Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1911-08-03
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ByLOUIS JOSEPH VANCE !
AUTHOR OF ~THE BRASS BOWL" ETC. u
0llU SITUATIONS by N&NY WA[IU[3DS -
AqIMOA OF 1.-THE BRASS BOWk" ETC.


pound fenced with camel-thorn, sat ar
aged and INDECENT dak.bungalow
marking the end of the first stage, the
beginning OF the second.
Ram Nath refined in with a flourish
and lifted q raucous voice, hailing the
syce. while Amber, painfully Olsen
gaging his cramped limbs, climbed
down and stumbled toward the veran
da. The abrupt transition from VIC
lent and erratic motion to q solid and
substantial footing affected him un'
pleasantly, and with an undeniable
qualm; the earth seemed to rock and
flow beneath him as II under the In
tluence Of an antic earthquake. He
was for some seconds occupied with
the problem Of regaining his poise,
aS1d 1t was not until he heard an Eng
lishwoman's voice uplifted in accents
OF anger, that he remembered the
other wayfarer with whom he was to
share his tonga, or associated with
the white-clad figure in the dark door
way Of the bungalow with anything
but the khansamah. coming to greet
and cheat the chance-brought guest.
Where is that tonga-wallah who
deserted me here last night?" the
woman was demanding of Ram Nath,
too preoccupied with her resentment
to have eyes for the other traveller,
who at sight Of her had stopped and
removed his pith helmet and stood
staring as II he had come from q
land in which there we're no women.
Where" she continued. with an i'm
perative stamp Of a daintily-shod foot,
is that wretched tonga-wallah?"
"Sahiba." protested Ram Nath, with
a great show Of Difference, how
should l know? Belize he is in Bad.
shah Junction, whittier he returned
very late last night, being travel-worn
and weary, and where l left him. be-
ing sent with this excellent tonga to
take his place"
You were? And why have l been
detained here, alone and unprotected,
this long night? Simply because that
other tonga-wallah was a fool, am l
to be imposed upon in this fashion,"
What am l." whimpered Ram Nath,
Ito endure the wrath OF the sahiba for
fault that is none of mine?"
II beg your pardon, sir" said the
girl, turning to Amber, but it is very
annoying" She looked him over, first
with abstraction, then with a puzzled
gathering of her brows, for he was
far from her thoughts-the last per
son she would have expected to meet
in that place. and very effectually dis
guised in dust and dirt besides THE
tire came of the wheel just as We got
here, late yesterday evening, and In
trying, or pretending to try. to fit 1t
on again, that block-head of a tonga
wallah hammered the rim with a rock
as big as his head and naturally
smashed It to kindllng-wood. Then,
before could stop him, he flung him
self on the back Of pony and went
away, saying that 1t was the will of
God that he should return to Badshah
for a better tonga. Since when l
have had for company one stable
scye, one deaf-anddumb patriarch Of
a khansamah and the usual
dak-bungalow discomforts - insects,
bad food, and a terrible fear Of da-
colts"
II am SO sorry, Miss Farrell" Am
Der put in. IF l had only been
The girl gave a little gasp and sat
down abruptly in one Of the veranda
chairs, thereby threatening 1t with
Instant demolition and herself with a
bad spill; for the chair was feeble
with the burden OF its many years,
and she was a quite substantial young
person. Indeed, so loudly did 1t croak
4 protest and q warning that she i'm
arose In alarm.
Mr. Amber!" she said; and,
Well !"
You'll forgive me the surprise?"
he begged. going up on the veranda
% her. II myself had no hope Of
hiding you here"
But" she protested, with a pretty
lush Of color-"but l left you in the
States such a little while ago!"
"Ycs?" he said gravely. 1T seems
10 long to me. And when
'ou had gone, Long Island was very
onely place indeed" he added, with
calculated impudence.
Her color deepened and she sought
mother chair. seating herself with
ingerly decision. I'm sure you
ont mean me to assume that you've
ollowed me half round the world?"
why not?" He brought another
hair to face her. Besides. haven't
cen anything Of India for q
ood many years"
''Mr. Amber!"
"Ma'amg" he countered with affect
d humility.
You're spelling It all. was 80
lad to see you'd have been glad
D see any white man. Of course"
Much obliged, I'm sure"
And now you're actually flirting
18th ms-or pretending to-"
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