The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-08-29

| ner young voice rang out sharp and
clear, sending terror 10 ali cowardly
hearts. not least among these being
those beating In tho breasts Of the
priests.
Now speaking To- hessoldl go
tlberate my father. my sister, and my
husband;t o:be:s and woe TO any who
disobey9 me! For while; Il stand here i
shall be- "a queen indeed! Peace; or,
wal, famine and the plague. Summon
the executloner. Arrest Durga Ram.
Strip him before my eyes Of his every
insignia OF rank. He is "a murderer.
He shall go TO the treadmill, there to
slave till death. have said it."s
Far in the rear OF the cowed Assem-.
blage, near the doors, stood Ahmed, in
bis old guise Of bhisu, or water car.
rter. When he heard that. beloved
voice he felt the blood rush Into 2his!
throat. Aye, they were right. Who
but a goddess would have had at such
time an inspiration SO create. But 1t
gave him an idea, and he slipped away
to complete It Bala Khan should
come In fact.
so he did not see umballa upon his
knees. whining for mercy, making fu.
tile promises, begging for liberty. The
soldiers spat contemptuously as they
seized him and dragged him OF.
The priests conferred hastily. Baia
Khan was q fierce Niohammed a
ruthless soldier; his followers were
without fear. The men Of Alfalfa
might put up good defense, but in
the end they would be whelmed; and
the gods OF, Hind would be cast out to
make way for the prophet of Allah.
This young woman with the white skin
had for the nonce beaten them. Durga
Ram had played the fool: between the
two women, he had fallen. They had
given. him power, and he had let it slip
through his fingers for the sake of re-
prlsal where 1t was not needed. Let
him 80, then, to the treadmill; they
were through with him. He had played
his game like tyro. They must pla-
cate this young woman who tho peo-
pie believed was their queen, but who
they know was the plaything Of poll.
tics and expediencies.
The chief or high priest salaamed,
and kathlynleyed him calmly, though
her knees threatened to refuse sup.
port. 55
Majesty, we bow to your will. ALA
ha cannot hope to cope with Balai
Khan's fierce shillmen. All we ask is
that you abide with us till you have
legally selected your successor.
who shall be Pundita," said Kath.
Ign resolutely.
The chief priest salaamed again.
The movement cost him nothing. Once
Bala Khan was back in his city and
this white woman out of the country,
he:would undertake to deal swith Ra.
mabai and P,tndita He doubted Bala
Khan would stir from his 3inregna!
bic city on behalf Of Ramabai.H " 20
Tho frail woman! who, loved 70 mballa
raised her hands in, supplication.
kathlyn understood. She, shook her
head. Umballa should end his days in
the treadmill; he, should grind the
peoples corn, Nothing should stir her,
from this determination. 4t.n rya.,,.,,
Majesty, and what Of me?" cried
the unhappy woman, now filled with
another kind Of remorse. l..
you shall return to the zenana for
the, present. 3ss (, 5,r
Then ! am MOTTO die, majesty?"
NO" itt 81 ,9isa
"And Bala Khangs inquired the
priest. .,.in ajs. sBt Ma
He shall stand prepared; that is
ALL" .a
The people, crowding In the temple
and in the square before It, salaamed
deeply as Kathlyn left and returned to
the palace. She was rather dizzy over
the success Of her inspiration. A few
days might pass without harm; but
sooner or later they would discover
that she had tricked them; and then,
tho end. But before that hour arrived
they khoulu auupdeSS huu somt way
Of leaving the city secretly.
That It would be many days ere
Pundita wore the crown-trust the
priests to spread the meshes of rod
tape!-Kathlyn was reasonably Ger.
tain. III
MY girl" said the colonel, "you are
a queen Il ever there was one. And
that you should think Of such a sim;
pie thing when We had all given up!
They would not have touched Umbal.
la Kit, Kit, whatever will you do
when you return to the humdrum life
at home?"sss,t III !. 3..,,a. i.
THANK God on my. knees, dad!" she
said fervently. But we are not safe
yet, by no means. We must form our
plans quickly. We have perhaps three
days grace. After that, woe to all of
US who are found here. All, am
tired, tired!"
Kit" whispered Bruce. II intend
this night to seek Bala Khan!''
"John!"
"Yes. What the deuce is Alfalfa to
me? Ramabai must fight it out alone.
o,,t sJo,tt ,rarr., about WIN, .a. ts1.~