Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-06-14

1ty with his surroundings, But always
you may be sure, he had the CLEAN OF
pink satin in the corner OF bis eve
In time broad Machua bazaar street
received them-Pink Satin and the
sailerman out for night Of t. And
now PINK Satin began to stroll more
sedately. manifesting q liveiier inter.
est In the sights Of the wasside Am
ber's impatience-fo he guessed that
they neared the goldsmiths stall-in-
creased prodigiously.
without warning. Pink Satin pulled
M. extracted from the rccesses OF his
+ costume a long, black and vindic,ive-
looking native cigar, and lighted II.
thoughtiuIly exhaling the smoke
through his nose while he stared Gov
etously at the display OF a slipper
merchant whose stand was over
across from the stan OF a goldsmith
With true oriental elaboration Pink
Satin finally made up his mind 10
move on, and Amber lurched heavily
into the premises occupied bs one
Dhola Baksh. a goldsmith,
4 customer, slim, handsome Ma
layAn youth, for the moment held the
attention Of the proprietor, The two
were haggllng with characteristic en-
joyment over a transaction which
seemed 10 involve less than twenty
rupees Amber waited. knowing that
patience must be his portion until tho
bargain should be struck. Dhoia
Baksh himself, lean, sharpfeatured
Mahratta gray with age. appraised
with single look the new customer.
and returned his interest TO the Ma
lay. But Amber garnered from that
Z glance a sensation OF recognition. He
wondered dimly, why; could the gold.
smith have been warned Of his com
ing?
Two or three more putative custom
ers idled into the shop Beyond It's
threshold the stream OF native life
rolled on. ceaselessly fluent: a pageant
of the middle ages had been no more
fantastic and unreal to western eyes.
Now and again wayfarer paused, his
interest attracted by the goldsmfth's
rush OF business.
Unexpectedly the proprietor made
substantial concession. Money
passed upon the instant, sealing the
bargain. The Malay rose to 60.
Dhola Baksh lifted stony stare TO
Amber.
Your pleasure, sahib?" he inquired,
with a thinly.yeiled snecr. What need
to show Difference to a down-at.the-
heel sailor from the port7
b want money! want to borrow"
said Amber promptly.
"on your word. sahibr
''on security"
What manner OF security can you
offerf"
"A ring an emerald ring"
Dhola naksh shrugged His eyes
shifted from Amber TO the encircling
faces Of the bystanders. II am a poor
man, he whined. How should have
money to lend? Come TO me on the
morrow; then mayhap ! may have q
few rupees Tonight have neither
+ cash nor time"
The hint WINS lost uron Amber. "A
stone Of price he persisted.
4 With disturbed and apprehensivs
( look, the money.lender rose. Come.
then" he grumbled, ~ you must"
A voice cried out behind Amber
I "Heh!"-more a squeal than cry.
+ Intuitively. as at signal OF danger.
he leaped aside. simultaneously
something like beam OF light sped
past bis head The goldsmith uttered
one dreadful, choking scream. and
vent to his knees. For as many as
three seconds he swayed back and
forth, his features terribly contorted.
HIS thin old hands plaeslng at the
handle Of broadbladed dagger which
had transfixed his throat Then he
tumbled forward on his face, kicking.
There followed a single instant OF
suspense and horror. then mad rush
/ Of feet as the street stampeded into
( the shop. Voices clamored to the
skies. Somehow the lights went out
I Amber started to fight his way out
As he struggled on, making little
Roadway through the press, a hand
grasped his arm and drew him an
other way.
Make haste, hazoorl" cried the
owner Of the hand, In Hlndustani
Make haste, lest they seek to fasten
this crime upon your head"
CHAPTER X.