GATE OF RINGING SANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20024, 14 August 1928, Page 16

GATE OF RINGING SANDS.

BY OTWELL BINNS,

CHAPTER ll.—(Continued.) "By the Holy " growled Nima JTashi, but was instantly checked by Claverdon, whose eyes were fixed not on the man's face, but on the jewel in his turban; for, pale against the darker sheen of the silk, there was a jado ornament that so far as he could see was the exact replica of the one in his own pocket. A little touch of excitement quickened his heart-beats as he made the discovery, then his eyes met the flashing dark ones again, and in the three seconds of time before the man passed him, he strove to fix the man's face in his memory, and turned to watch him as the curtains swung aside for his egress, for to know a man's back is sometiries almost as helpful for recognition as knowledge of his face. The man passed on, the curtains swished back in their place; and then he caught the Tibetan's voice speaking In a stage whisper: " The woman signals us." At the word he began to move across the open space in the direction of Narani. conscious that she was watching him closely, and doubly conscious of his own surging curiosity. A couple of yards from the divan he halted, bowed and then met Narani's eyes. Looking at them across the room he thought that thev were black; but now he saw that thev were blue, the darkest blue that lie had ever seen, and of a clouded hriehtnes* like a flame veiled in smoke. They were moreover, no open book in which a man might read her thought.' They saw without revealing, and not even curiosity was betrayed by them as they passed from him to Nima-Tashi standing behind him For a moment the silence was noticeable broken only by the light swish of the pun kah and the splash of a fountain somewhere in the darkness outside; then the woman looked at the card held in the palm of her shapely hand, and snoke:— " Well. Mr. Claverdon, you wish to laTk with me ? "

The questiou was asked quietly, in clear, bell-like voice, without the faintest hint of curiosity in .the tones. " Yes," answered Claverdon with laconic directness. Then he glanced at the attendant houris about her. That Narani understood the glance was proved a moment later for she gave a signal, and instantly the flautists and her personal attendants followed the dancers into ob scurity. Then she looked at Claverdon again, and now she permitted a little wondering light to stray into the fathom less eyes. The Englishman hesitated, a little uncertain of his ground; and she looked from him to Nima-Tashi, and again the golden voice broke the silence. " Perhaps you, 0 man of the Hills. have something " " Aye! " boomed the Tibetan, never at s loss for words. " There is a matter of rifles that I took to Termez for a man of thine. They were without breech bolts and I came near to being slain for another's fault. Maybe thou wilt give word for the breech-bolts to be sent ? The woman laughed, and the laugh transformed her. " Gold mohurs were paid to thee, yak-driver, were they not ? What are the missing breech-bolts to thee? Maybe the lack of them has saved thy yaks and their drivers from the hasty bullet." Her rippling laughter was infectious, and Nirna-Tashi's risibility was quick to respond. His rolling laughter filled the loom, drowning the sound of hers, as he answered mirthfully: Aye, as thou sayesfc, I had the gold mohurs! " " And Muhammed Khan had the rifles." , , ~ " And thou the price of them—and the breech-bolts," laughed the Tibetan. "It was a good division." " Maybe the bolts will be sent when the time is ripa for the use of the rifles, answered Narani, with careless laughter, and then her eyes clouded once more, turned to Claverdon, and her beautiful face grew .mask-like. "It was not about rifles without bolts you came, Mr Claverdon?" she asked politely, her words, as Claverdon marked, without any noticeable accent, though he was sure she was not English. "No!" he answered laconically. " J was about that!" As he spoke he thrust forward the piece of carved jade which Cavenagb had given him, and had the satisfaction of teeing Narani moment arilv moved out of her pose of incurious calm. A startled look came on he. iace, the lambent eyes glowed, her whole demeanour expressed an intense interest. A second later the look was gone, the dow had faded, her demeanour was again Impassive, and as she looked at Claverdon she appeared the most unmoved woman in the world. " A iade trinket! " sho remarked in'differently. Then a little mocking note came in her voice. I did not knm you were a jewel-merchant, Mr. Claver don. ... Yon wish to sell that little Pl Lonis Claverdon laughed. That mocking note had told him that Narani knew very well the nature of his vocation, and the knowledge pat him more at his ease " No, Narani," he answered i"lt is not for sale; but I^ should like *ou to expound its meaning. Again there was a brief glow m the clouded eves, then she gave a rippling laugh. "I am no priest to expound, Mr Claverdon: nor yet a sybil to divine secrets. You have come to the wrong door, lam afraid." She stretched a hand, pink like a shell, small.' beautiful as a perfect hand may- be. " I may eee the trinket' You will trust me with this precious thing ?" There was a hint of mockery in heT last words, a challenge in her eyes that told Claverdon that she knew quite well the meaning of the token; and with a laugh he' thrust it toward her.

