The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1911-08-03
CHAPTER TX. (continued).

AS Amber left the room Labertouche
extinguished the lamp, shut and
locked the door, and followed, catch
ing Amber by the arm and guiding
him through pitch darkness to the
head of the stairs. Don't talk" he
whispered; trust me-" They de-
scended an interminable fight OF
steps, passed down a long. echoing
corridor, and again descended. From
the foot of the second fight .aber-
touche shunted Amber round through
what seemed a veritable maze OF pas
sages-in which, however, he was evil
IDENTIFY at home At length: Nov
go ahead" was breathed in Ambers
ear and at the same time his arm
was released.
He obeyed blindly, stumbling down
a reeking corridor, and in minute
more, to his unutterable relief, was
in the open air of the bazaar.
Blinking with the abrupt transition
from absolute night to garish light
he skulked in the shadow OF tf1e
doorway, waiting. Beneath his ga&e
Calcutta paraded it's congress of 9eo-
ples--a comprehensive collectioY of
specimens of every tribe in Hindtstan
and of nearly every other race In she
world besides.
Like a fat, tawdry moth In HIS gar
ments of soiled pink, babu fAoitered
past, with never sidelopg glance
for the loaferish figure iY the shae-
owed doorway; and the latter seemed
himself absorbed in the family of Eu-
rasians who were shFilly squabblink
with the keeper of Vegetable stall ad-
tacent. But presently he wearied OF
their noise, yawped. thrust both hands
deep in his pockets and stumbled
away The bazaar accepted him as
brother, unquestioning, and he picked
his way through it with an ease that
argued nothing but absolute familiar
ity with his surroundings. But always
you may be sure, he had the CLEAN of
pink satin In the corner of his eye.
In time broad Machua bazaar street
received them-Pink Satin and the
sailormanf out for night OF 1t. And
now Pink Satin began to stroll more
sedatelyE manifesting livelier inter
est in the sights of the wayside. Am
ber's ihpatience-for he guessed that
they .heared the goldsmiths stall-ln-
creaked prodigiously.
Without warning, Pink Satin pulled
up[ extracted from the recesses of his
cdstume long, black and vindictive-
looking native cigar, and lighted It,
Theoretically exhaling the smoke
Through his nose while he stared COW
4 etously at the display of slipper
merchant whose stand was over
across from the stall of goldsmith.
With true oriental deliberation Pink
Satin finally made up his mind to
move on; and Amber lurched heavily
into the premises occupied by one
Dhola Baksh, goldsmith.
A customer, slim, handsome Ma.
layan youth, for the moment held the
attention of the proprietor. The two
were haggling with characteristic en-
ioyment over transaction which
aeemed to involve less than twenty
rrupees. Amber waited, knowing that
patience must be his portion until the
bargain should be struck. Dhola
Baksh himself, lean, sharp-featured
Mahratta gray with age, appraised
with a single look the new customer
and returned his interest to the Ma
lay. But Amber garnered from thai
glance a sensation OF recognition. He
wondered dimly, why; could the gold
smith have been warned OF his com
Ing?
Two or three more putative custom
ers idled into the shop. Beyond IA
threshold the stream Of native ilfe
rolled on, ceaselessly fluent; pageant
Of the middle ages had been no more
fantastic and unreal to western eyes
Now and again wayfarer paused, his
interest attracted by the goldsmith
rush of business.
Unexpectedly the proprietor made
q substantial concession. Money
passed upon the instant, sealing tht
bargain. The Malay rose to go
Dhola Baksh lifted stony stare e
Amber.
your pleasure. sahib7" he inquired
with thinly-veiled sheer. What need
lo show deference to q down-at-the