Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-20
CHAPTER w.
Stafford Interyenes.

0tduOTQ xnCeIVeuoS
The threatening cloud which had doomed
up on the horizon had acted wonders on
Col. Carmichaels constitution. At the
last meeting Of the Marut Diamond Com
pany he had looked like a man whose
days on the active service list were num-
bered. Ill-health. disappointment and
natural pessimsm had apparently left an
indeible trace upon him. and Mrs. Car
michaels prophetic eye saw them both
established In Cheltenham or Bath, rele-
gated TO the empires lumber room-un-
less something happened. The something
had happened. The one sound which had
the power to rouse hin, had broken like
clap of unheraided thunder upon his
cars. It was the call Of danger. the war
note which had brought back to him the
springtime of his youth and strength.
STAFFORD found him restlessy pacing
backward and forward i'm his narrow
workroom. deep in conversation with
Nicholson. who stood at the table, his
head bent over map OF Marut Both
men were in uniform, and II seemed tn
Stafford that Col Carmichael listened to
the click Of his own spurs with the
pleasure OF a young lieutenant. II was
no longer the sound OF weary routine. II
was the herald Of clashing sabers and
the champing OF impatient horses await
warlike DAYS which were to come again.
He stood still as Stafford entered. and a
fash of satisfaction passed over his face.
Il am glad you have come. he said.
Whatever is to be done must be done at
once I suppose YOU know nothing
Nothing Stafford answered. Your
note Vas the first intimation I have re-
ceived that there was anything anliss.
Col. Carmichael grunted angrily
''Of course you know nothing he said.
,;,1rx l. fr q oh q 10
room. Nor did Nor did any one.
Heaven and earth. I'm beginning TO
think there's something wrong in our
theory that whatever is going on under
our noses must be too insignificant to be
noticed, There, Nicholson, hurry up ana
tell him what YOU know"
Nicholson stood upright and folding the
map put II in his pocket.
Il was In the new bazaar last night.
he began, CURLY. Il go there regularly,
YOU know. disguised as one thing or
another, just for the sake OF having
look at the people when they don't know
they are being watched. Last night there
was no one there-not so much as child
admit that / was not particularly star
tied. l knew that there was great
festival at hand Pilgrims have been
streaming in for DAYS past. and ii was
quite conceivable that some ceremony
was taking place i'm the temple. Curios-
farther. Myself disguised as travelling
fakir, l made my way to the rajahs
palace gates. Already on the road | was
joined by hurrying stream of men and
women, principally men. My suspictons
were aroused. I knew from experience
that it was not usual crowd Of pilgrims.
Every man was armed, not only with
knives, but guns and revolvers. some OF
them We're undoubtedly deserted sepoys
who had stolen their weapons. More
a
recognized, and in order to escape de-
lection. initiated. 1t was the signal which
in past generations revealed one MEM
Der of the Thug fraternity to another"
Thugs exclaimed Stafford, with a
family skeptical smile.
do not misunderstood. me-" Nicholson
said. Il am not going to recall 10 your
minds the nursery horrors with which
our ayahs RECALLED our childish imagtna-
.tions. I will only emphasize one fact.
a band of murderous and treacherous rob-
bers. They belong to the priesthood,
they are the deputed servants of the god
dess Kali. and their task is the ex-
eisner. that is to say-in this case, of
ourselves
STAFFORD glanced at the colonel The
latter's face was set and grave.
Il do not for moment suggest that
the crowd with which I Travelled were
Thugs" Nicholson continued Il know
that they were not. But they had adopt
ed the Thug sign because they had adopt
ed the Thug mission Not however. till
we had passed the gates and reached the
palace did I realize the gravity of the
situation. The rajah stood on the great
steps, surrounded by a bodvguard of
torch bearers. He was dressed in full
native costume. a blaze of gems and
wearing the royal insignia. The express
sion on his face was something l shall
not easily forget, and at the time il was
inexplicable to me ] cannot describe il.
can only say that l was instantly re-
minded of Millions fallen Satan as he
stands above his followers. superb. daunt-
less but tortured by hatred, contempt
and God knows what strange minglings
Of remorse and anger. He greeted the
crowd with the sign OF death. His first
words revealed to me that his allegiance
to us was al an end. and that he meant
to follow in his fathers bloody foot
steps
stafford stretched out his hand. catch
ing hold Of the back of a chair, as if
seeking support.
Go on.'' he said, sharply.
Il have very little more TO say l did
not wait. for ! had heard enough to
know that Marut was in instant danger.
I made my escape as best could. but In
order to avoid notice | had to resort to
this morning"
Col. Carmichael brought his hand down
aneriiy upon the table.
To think that the scoundrel should
have been pretending friendship all the
time that he was preparing to murder
u.s. he exclaimed. This comes Of trust
ing a native"
Excuse me. colonel" Nicholson an
swered. with emphasis. Il have every
reason to believe that until yesterday
Nehal Singh was our sincere ally"
You mean to say that he stamped an
armed crowd out OF the earth In half an
hour?"
NO. That armed crowd was the silent
work OF years. It was the tool which
has been held ready for q long ume-but
not by Nehal Singh"
by whom. then. In the name of all"
Nicholson drew out an old and faded
photograph and handed IL to the colonel
DO you recognize that faee?' he
Certainly do. 1t is the rajah's father
-Behar Singh. How did you come by
this?"
1T belonged to my father He gave II
me and kept 1t as a curiosity. Colonel.
saw that man last night at the rajah 8
side
The photograph f1uttered from the
coloners powerless fingers He looked at
Nicholson, and there flashed into his old
eyes a terrible primitive passion of re-
venge and hatred
my God! He is alive-and l never
knew
HE is alive, colonel. And I believe
that hidden from us all. he has been
working steadily and stealthily at the
task which saw its completion last night.
So long as Nehal Singh stood on our side
he could do nothing. The people believe
Nehal to be an incarnation Of Vishnu.
Behar knew that-probably he himself
ha fnafaYed 0nASGAd H..