Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-10-12
CHAPTER XIII.
The photocraph.

That same night Amber dlneu At
the R~esidency, or the invitation OF
Raikes, the local representative OF
government, seconded by the insist
ence of Colonel Farrell, 1t developed
that Sophia's telegram had somehow
been lost in transit, and Farrelrs sur
prise and pleasure at sight of her were
tempered only by his keen apprecia-
ton of Amber's adyentitious services,
slight though they had been. lie was
urged to stay the evening out, before
proceeding to his designated quarters,
and the reluctance with which he &C.
ceded to this arrangement which
worker so happily with his desires,
may be imagined
Ease Of anxiety was more than
food and drink to Amber; his feeling
Z Of relief, to have conveyed Sophia to
the company and protection OF Anglo
Saxons like himself, was intense. YET
ae swallowed his preliminary brandy
peg In a distinctly uncomfortable
frame of mind, strangely troubled by
she reflection that round that lone
white table was gathered together the
known white population Of the state;
4 census Of which accounted for Just
ave souls.
Amber was relieved when at length
che meal was over, and Miss Farrell
aaving withdrawn in conformance with
fnviolable custom, the cloth was
deity whisked away and cigars, ciga-
rettes, liquors, whisky and soda were
served.
Amber took unto himself a cigar
and utilized an observation of the
Politicals as a lever to swing the con-
~versation to a plane more likely to
inform him. Farrell had grumbled
about the exactions of his position as
particularly instanced by the necessi-
ty Of his attending tedious and tire
some native ceremonies in connection
with the tamasha.
What's, precisely, the nature, o.
this tamasha, Colonel Farrell?"
why, my dear young man,
thought you knew. Isn't 1t what you
came to see?"
mo" Amber admitted cautiously;
II merely heard a rumor that there
was something uncommon afoot. Is II
ceally anything worth whileg'
Rather Raikes interjected drlly
the present rulers Indicating in ia
vor of his son., a child Of twelve, Thaf
puts the business in a class by itself
but why should a prince hand oyel
The reins of government to a chile
of twelve? There must be some rea
son for it. Isn't 1t known?" asked
Amber.
Who can fathom a Hindu's mind?
grunted Farrell. Il daresay there
some scandalous native intrigue a
the bottom Of it.. Ell, Raikes?'
The Resident shook his head
Don't come to this shop for informs
tion about what goes on in Khanda
war. I doubt If there's another Res
dent in India who knows as little Q
The underhand deyilment in his stat
US ! do. His majesty the Rama love
me as q cheetah loves his trainer
Hes an intractable rascal"
There have been a number 9
deaths from cholera In the Palace late
", the grand vizier's amongst them.
white arsenic cholera?"
THAT, and the hemp poison kind"
Refractory vizier?" questioned Fai
rell! 1.-THE kind that wants to r,
trench and institute reforms--rai
ways and metalled roads and 8
forth?"
mo; he was quite suited to hi
master. But the bazaar says Narail
took a dislike to him for one reaso
or another"
"Naraini?1 queried Amber.
"The genius Of the place. Rake
nodded toward the Raj Mahal, shinin
like a pearl through the darkness {
.he hillside over against the Res
iency. 'She's Salig's head queen. J
beast that's about as near to hi
status as one can get. She's not act
ally his queen, but some sort Of
oentage from the Rutton dynasty
sardly know what or VIM. ssaliK new