Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-17
Singh started for the door the least trace

~---cA DeHi eCo Aoi TIC uOOI Tie lcdst trace
too eagerly.
"One moment" said Amber, sharply.
Not SO fast my friend" He tapped his
palm with the barrel of the pistol to add
weight to his .peremptory manner. II
think IL you will lift your voice and call
some one will answer. I've taken a great
fancy to you. If you don't know IT, and /
don't purpose letting you out of my sight
until I'm safely out OF this house"
With sullen air the Rajput yielded
From his expression Amber would have
wagered much that there was a bad
! quarter OF an hour in store for those who
had neglected to disarm him when the
opportunity was theirs
AS you WILL" conceded Salig Singh.
and he clapped his hands smartly, cry
ing, "Ohe. Moto!''
Almost instantly the iron door swung
open and the lamp bearer appeared, sa-
flaming.
Tell him. ordered Amber. ito bring
me cloak Of some sort-not too conspicu-
Gus. I've no fancy to kick up a scandal
at the hotel by returning with these buds
visible. You can charge 1t up to profit
and loss: IL 1t hadn't been for the tender
treatment your assassins gave me I'd be
less disreputable.
A faint smile flickered in Salig Singh's
eyes-a look that was not wholly devoid
Of admiration for the man who had
turned the tables on him with such ease.
Indeed" he said. Il were lacking in
courtesy did 1 refuse thee that" And
turning to the servant he issued instruc-
tons in accordance with Amber's de-
mands, adding gratuitously an order that
the way Of exit should be kept clear.
AS the man bowed and withdrew Amber
grinned cheerfully. 1T wasn't a bad
afterthought Salig Singh he observed;
precautions like that relieve the mind
wonderfully sometimes"
But the humor of the situation seemed
to be lost upon the Rajput.
In the brief wait that followed Amber
shifted his position to one wherefrom he
could command. both the doorway and
Salig Singh; his solicitude. however, was
without apparent warrant; nothing hap
pened to justify him Of his vigilance.
Without undue delay the servant returned
with a light cloak and the announcement
that the ghari was in waiting.
His offer to help the American don the
garment was graciously declined. 1--WE
FANCY to have my arms free for the
present" Amber explained; Il can get it
cloak over his left arm. I'm ready, lead
on!' he said, and with a graceful wave
Of the pistol bowed Salig Singh out of
the cellar.
Motto leading with the light, they pro-
ceeded In silence down a musty but de-
serted passage. Amber bringing up the
rear with his heart in his mouth and his
finger nervous upon the trigger. After
little the passage turned and discovered
a door open to the street. Beyond this a
ghari could be seen.
Amber civilly insisted that both the SER
want and his master leave the the house
before him, but, once outside, he made
wary detour and got between them and
the waiting conveyance. Then, Its kind
of you. Salig Singh he said; I'm prop
erly grateful. I'll say this for you-you
play the game fairly when anybody calls
your attention to the rules. Good night
to you-and. say. be kind enough to shut
the door as you go in. I'll just wait until
you do"
The Rajput found no answer; conceiv-
ably. his chagrin was intense. With a
curt nod he turned and re-entered the
house. Motto following. The door closed
and Amber jumped briskly into the ghari.
Home, James," he told the ghariwal-
lah, in great conceit with himself. Il
mean the Great Eastern Hotel-and juldee
jaoi"
The driver wrapped a whiplash round
the corrugated TANKS of his horse and
the ghari turned the corner with crafty
ing speed. In half a minute they were in
the Chitpur road. In fifteen they drew
up before the hotel.
1t was after midnight and the city had
begun to quiet down. but Old Court
House street was still populous with car
riages and pedestrians. black and tan and
white. There was viceregal function of
some sort towards in the Government
House. and broughams and victorias.
coaches. hansoms and coupes, with lamps
alight and liveried MISUNDERSTANDING
groomed to the last degree of smartness-
crowded the thoroughfare to the peril and
discomfort of the casual ghari. The
scene was unbelievably brilliant. Amber
felt like rubbing his eyes. Here were side
walks. pavements. throbbing electric arcs,
Englishmen i'm evening dress, fair Eng
lishwomen i'm dainty gowns and pretty
wraps. the hum of English voices. the
very smell of civilization. And back there
just across the border he had go recently
crossed. still reigned the midnight of the
orient. glamourous with the glamour of
the Arabian Nights. dreadful with its
dumb menace, its atmosphere of plot and
counterpart. mutiny, treason. intrigue and
death. Here a little island OF life and
light and gay. needless laughter; there
all round it, pressing close, silence and
impenetrable darkness. like some dark sea
of death tapping its shores -"
In cold sweat of horror Amber got
out OF the vehicle and paid his fare. As