Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1911-08-30
CHAPTER XIV.
Over the Water.

7 Ram Eath, patient and impassive
as ever. had the tonga waiting for
Amber before the Residency. Ex.
allied beyond words, the American per-
nlitted himself to be driven OF
through Kuttarpur's intricate network
Of streets and backways, toward des-
tiuation of which he knew as little as
be cared. Ho was guest of the state,
officially domiciled at the designated
house Of hospitality; without especial
permission, obt2ined through the eff
forts of the Resident, he could sleep
In no other spot in the city or its
purlieus He was Indifferent. abso.
lutely: the matter interested him as
scantily-which is to say not at all
as did the fact that an escort of troop
ers of the state, very well accoutred
and disciplined. followed the tonga
with a great jangling of steel and tn.
multi of boots.
disbursed few rupees to the troop
ers, paid off Ram Nath-who was
swift 20 drive of city-wards, in mad
haste lest the gates be shut upon
him for the highland entered the
bungalow. An aged, laxative, and
amiable khansamah met him at the
threshold with expressions Of exagger
ated respect, no doubt genuine enough
and followed him, a mumbling shadow
as the Virainian made a brief round
of inspection.
Standing between the road and the
water, the resthouse proved to be
moderately spacious and clean; on the
lake front it opened upon marble
bund, or landing stage, its lip Tapped
by whispering ripples of the lake
amber went out upon this to discover
separated from him by little more
than half a mile of black water, the
ghostly white wall of the Raj Maha
climbing in dim majesty to the stars
The Virginian remained long IL
rapt wondering contemplation of it
until the wind blowing across the wa
tiers had chilled him to the point o.
sh!vering; when he turned indoors 4
bis bed But he was to have little res
that night. The khansamah who at
tended him had hardly turned low
his Hight when Amber was disturbed
by the noise of an angry alteration
In the compound. He arose and II
dressing gown and slippers went to in
vestigate, and found Ram Nath ii
violent dispute with the sergeant o.
the escort--which, 1t appeared, had
builded fire and camped round It il
the compound: circumstance which
furnished food for thought.
Amber began to suspect that the
troops had been furnished as a guart
less of honor than of espionage. les:
In formal courtesy than In demonstra
don of the unsleeping vigilance o
the Eye-kindly assisted by the Ma
harana of Khandawar.
A man who, warmed by the ardor o.
bis first love. feels suddenly the shad
ow death falling cold upon him, II
apt to neglect nothing. Amber con
Eidered that he had given Ram Natl
no commission of any sort. and ben
which the tonga-wallah insisted upor
making to him.
Ram Nath had returned, he asserted
solely for the purpose OF informing
amber in accordance with his desires
The telegraph Office for which vol
a.squired, sahib, stands Just within the
Gateway Of the Elephants" he an
nounced. The telegraph-babu will b.
on duty very early In the morning
should you desire still to send tbs
message"
"Oh, yes said Amber indifferently
sPd forgotten. Thanks"
He returned to his eharpoy Will
spirits considerably higher Ram Natl
had not winked this time, but the fact
was indisputable that Amber had mo-
expressed any interest whatever II
the location Of the telegraph Office.
Wondering II the telegraph-babu By
any chance wore pink satin. he dozec
OF on the decision that he would need
to send message the first thing ir
the morning.