Loyola University Maryland - Evergreen / Green and Gray Yearbook (Baltimore, MD)

Page 29 text:

THE LOYOLA ANNUAL 19 machine opened and the two Hindoos stepped out. They spoke roughly to someone inside and then there stepped out into the light of the gas lamp a fair young girl. I only caught a glimpse of her face, Phil, but that was enough to set my heart beating fast. Such a sweet face she had! and how full of terror and suffering! Her eyes! Oh, Phil, my heart went out to the little maid in her terror and trouble, and then—” “And then, what?” I said, for I was now as much excited as Burt. “ I caught a few words spoken in English by the girl, from which I gathered that she v as to be killed at some mys- terious rite or other. My heart froze as I listened, but before I could move they were inside and the gate was closed.” “ Well, what are we to do? ” I asked, helplessly. “ Do ? Why, Phil, there is only one thing to do — to go and rescue that girl. These heathens are going to sacrifice her to some god if they are not stopped. But, by Heaven! they will be stopped ! If you won’t help. I’ll go alone ! ” He v as so m.uch in earnest that he imparted some of his zeal to me. And so, like knights of old, we girded ourselves for the conflict — with a pair of .45 colts— and went forth to the aid of the fair lady in distress. If we had stopped to consider the rashness and utter foolish- ness of what we were about, I am sure that, as two ordinary American citizens of the tv entieth century, we would not have gone on this errand, v hich belonged more suitably to the Middle Ages. But we did not give ourselves time to consider. Led by the excitement of the moment, our natural resentment aroused at the thought of a beautiful girl in dis- tress, v e almost ran around to the rear of the house across the v ay. On our way we agreed upon our plan of attack. We would ring the bell, overpower the one who opened the gate, proceed

Page 28 text:

18 THE LOYOLA ANNUAL unless they wished to conceal their movements? ¥ ho could these Orientals be, who were always stealing in and out at the back way and had never opened their front windows? Burt and I, who had only been out of college a few years and still retained much of the vigor and curiosity of youth, had asked ourselves these questions over and over, but as no opportunity of investigating the mystery had presented itself, we could only sit at our windows, staring at the house across the way and forming wild conjectures as to the busi- ness, identity and habits of its inmates. One evening, hov ever, the coveted opportunity offered itself in a way which neither of us had expected. I was sitting by the fire v aiting for Burt to come home from the club. I had almost fallen asleep when he burst into the room. He was panting as if he had been running. His face was fiushed ; his eyes sparkled with excitement. “Wake up, man!” he cried, panting for breath. “I saw them taking a girl into that house! They may kill her if someone don’t stop them. Come on ! ” he continued trying to pull me to m.y feet. At first I stared at him in amazement. Then, remembering that he had been to the club, I laughed and sank back into my chair. “ All right, Burt,” I said, sleepily. “ We’ll go in the morn- ing. You go to bed now and sleep it off. Youll feel more like rescuing fair m-aidens to-morrow.” “ Don’t be a fool, Phil,” and there was an earnestness in his tone that made me open my eyes again, “ I have not been imbibing to-night, but I have seen something that has aroused a spirit of chivalry in my breast to equal that of the knights of old. Listen! I was coming home when curiosity prompted me to go around and have a look at the back of the house across the way. Just as I came up the alley an automobile stopped in front of the gate. The door of the

Page 30 text:

20 THE LOYOLA ANNUAL into the house, search until we found the girl and then, if possible, carry her off to a place of safety. The first part of our plan worked beautifully. As soon as the gate opened in answer to our ring, we both burst into the yard, overpow- ered the servant who opened it, bound his hands and feet with our belts and locked him in the basement. But now the more exciting part of our adventure was to come. We were about to enter the mysterious house. Without pausing to consider we opened the door and went in boldly. We found ourselves in a little hallway in which several doors opened on either side. There did not seem to be anyone in this part of the house, so we went cautiously along, looking into each of the rooms as we passed. As we opened one of the doors we caught sight of some bloody characters inscribed on the opposite wall, but as we could do no more than guess at their meaning we passed on. ¥ e had gone about ten feet more along this hallway when we came to a large archway, closed by handsomely carved fold- ing doors. On opening these, I was prepared to look into a room of fantastic beauty and grandeur; but the scene that met my eyes so overpowered me with amazement that I entirely forgot where I was. For here in the centre of this house, in the midst of gay New York, was a perfect little Oriental garden. Large palm trees raised their towering heads almost to the graceful arch of the roof above. Oriental shrubs lined the network of paths that crossed and recrossed each other throughout this whole wonderland. Sparkling fountains were scattered here and there among the trees and shrubs, and the air v ras laden with the fragrant odor of spices. The most wonderful thing, however, about this marvelous spot was the way it was lighted. By some mysterious means a soft radiance was spread over the whole scene, giving the exact effect of an Oriental twilight.