The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-07-06

t0lS tanaSnh, COlOneI rhTTeIii
why, my dear young man, I
thought you knew. Isn't II what you
came to seer"
NO" Amber admitted cautiously,
81 merely heard a rumor that there
was something uncommon afoot. IL 1t
really anything worth while2"
Rather" Rsikes in~terjected drily,
"the present rulers Indicating 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 a Hindu's mindr"
grunted Farrell. II daresay there's
some scandalous native intrigue at
the bottom of II. Eth. Raikes?'
The Resident shook his head.
Don't come TO this shop for informa-
ton about what goes on In Khanda-
war. l 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
deaths from cholera IN the Palace late
ly, the grand v~izier's amongst them"
White arsenic cholera?"
That. and the hemp poison kind"
Refractory vizier9" questioned Far
roll HThA E{nA thnf wonta 20 "a.
trench and institute reforms-rail-
ways and metalled roads and so
FORTH"
NO; he was quite suited to his
master. But the bazaar says Naraini
took a dislike to him for n reason
or another"
"Naraini?" quer1ed Amber.
The genius of the place" Raikes
nodded toward the Raj Mahal, shining
like a pearl through the darkness on
the hillside over against the Resi-
dency. She's Salig's head queen. At
least that's about as nea to her
status al one can get. She's not aotu-
ally his queen, but some sort OF a
heritage from the Rutton dynasty-I
iuIuly hION Nudl vi why Cdlle HSFcl
married her, but she lives in the Pal
ace, and for several years-ever since
she first began to be talked about
she's ruled from behind the screen
with a high hand and an outstretched
arm. SO the bazaar says"
They arose and left the table 10
the servants, h Resident with Am
Ior fC11nrrirn IT. rraIl I'D o,rx T1cxY.
son.
"Old INT W. are, forever talking
scandal" said Raikes, with a chuckle.
oh, we'll! it's shop with us, you
know"
"Of course. Then I under
stand that the tamasha Is the reason
for the encampment beyond the
walls"
Yes; they've been coming in for a
week. By tomorrow night, I daresay,
every raJah, prince, thakur, baron,
fef. and lord in Rajputna, each with
his tail horse and foot, will be
oamped down before the walls Of Kut-
tarpur. You've chosen an interesting
time for your visit. It'll be a sight
worth seeing, when they begin to
make a show. My troubles begin with
q state banquet tomorrow that I'd
give much to miss; however, I'll have
Farrell for company"
I'm glad to be here" said Amber
thoughtfully. Could It be possible
that the proposed a~bdication Of Salig
Singh In favor OF his son were merely
a cloak to a conspiracy to restore TO
power the house Of Rutton? Or had
the tamasha been arranged In order
TO gather together all the rulers IN
Rajputana without exciting suspicion,
that they might agree upon a concert
ed plan OF mutiny against the SirkarY
The state affair Of surprising import
ance had been arranged for the last
day of grace allotted the Prince of the
house Of Rutton. What had It TO do
with the Gateway of Swords, the
Voice, the Mind, the Eye, the Body,
the Bell?
by the way, Mr.. Raikes," said the
Virginian suddenly, what do they call
the gate by which we entered the city
the southern gate?"
"The Gateway Of Swords, ! believe"
Farrell, on the point Of entering the
house, overheard and turned. is
that SOP Why, l thought that gate
way was in Kathiapur."
I've heard Of q Gateway OF Swords
in Kathiapur," Raikes admitted.
Never been there, myself"
"Kathiapur?"
"a dead city, Mr.. Amber, not far
away-originally the capital OF Kan
dawar. It's over there in the hils to
the north, somewhere. Old Rao Rut-
ton, founder Of the old dynasty, got
tired of the place and caused 1t 10 be
depopulated, building Kuttarpur In It's
stead believe, TO commemorate
some victory or other. That sort Of
thing used to be quite the fashion in
India, before we came" Raikes fell
back. giving Amber precedence as
they entered the Residency. by the
way. remind me, II you think of Il.