Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1911-09-07

gateway of Kathiapur, that is lie!
Speak, brother OF jackals and father
OF swine, lest my temper overcome
me and l make carrion of you!"
MY lord. hear me-" protested the
man in an extremity of fright. These
be the words of truth. II otherwise
let my head be forfeit. Early
in the morning you returned from the
lake. heavy with sleep. and so soundly
have you slept since that hour that
no effort Of mine could rouse you,
though many came to the door, ma
king inquiry. am Ram Lal, a true
man, and no trafficker in drugs and
potions."
Even SOL" said Amber, ironic.
But II, on taking thought, find
you've lied to me. E. Go now
and hold yourself fortunate in this,
that l am not a man Of hasty judg-
ment"
'Hazoor!" Like a shadow harried
by a wind of night, the khansamah
scurried from the room. But on the
threshold he paused long enough to
lay significant finger upon his lips
and nod toward the table.
From the khansamah's quarters
came an occasional clash Of crockery
and pattering Of naked feet. Outside,
in the compound, the sepoys were
chattering volubly; their words were
indistinguishable, but from their con-
stantly increasing animation Amber
inferred that they were keenly relish
ing the topic Of discussion. He be-
came sure of this when, at length,
his curiosity aroused, he went to the
window and peered out between the
wooden Stats Of the blind. The little
company was squatting in a circle
round the fire. and bottle was pass
ing from hand to hand.
He turned back. r"zzled, to find the
khansamah calmly seated at the table
and enjoying one of Amber's choicest
cigarettes.
Thank God" he said, with profound
emotion. for n civilized smoke!"
"Labertouche!" cried Amber.
The pseudo-khansamah rose. bowed
formally. and shook hands with con-
siderable cordially. IT'S good to see
you whole and sound" he said. Il had
TO wait until Ram Mathis work began
to show results. He's out there, yon
know, keeping the bottle moving. /
don't believe those damned sepoys
will bother us much, now. but we've
got no time at all to spare. Now tell
me what you have to tell. emitting
nothing of the slightest consequence
Amber dropped into a chair. and the
Engllshman sat near 20 him. II say,
thank God for you, Labertouche. YOU
don't know how I've needed you"
Il can fancy. I've had a ripping
time OF 1t myself Sorry couldn't
communicate with you safely before
you left Calcutta. But we've not a
minute to waste. Get into your yarn,
please; explanations later, II we can
afford EN-"
Inhaling with deep enjoyment, he
narrowed his dark eyes, listening in
tently to Amber's concise narrative Of
his experiences since their parting b.
fore the stall of Dhola Baksh In the
Machua bazaar. Not once was he in
terrupted by word or sign from Laber.
touche; and even when the tale was
told the latter said nothing, but
dropped his gaze abstractedly to the
stump Of his cigarette.
And Sou?" demanded the Virglnian.
Have pity, Labertouche! Can't you
see I'm being eaten alive by curioS-
ity?"
Labertouche eyed him blankly for
an instant. oh" he said, with an
effort freeing his mind from an In
tense concentration of thought. IL |
What's there to tell? I've been a
work. That's all. was
Jostled on to one side when the row
started in the bazar, and so lost you
There was then nothing to do but
strike back to the hotel and wait for .
clew. You can figure my relief when
you dropped out Of that ticca-ghari.
gave you the word to go on to bar
feeling, intending to join you en- route.
But you know why that jaunt never
came on. / found out my mistake be-
fore morning, wired you, and left Car
cutta before you, by the same train
that conveyed the maharana Of Khan
dawar. Fortunately enough we had
Ram Nath already on the ground,
working up another case-Tll tell you
ABOUT It some time. He's one Of our
best men-a native. but loyal to the
core, and wrapped up in his work.
He'd contrived to get billet as tonga
wallah to the Kuttapur bunia who has
the dak-service contract. myself
had arranged to have the telegraph
babu here transferred, and myself ap-
pointed In his place. So was able to
attach myself to the tail Of the ma
harana without exciting comment
Miss Farrell came by the same train.
but Salig Singh was in too great q
hurry to get home to pay any atten-
ton to her. and I, knowing you'd be
along. arranged that tonga accident
with Ram .Natn. He bribed his broth.
sr tonga-wallah to bring It about"
THANK you" said Amber, from his
heart.
Labertouche impatiently waved the