"Of course." , , Narani took it, apeared to be absorbed In it for'a moment, then looked up, and Baid carelessly: " A pretty thing and delicately carved 'A gateway or an entrance to some temple. I fancy." " Yes." answered Claverdon apparently as carelessly " For a guess, The Gate of Rincring Sands." At the words so carelesslv spoken a Bt art led 'light came in Narani's eyes: a look :of something lik.e consternation came into her face She leaned forward on the divan, and there was an almost harsh note in the bell-like voice as she asked nuicklv " Hn+e of Rincinr* Bands? "What .1-= that'" CHAPTER 111 As Naram . asked ' Iber question Claver don laughed " That is what 1 came to ask you, Marani." The woman's dark eyes expressed sur prise, and there was a note of if in hei vpice as she,replied, " Indeed, Mr Claver don! But why should vou come to tne? " " Because 1 think you know the secret of that Gate," was the answer, quietly given. " If 1 denied all knowledge—" • Claverdon laughed. " I would not Bo that if 1 were you. It would be a waste of time." Narani ' did no^ 1 reply for a moment A calculating look came on the heantifid face, and her eves had again the clouded look Then she crave n litt'p lauch that had in 't a rinf nf rnorkerv " Yon seem verv sure. Mr Claverdon l3nt I vou to reflect that von ma' be mistaken." " No." answered Ptaverdnn «t"hborn!v Then bp continued «hnrr>lv " Tbn' mar who left. vou his* now-—" Rp chpe'-p' l tt he canirht the look which camp in woman's 'eves at the mention of her dp parted visitor, and quite deliberately Waited. • -Vy,* B ' tl,at .™ n -" demanded Naram tliuckly, her voice tense and ns it seemed to himl apprehensive. "What of him, Mr. Claverdon ? "

A ROMANCE OF INTRIGUE AND MYSTERY.

(COPYRIGHT.)

" 110 wore a gaud m his turban like that one in your hand. I saw it as ho went out " Relief—Claverdon was sure it was relief—glowed momentarily in Narani s eyes. She leaned back among the cushions, and her laughter rippled mockingly. " Really, my friend, lam not responsible for the jewels my visitors wear in their turbans." "No!" The stubborn note was »n Claverdon's voice again. " But the man wore the symbol of the Gate. He was here —your friend—" " Are you so sure of that? " she interrupted " I judge by appearances," was the retort. " The man was wearing that symbol, he was here—" " But you did not know that when you came?" asked Narani quickly. " No! But his presence with that jewel in his turban confirmed that suspicion that brought me here to make inquiries—the suspicion that you do indeed know more about The Gate than you have owned." " Ah, there is something else—something anterior to —" "Yes!" broke in Claverdon crisply. " You mentioned Ringing Sands to a man—"

"To Chutter Ghose," broke in the woman with a little laugh. " I had heard the name and was curious about it Chutter hears all the gossip of the Chandni Chowk." She laughed again. " But curiosity is not a crime—in my sex."

