The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1914-09-11


slave was not produced forthwith.
You are mistaken" said Bruce.
There Is no slave here. Search"
You stand In extreme danger, sa-
NIB. You have meddled with what
does not concern you" replied the cap
tain, who had thrown his fortunes with
umballa, sensing that here was a
man who vas bound to win and would
De liberal to those who stood by him
during the struggle.
Search" repeated Bruce.
The captain and his men ran about.
but not without a certain system Of
t~horoughness. They examined the
elephants. but were bafied there. ow-
ing to Ahmed's foresight. They e
tered the. native quarters, looked un-
der the canvases into the empty
cages, from cellar to roof in the bunga-
low. when suddenly the captain
missed Ahmed.
Where Is the Colonel Sahib's man?"
he asked, brusquely.
Possibly he is going the rounds of
the animal cages" said Bruce. out
wardly calm, but shaking within.
And thou, Ramabai, beware!"
of what, captain" coolly.
Thou, too, hast meddled; and med
dlers burn their fingers"
Il am innocent of any crime" said
Ramabai, Il am watched, know; but
there Is still some justice in Alfalfa"
Bully for you!" said Bruce In Eng
lish.
The captain eyed him m~alevolently.
Search the animal cages" he or
dered.
Bruce, Ramabai, and Pundita fol-
lowed the captain. He peered into
the cages, one by one. and at length
came to the leopard's cage. And
there was the crafty Ahmed. calmly
stroking the leopard, which snarled
suddenly. Ahmed stood up with a
fine imitation of surprise. The cap
tain, greatly mystified. turned about;
he was partially convinced that he
had had his work for nothing. Still
he had his tongue.
Thou, Ramabai, hast broken Thy
parole. Thou vert not to leave thy
house. 1t shall be reported" Then he
took a shot at Bruce: And thou wilt
enter the city on the pain Of death"
With this he ordered the soldiers
right about and proceeded the way he
had come.
Ahmed, where Is she?' cried Bruce,
who was as mystified as the captain.
Smiling, Ahmed raised n Of the
broad teak boards, and the golden
head of Kathlyn appeared.
Ahmed" said Bruce, delighted,
hereafter you shall be chief Of this
expedition. Now, what next?"
Secure files and return for my mas.
ter"
Wait" i~nterposed Kathlyn. emery
ing. "I have a plan. 1t will be use
less to return tonight. He will be too
we'll guarded. Are you brave. Pun.
dita?"
"T would die for the memsahib."
"And I, too" added Ramabai.
Ahmed and Bruce gazed at each
other.
What Is your plan, memsahibT'
and helping Kathlyn out Of the cage
the door Of which he closed quickly
as the leopard was evincing a temper
at all this nocturnal disturbance.
1T Is a trap for Umballa."
He is as wise as the cobra and Of
suspictous as the jackal." said Ahmed
d%oubtfully.
Reason forbids that we return to
night. Umballa will wait, knowing
me. Listen. Pundita, you shall re
turn to the city. Two men will &C
company you to the gate. You will
enter alone in the early morning"
Pundita drew close to her husband
"You will seek Umballa and play
traitor. You will pretend to betray
me-"
"No. no, memsahtb!'
"Listen. You will demand to SET
him alone. You will say that you are
Jealous Of me You will tell him that
YOU are ready to lead him to my hiding
place"
mo, Miss Kathlyn; that will not Dc
at ALL" declared Bruce emphatically
TO this Ahmed agreed with q shake
Of the head.
Let me finish" said Kathlyn. "Yot
will tell him, Pundita. that he mus
come alone. He will promise, but b
some sign or other he will signify Il
his men to follow. Well, the guart
may follow. Once Umbaiia steps In
side the bungalow we will seize ant
bind him. His life will depend upor
his writing a note to the Council tt
lfberate my father. II he refuses, thu
leopard
THE leopard"
yes; why not? A leopard was TIL
basic cause Of all this misery ant
treachery. Let US give Umballa {
taste OF It. Am ! cruel? Well. yes
all that was gentle and tender in M
seems either to have vanished O.
hardened. He has put terror into m,
heart; let me put 1t into his"
1T Is all impractical" demurret
Bruce.
"He will never follow Purdita," sait
Ahmed.
"Then shall we all sit down ant
wait" kathryn asked bitterly. ~
least let me try. He will not harm
Pundita, since 1t Is | he wants"
"She is right" averred Pundita. "A
woman can do more at this momen'
than a hundred men. | will go, mem
robth. ard mora will hiring hin