The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-08-17

could not be touched. and now the
soldiers should be paid in full.
From the soldiers about came Wild
iiuzzahs.
Ahmed and iLal Singh, packed away
In the heart OF the crowd. exchanged
gloomy looks. Once the army was
iUmballa's. they readily understood
what would follow: umballa would
acclaim himself, and the troops would
back him. :, i,
I'VE have a thousand guns and ten
thousand rounds Of ammunition" muir.
INJURED Lal Singh. s
Perhaps We, had best prevail upon
ftamabai to strike lat once. But wait.
The colonel sahib understands. He
knows that II he signs anything It will
directly prove his death warrant.
There Is still an obstacle at Umballa's
feet. Listen!"
Sadly umballa recounted his ad.
venture inSfull. The daughter of the
king and his friend, the American hun
ter, were dead. He, umballa, had ar
rived too late.
The colonel. mad with rage, was
about to give Umballa the lie publicly,
when he saw a warning hand uplifted.
and below that hand the face OF All.
med. Ahmed shook his head. The
colonels shoulders dropped In that
sign he read danger.
They liye,%. said Ahmed. THAT is
enough for the present. Let US begone
to the house OF Ramabai"
"The Colonel Sahib is safe for the
time being"
"And will be SO long as he refuses
to open the treasury door to Umballa.
There is a great deal to smile about,
Lal Singh. Here is a treasury, guard.
ed by seven leopards, savage as say.
age can be. Only the two keepers
ever dare approach them. and these
keepers refuse to cage the leopards
without formal order from the king
or queen. Superstition forbids Umbal.
Ia to make way with the brutes. The
people, your people and mine. Lal
Singh, believe that these leopards are
sacred, and any who kills them com.
mits sacrilege, and you know what
that amounts to here. So there he
dodders; too cowardly to fly in the
face OF superstition. He must torture
and humiliate the Colonel sahib and
his daughter All, these white people!
They have heads and hearts Of steel.
I know
"And Umballa has the heart of
fiea-bitten pariah dog When the time
comes he will grovel and squlrm and
whine"
"He WILL" agreed Ahmed. Ellis feet
are even now itching for the tread.
mill"
The colonel was taken to one Of the
palace chambers. given a tub and
fresh clothing. Outside in the CORR.
doris guards ratrolled. and there were
four who watched the window. He
was king. but well guarded. Well.
they had crowned him, but never
should umballa. through any signature
of his, put his hand into the royal
treasury. Besides, this time he had
seen pity and sympathy in the faces
Of many who had looked upon his en-.
trance to the city. The one ray OF
comfort lay in the knowledge that
faithful Ahmed lived.
He dared not think Of Kathlyn. He
forced his mind to dwell upon his sur.
roundings. his own state of misery.
Bruce was there, and Bruce was man
of action and resource. He would give
good account of himself before those
bronze devils in the. desert made away
with him. He feared not for Kath.
lyn's death, only his future. For they
doubtless had lied to Umballa. They
would not kill Kathlyn so long as they
believed she was worth single ru.
pee.
Umballa came in, followed by four
troops. who stationed themselves on
each side Of the door.
"Your majesty"
"Wait!" Numbered the colonel. Sud.
denly he turned to the troopers. Am
I your klng?" !
Eyes. majesty" The four men sa-
laamed. -
Then order you to arrest this man
Durga Ram for treason against the
person Of your king!"
The troopers stared, dumfounded,
first at the colonel, then at Umballa.
Il command it,"
Umballa laughed. The troopers did
not stir.
l"Ah." said the colonel. THAT is all
l desire to know. | am not king. I
am merely a prisoner. Therefore those
papers which you bring to me cannot
lawfully be signed by, me-" The colo.
mel turned his back to Umballa, sought
the latticed window. and peered forth.
There are ways" blazed forth Um.
baila.
bah! You black fool!" replied the
colonel, wheeling. Have / not yet
convinced you that all you can do is
to kill met Don't waste your time in
torturinp mo II will neither oman NV