Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-10-05

Thanks. child-thanks!" he cried,
Selling the dagger. tAt least ] shall
not die alone!"
"A struggle is impossible!" cried the
boy. you viii only be killed. The
Ganges is there. Fly!"
death! DEATH" repeated the crowd,
pressing closer about our hero.
"Ah, bandits!' he answered, brand
ishing the dagger-''bandits! You shall
not have me living! / will force you to
retreat-and look! already you are cow
ards! already you fear!'
And, truly, while redoubling their
clamor, the Hindoos had recoiled be-
fore the threatening blade liz this terri
BILE hand.
A deep anguish took possession of the
princess, breathlessly regarding this
spectacle, and, while, spite Of herself,
admiring George Malcolm heroism,
she yet hated the more this man who
had disdained her love and refused her
hand.
"Will he escape usT' she demanded
OF Doorgal.
"How, then? Is it possibleT' he an
swered, drawing from his belt q long
pistol and taking aim.
But already on the square the aspect
OF the contest had altered. George had
behind him the parapet, which bor-
dered on the river, and before him the
surglng, threatening crowd.
The first rank of his aggressors had
receded, as we have stated. but a terri
BILE pressure pushed them anew and ir-
resistibly forward. The Hindoos al
most touched him. He felt the hot
breath of these wild beasts upon his
cheek.
KaZil had been right. He might slay
two, perhaps ten, perhaps twenty, of
their number, ~only to meet certain
death himself. And he wished to live
live for revenge.
Instead, then, ,ofl,facing his assail-
ants, he brought all his agility and
nerve to bear. and springing upon the
parapet OF the bridge, there command
ing the crowd, he cried, in a voice Of
~
Follow me If you dare!" and. head
foremost, he dove into the river, whose
| waters ran twenty feet below him.
The Hindods uttered a groan Of rage.
Djella touched Doorgal's arm.
"Fire!' she said, 'fire!"
1.-THE rajah touched the trigger. The
shot made. Itself heard at the instant
that George Malcolm disappeared be-
meath the surface OF the water.
"Wellg' asked the princess.
II never miss a swallow on the
Wing" he said. REST easy, princess.
He is. dead" While. to himself he added:
II have no longer a. rival with Agnes
Burtell!'
- am avenGedv'. thought Djellal
But this is not all. 1t is to her who
stole his heart L turn now-to Agnes
BurtelI." 49, .
THUS, at the Saline moment, the image
OF this innocent child ,adrossed the
thought Of these two sinister beings, Of
whom one pursued her with his love,
the other with her hate. What would
this angel do between two devils?
In a room on the lower floor of Sir
John Malcolm's bungalow. two hours
after these events had taken place, sat
the two sisters, Agnes and Hera Bur-
tell. They were dressed in white, hut
before them OF n table, was spread a
piece of black stuff, which they were
converting into CARDS Of mourning,
stopping each moment to wipe away
their fast-falling tears, remembering
him to whom they could now yield but
this last evidence of affection and re-
spect. Suddenly, Hera, stifed by her
sohs, rose and walked to the window,
looking eagerly out.
mo n yet" she said. "and night
approaches. This prolonged absence
renders me uneasy
sBut. Sir Edward and Sir George are
together" answered her sister. There
could be 40 danger. Besides, they were
expected at the Governors"
Il know, but it seems to me strange
that Lord Singleton could detain them
SO long. Why do they not return or
! send us some news?"
Perhaps they have discovered some
trace of the assassins?"
May God grant it!' cried Agnes,
lifting her eyes to heaven, and ciasping
her hands.
Just then some one knocked gently at
the door. 1t was one Of the maids. a
J pretty little Hindoo, of perhaps fifteen
years, carrying in her hands two lamps.
"Mistresses," she said. when she had
disembarrassed herself Of her burden.
"a most beautiful palanquin is before
the door and within a beautiful lady,
though over her face is a veil. She de-
sircs. my mistresses. to see YOU"
"To see us?' both cried at once. eve
receive no one"
80 | told her" answered the maid.
Scindia; "but she insistei."
"A visit from an unknown In this
house Of mourning" murmured Agnes.
1T Is stranger
Perhaps she brings us news OF
George and Edward" timidly ventured
Hera.
you arc right. dear" assented Ag-
mes. what other motive could bring
her hereg We will receive her. Ny
child" turning to Scindia. 'let the lady
come in"
God grant she brings us no i'll
news." prayed Hera, as the door re-
opened.
Scin6ia introduced a lady magnifi-
Gently dressed, but whose features
were completely concealed by a black
veil, thrown, in Spanish fashion, over
her head. Crossing the threshold she
slowly traversed a portion OF the salon,
and stopped mt several steps distance
from the young girls, whom she grace
fully saluted. Agnes motioned for
Scindia TO withdraw, addressed the