Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-06-21
DeBQOlZKp
DELL, ~ - \
ByEOIjiS JOSEPH WANcE 4
AUTHOR OF HTHE BRASS BOWL" ETC,
Wsu[AAIn0ds BY DAN! VzAlIEnS

Wayfafefs! They could not yet nave
heard OF the crime in the Bazar, miles
distant, But as he opened his lips
he heard the latch click behind him.
and before he could lift a finger the
gurkha had flung himself bodily upon
him, fairly lifting the American across
the theshold.
They went down together, the
gurkha on top. And the door crashed
to with rattle Of bolts, leaving Am
Der on his back, in total darkness, be-
trayed, lost, and alone with his enc
mics.
Amber went temporarily mad with
rage. He was no stranger to fear
no man with an imagination is; but
for the time being he was utterly fool
hardy. He forgot his exhaustion. for
got the hopelessness OF his plight. for.
got everything save his Unsuitable
thirst for vengeance He was, in our
homely idiom, lighting-mad
One instant overpowered by and
supine beneath the gurkha, the next
he had flung the man off and bounded
to his feet. There was the automatic
pistol in his coat pocket, but, he, con
scious that many hands were reaching
out in the darkness to drag him down
again, found no time to draw 1t. He
seemed to feel the presence of the
nearest antagonist, whom he could by
no means see; for he struck out with
both bare. clenched fists, one after
the other, with his weight behind
each and both blows landed. The
room rang with the sounds of the
struggle the shuttle, thud, and scrape
of feet both booted and bare, the
hoarse, harsh breathing Of the com
batants, their groans, their whispers,
their low, tense cries.
And abruptly it was over. He was
borne down by sheer weight of num-
bers. Though ne fought with the
insanity of despair they we're too
| many for him He went second
time to the floor, beneath dozen half
nude bodies. Below him lay another,
with an arm encirclIng his throat, the
elbow beneath his chin COMPRISING
his windpipe Powerless to move
hand or foot he gave up and
wondered duly why it was that
knife had not been slipped between
his ribs-between the fifth and sixth
or in his back. beneath the left
| shoulder blade, and why his gullet re-
| manned Ut.
Gradually it was forced upon him
that his captors meant him no bodily
| harm, for the present at least His
wrath subsidized and gave place to Gu
riosity while he rested, regaining his
/ wind, and the natives squirmed away
from him. leaving one man kneellng
! upon his chest and four others each
pinioning a limb
| There followed wait, while some
| several persons INDUCED In whisper
| ed Capitalization at distance from
him too great for thsir words to be
| articulate. Then came croaking
| laugh out of the darkness and words
| intended for his ear
by Malang SHAH but my lord doth
| fight like Raiput,"
Amber caught his breath and ex-
, ploded Half a chance, you damned
| thugs and I'll show you how an Amer.
| lean can fight"
| But he had spoken in English, and
his hearers gathered the import of his
words only from his tone, apparently.
He who had addressed him laughed
| Rpplausively.
| 1T was a gallant fight he COM
mented, but like all good things hath
had its end. My lord is overcome. Is
my lord still minded for battle or for
peace? Dare |, his servant, give Or
| ders for his release, Or"
Here Amber interrupted; stung by
the bitter irony, he told the speaker
| In fluent idiomatic Hindustani precise
J ly what he might expect ii his lord
| ever got the shadow OF a chance TO
lay hands upon him.
The grim cackling laugh followed
/ his words, hooking echo. and was
| his only answer But for all his de-
| fiance, he presently heard orders is
/ sued to take him up and bear him to
another chamber.
| Unexpectedly he was let down upon
the floor and released Bare feet sour
! ried away in the darkness and door
| closed with resounding bang. He
was alone, for all he could say to the
contrary-alo and unframed He
| was more: he was astonished; he had
not been disarmed.
A flood of lamplight leaped through
some opening behind him and showed
him his shadow, long and gigantic
upon the floor of earth and wall of
stone. He wheeled about, alert as q
cat; and the sight of his pistol hung
steady between the eyes of one who
stood at ease, with folded arms, In
an open doorway. Over his shoulder
was visible the bare brown poll OF an
attendant whose lank brown arm held
aloft the lamp.
One does not shoot down in cold
blood a man who makes no aggressive
move, and he who stood in the door
way endured impsssively the mute
threat of the pistol, Above its sight
his eyes met Amber's with level and