Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-10-05
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DELL 29 "
BLOUIS JOSEPH VANCE
AUTHOR OF @THE BRASS BOWL" ETC. M
ILLUSTRATIONS by Rw WALTERS ~
AUTh0R on "THE BRASS BOWIE" ETG.
ILLUSTRATIONS by RAM WAQI[3DG

Vult- Anu, py tue IOdubiu6, III u cOH-
pound fenced with camel-thorn, sat an
aged and INDECENT dak-bungalow,
marking the end of the first stage. the
beginning of the second.
Ram Nath refined in with a flourish
and lifted a raucous voice, hailing the
syce. while Amber, painfully olsen
gaging his cramped limbs, climbed
down and stumbled toward the veran-
da. The abrupt transition from VIC
lent and erratic motion to q solid and
substantial footing affected him un-
pleasantly. and with an ~undeniable
qualm; the earth seemed to rock and
flow beneath him as If under the in
fuence of an antic earthquake. He
was for some seconds occupied with
the problem Of regainlng his polse.
and 1t was not until he heard an Eng
lishwoman's voice uplifted in accents
of anger, that he remembered the
other wayfarer with whom he was to
share his tonga, or associated with
the white-clad figure in the dark door
way of the bungalow with anything
but the k~hansamah, coming to greet
and cheat the chance-brought guest.
Where is that tonga-wallah who
deserted me here last night?" the
woman was demanding of Ram Nath,
too p~reoccupied with her resentment
to have eyes for the other traveller,
who at sight of her had stopped and
removed his pith helmet and stood
staring as IL he had come from a
land in which there were no women.
Where" she continued, with an Inn
perative stamp of a daintily-shod foot,
lis that wretched tonga-wallah?"
"Sahiba." protested Ram Nath, with
a great show of Difference, chow
should l know! Belize he is in Bad
shah Junction, whittier he returned
very late last night, being travel-worn
and weary, and where l left him, be-
ing sent with this excellent tonga to
take his place"
You were? And why have l been
detained here, alone and unprotected,
this long night? Simply because that
other tonga-wallah was a fool, am |
to be imposed Upon In this fashion,
What am l." whimpered Ram Nath,
ito endure the wrath of the sahiba for
a fault that is none of miner"
Il beg your pardon, sir" said the
girl, turning to Amber, "but it is very
annoying" She looked him over, first
with abstraction, then with a puzzled
gathering of her brows, for he was
far from her thoughts-the last per.
son she would have expected to meet
in that place, and very effectually dis
guised in dust and dirt besides. 'The
tire came off the wheel just as we got
here, late yesterday evening, and In
trying, or pretending to try. to fit II
on again, that block-head of a tonga
wallah hammered the rim with a rock
as big as his head and naturally
smashed 1t to kindling-wood. Then
before I could stop him, he flung him
self On the back Of a pony and went
away. saying that 1t was the will o.
God that he should return to BadshaE
for a better tonga. Since when
have had for company one stable
scye, one deaf-and-dumb patriarch Of
a khansamah and the usual
dak-bungalow discomforts - insects
bad food, and a terrible fear of da
colts"
Il am so sorry. Miss Farrell" Am
Der put in. III had only been
here =
The girl gave a little gasp and sal
down abruptly in n of the veranda
chairs, thereby threatening 1t with
instant demolition and herself with q
bad spill; for the chair was feeble
with the burden of its many years
and she was a quite substantial young
person. Indeed, SO loudly did 1t croah
a protest and a warning that she i'm
mediately arose in alarm.
"Mr. Amber!" she said; and
well |"
You'll forgive me the surprise?'
he begged, going up on the verands
to her. Il myself had no hope Of
finding you here"
But" she protested, with a pretty
flush of color-"but / left you in the
States such a little while ago."
"Yes?" he said gravely. st SCENT
10 long to me. And wher
you had gone, Long Island was a very
lonely place indeed" he added. witt
calculated impudence.
Her color ~deepened and she sough'
another chair, seating herself witt
gingerly. decision. I'm sure 70,
don't mean me to assume that you've
followed me half round the world?'
Why not?" He brought another
chair to face her. Besides. I haven
seen anything OF India for |
good many years"
"Mr. Amber!"
"Ma'am?" he countered with affect
ed humility.
you're spelling 1t all. I was S,
4 glad to see you'd have been glat
to see any white man, of course"
Much obliged, I'm sure"
And now you're actually flirting
with me--or pretending to-"
I'm not" he declared soberly. "a
a matter Of solemn fact, | had tt
come to india
"You had to?"
ION a matter OF serious business
Please don't ask me what Just yet
but it's very serious, to my way 0
thinking. This happy incident
count myself a very happy man t
have been SO fortunate-only make
my errand the more pleasant"
She regarded him intently, chin II
X hand. her brown eyes sadate witl