The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-12-11

sea again ana toiiowlhg the hkhta
aboard the simla
Il was mighty hard for him not to
sweep her into his arms then and
there. hut he would never be sure OF
her till she was free Of this country.
free OF the sense OF gratitude, free 10
weigh her sentiments carefully and un-
blasedly, lie sat down abruptly on
the wreck OF an ancient hull embed.
ded In the sand. She sank down lit
tle way from him.
lie began TO tell her some OF his
past exploits; the Amazon, the orr.
noco. the Andes. Tibet and China; Of
.he strange ilotsam and jetsam he had
met IN his travels hut she sensed
only the sound of his voice and the de-
sire TO reach out her hand and touch
his. Friendship! Bread In the wilder
ness!
Ahmed was lean and deceptive to
the eye, Like many Hintus. he ap-
peared anemic; and yet the burdens
the man could put on his back and
carry almost indefinitely would have
killed many a white man who boasted
OF his strength. On half a loaf OF
black bread and a soldiers canteen OF
water he could travel for two days.
lie could 90 without sleep for As hours,
and when he slept he could sleep any
where. on the moment
Filling his saddle bags with three
days rations. two canteens OF water,
he set of on a hagin. or racing camel
for Alfalfa. 200 miles inland as the
crow flies. 1t was his intention to
ride straight down to the desert and
across this to Colonel Hare's camp. II
such a thing now existed. A dromedary
in good condition can make from sixty
to eighty miles a day: and the beast
Ahmed had engaged was Of Arab
blood. In four days he expected to
reach the camp II Winnie had not
yet arrived, he would take the road,
meet her. warn her of the dangers
which she was about to face, and con
vey her to the seaport. If 1t was too
late, he would send the camel back
with trusted messenger to the colo
mel, TO advise him.
They watched him depart In cloud
of dust, and then played the most en-
ervating game in existence-that OF
waiting; for they had decided to wait
tiil they heard from Ahmed before
they moved
Four nights later, when Ahmed ar.
rived at the bungalow, he found condl'
tlons as usual For reasons best known
to himself Umballa had not disturbed
anything. In fact, he had always had
the coming Of the younger sister in
mind and left the bungalow and camp
untouched, so as not to alarm her.
She had not yet arrived So Ahmed
flung himself down upon his cotton
rug. telling the keepers not to disturb
him; he would wake himself when the
time came But Ahmed had overrated
his powers he was getting along IN
years; and it was noon Of the next day
when a hand shook him by the shoul'
der and he awoke to witness the ar
rival of Winnie and her woman com
panion.
For the first time in many years
Ahmed cursed his prophet He that
had had time to warn the child had
slept like the sloth of Ceylon!
He went directly to the point He
told her briefly what had happened. |
He had not the least doubt that Um.
balla was already aware of her ar
rival She must remain hidden in the (
go-down of the bungalow; her maid .
also. That night if Umballa or his
men failed to appear, he would lead |
ler off to safety. But there was no |
nope Of stealing away in the daytime.
In his heart, however, he entertained
40 hope; and like the good general he
vas. he dispatched the messenger and
,amel to the sea. The father and
laughter were fated to return,
Ahmed had reckoned shrewdly. Um.
)alla appeared later in the day and de
handed the daughter of Colonel Hare
Backed as he was by numerous sol
liers, Ahmed resigned himself to the
Inevitable. They found Winnie and her
maid (whom later they sent to the
rontier and abandone6 and took
hem to the palace.
There was no weeping or wailing or
The dark, proud face Of
he young girl gave forth no sigp OF
he terror and utter loneliness of her
position. And Umballa realized that
was in the blood of these children
o be brave and quiet. There was no
mercy in his heart. He was power
mad and gold mad, and his enemies
Ived because he could reach neither
( his desires over their dead bodies.
The rigmarole and mummery Win
lie went through affected her exactly
s It had affected her sister 1t was
II hideous nightmare, and at any
loment she expected to make up in
er cozy corner at Glendale.
(TO BE CONTINUEDD