The Delta independent., 1911-08-11
CHAPTER XIII.
interviewing tho Swami.

interviewing tlo S"aH's
While Britt was speeding south.
ward in the taxicab two men were in
the midst of animated discussion in
the Swami's room. They were the
scholar himself and his up-to-date
friend, Prince Kananda. The prince
had arrived in the gloom-enshrouded
house only few minutes before. He
had uttered several short, sharp SEN
fences big with interest that had
stirred the Swami from the repose
usual to the Oriental priest. 1t was
evident that Kananada expected re-
sponsive remark from his friend, and
that the Swami, feeling the obligation.
was weighing his words before utter
ance.
Nothing of the slightest interest to
US was found" said Kananda, evident
ly in repetition. He had seen a skep-
teal expression spread over the
Swami's bronze face. and anticipated
an inquiry.
The search was thorough" asked
the scholar
MY dear old chap" saio the Prince,
sis 1t likely we would go to such ex-
! - "OioA iShSlhS "llhoul DeiuS
most painstaking in that respect? A
speck of diamond dust could not have
escaped u.s."
A slow smile cleaned through the
mask that comprised the scholars
features. Mock Difference colored his
manner as, taking the mouthpiece of
the Oriental pipe from between his
lips and tossing the tube over to the
divan, he arose and paced the length
Of the room.
Far be it from thy servant, o
Prince" he said with palpable sar-
casm. Ito question the method pur-
sued by so illustrious parsonage;
but" and he here returned to the easy
familiarity of their ordinary inter
course, since the search was made so
thoroughly, since 1t was a climax to
a deed so venturesome that 1t might
have embroiled you even with such
slow-witted persons as the policemen
Of the Western world, would it not
have been well to have got the right
man7"
You meant"
IT mean, your Royal Highness,"
said the priest with another touch OF
ironic homage, that the man whom
the brilliant Ali and his equally intelli-
gent assistants seized SO boldly in the
park, and then spirited away with a
skill hardly to be equaled by an In
dian schoolboy, was not the person
whom 1t was worth your distinguished
while to search"
The Prince was dumfounded. He
circled the table. fshed in his pocket
for a cigarette, rolled 1t abstractedly
between his thumb and middle finger.
lighted 1t, and then watched the in
scutable features of him whom for SO
many years he had called master
is 1t possible?" he exclaimed at
last. And l gave my personal atten-
ton to the task. too! l instructed All
explicitly, and l ordered him to see
that the men who aided him should
be among the shrewdest and most
praiseworthy OF our followers. All
had tracked the man for days. He
said he was as familiar with his face
as with that of his own father. How
could they have been mistaken?
Easily enough" said the Swami.
"The men went into Mrs. Missioner 8
home about the same time. There Is
slight resemblance in their general
build and-the wrong man came out!
Then we have lost twelve hours. y
said Kananda.
"You have lost more than that
said the priest. opportunity. These
Occidentals are singularly fraternal
1t is not probable that the man you
searched will let the other go un
; warned"
The Prince tossed his cigarette into
the fire, and with the springing glide
of a panther. and as silently. crossed
to the string Of gongs that hung oppo