The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-08-27

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ed to do And on the night Of this
sober occasion he sat in the throne
room before desk Uttered with docu.
ments. AS he finished writing note
he summoned the majordomo.
"iave this delivered at once to Hare
Sahib, whom you will find at his bun.
galow outside the city. Tell him also
that he must be present tonight, he,
his friend, and his daughters. 1t is
Of vital importance"
Pundita, who was staring out Of the
window. turned and asked her lord
what he was sending the Colonel Sa.
bib hat he could not give him at the
banquet.
" a surprise, an agreeable surprise .
Tho majordomo cooked his ears; but
Ramabai said nothing more. ~ ~
At the ,colopel's bungalow there was
rejoicing. Ramabai had written that
since ,the king could not be found he
would head the, professionals. govern.
ment as regent, search for and arrest
umballa, and at atty time the Colonel
Sahib signihed would furnish him
with q trusty escort to tho railway,
three days Journey away. lie added,
however. that he. hoped the Colonel
Sahib u&opld be good enough to re.
main till order was established.
The majordomo contrived to tarry
long enough to overhear as much Of
tho conversation as needed-for he
understood English-and then re.
turned to tho city to carry the ncws
10 Umballa. To him Umballa gave a
white powder.
Tonight, you say. Ramabai gives
banquet"
Yes, huzoor."
well, put this in his cup and your
obligation to mo is paid"
The majordomo stared long time
at that little packet OF powder 2t',A
cold sweat formed upon his brow IN.
der his turban, Sl"i '9t. II
"Wcll?%S said Umbplla,, ironically,
"IIuzoor, 1t is, murder!n ~ az, =
Umballa shrugged and held out his
hand for the packet. snt
The majordomo swallowed q few
times and bowed his head. 1T shall
be done, huzoor. My life Is yours to
do with as you please. l have said It."
''Begone. then, and bring me the
news on the morrow that Ramabai''is
dead. You alone know where the king
Is. Should they near the hut in which
| have hidden him. see that no is
killed. lie is also useless"
Tho major domo departed with
heavy heart. Ramabai was an honest
man; but Durga Ram had spoken.
At tho banquet. with its quail and
pheasant, its fruits and flowers, its
rare plates and It's rarer goblets for
the light wines high castles permitted
themselves occasionally to drink, Ra.
mabai toyed idly with his goblet and
thoughtlessly pushed It toward Kath.
Ign, who sat at his right. :
1mbued with sense OF gratitude for
Ramabai's patience and kindness and
assistance through all her dreadful
ordeals, Kathlyn sprang up suddenly
and without looking reached for what
she supposed to be her own goblet, but
inadvertently her hand came In con.
tact with Ramabai's. What she had in
mind to say was never spoken.
The majordomo stood appalled,. This
wonderful white woman over whom
the gods watched as they watched
the winds and the rains, OF whom he
had not dared speak to Umballa. She?
No! He saw that he himself must
die. He seized the goblet ere II
reached her lips. drank, and flung Il
aside empty. He was as good as dead,
for there were no antidotes for
poisons Umballa gave. Those seated
about the table were too astonished to
stir. The majordomo put his hand to
his eyes, reeled, steadied himself: and
then Ramabai understood. IS
"Poison!" he gasped. springing w