The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-07-19


= Do you understand now why have
followed you r demanded the Indian
Ajalma, with fercely glsring eyes.
II do not know that the signs are
the secret emblems of some Indian socie-
ty,-further than that, know, absolutely,
nothing
+" Liar = rang from the Indians lips,
You dare to deny what you cannot fail to
know. Your companion in the theft Of
our precious jewel, the diamond Of Bud
dhi has paid with his life for his temerity,
Beware, for you, too, must brave the inst
I indignation Of the devoters Of the deity
upon whom You have put this indignity. |
give you one last chance will You re-
store the stolen diamond I"
lon speak in enigmas," was the quiet
reply do not understand your words
They 10 me are az an insoluble riddle -
AIalIna regarded him with scornful dis
trust.
II you think to battle me by following
tins line OF non-committal policy, you will
ind that | am not to be tritied with
have traced you over miles Of ocean and of
Land. | have tracked you here I have
confronted you, for what To be disap-
pointed and baffied No You will either
! divulge the whereabouts Of the diamond.
OF your life must pay the penalty here, and
nov
''une word, " interrupted Mr.. Mapleton.
The Indian looked tixedly and interroga-
lively at him
~ on believe me to he one Of the pur-
l"iners # yyur diamond. Where Was il
stolen =
Il Ia India
In India. And he whom you suspect,
IN connection with me
What Of him y
II would know his name
Sidney Vivian"
Mr.. Mapleton regarded the man with a
look If blank anazement.
II remember that name, he murmured:
but who was he p
The Indian moved impatiently. Ii was
evident that he considered his companions
mterrogatories as mere by-play, to secure
time
II am not To be trifed with, he said,
sternly and simply
And |. replied the young man, earn
estly, have no intention Of, or desire to
trlie with or mislead you. Once again,
I'll tell you candidly and definitely that |
have no knowledge Of the theft i'll which
you lmphca;e me. You have made mis-
take
A mistake ;" echoed the Indian, excit-
edly. Ajalma never commits an error
where the interests Of his religion are at
stake. ! know whereof speak Come.
your answer p
Il have answered you, was the answer.
- am IatarYnipaJ man " sa,j Ia L.,
dian. This assumption of ignorance will
not serve you.
II know nothing Of the affair, persist
ed the young man That must satisfy
yuu. If you murder me, you will be pun
ished for it for have influential friends
who are not only aware of my whereabouts,
but who will ferret you out, for You and
youI mission are already known to them
No fear of punishment for himself can
deter true son Of Bowhanie from per
forming his sworn duty, was the reverent
reply If ! fail, a thousand will spring
up to nil my place. All your boasted de-
tectIves and man-hunters could never sue
coed III ferreting out one Of our number,
when once aroused. Threats do not intinl-
idate me, for | am bounden to the solemn
performance of self-assulned obligation,
and that mission | will execute Argue no
more the diamond -
He had sprung to his companions side
az he spoke, and had drawn long, thin
knife, which he held over Mr.. Mapletons
head. The latter struggled, and attempted
to eyade him. He soon saw the folly Of at
tempting to wrestle with the sinewy In
dian, however, who. with a single turn of
his hand, laid him prostrate on the ground,
completely at his mercy. A picture for
painter were those two, the Indian and
his companion in the half light afforded by
the dim twilight, the former awaiting fa-
vorable answer or the information he
sought from the man whom he h I'd traced
ana followed, like some vultnre- bird in
search Of prey
'You will confess, demanded the In
dian
Il have nothing To confess ! am inno-
cent of the crime with which you charge
me"
The Indian raised the knife, menacingly.
''Subterfuge will avail you no longer,
he said. In one minute | will"
The sentence was cut short by struggle,
the prostrate young man endeavoring t.
throw off his assailant. The Indian, how
ever, 1.-the, active, determined, retained
his hold Of his adversary.
At that moment, shadow passed be-
tween the rising moon and the men upon
the floor of the cave. The Indian, quick,
perceptive, and ever on the alert, half
turned to ascertain If it were a veritable
presence.
One glance upwards told him that he
was observed. A woman a fair, young
lady, wandering along the beach, had been
attracted here by the sounds.
The Indian did not stop to regard her
or her attitude. He was not to be cheated
Of his prey. With single movement Of
his hand he struck his defenceless compan-
ion with the dagger
1t glanced aside, striking the forehead,
and inhicting a slight wound.
Slight as it was, however, blow in any
vital place could not have been prolific Of
more injury to the young man.
Whether it had struck some place where
there had been a wound before, or whether
it had caused a conclusion of the brain, Sc
rious and speedy, it did not appear. Only
it seemed to awaken the young man, as
from lethargy A wild, maniacal light
sprang into his eyes, He seemed imbued
with the strength of dozen men, and
with giant effort, he flung the Indian to
the farthest corner of the cave.
The young girl, terrified, bewildered,
had shrank back at these wild, desperate
actions. She saw the young mans eyes
lighting up with the reckless fires Of insan-
ity, she heard that awful cry Of agony,
rage and baffled vindictiveness, which came
from the Indians lips, and then, asathe
young man sprang past her, and out,
wildly, uAknowingly, along the beach, she
felt that he was q maniac.
Yet she, Bella Rodney, who had, by
some fateful circumstances, been led to this
place, arrived that day, gasped
for breath as she caught full view of the