The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-19
CHAPTER VIII.
THE MAGIC EMERALD,

IstiAfIuH WILL
THE MAGIC EMERALD.
For Owe or ten minutes Jack waited In
suspense. with a growing feeling OF un'
easincss No person came near him. and
lie was satisfied that the rajah had given
orders to that effect What was he to
do? Was 1T possible that he was pris-
oneri
His weapons had been removed, he
suddenly discovered. and this seemed to
Indicate that Chnndra Singh had been
playing a trcacherous part from the First
And the letter OF instruction-10 to II
had been taken from him and read while
he lay insenslble. Ho was angry aud In
dlgnant.
aTll get out of this somehow" he
vowed. They shan't keep me--there Is
too much Mt stake. Once clear OF the
palace can Mt least gain the shelter
OF the resIdency. But there Is the dill
culty-ths building is probably a maze
OF rooms and passages. courts and gates.
| l might as well be In jail. There would
be a fair chance II had the means OF
| Disgusting myself as native
| The sound pf footsteps, failing softly
on his ear, broke the train OF his refcc-
| tons. Listening, he heard them pacing
| to and fro, up and down monotomously,
| outside the apartment.
! He crept to the curtains and parted
| them. long mustached hayildhr OF
| tho rajah's bodyEuard. With plume ~
| his white turban, a coat OF steel mali
| over his crimson tunic and q rifle on his
| shoulder was keeping vigil IN tho CORR.
! dor.
! He saw tho Feringhoc's pcering face.
| and with n hooking grin he paused and
| brought the butt of his gun 70 tho marble
/ floor.
..The sahib must come no farther" he
| said in threatening tone.
Jack scowled and withdrew his head.
,The scoundrel!. he muttered. We'll,
| that settles tim a prisoner"
He glidcd noiselessly to the lntticed
| window and looked down into high.
| walled garden Of deep. cool shade. q
| garden where fountains murmured and
| played and orange blossoms and tube
| roses and the petals OF the purple 'b'scua
l-splashed the green with gorgeous colors.
Tramp! tramp tramp! on the gravel
1 walk Another haYildar OF the guard
1 came within the range OF vision, a swax-
| gering. dandifed fellow, who disdnined
/ to throw more than n passing glance
| at the window. but who nevertheless
! patted the stock Of his carbine menacins-
BY 3ove, Tn done for!" thought JACK
| "A gilded caGe-thats what 1t Is"
| Ho turned away with q sinking feeling
| nj his heart and sat on the bed to con.
4 slider the situation. He was trapped
| tight in the clutches OF cruel and I'M
| scrupulous enemy who kiew all that
| there was to know.
| An hour went by. Jacks head began
to throh and drum. He sank YEARLY
back. on the pillows. slept. nwoke with n
start, !, and heard the distant ghurries
. 4 H., he hour pf x 4. fY
Again he closed his eyes and drlfted
away, and when he next woke, free from
pain and greatly refreshed. the purple twi.
light was nlling the room with vague
shadows. Cool. sweet night had come
with Its welcome mantle OF darkness, and
tho bulbul was thrilling In the leafy
! avenues OF the garden.
THE prisoner crept to the Windows
hoping against hope. and saw the dim
outline of tho sentry standing beneath.
With a smothered curse he turned, up.
preached the corridor. and listened. Was
the havildar gone from his post? But
no-a light footstep sound suspicious.
ly like heavy snore
1.-THE fellow can't be sleeping on his
feet!' thought Jack. "Iiullo, he's COM
Ing to look II I'm safe
The curtains parted noiselessly and a
slim, girlish figure glided into the room
/ with rustic Of silk and Skinner OF
transparent Indian gauze, bringing a
fragrant breath of sandalwood and per-
i fume, 1t was Fora. In the purple gloom
the gemmed circlet on hor raven hair
sparklcd like serpent Of fire. and rubies
and sapphlres flashed on her wrists and
ankles
A "sahib!' she said In a low voice, after
the lighted corridor that she had just
left the apartment was dark to her eyes.
II am here" Jack Whispered, uneasl-
ly, as he touched her.
Eyes, can see you now"
''Ths Is Snost imprudent Of you zoya.''
"Hushl" the girl replied drawing closer
to him. "Wait but moment and make
no sound"
She trlpped across to the window and
a brief glance satisfied her,
"You know that you are prisonerf r
she asked when she returned
~ could not we'll be ignorant of that.
Jack answered bitterly.
"And you are in danger-even OF your
life"
"But why2 1t is all mystery to me
How have I turned your father from
friend into an enemy, Fora? believ'
that acoursed miniature"
"Hahib, my lips are sealed Know
nothing oan tell you nothing, Asl
no questions OF me. But am grateful
and have come to save YOU remsm
Der the sacred obligation that my fathe
strangely forgets, And even u that dle
.'You vii, help me to eaeapef'. Jael
whispered inoredulously "zora, 90 yol
really mean thatr"
sam / not the sahlbs slaveT" 4
'tYou are noble grl-a true-heartes
: woman can never repay you,,",, -,
yet the sahlb will leave me with Will
= ing hearth
"This is COMPOUNDED awkwardl" though
Jack. ~ am soldier" he replied, :.
|, have a soldiers dutiss to perform. mus
= escape to-night,-as soon as possible Bu
how Is 1t to be done?"
! mot by. the garden, sahib,, fol. thu
\ llhaYildar Ghulam--whom ] dared not ap
prdach-is posted underneath the WIN