The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-08-28

ing the weeks of his absence in Amer |
lea his spies had hung about them like
bees about honey. They were the fowl
ers shared.
Umballa proceeded along the coTri- |
dor to a fight Of stairs leading be-
meath the palace floor. Here the SOL
diers were agreeable enough; they
had reason to be. Umballa gave them
new minted rupees for their work,
many rupees. For they knew secrets.
Before the door of a dungeon Umballa
paused and listened. There was no
sound. He returned upstairs ana
sought chamber near the harem.
This he entered, and stood with folded
arms near the door.
"Ah, Colonel Sahib!"
"Umballa?" Colonel Hare, bearded,
unkempt, tried to stand erect and face
his enemy. "You black scoundrel!
"Durga Ram, sahib. Words, words;
the patter of rain on stone roofs. Our
king lives no more, alas,
You lie"
HE is dead. Dying, he left you TINS
throne-you, white man, knowing
it was a legacy Of terror and confu'
sion. You knew. Why did you re-
turn? All, pearls and sapphires and
emeralds What? l offer you this
throne upon conditions"
And those conditions / have re-
fused"
You have, yes, but now" Umhalia
smiled Then he suddenly blazed forth:
Think you a white man shall sit upon
this throne while / live? 1t is mine
was his heir"
Then why didn't you save him from
. the leopard? I'll tell you why. You
expected to inherit on the spot, and
, | spoiled the game. Is that not true!
And what if l admit it,? trucu
lently.
"Umballa, or Durga Ram, il you
wish. listen. Take the throne. what
, to hinder you? You want it, Take Il
> and let me begone."
Eyes, | want 1t; and by all the gods
of Hind I'll have it-but safely. An
: 1t would be fine to proclaim mysel
when mutiny and rebellion stalk about
, Am a pig to play game like that
Tch! Tch!" He clicked his tongue
Il against the roof of his mouth in de
v rision. mo; l need buckler till al
q this roily water subsidies and clears.
"And then, some fine night, Har
Sahib's throat? | am not afraid Q
q death, Umballa. l have faced 1t to
MANY times. Make an end of me a
. . once or leave me to rot here, my al
4 swer will always be the same. WI
- not become a dishonorable tool 70
have offered me freedom and Jewels
i, No; repeat, will free all slaves, aDo
! ish the harems, the buying and sellln
10 of flesh; | will make man OF ever
- poor devil of coolie who carrie
=. stones from your Quarries.
~ Umballa laughed. Then renal
70 here like dog while ! put your golde
. daughter on the throne and becon
H. what the British Raj calls prince CO.
az sort. She'll rebel, know; but hay
N a way" He stepped outside and close
the door.
~ "Umballa?"
"Well?"
~ Exit, my daughter? Good God. what
~ she doing here when l warned her
~ Hare tugged furiously at his chain
- "Durga Ram, you have beaten m
ad State your terms and | will acce
CIV tbam tn the letter. Kit, q
." beautiful Kit, in this hell hole!
l a "Ah, but don't want you to acce
~ now. l was merely amusing myself
The door shut and the bolt shot hon
Hare fell upon his knees. my hes
my head! Dear God, save me my re
- son!"
Gil The moment Kathlyn arrived at t
''e animal cages of her father she call
for Ahmed
MY father?"
"Ah, memsahib, they say he is De-
ne I know not. One night-the seco
ing after we arrived-he was summon
FED to the palace He never came bac
IL "They have killed him!
are perhaps. They watch me, too;
| | act simple. We wait and see"
Is Kathlyn rushed across the grou
our intervening between the animal cal
lew and the bungalow, There was no
rye in sight She ran up the steps
lily to be greeted inside by the suave |
balla.
and your her hand flying to her bose
ply 81, Miss Hare" He salaamed. "
had a sweeping gesture of his hands
eld (To BE CoNTINUED)