The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-04-22
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H. By HAROLD MAC GRATH.
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The troopers stared, dumfounded, first at the colonel,
then at Umballan.
81 command til"
Umballah laughed. The troopers did not stir.
All" said the colonel. THAT is all l desire to
Therefore those papers which you bring to me cannot
lawfully be signed by me-" The colonel turned his back
to Umbalah, sought the Iatticed window. and peered
forth.
There are ways" bIazed forth Umballah.
bah! You black fool" replied the colonel, wheel
ing. Have L not yet convinced you that all you can
do is to kill me? Don't waste yonr time in torturing me.
1t will neither open my lips nor compel me to take a
character brush in my hand. If my daughter is dead, 20
be it. At any rate, she is at present beyond your clutches.
You overreached yourself. Had you brought her back it is
quite possible l might have surrendered. But l am
alone now"
You refuse to tell where tine fligree basket is hid
den?"
II do"
You refuse to exercise your prcrogative to open the
doors of the treasury"
" do"
Umballah opened the door. motioning to the troopers
to pass out. He framed the threshold and curiously
eyed this unbendable man. Presently he would bend.
Umballan smiled.
Col. Sahib, l an not yet at the end Of my re-
sources" and with this he went out, closing the door.
That smile troubled the colonel. What deviltry was
the scoundrel up to now? What could he possibly do?
Later, as he paced YEARLY to and fro, he saw some
thing white slip under the door. He stopped and picked
up a note, folded European fashion. His heart thrilled
as he read the stiltcd script: AHMED and l shall
watch over you. Be patient. This time l am pretend
ing to be your enemy, and you must act accordingly. A
messenger has arrived from Bala Khan. Your daughter
and Bruce Sahib are alive, and, more, on the way to
Alfalfa in native guise. Be of good cheer. Ramabai"
And UmbalIah, as he lifted his fruit dish at supper,
espied another Of those sinister warnings. "Beware!"
This time he summoned his entire household and threat
ened death to each and all of them if they did not inn
medately disclose to him the person who had placed
this note under the fruit dish. They cringed and wept
and walled, but nothing could be got out of them. He
had several fogged on general principles.
Kathlyn and Bruce returned to Alfalfa without mis-
hap. Neither animal nor vagabond molested them.
When they arrived they Immediately found means to
acquaint Ramabai, who with -3undita set out to meet
them. ~
In their picturesque DISCUSSES Kathlyn and Bruce
made a handsome pair of high caste natives. The blue
eyes alone might nave caused remarks, but this was a
negligible danger, since color and costume detracted.
Kathlyn's hair, however, was securely hidden, and must
be kept so. A bit of careIessness on her part, a sportive
wind, and she would be lost. She had been for dyeing
her hair, but Bruce would not hear OF this desecFation.
So they entered the lions den, or, rather, the jaCkals.
At Ramabais house Ahmed fell on his knees in thank
fulness; not that his memsahib was in Alfalfa, but that.
she was alive. .
During the evening meal Ramabai outlined his plot
to circumvent Umballah. He had heard from one OF
his faithful followers that Umballah intended to force
the colonel into a native marriage; later, to dispose Of
the colonel and marry the queen himself. Suffice had
fallen in disuse in Alfalfa. He, Ramabai, would now
apparently side with Umballah as against Col. Hare,
who would understand perfectly. As the colonel would
refuse to marry, ne, Ramabai, would suggest that the
colonel be married by proxy. However suspicious Um-
ballah might be, he would not lie able to find fault with
this plan. The betrothal would take place in about a
fortnight. The memsahib would be chosen as consort
out OF all the assembled high caste Indies of the state.
Ahmed threw up his hands in horror, but Lal Singh
bado him be patient. What did the memsahib say to
this! The memsahib answered that she placed herself
unreservedly in Ramabais hands; that Umballah was
a mailman and must be treated as one." IT,
"Ramabai, why not strike now?" suggested Ahmed.
1.-The promise UmbaIlah has made to the soldiers has
reunited them temporarily. Have patience, Ahmed" LAl