The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-15
CHAPrER VT.

behind THE PALACE WALLS.
Another day had dawned on India-the
slumberlhE volcano was that much near
er 10 It's eruption. 1t was the morning
OF the 9th OF May. and from gate to gate
the brazen voice of the ghurrles. pound
ed by the sentinels who kept watch and
ward Tor Chandra Singh. proclaimed the
hour OF 8 o'clock
The inner and outer towns Of Jhalapur
were stepped in the scorchng white glare
of the sun, and the ancient palace, high
upon the rotk-summit. was dream OF
dazzling beauty, flashing million points
OF light from Its domes and minarets
of colored marble. It's gilded towers and
balconies.
Tho ryota had long since gone forth
to their toll In the fields. the baboos to
their books and writing tablets, the mer-
chants to their shops In the streets of the
bazaars. In fragrant gardens dark with
shadow, in cool hooks by Bplashing fonn-
tains, dusky-skinned maidens took their
ease while they discussed the latest Cos
sip Of the zenana.
1t was very pretty bungalow that
the British flag floated over. and very
comfortable room In which the resident
lounged that morning in his favorite cane
chair sheltered from the heat outside
by the whirring punkahs and by the
wet grass mating at the windows.
DR.. Mackinder was an elderly man, a
savant and book worm. He was COM
pletely wrapped up In his studies and
yet he was supposed TO have share IN
guarding tho destinies Of the empire. His
proper place was In the British museum
but fate had previously sent him 10
Jhalapur.
stun and nonsense. Pandoo," he said
to his kansaman, who had come to take
the days orders, and had fingered to re-
count n strange tale. 1T is impossible.
IL hope you have not been drinking"
Pandoo made negative gesture.
II but tell you what l heard from old
Ramput the fnkir," he replied. "As the
day was breaking he saw body car
ried through the gate Of the inner town.
and the dead man wore Ferlnghee cloth
the covering OF the litter was disturbed.
,"Rnmput has wngging tongue. He
either dreamed this or imagined It,"
1.-THE sahlb should know best. 1t IS
not for me to dispute him."
With that the kansainan bowed ana
Departed and a moment later DR.. Mack
indcr had forgotten the incident. He
adjusted his glasses and returned to his
volume OF science, treatise on the flora,
Of the western Ghauts. He lived in ut
tie world OF his own, from which he could
seldom be drawn.
Strange runors were in the nir that
morning, and whispers of them ran
through the bazaars, but what truth they
contained was hidden behind the impene-
trable walls OF the palace.
At the hour when the resident was us
tcning incredulousy to his kansaman's
story, five evil-faced men, whose eyes
were dull with want of sleep, stood IN the
presence OF the rajah IN the private apart
ment off the Dewan Khana. Rag,
hava was of them, and second was joel
Spanish; a bandage was tied ABOUT ms
head. and his appearance was ~ no
means improved by q deep scratch that
ran from mouth to ear
The other three were ununiformed SCI
dicrs Of the guard; fourth lay deao OIL
a bullet In one of the watch towers on the
outskirts Of the town.
Imagine tiger suddenly ropoed OF
slain deer 1t has not had time to taste
vet and you will have some idea Of the
fierce light that burned in Chandra
singhs eyes. He sat In a chair OF gold
nllgree work clinching his teeth hard on
the amber mouthpiece of his hookah.
which rested on an ivory table at his
elbow. He was pale with anger and
Disappointment, and his audience SHOOK
inwardly.
"By Mahadera. will slit this matter
to the end!" he cried. rs 1t conspi-
among you? Swear that you have told
the whole TRUTH
Five voices made solemn oath. and
Joel Spanish was most earnest OF all
The rajah scanned each face,
"nepeat yohr account" he demanded
of the traltorous fusilcer. There may
be n cew you have overlooked"
TT happened as have told you. most
high" Spanish replied. / was riding
= hpI nar1ty v~ny nh.
cd the nullah beyond Rampoora, when
heard cry for help. I fastened to
the spot and dismounted but too late
A horse had been thrown by rope OF
vines stretched across the path. and Its
rider lay nearby.
"a man was bending over him, and at
once he attacked me furiously. In the
end struck his sword from him. and
compelled him to take to flight, but not
until he had inflicted these Injuries upon
me.
"Then looking closely, I discovered o
feringhee lying unconscious dying of HE
wounds AT that moment. most high, your
retainers did ride up to me and / related
to them what l have told you What
happened afterward you know from other
lips
There was nothing on the Feringhees
person2' demanded the rajah
Nothing, most high. lie had been
robbed; his pockets were empty, and an
empty leather case lay by his side. We
searched most carefully"
Raghava and his companions bore wit.
ness TO the truth of this.
"Robbed' cried the rajah. AYE. rob.
bed of that which I would give a lnkh
of rupees 10 possess! But how came you
to leave the case behind2 And why was
no search made for the assassin?
because he had fed to the jungle,
whore an army might have pursued him
In vain" Raghava answered Moreover,
| Mt the time, most high, we thought Of
but the thing told us by this man." in,
| dlcating Spanish, 80 we mounted in
haste, and took the road back to
Jhalapur. that we might intercept the
| officer sahab,"
"And the severed finger that was found
| In the dust?"
1T was from the hand of the assassin
| cut off by the dead F'eringhoe"
Then he had a sword2'
Eve saw none. most high But In the