Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-03

the current of his thoughts. Money.
money. He needed it: it was the only
barrier between him and the end.
which at last he began to see. Money,
baskets and bags of it. and he dared
not go near. May the fires OF he'll
greedy soldiers. his only hope,
His body ached; liquid fire seemed
to have taken the place of blood in his
veins His back and shoulders were a
mass Of bruises Beaten with a gun
butt. driven. harried cursed-he
Durga Ram gun butt in the hands
beaten he had been dishonored and
defiled His eyes flashed and his fin
gers closed convulsively. but he was
sober. To take yonder white throat in
his hands. 1t was true: he dared not
harm a hair of her head.
Your sister Kathlyn persisted under
Winnie did not stir. The aspect Of
the man fascinated her as the nearness
of the cobra would have done. Nipers
not only crawled in this terrible land;
they walked. One stung with fangs
and the other with words.
she is dead and tomorrow your
father dies"
The disheveled appearance Of the
man did not in her eyes confirm this.
Indeed. the longer she gazed at him the
more strongly convinced she became
that he was lying. But wisely she
maintained her silence.
Dead" he repeated. within week
you shall be my wife. You know. They
have told you. l want money. and by
all the gods of Hind. yours shall be the
hand to give it to me. Marry me, and
one week after i will give you means
of leaving Alfalfa. Will you marry
me?"
Yes" The word slipped over Win
MES lips family. She recalled All
med's advice: to humor the man. to
play for time; but she knew that if he
touched her she must scream.
Keep that word. Your father and
sister are fools"
4 !:
Winnie trembled. They were alive
Kit and her father; this man had lied
Alive. Oh, she would not be afraid of
any ordeal now. Theye We're alive.
and, more than that. they were free.
Il will keep my word when the time
comes" she replied clearly.
They are calling me Durga Ram the
Mad Beware then, for madmen do
mad things"
The door opened and shut behind him.
and she heard the key turn and the
outside bolt click into it's socket.
They were alive and free, her loved
ones. She knelt upon the cushions
her eyes uplifted.
Alone, with a torch in his shaking
hand, Umballah went down into the
prison, to the row of dungeons. In
the door of one was a sliding panel.
He pulled this back and peered within.
Something lay huddled in a corner.
He drew the panel back into its place.
climbed the worn steps. extinguished
the torch, and proceeded to his own
home a gift of his former master.
standing just outside the royal con-
fines. Once there, he had slaves
anoint his bruised back and shoulders
with unguents. ordered his peg, drank
it and lay down to sleep.
On the morrow he was somewhat
daunted upon meeting Ramabai in the
corridor leading to the throneroom,
where Winnie and the council were
gathered. He started to summon the
guards, but the impressive face of his
enemy and the menacing hand stayed
the call.
you are a brave man, Ramabai, to
enter the lions den in this fashion.
You shall never leave here alive"
yes. Durga Ram. l shall depart as
I came. a free man"
You talk like that to me-" furiousIy.
Even so. Shall ] go out on the
balcony and declare that know what
certain dungeon holds?'
X ::
Umballah's fury vanished and sweat
oozed from his palms.
YOU"
Yes 1 know. truce, The people
are muttering and murmurng against
you because they were forbidden TO
attend your especial Juggernaut. Best
for both of US that they be quoted
and amused
"Ramabai, you shall never wear the
crown"
II do not want il.
Nor shall your wife
Ramabai did not speak
You shall die ffrst,
War or peace" asked Ramapai.
War"
$50 be it, l shall proceed to strike
the first blow"
Ramabai turned and began to walk
toward the window opening out upon
the balcony; but Umballah bounded