Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1911-08-24
CHAPTER XIV.
From a Hiuh Place.


and given to sudden curves and an
giles. penetrating, It seemed. the verJ
bowels Of the Raj Mahal. It ended un
expectedly In a low arch through
which the two men passed into ar
open courtyard. apparently given ovei
entirely to stables. Despite the late
ness of the hour It was tenanted BY
several wideawake syces, dancing at
tendance upon a pair Of blooded stal
lions Of the stud royal. who saddled
bridled and hooded. paved and
champed impatiently in the center Of
the yard, making It echo with the
ringing Of iron on stone and the jim
CLING OF their silver curb-chains.
Salig Singh paused, with wave OF
his hand calling Amber's attention to
the superb brutes.
Thou canst see, hazoor, that all is
prepared"
For what?"
But Salig Singh merely smiled eng
matically. and shaking a patient head,
passed on.
A second arch gave upon a corridor
which led upwards and presently
changed into a steep flight Of steps.
OF ancient storm worn smooth and
Grooved with the traflc Of generations
Of naked feet. At the top they turned
aside and passed through q heavy
door which Sallg Singh unlocked with
private key. into q vast vacant
room. with q lofty ceiling supported
by huge. unwieldy pillars of stone,
sculptured with all the loves and wars
Of Hindu mythology. At one end the
fltful. eerie fare Of great bronze
brazier revealed the huge proportions
Of an ivory throne. gorgeous with
gems and cloth Of gold. standing upon
dais and fianked by two motionless
figures which at first sight Amber took
to be pieces Of statuary. But they
quicke ned, saluting with a single
movement and a flash Of steel, as the
maharana drew nearer, and so proved
themselves troopers OF the state,
standing guard with naked swords.
There is no need. perhaps, to tell
thee, hazoor." Salig Singh muttered.
bending to Amber's ear, that sitting
upon this throne, in this Hall OF Au'
dience. for generations thy forefathers
ruled this land, making and admins
tering its laws, melting out justice.
honored Of all men-and served. my
lord. for generations by my forebears,
the faithful stewards Of thy house;
even as would prove faithful"
Interesting" Amber interrupted.
brusquely. IF true. Is this what you
wanted to show me-"
Nay, hazoor. not this alone. Come"
The rajput led him out Of the hall
by way of small doorway behind the
throne, and after a little turning and
twisting through tortuous passages
they began to ascend again, and so
went on UP. ever upwards. the flight Of
steps broken by other corridors. other
apartments, other galleries and gar.
dens, until at length they emerged
into a garden laid out In the very top
most court Of all-the Hottest spot in
all Kuttarpur.
1t was a very beautiful garden.
jungle Of exotic plants and shrubs
threaded by narrow walks that led
to secluded hooks and unsupported
and lighted by low-swung
Raoko0na ~ dim iarnno V,onyoolorGd
MY lord" said the maharana, paus-
ing, III thou wilt wait here for little,
me to excuse myself"
"All right" Amber told him toler-
antly. Run along"
Salig Singh quietly e:aced himself.
and the American watched him go
with an inward chuckle. Il presume
I'll have to pay for my impudence in
the end" he thought; but it's costing
Salig Singh a good deal to hold him
self in" He moved away from the els
tern. idling down q path in a direction
opposite that taken by Salig Singh.
An abrupt turn brought him to the
outer wall, and he stopped TO gaze,
leaning upon the low marble balus-
trade.
Amber turned away to rejoin Salig
Singh by the cistern. But the rajput |
was not there; and. presently, another
path tempting him to unlawful explo- |
ration, he yielded and sauntered aim
lessly away. A sudden corner cloaked |
with foliage brought him to q little |
open space. a patch Of lawn over |
which q canopy had been raised. Be
meath this, a woman sat alone. He |
halted, thunderstruck.
simultaneously, with a soft swish |
Of draperies. q clash Of jeweled brace
lets, dull and musical. and a flash Of |
color. the woman stood
before him. young, slender, graceful,
CARRIED in indescribable splendor-and
yelled.
For the space Of three long breaths
the Vlrginian hesitated, unspeakably
Though she were yelled, It
we're deep dishonor for q woman OF Q
ra1put's household to be seen by Q
stranger. It seemed inexplicable that
5alig Singh should have unwittingly
left him in any place where he might
an inmate Of the zenanA
Yet the maharana must have known
Amber made an irrssolute
as II to 50. But It was toe