The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-28

INA DON. CoPyIlgnt, 1908.
. Go . &c o o Go Q -o-o-e
flowing tunic and turbnn were after the
native fashion.
1T is needless to Inquire" he said. III
you are fleeing from the terrors Of the
! revolt. But whence como ye. snhibs :"
From Meerut.' Jack answered.
| And you are In present darger7'
a. shrlll and angry clamor ringing close
behind tho village wall. made tho ques-
| ton almost superliuous. In few words
Jack related tho events of the morning
and described the nature OF the runlahs
| by whom he and his companions had been
chased
"We thank you from our hearts" he
added. 'and We beg that you Will increase
the debt we owe you by still further
protecting their lives
you are strangers within my gates"
was the reply. spoken In perfect Eng
| lish: and for that reason alone you
should be sacred to mo. Moreover, MS It
happens. am n friend to tho English.
Make your minds easy. AS for these
budmasnes and rogues. IL they ara wise
| they will stay their hands from violence
and go rs they came. Follow me. So.
| hiio..''
The exhausted fugitives could scarce
| ~ credit their good fortune. nad they
| WeEo ERI IL IOBS lOT 5WUTuS Will WHICH ~
express their gratitude. They walked
rapidly down the little street, to tho In
| tense curiosity OF the inhabitants. male
| ard female, who fockcd to their cottage
| doors.
MY will is theirs" said The old Hin
| doc, proudly. "Hnve no fear
He stopped before massive inner gate.
! protected by the frowning muzzles OF
| two pieces of cannon. and set in Il wall
n NJ ,lrY.. l,v1,t
| three passed through. and mounted a
hight OF steps to u sort OF parapetted
PLATFORM. Jack and the sergeant found
| themselves In the outer precincts OF a
| large fortified house. an Anglo-1ndian
villa Of the type built by European DILL
Gals in the beginning Of the century. 1t
belonged to that period. and, in addition
to the outside rampant, It was guarded
| by n palsade and ditch. All around
stretched the village itself completely
Invested by a stout wall.
we've stumbled into luck. sir" Wills.
pered Ruggles.
1t was, indeed, n stroke OF good fortune
that had befalen the fugiuvcs. They
| were. as Jack rightly OWNED, In one OF
| those little communities to be found
here and there In India, where the peo-
pic combine together for protection, and
/ give loyal devotion and allegiance to
zemindar.
Such, undoubtedly. was the old Hin.
DOCS position. He waved his hand with
an air OF proprietorship.
''All Is mine" he sad. II rule by kind
ness. and the villagers are true to their
salt. l can trust every man OF them;
even In these perilous times that would
seem to BIO upon US, You are perfectly
safe, sahibs. I am Manrao Punt. the
nf In Tpp1lch in n early
| years J served In the native army of the
| Honorable East India company and roso
| to the ranl, of soubahduT-. srhc:, !ret!rad
from the service J became p contractor,
and I have prospcrcd exceedingly by sup
| plying grain, rice and maize to the can
comments OF Delhi and Meerut."
| "You have done for us. sir" Jack re-
Piled earnestly. that which we can never
forget. never repay sincerely trust that
no harm or annoyance Will come to you
through your act OF kindness. But those
| sco,lndrels yonder are keeping up per-
| sistent clamor."
They're bowling to be admitted. SIR
| said Ruggles.
| UNLESS they 60 away quickly, declared
| Manrao Punt. II shall have to speak TO
| them
Jack listened for moment with III.
concealed anxiety, and then his thoughts
!
| himself for having temporarily forgot
ten. In the stress OF danger. her, who was
| dearer to him than his own life.
II am In worry OF mind about some
| friends" he said to the IIindoo. t."rhey
| fled from Itnmpoora. which was destroyed
| at midnight by mutIneers. and our search
| for them was what brought us In the
! direction ofyour village"
"A salllb and mem-sahib?"
Yves, yes! Did they come this way?
Have you seen liem2''
| Before Manrao Punt could answer there
was a heavy tread on n veranda close
by, and voice cried gladly:
"Fane. my dear fellow!''
| Jack turned with start, saw Ralph
! Estcourt and the next instant was wiring
| Ing his outstretched hand.
THANK heaven!" he exclaimed, Sand
| Madge! Is she with you2"
eyes. she Is here
! A sweet voice pronounced the young
| officers name, and Madge herself APP
peared, looking. In spite of her hasty
| flight and wearisome ride. as fresh and
radiant rs the morning. Then Jack was
holding his betrothed in his arms, COM
| forting her With kisses as she wept softly
on his BOSOM
you must have known that l would
come to YOU" he whispered; "that Moth
| Ing could keep mo back"
"f3ut they told mo you were dead" she
replied between her sobs. "Thank God,
| 1t WAS falsc!'
| Ruggles and Manrao Punt We're gazing
| discreetly toward the village street. and
the solieltude With which they hearkened
to tho swelling clamor of the ryots-who
] We're now pounding on tho outer gates
| was more real than feigned.
| Jack partly released the girl and rested
| an arm affectlonately on Estcourt's shoul-
l@ders.
''What a lot has happened since I left
| YOU in the nullah." he said. II have q
thrilling yarn to spin you. old chap"
| II don't doubt It," Estcourt replied. ITO
! tell the candid truth, had given you up
! Ing. when / went to the rendezvous with
my men. after we had buried the poor
fellow Clink. So we returned to Ram
! poora-there was nothing else to do-and
sent q Letter to Colonel Erlton at Nee,