Meade County news., 1914-12-03

AHMED! Ahmed" cried Kathlyn.
"Yes, heaven born; but hurry, hur-
ry! Umballa will return to search
as soon as he can get the better of his
legs silva take that battery that was
worn out! Heaven born, you are now |
a queen in fact"
81 want to go home, Ahmed, home!
Here's the gharri. Here, sahib!
he held out handful Of cartridges To-
ward Bruce. These At Lal Singh's
pistols. Hurry. hurry"
Bruce helped Kathlyn into the We
hicle and jumped in beside her. and
Ahmed struck the horse. The gharrl
was a rickety old contrivance, every
hinge creaking like some lost soul; Dut
Ahmed had reasoned that the more
, dilapidated the vehicle, the less con-
spicuous 1t would be. He urged the
horse. He wanted the flying mob TO
think that he was flying, too, which,
indeed, he was. The gharri rolled and
careened like a dory in squall. A
dozen times Bruce and Kathlyn were
flung together, and quite unconscious
ly she caught hold Of his lean, strong
brown hand. 1t would not be true to
say that he. was unconscious OF the
act.
Presently they entered the paved
streets of the bazaars, and the gong
improved Kathlyn leaned back.
Il am Kathlyn Hare. and this is tho
year
Come now, Miss Kathlyn, no think
ing; leave the whole business to me-
the worry and the planning. II we
can reach my elephants, all right;
we'll be in Delhi within seven days
The rest of the going will be as simple
as falling off log"
That Yankee phrase did more to re-
habilitate her than all his assurances.
From time to time Bruce stole
glance through the curtained W ndow
Stragglers we're Fastening along close
to the walls, and there were soldiers
who had forgotten to bring their guns
from the elephant arena. Once he
heard the clatter OF hoofs. A horse
man ran along:ide the gharri, slowed
up, peered down. and shrugged. Kath-
lyn shrank toward Bruce. The rider
proceeded on his way. Ahmed recog-
nized him as the ambassador from the
neighboring principality, ruled by a
Kumor, who was In turn ruled by the
British raj Kathlyn could not shut
out the leer on his face.
BY midafternoon the gharri reached
Bfuce's camp. Ramabai and Pundi-
ia greeted Kathlyn with delight. All
their troubles we're over. They had
but to mount the elephants and ride
away.
Ahmed" urged Kathlyn. leave the
gharri and come with u.s."
mo, memsahib, Ahmed gazed al
her strangely-"I have work to do
much work. Allah guard you!" he
struck the horse with his bamboo and
careened away.
Let us be off," cried Bruce. 1--WE
have 60 miles to put between us and
freedom in fact. We. cannot make the
railway. Ali, pack! Go to the bun.
galow and remain there. You will be
questioned. Tell the truth. There is
not an elephant In the royal stables
that can beat Rajah. All aboard! Nc
stops!" smiling as he helped Kathlyr
into the howdah I'VE shall be forced
to ride all night"
The elephants started forward, thai
ridden by Bruce and Kathlyn in the
!, lead, Ramabai and Pundita following
few yards In the rear.
. "Mr. Bruce, / am sure Ahmed hai
, some information regarding father.
don't know what. Who knows? They
: may have lied to me. He may b'
alive, alive!"
, I'll return and find out, once Tv'
got you safe. don't blame you TO
:, thinking all this a nightmare. Goo
!. knows it's nightmarish. Do you know
;, I've been thinking II over. 1t appear
to me that the king latterly took a dis
like to his protege. Umballa, ant
turned this little trick to make him un
happy. l daresay he thought your ia
? ther wise enough to remain away. Um
balla hangs between wind and wa
ter; he can go neither forward no
;, backward. But poor Ramabai bacl
;. there will lose his gold-for this"
! "Ramabai has always been YER
kindly to the poor; and the poor maj
:, generally defends his benefactor whel
the right time comes. To Umball,
!, l was only means to the end. II h
:, declared himself king. that woul
4 open up the volcano upon which b
stands; but as my prince consort, tina
would leave him fairly secure"
. only a means" mused Bruce IL
, wardly, stealing q glance at her sa
= yet lovely profile. Umballa was
q man, for all his color; he was human
= and to see this girl 1t was only huma
to want her. your father was one G
the best friends | had. But, oddl
4 enough, l never saw photograph G
YOU. He might have been afraid W
q young chaps. :" He paused en-
\ barrassedly IF only you had take
= me into your confidence on board tn
# Yorck!"
II "Ah, but did you offer me tn
q chance" she returned.