Page 84 (1/1)

He attempted to open the door only to find that it resisted his every effort-it was locked upon the outside Here indeed was a sorry contretemps Turan the panthan scratched his head "Fortune frowns upon me," he murmured; but beyond the door, Fate, in the for Neatly had he tricked the unwary stranger The lighted doorway, thepatrol-these had been planned and timed to a nicety by the third warrior who had sped ahead of Turan along another avenue, and the stranger had done precisely what the fellow had thought he would do-no wonder, then, that he smiled

This exit barred to him Turan turned back into the corridor He followed it cautiously and silently Occasionally there was a door on one side or the other These he tried only to find each securely locked The corridor wound more erratically the farther he advanced A locked door barred his way at its end, but a door upon his right opened and he stepped into a dihted chamber, about the walls of which were three other doors, each of which he tried in turn Tere locked; the other opened upon a runway leading doard It was spiral and he could see no farther than the first turn A door in the corridor he had quitted opened after he had passed, and the third warrior stepped out and followed after hirim lips

Turan drew his short-sword and cautiously descended At the bottom was a short corridor with a closed door at the end He approached the single heavy panel and listened No sound came to him from beyond theeasily toward him at his touch Before him was a low-ceiled chamber with a dirt floor Set in its walls were several other doors and all were closed As Turan stepped cautiously within, the third warrior descended the spiral runway behind him The panthan crossed the room quickly and tried a door It was locked He heard a muffled click behind him and turned about with ready sword He was alone; but the door through which he had entered was closed-it was the click of its lock that he had heard

With a bound he crossed the rooer did he seek silence, for he kne that the thing had gone beyond the sphere of chance He threw his weight against the wooden panel; but the thick skeel of which it was constructed would have withstood a battering rah