The Delta independent., 1911-07-07

Now, that's funny, SAID the Prince.
"Devilish funny! And they took her
in tow for that?"
The priest nodded.
What rotters these American po
licemen are!" snapped Kananda in
the slang he had used as Mandy OF
Cambridge, Fancy any self-respect-
ing Oriental doing that! Why. the
bulldoggiest little terrier in the Mika.
dos secret service wouldn't make
such a break"
The Swami nodded again.
ALI searched her room, of course,
before the detectives got there" he
continued. Soon after Mrs. Mis-
sioner's return from the opera, he
went straigh. from the hall outside
the library to Miss Holcomb's apart
ment and Investigated thoroughly
Look here. old man." jerked ka-
nanda IF Ali has the stone, it's all
well enough to put it over on"
He hasn't it, the Swami answered.
THE thing for us to do now is to find
out who has It,"
Good old guesser!" grinned the
Prince. Well, Ali knows his bust
ness"
The Swami strolled back to the d.
van and lay at full length, his hands
pillowing his head. He blew smoke
rings at the punkah.
I'm not so sure of that" he re-
torted Il don't like his failure to
keep better watch on the stone"
Mandy swung himself back to the
table.
How longs 1t been gomez" he
asked
Il tell you nobody knows. Its abb
sence was discovered tonight"
You've just learned of it?"
No and yes. | knew about the Ma
haranee before Ali came" He
sketched the incident of the opera
house in crisp sentences. Kananda
listened eagerly.
so there's nothing left of the bo-
gus Maharanee." he observed.
Nothing but this splinter l palm
ed" returned the priest. 1T was
easy-elementary legerdemain."
Both laughed. The facility of Occi-
dentals was a standing joke
We'll, we need more help on this
now" said the Prince. Ali will have
to go back to the house"
Yes, Mrs. Missioner can't spare
her Oriental curio just yet" the
Swami assented.
Kananda reached for a cigarette.
Il guess well have to put Ramset-
| jee on the men," he unused. Don't
like to do it, for Ram isn't exactly
what we'd call an adept. Now, would
WEI"
Hardly"
But Ali can't be spared from the
Missioner place. Sands and Griswold
can be watched by one man"
"Oh, yes" replied the priest. Il
wish the man were a little brighter
than Ramsetjee. though"
Cant be helped-what?" anglicized
Mandy. "I'll have an eye to them in
the clubs from time to time. You look
after the social end"
Yes" The Swami smiled They'll
hardly get away from me in society"
my word. but you're coming on"
chaffed the Prince. Right In the
social swim. See what it Is to be a
Swami. Dare say the Duchess of
Drygoods and the Countess de Brew
cry are heard over heels in love with
the newest Eastern mystic. Too bad
they're not In Delhi"
The Swami frowned. He refused to
laugh at Jest bordering on lack of re-
spect for the faith. Even the Ma
haranee's son feared to try him too
far In that direction.
"Omitting personality for the mo-
ment," said the priest pointedly. Il
will participate In the gregarious
mumming Of these barbarians for the
sake of our purpose. 1t is not well to
concern ourselves with the frivolous
affairs Of life. We may have to do
much more serious things than we are
doing now to get the Maharanee. II
1t should come to the last resort, we
would not hesitate. you and |. Re-
member the brethren,"
81 shall remember" said Kananda
bravely.
The Swami sounded a gong. AS its
muf1ed music came to him through
the tiny hole In the floor above. All
rose cautiously from his crouching po-
sition and fastened downstairs. Next
minute, he was entering the presence
of the higher caste Fasteners with an
other profound salaam. In measured
tones, the Swami. who had resumed
his Oriental robes. gave him instruc-
lions to which the Hindoo servant lis
tened with intent respect the Prince
from time to time emphasizing the
priests orders with a nod.
You may go. ALI" said the Swami
in conclusion.
81 go, master" the Hindoo replied
backing through the portieres. He
, maintained his respectful bearing all
, the way along the hall. out the door
and down the brownstone steps. Then
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