" Nor an mine! " retorted Claverdon quickly. " Perhaps you will tell me where you heard the name ? I am—pardon me —very curious." Narani did not reply immediately. A look of reflection came on her face, her eyes closed, her smooth brows creased in an apparent effort of remembrance; and Claverdon watched her with some amusement. Finally the marvellous eyes opened and looked straight at him while her head was shaken. " I cannot recall where or from whom I heard the name," she answered in a tone that expressed regret. " I have many callers . . and you know how light gossip floats to and fro like thistledown in a breeze It was an odd name, it hinted of mystery, and I was interested . . curious!" She looked at the trinket in her hand. " And you think this is The Gate of Ringing Sands, Mr. Claverdon ?* Yes? Then I am the more intrigued. I should like to hear anything that you can tell me. But it has perhaps to do with the Sirkar and you cannot indulge me ?" Her laughter rang like silver bells as she asked the question; then she added: " But now that I know the secret of the symbol, I shall ask the man who wore it——" " Who was that man ?" asked Claverdon brusquely. The dark eyes grew bright with mocking mirth as she laughed again. " You are indeed very curious, Mr. Claverdon, more curious than a woman. But there is no reason why I should not tell you. In Delhi, the man with the jade ornament in his turban is known as Fazir Beg " "Aye!" broke in Nima-Tashi, chuckting loudly "In Delhi, maybe. But beyond the passes he is Rahman Ali." At the Tibetan's words, Louis Claverdon almost jumped with astonishment, but a moment later he had himself in hand, his lean face revealed nothing of his surprise; and ho was quick to note the look of chagrin which came and passed in Narani' eyes. Then her laughter rang through the chamber. " A mistake, man of the Hills," she cried, in a mirthful voice. " You should consult Chutter Ghose about a pair of glasses " " No need, Narani," interrupted Nima, with rumbling laughter. "I have seen that eagle cock too often to make a mistake though what he does in Delhi, unless he seeks a mate in thee " Claverdon's mind worked quickly. He had no doubt that the Tibetan was right. The chagrin in Narani's eyes was proof of that; her evident desire to shake the Tibetan's conviction was added testimony. And that Rahman Ali should be there, wearing that symbol, gave a quite tremendous force to Colonel Cavenagh's blind shot. That guess in the dark was vindicated, and it was of the first importance than Cavenagh should know the facts before Rahman Ali could leave Delhi, or be warned that his presence was known to the authorities. He decided that it was time to go, "Then you know nothing of The Gate of Ringing Sands ?" he asked, deliberately ignoring the Tibetan's intervention. " I know just what you have told me, Mr. Claverdon," she answered with an apparent frankness that did not deceive him.

" Then I am sorry to have troubled you," he answerer!, " I had hoped to learn from you " " And instead the boot, as your compatriots say, is on the other leg." Narani laughed cheerfully as she made the counter. " But it is better to give than to receive—which I suppose is as true of knowledge as of bread. . . But you are not going, Mr. Claverdon ?" A little flash of anxiety came into her eyes as she asked the question, and ho thought she glanced toward the curtained doorway. "I Can promise you music, a nautch such as you shall not find elsewhere in all Delhi " " Thank you. It is good of you to offer. But I must go, madame. The Sirkar's business calls me." Narani. mocked. "Pooh! The Sirkar! will it not wait our pleasure?" Then she laughed enigmatically; and a flash shot in her clouded eyes, as she added: You will not find him, though you go through Delhi with a dust-comb." That she had divined what, was in his mind Louis Claverdon' easily guessed. Her words left him in no doubt of that, and the knowledge made it all the more imperative that he should take his leave. He held out his hand for the jade trinket, and she tossed it to him carelessly, with a laugh that hid her reluctance to let it go from her. Then she clapped her hands Narani whispered something to the girl, and one of her girls came running. Claverdon would have given his head almost to hear the words, but strained his ears in vain. Then as the attendant disappeared, running as she had arrived, he • spoke again. " 1 must go, madame " " But you will take refreshment first, Mr. Claverdon. The night is hot; and the sherbet is well cooled. That girl will bring it within a minute. I gave her the order " " That was very thoughtful of you," answered Claverdon. " But I am afraid we cannot wait " / 'But see, she comes already. You cannot refuse." In her manifest anxiety there was something that escaped Claverdon's understanding. He strove to conjecture what it was and failed; and whilst he stood, the girl approached him with a silver salver on which were three crystal goblets. Plainly Narani meant to join him and ,Nuna, and since the choice of goblets was his there could be little risk in accepting the refreshment offered. He took one of the goblets, the Tibetan took the second and Naiarii accepted the third. "Your very good health, Mr. Claverdon,'' she said with a smile, and lifted iier glass. "And tlnne, Nararn," laughed NimaI'aslii before the Englishman could speak. They drank, together, then Narani stood up. She vas tall—as tall almost as laverdon himself Hei dark blue eyes met his in level glance. They were full of witchery and allurement and feminine ■hallenge, and there was a hypnotic qua) ty in their fixedness Claverdon—wise in lie ways of the ancient East—recognised the fact instantly and deliberately turned ins eyes away, looking round to find Nima staring at the woman in a way that told him that the hillman felt her spell as he did himself. "Come, Nima," he said, "we must march." (To be Continued Daily.)