The Huttig news., 1911-08-26

l One by one his faculties fought tneir way past the barrier, until he was fully sentient, save that his memory drowscd. His head was hot and heavy. his eyes burned in their sockets like balls of live charcoal, dulled bug sing sounded in his ears, his very heart felt sore and numb; he was as one who wakes from evil dreams to the baekness of foreknown despair.
 Suddenly he raised himself upon the charpoy and called huskily for the khansamah. Promptly the squat white figure that he remembered ap- peared in the doorway. Bring lights" Amber ordered, peremptorily. Bring lights quickly-and water" And when the man had returned with a lamp. which he put on the table. Amber seized the red earthenware watering | and drained 1t greedily. Returning it. empty. to the brown hands, he mo tioned to tine man to wait, while he consulted his watch It had run down. He thrust 1t back into his pocket and inquired Whats o'clock?"
 
 Amber gasped and stared. Eight of the Let me think Go and bring me food and brandy-peg or, hold on! Bring bottle of soda water and a glass only
 The khansamah withdrew. Amber fell back with his shoulders to the wall and stared unwinking at the lamp. He distinctly remembered un- dressing before going to bed: he now found himself fully clothed. He felt of his pocket. and found the emerald ring there, instead of in it's ehamois case. Then 1t had not been night. mare,
 He had a bottle of brandy which had never been uncorked, in his trav- cling kit. Rising, he found 1t and in- spected the cork narrowly to make sure it had not been tempered with; then he drew 1t.
 The khansamah returned with the l glass and an unopened bottle of 1 Schweppes, and prepared the drink under eyes that watched him narrow ly. While Amber drank he laid a l pibSC ioi nilil dt tAc ldDICs w Htn uo left the room a second time the vir- ginian produced his automatic pistol and satisfied himself that it remained loaded and in good working order.
 In the course of few minutes the native reappeared with tray of food and pot of coffee. These arranged, he stood by the chair, ready to serve l tho Than ha looking into the muzzle of Ambers weapon. and became apparently rigid with terror.
 "Sahib-!"
 Make no outcr-y. dog, and tell ms no lies. if you value your contemptible life. Why did you drug meat whose l instanee?"
 "Sahib! :"
 Answer me quickly, son of vipers!"
 By Dhola Baksh, hazoor, I am in. nocent! Another has done these things-he who served you last night, belike, and whose place have taken 2
 Now the oaths of India are many and various. so that new specimen need not be held wonderful. But Am Der sat bolt upright, his eyes widening and his jaw dropping. "Dhola-!" he said. and brought his teeth together with an audible click. staring at the khansamah as If he were a recru- descence of prehistoric mammal He caught a motion of the head and a wave of the hand toward the window. garHing him that there might be an aavesdropper lurking without, and ose admirably to the emergency
 That is Q lie, misbe gotten son of
 one-eyed woman of shame! By the ateway of Kathiapur, that is a lie. reak. brother of jackals and father of swine, lest my temper overcome me and I make carrion of you!"
 My lord. hear mel" protested the man in an extremity of fright. These be the words of truth. If otherwise, | let my head be forfeit Early in the morning you returned from the iake, 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 l am Ram Ial, a true man. and no trafficker in drugs and potions ''--
 Even so," said Amber, ironic. But if. on taking thought, I find you've lied to me. -. Go now and hold yourself fortunate in this, that am not man of nasty judg ment"
 "Hazoor," Like 8 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 ehatteriug 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, bis curiosity aroused, he went to the window and peered out between the