The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-11
cHAPrER xxv11-coNTINUED.

between the folds OF the DloOd-stalneu
tunlo, he found first a letter. which lie
pocketed after hasty glance at tho ad-
dresA
Then. returning to the search. he drew
out an oval-shaped stone, as large as
hens egg. and resembling purple opal.
Captain Rae and the others uttered cries
OF admiration ms they gazed at the great
jewel which flashed thousand points
OF light, and glowed like dazzling pail
OF fire.
""By jove. this must be my strange
legacy!" Jack exclaimed, In bewilder>
ment. but l can't imagine what
..It is mine. mine," numbered Chandrn
Singh. as he leaped quickly forward ana
snatched the gem from the young ofiicerH
fingers. He imperiously waved back those
who would have seized him.
"Listenl.. he cried. This is the purple
god. the talesman and heritage of my
family. Yet until now my eyes have
never beheld III ! was az infant when
It was lost-wfief my father, Phrtab
singh, was foully slain for the sake Of
during tho Mahrhttn war of 1903. And
your father. sahib. Captain Anthony
Groenvile was tho thief and murderer-'
You liet' muttered jack.
81 speak the TRUTH" was the fierce
reply. my father. with his dying words,
snjoined that I should avenge him and
hecover the Jewel. when had reached
Years of discretion. DO you wonder,
then, that hate you-that when discov-
cred YOUR real name, I curxed the day
that made me your debtor? Weeks ago,
before tho mutiny, you would have SUI
fered for your fathers sin had not some
cunning influence thwnrtnd my designs.
And now, since earthly things are at an
end for me, give you back the Purple
God. Take It. sahib. May 1t curse you
with its fatal power-wlth tho sting that
It has ever had for those VINO possessed
Il unlawfully"
The fatal curse! Too we'll did the young
officer know It, and he would rather have
fontlled n cobra than accept the rajah'H
lift There was n brief, breathless silence,
and then a shcll came screaming through
the latticed window and burst with
frightful explosion against tho opposite
wall.
Fortunately the only injury to life was
caused by n single fragment, as large as
mans two fists, which struck the gilt
tering Jewel from Chnndrn Singh's out
stretched hand. and passing on nearly
severed his head from his shoulders. The
rajah fell, nangled and dead, to the
floor.
And of tho Purple God. which had
been shattered to dust, there remained
not single splinter to tell OF It's lost
glories.
AS Fora sank down with piercing
cry by her fathers body, Joel Spanish
opened his eyes and lifted himself on
one elbow: eithor he had suddenly re-
vived, or else he had been feigning
Inconsistencies. He reached forth his
right arm. seized pistol that lay near
and pointed deliberately at Jack. Only one
person saw the young officers peril-the
Lava M Ind
without hesitation the Hindoo girl flung
herself between the ruffian and his In.
tended victim, and the next instant. as
the weapon flashed and roared, she re-
ceived tho charge In her breast. A re.
cond later half n dozen swords were
buried in Joel spanish's body.
Jack caught the girl as she foil put
her gently down and knelt beside her,
She was dying-a glance told him that
and his heart was filled with an Infinite
pity. He knew that she had purposely
sacrificed her life to save his.
"Zorn!" he cried. Speak to mel"
"Sahib may you be happy!' she wills.
pered. think Of me--sometimes. Andre
member-I-loved you'll"
CHAPTER XxvI1I.
CONCLUSION.
The conquest OF Delhi proved no light
task. for though the British troops held
strong DOHlllDnB NWltulll tUc WAiiS 'Ng1'
darkness fell on the evening Of tho 1fth
II was not until the 18th, after four more
dnys and nights OF desperate fighting,
that the city was entirely cleared of the
mutineers and the royal palace taken,
In the interval of rest that followed
the subjugation OF the city when men
could think ana speak calmly, Jack
Estcourt and his sister related to one
another what they had suffered and ex,
perienced during the past weeks. not
the least interesting part Of these con-
ndences was the letter that the younf
officer had taken from the body OF Joe
spanish. and which he permitted his
friends to read, though the contents
clearly proved tho truth OF Chandra
singh's accusation. 1t was message
from the dead, dictated by the father
whom Jack could but dimly recall:
1.-THE Moat House. Kent. .
april 81. 1899.
ITO My Dear Son. John Grcnville:
when you come to read ths-pro
| vided my instructions arc strictly car
ried out---I shall have been lying N thf
grave for eighteen years. and you WI
have passed from childhood to manhood
/ have much to say to you. but as my
time is very short. and CONSCIOUSNESS.
NAV fail me while I am debating thes'
| lines. I must he as brief as possible
| How shall hegin2 The story starts
with Anthony Grenville. yonr grandia
| 4.
| dier's career. and fought with Lord Lake.
army in India during the Mafratta wa
of 1903.
Near the finish OF the battle of Las
wari. In the RaJput State Of Alwar,
body of native horse led by Partial
Eslngh, bore down upon the caviar.
squadron commanded by Captain Gren
! Vile. Partab SINGH was the rajah OF tn
| State of Jhalapur. and he had cast u
his lot with the Mahrattas, Both he an
my father were endorsed simultaneously
and while the raJah lay wounded an
i helpless, n great jewel which he wore i
his turban, known as the Purple God
| attracted my fathers attention n
seized the stone, gave the Hindoo a I'm
ishing stroke. and shortly afterward re
Joined his commando the rajah's body wa
carried off the field by his own peopi
after the battle,
"Nithout doubt tho gem carried a cnrs
with It, and my father had bitter caus
TO regret the temptation to which he ma
Welded. From the time he returned Y
England until his death IN 1870, mlsfoi
tune constantly pursued him. WITH y,
last words he confessed the story 10 m
| a,,a MT intos my hands the Purple Goo