Graham guardian., 1912-01-19

look. The servant salaamed.
"Excellency." said he, I'VE have
verified the address heading the sec
ond note. She is there" L
at is WE'LL" said the prince curtly.
"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.
II believe we're close to the end Of
our quest" he mused. II have feel
ing We must get the Maharanee to-
night. II we are to recover It at all.
We have played waiting game for
many months, and It 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 It..
There is something In the air of this
strange land that makes 1t distaste-
ful to me--the thought OF further
bloodshed. Regain the jewel we must;
but l would 1t could be done without
new sacrifice OF life."
An expression OF dernoniacal scorn
overspread Kanada's features until he
confronted the sage with the face OF
. gargoyle
And the brethren?" he asked angri-
ly. Can 1t be you have q 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 afraidi" pursued the
prince. Does your soul shrink, your
hand draw back. now that the APP
pointed hour Is nigh? Are you true
believer and master of the faith. or"
and he almost screamed. "an apos-
tste?"
The Swami's copper face turned q
darker shade. A flash 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
brothers to wade through blood a.
did our fathers for possession Of what.
after all, is simply . stone. I know
what It 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 1t back in all its 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!" be said
ssvagely. 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 vel
as in the cities Of the European cont
nent, had mingled with them II
their pastimes and In their homes
that 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 upol
me when he bade me come with your
The Swami still maintained a dig
nified silence.
II will tell you," continued tn,
prince. My father said: The tim,
may come, my son, when your friend
the great teacher, quails from tina
which is before him. If 1t comes, thel
when 1t comes, strike as swiftly an,
surely as you would strike to saw
your throne And will strike, m
master!" Kananda added grimly res
olute. "If you finch from any neces
sity that arises in carrying out thi
task Of ours. ! will warn you once
. even as am warning you now--an
then, II you still stay your hand or seel
!! 10 save the least Of those who ma
stand between us and the sacre
jewel. by God I'll kill youl"
:, The scholar's imperturbability wa
proof against Kananda's violence O
word and manner. The only sign h
gave was a slight tightening Of hi
fingers as they clasped his arms. an
a lightning look straight into the eye
of the young man across the table.
was In tone OF perfect control tina
he replied:
i. Death. when It comes to myself
Is the least Of my concerns. You ma
strike when you will. Your Highnes.
am master Of the faith. but. non
the less. a servant of the throne. M
life belongs to your royal father to d
with It as he pleases. And since yo
tell me that you are the long arm Q
{ E...l.I l..