The Huttig news., 1911-07-08


 played with?''
 I'm not joking. Salig Singh, and this business is no joke at all. What I'm trying to drive into your head Is the fact that you've made the mistake of your life. I'm not Rutton and I'm nothing like Rutton; I am an Ameri- oan citizen and"
 Pardon. hazoor, but is this worth thy while? l am no child; what 1 know l know. If thou art indeed not liar Dyal Rrston, how is it that thou dost wear upon thy finger the signet the emerald which Amber had for gotten-"the Token sent thee by the Bell? If thou are not my lord the rightful Maharana of Khandawar, how is it that thou hast answered the summons of the Bell? Are the serv- ants of the Body fools N ho have fol- lowed thee hither. losing trace of thee no single instant since thou d.dst sly the Bengali who bore the Token to thee? Am I blind-I. Salig Singh, thy childhood's playmate, the grand vizier of thy too brief rule, to whom thou didst surrender the reins of govern ment of Khandawar? 1 know thee. thou eanst not deceive me True it is that thou art ehanged-sadly changed my lord; and the years have not worn upon thee as they night had thought to find thee an older man and, by thy grace, a wiser. But even as ] am Salig Singh. thou are none other than my lord, liar Dyal Rut- ton
 against the wall and, leaning so with arms folded, regarded Amber with a triumph not unmixed with contempt It was plain that he considered his argument final, his case complete, the verdict his. While Amber found no words with which to combat his false impression. and could only stare, open mouthed and fascinated But at length he reeollected himself and called his wits together.
 That's all very pretty" he admitted fairly. but it won't hold water. don't suppose these faithful servants of the Bell you mentioned happe ned to tell you that Chatterji himself mis- took me tor Rutton, to begin with, and just found out his mistake in time to recover the Token. Did they?"
 The man shook his head wearily. Nothing to that import hath come to mine ears, he said.
 All right. And of course they didn't tell you that Rutton committed sui after he had killed the babu?'
 Again Salig Singh replied by making a negative movement of his head
 Well, all I've got to say is that your internal Body employs giddy lot of incompetents to run it's errands'
 Salig Singh said nothing, and Amber pondered the situation briefly. He understood now how the babu's com panion had fallen into error; how Chatterji, possessing sufficient intel lieence to recognize his initial mis. take. had. having rectified it. saved his face by saying nothing to his com panion of the incident; and how the latter had remained In ignorance of Rutton's death after the staying of Chatterji, and had pardonably mis- taken Amber for the man he had been sent to spy upon. The prologue was plain enough, but how to deal with this, it's sequel, was a problem that taxed his ingenuity A single solution seemed practicable, of the many he debated: to get in touch with Laber- touche and leave the rest to him.
 He stood for so long in meditation that the Rajput began to show traces of impatience. He moved restlessly. yawned, and at length spoke.
 'Is not my lord content? Can he not see. the dice are cast? What profit can he think to win through furtherance of this farce?"
 Well" curiosity prompted Amber to ask, what do you want of me, then?"
 ''Is there need to ask? Through the Mouthpiece, the Bengali, Behari Lal Chatterji, whom thou didst slay, the message of the Bell was brought to hee. Thou hast been called! it is for thee to answer"
 "Called-?"
 ITO the Gateway of Swords, ha- FOOT"
 "Oh, yes; to be sure. But where In thunderation is ?''
 That my lord doth know"
 "You think so? We'll, have 1t your own way But suppose I decline the nvitation?''
 Salig Singh looked bored. Since .hou hast come so far" he said, thou wilt go farther, hazoor."
 "Meaning-by force?"
 "Of thine own will Those whom the Voice calleth are not led to the Gateway by their noses"
 But" Amber persisted, suppose hey won't go?'
 Then, hazoor. doth the Council of the Hand sit in judgment upon them"
 The significance was savagely obvi- ous, but Amber merely laughed. And he Hand strikes. presume?'' Salg Singh nodded. Bless your heart. I'm not afraid of your Hand! But am