Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-07-12

(VnhcUlptatfOf1 W u
allied beyond words. the American per
mitted himself to be driven of
through Kuttarpur's intricate network
Of streets and backwaystowarda des-
tInation OF which he knew as little as
he cared. He was a guest of the state,
officially domiciled at the designated
house OF hospitality; without especial
permission. obtained through che ef.
forts of the Resident. he could sleep
IN no other spot In the city or It's
purlieus He was Indifferent, abso-
lutely; the matter interested him as
scantily-which is TO say not at ALI
as did the fact that an escort Of troop
ers of the state, very well accoutred
and disciplined, followed the tonga
with a great jangling Of steel and tu-
multi OF hoofs.
Alighting in the compound, Amber
disbursed few rupees TO the troop
ers, paid OFF Ram Nath--who was
swift to drive of city wards, in mad
haste lest the gates be shut upon
him for the highland entered the
buAEdiONs AL 6rGob huhhh''Nf
amiable khansamah met him at the
threshold with expressions Of exagger-
ated respect. no doubt genuine enough,
and followed him, mumbllng shadow,
as the virginian made a brief round
of inspection.
Standing between the road and the
water, the resthouse proved to De
moderately spacious and clean; on the
lake front 1t opened upon a marble
bund, or landing stage, its lip Tapped
By whispering ripples Of the lake.
Amber went out upon this to discover,
separated from him by little more
than half mile of black water, the
ghostly white wall of the Raj Mahai
climbing in dim majesty to the stars
The Virginian remained long In
rapt wondering contemplation OF II,
until the wind blowing across the wa
tiers had chilled him to the point OF
shivering; when he turned indoors to
his bed But he was to have little rest
that night The khansamah who at
tended him had hardly turned low
his light when Amber was disturbed
by the 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 or
the escort-which, It appeared had
builded a fire and camped round It in
the compound: circumstance which
furnished food for thought
Amber began to suspect that the
troops had been furnished as a guard
less of honor than of espionage, less
In formal courtesy than in demonstra-
ton of the unsleeping vigilance OF
the Eye--kindly assisted by the Ma
harana of Khandawar.
A man who, warmed by the ardor OF
his first love, feels suddenly the shad-
ow death falling cold upon him, Ia
apt to neglect nothing, Amber con-
sidered that he had given Ram Nath
no commission of any sort, and bent
an attentive ear to the communication
which the tonga-wallah insisted upon
making to him.
Ram Nath had returned, he asserted,
solely for the purpose OF Informing
Amber in accordance with his desires.
"The telegraph Office for which you
enquIred sahib stands Just within the
Gateway of the Elephants" he an
nounced The telegraph babu will be
on duty very early in the morning,
should you desire still to send the
message"
oh. yes" said Amber fndifferently.
I'D forgotten. Thanks"
He returned to his charpoy with
spirits considerably higher. Ram Nath
had not winked this time. but the fact
was indisputable that Amber had not
expressed any interest whatever In
the location Of the telegraph Office.
Wondering II the telegraph-babu by
any chance wore pink sa.in. he dozed
off on the decision that he would need
to send a message the first thing in
the morning.
Some time later he was second
time awakened by further disputation
In the compound. The troopers were
squabbling amongst themselves; he
was able to make this much out in
spite Oh tne TACT tDdt tue sepOyb, fS-
cruited exclusively from the native
population of Khandawar. spoke a pa
tots of Hindu so corrupt that even an
expert In Oriental languages would
experience dificulty in trying to inter
pref it. Amber did not weary himself
with the task. but presently lifted up
his voice and demanded silence, desir-
Ing to be informed IL his sleep was
TO be continually broken by the bick-
erings of sons Of mothers without
noses. There followed instantaneous
silence, broken by a chuckle and an
applausive "Shabash." and nothing
more.
Amber Struggled down again upon
his pillow, and soothed himself with
the feel Of the pistol that his fingers
grasped beneath the clothes.
FOOTBALLS and hushed voices in the
bungalow were responsible for the
next interruption. Amber came TO
,vffb a atart aod found hsynaaiF aiffipg