Hand against cheek cheel harder You were a h l h 1 of ofa a friend you ou were 1 t tIle He lIe stopped breathless and released the others other's collar glaring at fit him Uncle Sandy stop them 1 this Is no place Alberta Alberta Alberta Al Al- berta found her voice at last Sanderson's face was a n picture Infinitely infinitely In In- finitely prim extraordinarily wise he blinked bUnked from below his shaggy sha g brows but oracle made no motion as if to speak or Int n t Williams l i s washed shed that he might step I n a away farther further from Bob Dimly Dimly Dim Dim- I ly he hoard Albertas Alberta's Its Bob Bob dont don't let him hini hurt Ua Ray Hay please and FO so he also must speak It was was Alberta Bob Listen She wade de me ine made me it was her plan she wanted By tIny the Thunder God who saw me through this thing timing Wells ells said so gently that Williams felt feJt safer you are n a dirty swine flu Ray I You You You-you-tt you slipped a thunderbolt to Wells Wells' right hand You Yon hound And Bobs Bob's hand became a tight fist drove against Williams Williams' jaw Once Ho lIo admired That was a mighty blow I 1 Sanderson spoke e first Better take him awa away Alberta he I said glancing to where Williams sprawled lizard lizard like like upon the rug protecting protecting protecting pro pro- his lams head needlessly from a n second blow You wanted him You must have wanted him mini pretty badly Alberta to have ha gone through all this Well Yell well youve you've got him now Yes youve you've got him Hes He's yours ours to keep Take him away She must tr try once Bobs travelIng travelIng traveling travel- travel Ing with that woman Uncle Sandy Hes He's no better than thon Ive I've said Wont Won't you ou believe me when I tell you you you- you you-tt Why h not 1 Wells asked m my wife you ron know She bitterly bitter bitter- Sine She Isn't Alberta protested I ly speaking quickly l and with excite excite- ment It might alight be saved yet jet et Ray Hay He lIe was WIlf done but hut what did diet that smatter matter but she herself this great hou house e her position If she site could coul but convince Sander Sanderson on that she he had hind acted for what she had thought was the time best TO BE DE CONTINUED D. |