Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-08-17

was swung wide and slammed shut. A
blast of frosty air and a furry Of
snow swept across the room. And
against the door there leaned a man
putting for breath and coughing spas
modically-a gross and nonstrous
bulk of flesh, unclean and unwhole-
some to the eye, attired IN an extrav-
agant array Of colored garments.
tawdry silks and satins clinging, sod
den to his ponderous and unwleldy
limbs.
1.-THE babu!" cried Amber unconsci-
ously; and was rewarded by a flash
of recognition from the coalblack,
beady, evil eyes Of the man.
But for that involuntary exciama-
ton the tableau held unbroken for a
space; Rutton standing trans1xed, the
torn halves Of the cigarette between
his fingers, his head we'll up and back,
his stare level, direct, uncompromis-
ing, a steady challenge to the In
truder.
Then, demanding Amber's silence
with an imperative movement Of his
hand, Rutton spoke. well, babu?"
he said quietly, the shadow of a bitter
and weary smile curving his thin,
hard lips.
The Bengal moved a pace or two
from the door, and plucked n%ervously
at the throat Of his surtout, finally
managing to insert one hand in the
folds of silk across his bosom.
Il seek" he said distinctly in Urdu,
and not without a definite note of
menace in his manner, "the man call
ing himself Rutton Sahib?"
Very deliberately Rutton inclined
his head. Il am he."
"Hazoor!" The babu laboriously
doubled up his enormous body in pro-
found obeisance. Having recovered,
he nodded to Amber with the easy IA
miliarity of an old acquaintance. ITO
you, likewise, greeting. Amber Sa-
hib."
What" Rutton swung sharply to
Amber with an exclamation Of amaze
ment. "You know this fellow, David?'
The babu cut in hastily, stimulated
by a pressing anxiety to clear himself.
"Hazor, l did but err, being misled by
his knowledge Of our tongue as well
as by that pale look Of you he wears.
And, indeed, is it strange that l should
take him for you, who was told to
seek you in this wild land?"
"Be silent!" Rutton told him an
grily.
"My lords will is his slaves" Re
signedly the babu folded his fat arms.
Tell me about this" Rutton de-
manded Of Amber.
"The ass ran across me in the
woods south Of the station, the day
l came down." explained Amber, sum
marizing the episode as succinctly as
he could. HE didn't call me by YOU
name, but I've no debut he's telling
the truth about mistaking me for you
At all events he hazoor-ed me a mum
Der of times, talked a lot of rot about
some silly Voice. and finally made
me a free gift of a nice little bronze
box that wouldn't open. After which
he took to his heels, saying he'd call
later for my answer-whatever he
meant by that. He did call by night
and stole the box. That's about all
know of him, thus far. But I'd watch
out for him, If I were you: If he ISM
a raving %lunatic, I miss my guess"
Indeed, my lord, it is all quite as
the sahib says" the babu admitted
g%raciously, his eyes cleaning witt
sardonic amusement. Circumstance
c~onspired to mislead me; but that
was swift to discover. Nor did l lost
time in remedying the error, as yol
have heard. Moreover"
He shut up suddenly at a sign from
Rutton, with a ludicrous shrug Of hi
! huge shoulders disclaiming any ill-in
} tent or wrong-doing; and while Rut
ton remained deep in thought by tn,
table, the babu held silence, his gaz
Pickering suspiciously round tn
room.
At length Rutton looked up, sur
pressing a sigh. Your errand, babu?
"Is it, then, your will that l shout
speak before this man." The Bengal
! nodded impudently at Amber.
? 1T Is my will"
( "Shabash! i bear a message, hi
zoor, from the Bell"
"You are the Mouthpiece of tn
Voice.?
"That honor is mine, hazoor. Flo
t the rest / am
2 "Behari Lal Chatterji," interrupte
Rutton impatiently; solicitor of tn
I Inner Temple-disbarred; anointc
thief, liar, jackal, ~lickspittle, and pei
8 jurer-I know you"
my lord" said the man insolentl.
"omits from his catalogue Of my al
9 complishments my chiefest honor; h
! forgets that, with him, / am an a,
Q cepted Member OF the Body
I "The Body wears strange member
! that employs you. babu," commente
= Rutton bitterly. 1T has fallen upo
\ evil days when such as you ar
charged with o message Of the Bell,
! my lord is harsh to one who woul
be his slave in all things. Fortunat
indeed am | to own the protection {
!, the Token" A slow leer wirrne
greasily upon his moonlike face
"Ah, the Token!" Rutton repeate
tensely, beneath his breath. 1T
true that you have the TokenY
aye; 1t is even here. my lord