The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1911-11-18

NOW, then, where's the woman?"
lie turned to Ali with a piercing
look. The servant salaamed.
Excellency," said he, I'VE have
verified the address heading the sec
ond note. She is there"
It 1s well" said the prince CURLY.
Col"
lie turned to the Swami and, stand
ing with one foot on his chair, raised
his elbow to his knee and lowered his
chin to his hand.
belleve we're close to the end of
our quest" he unused. 81 have a feel
Ing We must get the Maharanea to-
| night, II we are to recover 1t at all.
| We have played a waiting game for
many months, and 1t is time now to
act. Are you prepared?"
II am prepared"
You will not stay your hand when
1t comes to the point?"
The Swami did not answer. He sat
with folded arms staring at the docu-
ments on the table. It was in an al.
tered voice that at length he spoke:
Prince" he said, already the sa.
cred gem should be ruby red with the
| blood that has been spilled for it.
There is something in the air of this
strange land that makes it distaste-
full to me-the thought of further
| bloodshed. Regain the Jewel we must:
| but would 1t could be done without
| new sacrifice of life"
An expression of demoniacal scorn
| overspread Kanada's features until he
confronted the sage with the face of
gargoyle.
And the brethren7s he asked angri-
ly. Can 1t be you have a thought
| for these western dogs when your
owG brothers of the faith are suffer
| Ing the shame and pain in which we
| left them? Has your heart turned
to water?''
| The Swami did not answer. Still
with folded arms, he kept his gaze
on the papers, his features set In quiet
determination.
care you afrafd?' pursued the
prince. Does your soul shrink, your
hand draw back, now that the ap-
pointed hour is nigh? Are you true
believer and mastered the faith, Or
and he almost screamed, AN apos-
tate?''
The Swami's copper face turned a
darker shade A flash of fury scared
his eyes as he raised them to those
of the prince. He lowered them
again, however, and said, stolidly:
"I am unable to conquer the feeling
that it canRot be for the good Of the
brothers to wade through blood as
did our fathers for possession of what,
after all. Is simply stone. | know
| what 1t means to the chosen ones-to
have that stone taken back to the
Temple. ! feel more keenly than
/ you can feel the yearning they send
across the seas for the success of our
mission. But, prince, the Maharanee
diamond, in its journey across the
world, has been purged perhaps OF the
scarlet stains that were upon 1t. Can
we not take 1t back in all its present
purity? Are we not skilled enough
in the ways of the Eastto recover our
own without bearing death to the
men of the West?"
Kananda spurned the chair away
and, gripping the table with both
hands, leaned toward the scholar.
Listen to me, master! he said
sayagely. 1T was all these possibili-
ties my father anticipated when he
sent me as your companion In this en-
terprise. He knew was experienced
in the wiles of these Western dogs.
He was aware that in the English UNI.
versity and the British capital, as well
as in the cities Of the European CONT
nent, l had mingled with them in
their pastimes and in their homes
that I had seen and heard their puer-
lie philosophy-that I had studied
their womanish religions, and that !
had experienced all the soul poison
by which their so-called civilization
turns men to children. Can you guess
the orders the Maharajah laid upon
me when he babe me come with your
The Swami still maintained dig.
nified silence.
'I will tell you," continued the
prince. my father said: Tho time
may come, my son, when your frlend
the great teacher, quails from that
which is before him. fit comes, then
when 1t comes, strike as swiftly and
surely as you would strike to save
your throne And l will strike, my
master!" Kananda added grimly res
olute. eff you finch from any neces-
sity that arises In carrying out this
task of ours, will warn you once
even as am warning you noW-ano
then, Ii you still stay your hand or seek
to save the least Of those who may
stand between us and the sacred
| jewel, by God I'll kill you!
| The scholars imperturbability was
proof against Kananda's violence OF
word and manner. The only sign ne
gave was a slight tightening OF ms
fingers as they clasped his arms, ana
a lightning look straight into the eyes
NJ tha vnl1ny man across the table. IL