Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-06-28
CHAPTER XII
The Long Day,

bauhnau JhuSti0H anu hhtthNHdt
there were ten stages. OF which the con
ciusion OF the first was at hand--Am.
Der having all but abandoned belief
In its existence.
siamming recklessly down the bed
of an ancient water course. the tonga
spun suddenly upon one wheel round
a shoulder OF the banks and dashed
out upon a rolling plain, across which
the trail snaked to other farther hills
that lay dim and low, wavy line OF
blue. upon the horizonthe hills in
whose heart Kuttarpur itself lay &C.
cult. And, by the roadside. In com
pound fenced with camelthorn, sat an
aged and INDECENT dak-bungalow.
marking the end OF the first stage, the
beginning of the second
Ram Nath refined In with flourish
and lifted raucous voice, haiiing the
syce, while Amber. painfully Olsen.
gaging his cramped limbs, climbed
down and stumbled toward the veran.
da. The abrupt transition from VIC.
lent and erratic motion to a solid and
substantial footing affected him un-
pleasantly, and with an undeniable
qnalm the earth seemed to rock and
flow beneath him as II under the In.
fiuence of an antic earthquake. RE
was for some seconds occupied with
the problem OF regaining hts poise,
and II was not until he heard an Eng
lishwoman's voice uplifted in accents
OF anger, that he remembered the
other wsyfarer with whom he was to
share his tonga. or associated with
the Whitehead figure IN the dark door.
way OF the bungalow with anything
but the khansamah, coming to greet
and cheat the chance brought guest,
Where is that tonga-wallah who
deserted me here last night" the
woman was demanding Of Ram Nath,
too preoecupied with her resentment
to have eyes for the other traveller,
who at sight of her had stopped and
removed his pith helmet and stood
staring as II he had come from
land In which there we're no women
Where" she continued. with an inn
perative stamp OF daintily-shod foot,
"is that wretohed tonga .wallah?"
"Sahlba," protested Ram Nath, with
a great show of Difference, how
should / know Belize he is In Bad
shah Junction, whittier he returned
very late last night being travelworn
and weary, and where left him, be-
ing sent with this excellent tonga to
take his place"
you We're? And why have ] been
detained here, alone and unprotected,
this long night? Simply because that
other tonga -wallah was fool, am
to be imposed upon In this fashion,"
What am t. whimpered Ram Nath,
TO endure the wrath Of the sahiba for
fault that is none Of miner"
Il beg your pardon. sir" said the
girl, turning to Amber, but II is very
annoying" She looked him over, first
with abstraction. then with puzzled
gathering of her brows. for he was
far from her thoughts-the last per
son she would have expected to meet
In that place, and very effectually dis.
guised In dust and dirt besides. The
tire came off the wheel just as we got
here, late yesterday evening and In
trying, or pretending to try, to fit II
on again, that blockhead of tonga
wallah hammered the rim with rock
az big as his head and naturally
smashed II to kindling wood. Then,
before I could stop him. he flung him
self on the back OF pony and went
away, saying that II was the will of
God that he should return TO Badshah
for q better tonga. Since when !
have had for company one stable
seye, one deafsnddnmb patriarch OF
a khansamah and the usual
dak-bungalow discomforts - insects.
bad food, and a terrible fear of da-
colts
Il am SO sorry. Miss Farrell" Am.
Der put In. IF had only been
here
The girl gave little gasp and sat
down abruptly In one of the yeranda
chairs, thereby threatening it with
instant demolition and herself with .
bad spill: for the chair was feeble
with the burden Of its many years,
and sne was quite Substantial young
person. Indeed, so loudly did ii croak
a protest and warning that she Inn
mediately arose In alarm
Mr. AMBER" she said, and.
Well ..ss. !"
You'll forgive me the surprise?"
he begged. going up on the yeranda
TO her. Il myself had no hope OF