The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1911-09-07
CHAPTER XIII.
The Photograph.

That same night Amber dined at
the ResdenCy, on the invitation Of
Raikes, the local representative of
government, seconded by the insist
ence of Colonel Farrell 1t developed
that Sophias telegram had somehow
been lost in transit, and Farrells sur
prise and pleasure at sight of her were
tempered only by his keen apprecia-
ton of Amber's adventitiOus services,
slight though they had been He was
urged to stay the evening out, before
proceeding to his designated quarters,
and the reluctance with which he &C
ceded to this arrangement which
worker so happily with his desires,
may be imagined
Ease of anxiety was more than
food and drink to Amber; his feeling
of relief, to have conveyed Sophia to
the company and protection of Anglo
Saxons like himself, was intense Yet
he swallowed his preliminary brandy
peg in a distinctly uncomfortable
frame of mind, strangely troubled by
the reflection that round that lone
white table was gathered together the
known white population Of the state;
a census of which accounted for just
five souls.
Amber was relieved when at length
the meal was over and Miss Farrell
having withdrawn in conformance with
inviolable custom, the cloth was
deity whisked away and cigars ciga
rettes, liquors, whisky and soda were
served.
Amber took unto himself a cigar
and utilized an observation of the
PolIticals as lever TO swing the CON
versation to a plane more likely to
inform him Farrell had grumbled
about the exactions of his position as
particularly instanced by the neCessi-
ty of his attending tedious and tire
some native ceremonies in connection
with the tamasha
What's, precisely, the nature Of
this tamasha Colonel Farrell?'
why, my dear young man, !
thought you knew Isn't it what you
came to see?'
NO" Amber admitted cautiously;
II merely heard a rumor that there
was something uncommon afoot. Is it
really anything worth while?"
Rather" Raikes interjected drily,
"the present rulers abdicating in ia
vor of his son, a child of twelve. That
puts the business in a class by itself"
But why should a prince hand over
the reins of government to a child
of twelve? There must be some rea-
son for it. Isn't It known" asked
Amber.
Who can fathom Hindus mind?'
grunted Farrell. 81 daresay there's
some scandalous native intrigue at
the bottom of it. Eli, Raikes?'
The Resident shook his head
Don't come to this shop for informa,
tion about what goes on in Khanda-
war | doubt if there's another Resi-
dent in India who knows as little of
the underhand devilment in his state
as l do His majesty the Rama loves
me as a cheetah loves his trainer
He's an intraCtable rascal"
There have been a number of
dcGIhS HUN tuOleId III the Hdlace ldJS-
ly, the grand vizier's amongst them.
White arsenic cholera"
That and the hemp poison kind"
Refractory vizier?" questioned Far.
rell. THE kind that wants to re.
trench and institute reforms-rail.
ways and metalled roads and so
FORTH"
NO; he was quite suited to his
master But the bazar says Naraini
took a dislike to him for one reason
or another"
"Naraini?" queried Amber.
The genius of the place" Ralkes
nodded toward the Raj Mahal, shining
like a pearl through the darkness on
the hillside over against the Resi-
idency Shes Salig's head queen. AT
least that's about as near to her
status as one can get. She's not actu
ally his queen, but some sort of a
heritage from the RuttOn dynasty
hardly know what or why. Salig never