The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-06-26

addressed to Kathlyn. 1t was in grandiloquent English.
Brevity of speech is unknown to the East Indian. Kath-
Ign read it with frowning eyes. She gave it to her father
to read; and it hurt her to note the way his eyes took
he at the contents Of that letter. The fligree basket OF
gold and gems; the trinkets for which he had risked his
own life, Kathlyn's, then Winnie's. In turn Bruce and
Ramabai perused the letter; and to Ramabai came the
inspiration.
They would seek this treasure, but only he, RamabaL
and Pundita would return. Here lay their way to free
dom without calling upon Balakhan for aid. The mat
ter, however, had to be admitted to the priests, and
those willy men in yellow robes agreed. They could very
well promise Durga Ram his freedom again; pursue these
treasure seekers and destroy them, that would be Durga
Rams ransom.
The return to the palace was joyous this time; but IN
her heart Of hearts Kathlyn was skeptical. Till she trod
the deck Of a ship homeward bound she would always be
doubling.
Bruce did not have to seek Balakhan. The night Of
Kathlyn's defiance Ahmed had acquainted them with his
errand. He was now on his. way to Balakhan. They
need trouble themselves 10 longer regarding the future.
All goes well" said Ramabai, for, to reach this
hiding place, we must pass the city of Balakhan. l know
where this cape is. 1t is not large. 1t juts out into the
sea, the Persian gulf, .erhaps half a dozen miles. AT
high tide it becomes an island. None lives about except
the simple fisherman. Still the journey is hazardous.
The truth is, it is a spot where there is much gun rum
ming; in fact, where we found our guns and ammunition.
I understand that there are great secret stores of ex-
plosives hidden there"
ANY seaport nearT' asked the colonel.
perhaps seventy miles north is the very town we
stopped at a few weeks ago."
The colonel seized Kathlyn in his arms. She played
at gayety for his sake, but her heart was heavy with fore
boding.
And the fHgree basket shall be divided between you
and Pundita, Kit" .,
Give it all to her, father. I have begun to hate what
men call precious stones"
1t shall be as you say; but we may all take a handful
as a keepsake"
Two days later the expedition was ready to start.
They intended to pick up Ahmed on the way. There was
nothing but the bungalow itself at the camp.
Umballah was thereupon secretly taken from the tread
mill. He was given a camel and told what to do. He
flung a curse at the minarets aand towers and domes
looming mistiEy in the moonlight. Ransom? He would
destroy them; aye, and take the treasure himself. since
he knew where it now lay, this Information having been
obtained for him. He would seek the world, choosing his
habitation where he would.
Day after day he followed, tireless, indomitable, as
steadfast upon the trail as a jackal after a wounded
antelope, never coming within range, skuIking about the
camp at night, dropping behind in the morning, not above
picking up bits of food left by the treasure seekers.
Money and revenge: these would have kept him to the
chase had he been dying!
As for Balakhan, he was at once glad and sorry to see
his friends. Nothing would have pleased him more than
to fall upon Allaha like the thunderbolt he was. But he