Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-05
10

pound CrunChing the gravel path purposely to scare
reached the veranda. There he halted and peered
round; but without any definite reason unless the
sitting heat prompted him not to enter the house.
Instead he stretched his limbs a chair,
though with little hope of sleep until slight cooling
of the air would come about hour before sunrise.
SUDDENLY he sat bolt upright A choking sob
~ broke on his ear, and it seemed to rise at hand.
But in the black darkness he failed to distinguish
any definite object. Again the little sob fell on his
ears.
What's that" he called. Who's there!
"Sahib! Sahib!' the falterlng response.
1T is l. Sovaratre, the temple girl
Then he felt his feet locked in close embrace.
What in the world are you dong here" he de-
manded, disengaging his feet and looking down at
white form WHICH had crept upon him silently hs hdy
at this hour.
Sahib. Protector of the Poor responded the
broken voice, voice, you are Guptas friend and GuPta
is in JAIL!
What" cried Prichard, as Carletons prophecy
struck home to him. "Gupta in jail? What have
they put him in jail for.
An Sah1b, am the cause!" responded the girl
But how could l help it that he should love me-
The Brahmans took his money and then laughed IN
his face when he asked me for his wife Alas! he
should have set his love on some other girl What
am |, temple girl, that | should be loved by any
man? Though it is true, as the Presence must know
l dance WE'LL.
Yes, yes. he spoke hastily, but in soothing
tone no one would deny that Delight of Society
but tell me about Gupta. Putting him in Jail is inter
fering with my work, to begin with.
'Sahib, went the girl "Gupta grew angry
with the Brahmans and cursed them as he turned to
leave. That terrible sin. Sahib. Then Wish,
nath the chief Brahman called Gupa back and asked
him for the ruby he had hidden in his wastband
Gupta vowed he had not hidden ruby in his waist
band, but the Brahmans seized him and found 1t
there. They declared he had stolen it from the
image. 1t was for Gupta to protest his limo
cence because two Brahmans they had
watched him in the act, and who dare deny the word
of a Brahman? So Gupta given to the police
and is now in jail
Carleton was about right" exclaimed Prichard
What Internal bunch of rascals!"
'And-and it is all my fault sobbed the girl
THAT Gupta is ruined Carleton Sahib cannot
do otherwise than believe the oath of the Brahmans:
They will find hundred witnesses that Gupta is
sacrlegous thief who stole the ruby from the god
Come, GOMEZ" Prichard lightly patted the girl
the head. Il don't intend to see Gupta rail
roaded to jail in that fashion. What's more-some-
how-1m going to bring you two together.
All, Sahib, protested the girl, that cannot be:
/ am bound to the temple. The Brahmans are all
powerful.
Don't care cent for their darned power"
claimed Prichard. Maybe tomorrow I'll give them
a demonstration of another power that will stagger
them.
The girl cast herself on her knees and strove to
clasp Prichard's ankles in outburst of gratitude
but he gently raised her up
No no! That won't do at ALL he protested
firmly. My thanks go to you for watching you
dance. Now don't worry about Gupta, what is
going to happen to either of you I'll attend to Mr.
Vishnath-somehow And by the token I'm
going to take payment in advance. since guess it
would be against all rules here to do SO afterward
He bent over the girl and touched her forehead
lightly with his lips. At the time he passed
hand over her hair he plucked flower which mes
tied in the coils
Now run back to the temple he advised and
don't say word about coming to me to anyone.
By this time tomorrow it will be all right for you
and Gupta in spite of Cartoons beaten to finish.
When the girls form had vanished into the night
his pipe in thoughtful mood. If could only get
that Vishnath scoundrel to the powerhouse!'' he