The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-14
!; THE PURPLE GOD. ];
By WILLIAM MURRAY GRAYDoN, Copyright 1909. .


"
pierced the heart OF the Jungle.
There was a faint glimmer OF moonlight
to guide him, and no put his horse at
gallop.
SO many eventful things had been
crowded Into the short night--of which
several hours yet remained-that, the
young subaltern grew confused when ma
tried to think OF them.
But out of the chaos OF perplexity ono
r,f pose was clear In his mind; he realized
the urgent Importance OF communicating
with as little delay as possible to the
British resident Of Jhalapur the omlnous
tldings that Colonel Erlton had learned
from Tobias Clink
That accomplished 1t would be time
enough to think OF capturing Joel Span
ish and recovering the stolen plans, time
enough to grapple with the mystery Of
Tobias Clink's leather bag.
| Tor the present. duty ranked first, abb
CORDED him. and yet he could not help
feeling disturbed by the recurrent re-
| ininders OF what Estcourt had said. Was
| It likely. he wondered, that Joel Spanish
| had been ono OF those i've horsemen7.
! Mounted he must have been, else ne
| could not have reached the nullah and
| laid the trap before Clink's arrival. And
| tho four other horsemen--they were prob-
nbly rctainers OF the Rajnh Chandra
| Singh, abroad on some secret service Tor
| him.
Jnck's anxiety increased. and he looked
| to the loading OF his pistols
ITS uncertain. to say the least" hd
| reflected IF Spanish In one OF the party,
| my work Is cut out for me. i must get
! well ahead OF them, instruct the residents
| and then
| Then what? How to deal effectively
| with Joe! Spanish should he actually BIO
In company with tho mounted natiycg
| was n problem to Jack He grapped with
| 1t as he rode on swiftly through INC Jun Jun.
| gle under the interlaced foliage that
| ghowed n traccry OF silver moonlight.
| startling beasts and scrpents from their
| lai,s and waking birds to noisy chatter
| ing.
! took no heed OF time. He was surprised
| when the Jungle suddenly melted away.
| rs It were, and no swerved Into the man
highway again. which now ran between
| fields OF corn and maize, over the plains
! that led to Jhulnpur.
| A sweeping glance and sharp cry
very nearly broke from: his l!rs BY
| heavens, what was that Just ahead.
scarce twenty feet away? 1t yet want
| ed two hours to dawn. but the Tten
shone brightly OH 1--WE horses t,ea ~
| crouching by tho edge OF the yellow corn.
One partly arose, and by the evil
| swnrthy face as we'll as the uniform OF
| tho f,isiliers, his Identity was revealed. It
| was Joel Spanish.
| A second OF weakness and hesitation,
4 and the young Officer WOulA tilNO h~S''
| lost He knew that the scoundrss had
! heard his approach. and were whiting
| confidently to seize him. He saw the
| only thing to do, and did 1t Instantly,
| He dug his spurs threw himself for
ward or his horses neck. and roda
| straight ut the murderous crew. He vas
| among them scattering them right anu
| left before they could fro shot.
He heard shrill cries and tho report
OF firearms, but the bullets missed horse
| and man, and the splendid animal SCARED
| down tho road like bird, bearing hia
| master farther and farther from dan
| ger.
than that" Jack thought, exultantly.
can only keep ahead Of them now!"
But could he? A backward glance
couple OF minutes later. showed him that
the enemy had lost no time in getting
to saddle and were In hot pursuit
I He gaIloped on furiously. ana When ae
looked again. he saw that they vera
gaining a little. riding hard and fast. In
/ the end unless something interviewed.
they must overtake the fugitive.
Desperate as was the situation. jack
i did not lose hope plantation OF trees
hid him for moment. and when no
emerged on the other side he caught q
blurred glimpse on his left OF the great
rock OF Jhalapur silhouetted against tha
nale sky. It was mills and half distant
in n bee line half as much again BY
twisting OF the road.
A brief hesitation and he WIS tearing
+ over the flelds, cutting n swath through
the grain. Half mile-three quarters.
lusty shout rang from the rear.
One of tho pursuers-not Joel spanish
. WAS riding we'll ahead OF his companions
and had como within twenty yards OF tho
/ fugitive A bullet sang by Jacks ear, anu anu
he did not walt for a second one.
He turned In the saddle. aimed hlA
pistol carefully and fired. The Hlnaon
pitched to the ground and r'derless
horse kept UP tho chase.
"a pity Is wasn't Spanish" thought
the young officer. TN get him, too. II ma
gives me thee nance
He galloped on, not sparing the spur,
while thed ark outline OF Jhalapur took
clearer shape before him. He was az
least holding his own. II not gaining q
little when sluggish stream hfty yaros
In width. tributary of the Ganges,
yawned suddenly at his feet.
There was no time for indecislon. Steed
and rider plunged In, and breasted tne
deep waters There was scarcely any
current, and the gallant animal swan
straight across. slowly, but surely. II
struck bottom. splashed through the shall
lows and emerged on stony shore.
Spanish and his comrades had now
, reached the other bank and were levellns
, their firearms Crack-crack. crack
crack! Jacks horse gave an agonlzed leap
and fell and the young officer was flung
heavily forward His head struck a rock.
and instantly all was darkness. He lay as
one dead, never hearing the exultant cries
. OF his enemies.
| nad w