The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1912-02-23
2U.ZM4RCXV BARBZD
rrmeH lM1zzgWgsSSIl e. zlIlyA!@ AT %yKAe>

! IcSJ NdNduud dullllLLcu. We
work along that line for the present
Now, then, where's the woman?"
He 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"
1T is WE'LL" said the prince CURLY.
"Go!"
He 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.
Il believe we're close to the end OF
our quest" he unused. Il have feel
ing We must get the Maharanee to-
night, If we are to recover it at all.
We have played waiting game for
many months, and 1t is time now to
act. Are you prepared"
Il am prepared"
You will not stay your hand when
it comes to the point?"
The Swami did not answer. He sat
with folded arms staring at the docu.
ments on the table. 1t 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 1t.
There is something in the air of this
strange land that makes 1t distaste-
full to me-the thought of further
bloodshed Regain the jewel We must;
but would it 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
a gargoyle,
And the brethren?" he asked angri-
ly Can 1t be you have thought
for these western dogs when your
own 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.
Are you afraid?" pursued the
prince. Does your soul shrink, your
hand draw back, now that the ap-
pointed hour is nigh? Are you true
believer and master of the faith, or"
and he almost screamed, ian apos-
tate?"
The Swami's copper face turned a
darker shade. A fash of fury scared
his eyes as he raised them to those
OF the prince. He lowered them
again. however, and said, stolidly:
!. Il am unable to conquer the feeling
that 1t cannot be for the good of the
brotheEs tel. wade through blood az
did our fathers for possession of what,
after all, is simply stone. I 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 it. Can
we not take it back in all it's present
purity? Are we not skilled enough
in the ways of the East to 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
savagely. 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 we'll
as in the cities of the European CONT
nent, had mingled with them in
their pastimes and in their homes
that I had seen and heard their puer-
lie philosophy-that l 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 a dig.
nified silence.
Il will tell you," continued the
prince. my father said: The time
may come, my son, when your friend.
the great teacher, quails from that
which is before him. If it comes. then
when 1t comes, strike as swiftly and
surely as you would strike to save
your throne And l will strike. nv
master!" Kananda added grimly res.
olute. III you finch from any neces-
sity that arises in carrying out this
task OF ours, will warn you once
even as l am warning you now-and
then. If you still stay your hand or seek
to save the least of those who NAV
stand between us and the sacred
jewel, by God I'll kill you!"
| Tie scholars imperturbabilitv was
proof against Kananda's violence NJ
word and manner. The only sign he
| gave was O slight tjghtenino 80 III.