The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1912-02-12
CHAPTER XIV.
Over the Water.

Ram Nath, patient and impassive
as ever, had the tonga waiting for
Amber before the Residency. Elk
allied beyond words, the American per-
mitted himself to be driven of
through Kuttarpur's intricate network
of streets and backways,to toward des-
tination Of which he knew as little as
he cared. He was guest of the state,
Officially .domiciled at the. designated
house of hospitality; without especial
permission, obtained through the. ef-
forts of the Resident, he could sleep
in no other spot in the city or it's
purlieus. He was Indifferent, abso-
lutsly; 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 great jangling of steel and tn,
multi of hoofs.
.Alighting in the compound, Amber
disbursed few rupees to the troop
ers, paid off Ram Nath-who was
swift to drive off 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, mumbling shadow.
as the Virginian made" 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 a marble
bund, or landing stage. its lip Tapped
by5 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
gh6stly white wall of the Raj Mahal
climbing. In din majesty to the stars.
The Virginian remained long in
rapt wondering contemplatien ;sf, 1T,
until the wind blowing across the wa
ters had chilled him to the point OF
shtyering; when he turned indoors to
hfssbed But he was to have little rest
that night. The khansamah who at
tended him had hardly turned low
hta light when Amber was disturbed
hYsthe noise Of an angry alteration
in the compound. He arose and IN
dressing gown and slippers went to in
vestigate, and found Ram Nath In
violent dispute. with the sergeant OF
the escort-which. It appeared. had
builded fire and camped round 1t IN
the compound: circumstance which
furnished food for thought.
amber began to- suspect that the
troops had been furnished as a guard
td1R Of honor than Of espionage, lest
informal courtesy than in demonstra
ton of the unsleepins vigilance Of
the Eye-kindly assisted by the Ma
harana Of Khandawar.
A man who. warmed by the ardor 81
his first love, feels suddenly the shad
on death falling cold upon him, II
ant to neglect nothing. Amber con
siAered that he had given Ram Natl
no commission Of any sort, and BEN
an attentive ear to the communication
which the tonga-wallah insisted upor
making TO him. :
Ram Nath had returned, he asserted
solely for The purpose of Informing
Amber III accordance with his desires
.ssThe- telegraph ONCE for which Yol
ennuired, sahib. stands just within thu
Gateway. of the Elephants" he an
rounced 1.-THE telegraph abu will b,
on duty very early in the morning
SHOULD you desire still to send thu
( message" .
."Oh, yes" said Amber indifferently
f1d forgotten. Thanks"
I He returned to his charpoy will
Spirits considerably higher. Ram Natl
had not winked this time. but the fac
VI WAS indisputable that Amber had no
n depressed any interest whatever l:
|$khe location Of the telegraph ONCE.
Ex$. wondering II the telegraph-babu b.
ny chance wore pink satin. he doxet
81 ON the decision that he-would nee,
-, send a message the first thing u
he morning