The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-30
PARTIv.

"It chanccc at 'aSt, cOnunueo Whz'"
All. that / fell in with Jan Khan
here. and found motive for living
Jan Khan is a soldier; he has fought
and canpaigned more than most men.
He has been the soldier of fortune, and
fortune has paid him well. 1t hap
pencd long ago that he was one of the
lodyguard of the rcigning prince OF
Gwalior. You know the story OF the
Gvalior trcasure-how they searched
Cor II not many ye.rs since, digging and
tapping and mining; TO discover moth
ing. The maharajah and his people
were very clever, but they were look
Ing in the wrong place. The treasure
was hidden too securely for them to
discover; but there is one man who
knows where it is, and that man Is
here"
"Ay, know" SAID Jan Khan, his
deep voice booming in suddenly. II
was one of the men that buried IL, in
the dead of night, working like moles
in the darkness. We were promised
great reward, and we were picked men.
/ can picture it now-the fear and con-
fusion that there was in the palace.
the word of invasion coming ever nearer
anil nearer, and the calling of US out
ard swearing us to secresy in the maha-
rajah's presence. So we buried IL. ami
we had our reward. BY the interven-
lion Of Allah heard word whispered
that meant death. and when the work
was done left everything and fled into
the night. There was an order that we
4. Of fhxAr l.
ace md ct our pay for what we had
done. I'll 4 went-the others--and they
did not return. 1t is not well TO be
trusted with the secrets OF princes"
He relapsed into silence again.
"You see," said Valid Ali, what we
speaks is no lie. / met this man and
forernthcred with him, and out of our
two minds---mine for the most part
we formed this thing. Here are two
great gifts. riches and life. the things
that hold power and greatness II they
are used urigfht. m our hands. and 1T
is to our honor that we have notsquan-
dcrcd them. VIII you hear
the end. sahib?"
"Since / have given my word, may
as well hear ALL" said Esdaile.
sour plan. then. is to be rulers OF the
land; to pick. as the time goes on, the
wiscstmen and join them to us so that
their intellect may work with us. We
have time enough. and I see the time
coming when YOU English will let the
Empire slip from your fingers. and IL
will be well for the man that is at hand
to catch it. You are eaten up with dis
sersions at home. and your speakers
fnd governors in England do not know
the Worth of what they hold. Why,
there are many of them that are ready to
let It no even now. Is IL not true that
even the Lat sahib Is made to listen to
the babbIe little menand obey them.by
your laws, SO that he is made laughing
stock to his servants here? Do they not
cores here and listen to the idle tales
of Bcngalis and schoolmasters, and 90
nway full of them, to work mischief?
Oh, yes, I know it, This thing was
not wheh I was young man; IL has
come Of late years, and il is the begin
ming of the end. Why. il we were to
rise up tomorrow these fools that you
set to make your laws would applaud
us. though It were to their shame and
the downfall Of your empire. They are
pleased when a'3engali stands up and
speaks sedition; they put them even to
rule over us, the children of the true
faithi We ruled the land before ever
you came. and we will rule IL ngnin.
for IL was made for us. You that govern
here are good men and wise. for the most
part. but your time is nearly over. You
BDe far away from the heart OF your
~,rntry. and the sedition-monccrs have
oil their own way. Who cares that
gou come here and die in harness?
They only fling mud at you when you
arc not there to reply to them Your
work Is good, it will endure, but you
will not reap the benefit, for you will
DC harassed and denied even while you
DO II. ard then you will be forgotten.
All, sahib, am not without knowledge.
To you say--be one of us. Leave this
working for masters that scoff at you
and. join us; you will not find us un-
grateful"
Esdaile rose and locked round upon
che little gathering.
"Five mcD--and the greatest power
n the world." he said. "Do you know
the people you would turn against?
--'l