The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-13
rs-e-e-e=e-e-o-e-e-e 90 e-e-e-eee 500 -
! THE PURPLE GOD. !;
BY WILLIAM MURRAY GRAYDoN Copyright 1909. .
q O.
CHAPTER w.
THE CRIME IN -TITE JUNGLE.

| lCtt ".
TITD CRIME IN THE JUNGLE.
| A distributor of seditlous papers, n man
with a secret mission that kept him wan
| her1ng feverishly- about the country
| such was the strange parsonage called
the Maulavi, whose suspicious conduct In
the Northwest provinces in the early
part of 1857 had been frequently brought
| to the notice OF the authorities.
And to Azlm Ullah, secretary to Mana
sahb Of Bithoor, the proud and powerful
! Indian prince who had an old grievance
against the British government.
These two In company in Calcutta,
travelling up country from town to town,
with Jhalapur the objective point In their
Journey-little wonder that Col. Erlton
suspected deep designs and feared serious
mischief. He knew quite we'll, moreover.
who had been tho Nann's mysterious
guest at Bithoor the previous year.
The proofs were pillng UP. Tho treach-
cry OF Joel Spanish and the messengers
story were two links In the chain. In
the space of few seconds the colonel's
face seemed to grow older and graver.
Perhaps even now rebellion was being
plotted in the palace at Jhalapur. whittier
the recreant private OF the fuslliers was
Fastening with the plans Of tho forts
Something must be done. but what?
You learned no more than you have
told me7" tho old soldier asked.
',rhat Ia all SIR" Tobias Clnk replied:
"the simple fact that they we're going to
Jhalapur."
And you are positive the ono man was
Azlm Ullah?''
II can swear to his Identity, SIR"
Tho colonel sat down to the desk.
seized pen and paper and wrote rapidly
for 1.-Two minutes. He thrust the letter
into an envelope and seized and addressed
II am sorry to have detained you, my
man." he said. but wished to send this
by you Guard 1t we'll and deliver It to
Lieut. Fame at Rampoora. Tell him 1t Is
urgent and must be read Immediately.
II you are too late. and he should have
left Rampoora, follow after him without
delay. You understand
Perfectly. sir. Your instructions shall
be obeyed."
Tobias Cink placed the letter IN an
inner pocket, buttoned his blouse over
1t and strobe to the gate He repeated
the directions the colonel had given him,
30 there should be no possibility OF his
missing the road, and then he swung
his lean figure into the saddle and was
gone.
+ Col. Erlton, having watched the man
out OF sight. FASTENED toward his own
quarters; his heart was heavy with dis
nal forebodlngs. and he dreaded tho adj
vent OF the morrow.
Tho receding hoof strokes OF Tobias
Clink's steed could be heard In the dis
lance when man rose from n dcnsc
clump OF shrubbery near tho front We
randa Of the bungalow. The moon was
coming up, and a silvery ray OF light
shone on the malignant features OF Joel
Spanish.
That he should have crept back al
most Immediately after his narrow escape
showed his daring. fearless nature. From
safe shelter he had witnessed the de-
II NIL
overheard much OF the subsequent. con-
versauon between Clink and Col. Erlton.
II have time to do It," no muttered.
1.-THE main road is longer. and can save
three miles by the bride path
He listened for minute. and, finding
all quiet, he boldly entered the bungalow.
With the exception OF weapons there
had done his work thoroughly beforehand.
He chose brace of pistols. with ammu-
milton, and was In the act Of buckllng on
a sword. when light footsteps fell on his
ear, and Lieut. Fane's khansaman en-
tered the room by rear door.
Spanish knew that the old servant was
true to his salt. else he might have
spared him. The flash OF the blade as It
leaped from the scabbard was the khan
saman's first ntimation of his danger,
and before he could cry out the steel cleft
deep between his shoulder and neck. He
pitched to the floor and the spoutlng red
blood formed pool around him. The
murderer stepped over the body and gllded
across the compound to the stable.
Fortunately for the syce. he had not
returned with his fellow servant. and
thereby missed similar fate Jack had
taken the best and freshest horse. but
there remained a brown marc that was
good traveller.
Spanish sadded and bridled tho animal,
brought 1t out and led 1t cautiously across
the open to the Jungle. For a few min
utes he threaded his way through the
vegetation and trees, and then. coming TO
n faint trail that showed in the moon
light. he mounted and rode hard to the
southeast.
BY this time Tobias Clnk was riding
at a quick trot over the dusky highway
that stretched white before him. and
thinking only OF his nearly completed
task, OF his long journey of thousands OF
niles by land and sea- with the sole OBJ
ject OF delivering document and parcel
into the hands OF Lieut.. John Fame. He
had not slept or tasted food for many
hours, but his rugged frame was proof
against fatigue and he sat erect and
alert in the saddle. Having left the VII
lagos and the fields of corn and maize
behind him. he entered densely wooded
to right and left, and sheltered numerous
wild beasts and few Pindaroon rob-
berA-
The road was now In blacklist shadow.
now relieved by waHering CLINT of
moonlight. 1t was highway only In
name. for there was but little travel be-
tween Meerut and Jhalapur.
At this hour of the night. IN the dark
ness the weird sounds of the forest would