St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1914-10-31
Continued from page u
The Adventures Of Kahlyn
Bv Harold MacGrath
Bv Harold Mace rath

I like to know what 10 going on ahead
of me-"
"A white elephant" unused the colo
mel. DO you know It for fact that
this Bala Khan has q. white elephant
he called across to Ramabai.
II have never seen It, sahib. It IL
what they say"
"A pair Of mottled ears IL the near
est ever came to seeing white ele'
plant. and I've hunted them for 80
years, here. in Ceylon. In Burma. in
Africa. There was once . tiger near
Madras that hadn't any stripes. The
natives would not permit him to be
killed because they held that, being
unique. he was sacred. A sacred white
elephant! Poor simple minded fools!"
The colonel felt In his pockets. then
dropped his hands dispiritedly. How
long since he had tasted tobacco?
Bruce. have you got . cheroot in your
pocket ! think Z smoke would brace
mo up"
Bruce laughed and passed up . bro
ken cigar. which the colonel lighted
carefully. The WEAKNESS seemed to 90
out Of his face masically.
This Bala Khan should be Moham-
medan," said Bruce. THE Pathan
despises the Hindu"
There are Hindus In yonder city.
quite 40 many" said Ramabai, ~
there are Mohammedans. Even tho
Pathan respects that which he cannot
understand"
isn't that the wall behind that sand
hill7 Let me have tho glasses . mo-
ment, colonel. HIM! The walled
city. all right. Some people moving
about outside. Dancers. should say"
professional" explained Ramabia.
Nothing religious. then! By
oeorge!"
Take . look. There's IN elephant
being led into tho city gates"
The colonel peered eagerly through
the glasses. The sun il shining on
him. No! he IL .. white! A
white elephant! I'd give ten thousand
this minute to own It. There, he's en-
tered the gate. Wei. well. we'll! And
I've lived to sec It! Poor old Barnum.
to have carried around . tinted pachy-
derm!. He's white ~ any elephant
flesh could be. Those dancing chaps
are going in. too. What caste would
those dancers be. Ramabai?"
"Pariahs. quite possibly: probably
brigands."
The rim Of the sun was sinking
rapidly 40 Bruce drew his elephant to
Q halt before the gate Of the white
walled city. The guard ran out. bar.
ring the way.
II am Ramabai. . friend Of Bala
Khan. I am come to pay him . visit.
Direct me to his house or his palace"
Tho authority in Ramabai's voice
was sufficient for the guard. who gave
the necessary directions. The party
continued on into town.
Presently they came upon . group In
the center Of which were the dancers
at their vocation. They ceased their
mad whirlings ct the sight Of tho two
elephants. There were nine Of these
men. fierce Of eye and built muscular
". No efkeminate Hindus here, unused
Bruce. who did not like the looks Of
them at Ill.
On through the narrow streets,
sometimes the sides Of the elephants
scraping against the mud and plaster
OF the buildings, and one could easily
look into the second stories. No ono
seemed hostile: only . natural curios-
ity was evinced BY those standing in
doorways Or leaning out Of windows.
The house Of Bala Khan was not ex-
actly . palace, but It was Of respecta-
bic size. A high wan surrounded the
compound. There was . gateway,
open at this moment. A servant ran
out and loudly demanded what was
wanted.
Say to your master. Bala Khan.
that Ramabai. son Of Maaho Singh.
bic old friend. awaits With friendly
Kit" whispered Kathlyn's father.
this chap Ramabai wouldn't make . /
bad king. And look!" excitedly. !
There's the sacred elephant and II !,
he isn't white I'll eat my hatl"
The servant ran hack into the COM
pound and spoke to . digniled man.
Who proved to be . high caste Brah.
min. having In his charge the care Of
he white elephant. He disappeared
md returned soon with the khan. The
,leasant face. though proudly nodded.
ogether with the simplicity Of his ap-
conveyed to Kathlyn the
act that here was Q man to be trusted,
t least for the present. He greeted
samabai cordially. struck his hands
md ordered out the servants to take
barge Of what luggage there was and
. lead away tho elephants to be fed
nd watsred.
Courteously he asked Kathlyn how
he had become injured. and Ramabai
cted ~ Interpreter. He then ushered
hem into his house, spread rugs and
for them to sit upon. and
mildly inquired what had brought tho
on Of his old friend 10 far.
Colonel Hare spoke several dialects
uently. and briefly told (between sips