Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1911-10-20
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. ILLUSTRATIONS By x4yMakzsz


Now, then. where's the woman?"
He turned to Ali with a piercing
look. The servant salaamed.
"Excellency," said he, I'VE have
verified the address heading the Sec
ond note. She is there"
''It is WELL" said the prince CURLY.
Col"
| He turned to the Swami and. stand
ing with one foot on his chair, raised
his elbow to his knee and lowered his
| chin to his hand.
II believe we're close to the end of
our quest" he mused II have feel
| ing we must get the Maharanee to-
night, If we are to recover 1t at all.
| We have played waiting game for
many months, and 1t is time now to
| act Are you prepared?"
II am prepared"
"You will not stay your hand when
it comes to the point?"
! The Swami did not answer He sat
with folded arms staring at the docu-
| ments on the table. It was in an al
tered voice thai at length he spoke:
Prince" he said, already the sa-
cred gem should be ruby red with the
blood that has been spilled for 1t.
There Is something in the air of this
strange land that makes it distaste-
full to me-the thought of further
bloodshed. Regain the jewel we must;
but would it could be done without
| new sacrifice of life"
An expression of demoniacal scorn
overspread Kanada's features until he
confronted the sage with the face of
gargoyle.
"And the brethren?" he asked angri-
| ly. Can it be you have thought
for these western dogs when your
! ing the shame and pain in which we
| left them? Has your heart turned
to water?"
| The Swami did not answer. Still
| with folded arms, he kept his gaze
on the papers, his features set in quiet
determination.
Are you afraid?" pursued the
prince Does your soul shrink, your
hand draw back, now that the ap-
pointed hour is nigh? Are you true
believer and master of the faith, Or"
and he almost screamed, IAN apos-
tate?"
The Swami's copper face turned a
darker shade. A flash of fury scared
his eyes as he raised them to those
of the prince. He lowered them
again, however, and said, stolidly:
Il am unable to conquer the feeling
that it cannot be for the good of the
brothers to wade through blood as
did our fathers for possession of what,
after all, Is simply stone. know
what it means to the chosen cnes-to
have that stone taken back 70 the
Temple. ] feel more keenly than
you can feel the yearning they send
across the seas for the success OF orr
mission. But, prince, the Maharanee
diamond, in its journey across the
world, has been purged perhaps of the
scarlet stains that were upon it. Can
we not take 1t back in all it's present
purity? Are we not skilled enough
in the ways of the East to recover our
own without bearing death to the
men of the West?"
Kananda spurned the chair away
and, gripping the table with both
hands, leaned toward the scholar.
Listen to me, masterp he said
savagely 1T was all these possibili-
ties my father anticipated when he
sent me as your companion in this en-
lterprise. He knew was experienced
in the wiles of these Western dogs.
He was aware that in the English uni
versity and the British capital, as well
nent, | had mingled with them in
their pastimes and in their homes
that had seen and heard their puer-
lie philosophy-that | had studied
their womanish religions, and that
had experienced all the soul poison
by which their so-called civilization
turns men to children. Can you guess
me when he babe me come with your
The Swami still maintained a dig
nified silence.
Il will tell you,' continued the
prince. My father said: The time
may come, my son, when your friend,
the great teacher, quails from that
which is before him. If it comes, then
when it comes, strike as swiftly and
surely as you would strike to save
your throne And I will strike. my
master!" Kananda added grimly res
olute. IF you finch from any neces-
sity that arises in carrying out this
task of ours, will warn you once
even as am warning you now-a1d
then, If you still stay your hand or seek
to save the least of those who may
stand between us and the sacred
jewel, by God I'll kill you!"
The scholars imperturbability was
proof against Kananda's violence OF
word and manner. The only sign he
gave was a slight tightening OF his
fingers as they. clasped his arms, and
lightning look straight into the eyes
of the young man across the table. 1t
was In a tone of perfect control that
he replied:
Death, when It comes to myself,
is the least Of my concerns. You may
strike when you will, Your Highness.