Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-05-10

was rigid, every muscle taut, every
nerve tense as a steel spring. His
head jerked back suddenly, his gaze
fixing itself first upon the window,
then shifting to the door. And his
fingers, contracting, tore the cigarette
In half.
"Rutton. what the deuce is the mat
ter?''
Rutton seemed not to hear; Amber
got his answer from the door, which
was swung wide and slammed shut A
blast of frosty air and a furry Of
snow swept across the room. And
against the door there leaned a man
putting for breath and coughing spas
modically-a gross and monstreus
bulk OF flesh, unclean and unwhole-
some to the eye, attired in an extrav.
agant array of colored garments,
tawdry silks and satins clinging, sod.
den to his ponderous and unwieldy
limbs
THE babu!" cried Amber uneonsot
ously; and was rewarded by a fash
of recognition from the coal-black,
beady. evil eyes of the man.
But for that involuntary exclama-
ton the tableau held unbroken for a
space; Rutton standing transfxed the
torn halves of the cigarette between
bis fingers, his head well up and back,
his stare level, direct, uncompromis-
ing, a steady challenge to the in
truder
Then, demanding Amber's silence
( with an imperative movement of his
hand, Rutton spoke. We'll, babu?"
he said quietly, the shadow of bitter
and weary smile curving his thin,
hard lips
| The Bengal moved a pace or two
) from the door, and plucked nervously
at the throat of his surtout, finally
managing to insert one hand in the
folds Of silk across his bosom.
Il seek" he said distinctly In Urdu,
/ and not without a definite note of
menace in his manner the man call
ing himself Rutton Sahib?"
Very deliberately Rutton inclined
his head. 81 am he"
"Hasoor" The babu laboriously
doubled up his enormous body In pro-
found obeisance. Having recovered,
he nodded to Amber with the easy ia
miliarity of an old acquaintance. ITO
you, likewise, greeting. Amber Sa-
| hib."
What" Rutton swung sharply to
Amber with an exclamation of amaze
ment. You know this fellow, David?"
The babu cut in hastily, stimulated
| by pressing anxiety to clear himself.
! "Hazor, did but err, being misled by
his knowledge of our tongue as well
as by that pale look OF you he wears.
And, indeed, is 1t strange that should
! take him for you, who was told to
! seek you In this wild land?"
"Be silent!" Rutton told him an
grily
My lords will is his slaves" Re-
signedly the babu folded his fat arms.
/ Tell me about this" Rutton de-
manded of Amber.
1.-THE ass ran across me in the
woods south Of the station. the day
I l came down." explained Amber, sum-
marizing the episode as succinctly as
he could. He didn't call me by your
name, but I've no doout he's telling
| the truth about mistsklng me for you
| AT all events he hazoor-ed rne a num-
Der of times, talked a lot of rot about
some silly Voice. and finally made
me free gift of nice little bronze
box that wouldn't open. After which
he took to his heels, saying he'd call
later for my answer-whateve he
meant by that. He did call by night
and stole the box That's about all l
know OF him, thus far But I'd watch
out for him, II l were you; II he isn't
a raving lunatic, miss my guess"
Indeed. my lord. 1t Is all quite as
the sahie says" the babu admitted
graciously, his eyes cleaning with
sardonic amusement Circumstances
conspired to mislead me; but that
was swift to discover. Nor did I lose
time in remedying the error, as you
have heard. Moreover"
He shut up suddenly at q sign from
Rutton. with ludicrous shrug of his
huge shoulders dfsclaiming any Him
tent or wrongdoing; and while Rut-
ton remained deep In thought by the
table, the babu held silence, his gaze
hickering suspiciously round the
room.
At length Rutton looked up, sup
pressing sigh. Your errand, babu?"
rs 1t, then, your Will that should
speak before this mani" The Bengal
nodded impudentiy at Amber.
1T is my will"
"Shahash! bear a message, ha-
7oor. from the Bell"
You are the Mouthpiece Of the
Voice."
That honor IL mine. hazoor. For
the rest am"
"Behari Lal Oattsrji." interrupted
Rutton impauentiy; solicitor OF the
Inner Temple-disbarred anointed
thief. liar, jackal. liekspittle, and per-
jurer~I know you"
My lord" said the man insolently,
"omits from HIS catalogue Of my ac-
mpliehmauts nv chiafaat hooars he