The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-11-06

10 Rala Khan, a Pathan who some
times styles himself a raJah. He has
body OF fierce fighting men; and he
lives unmolested for two reasons; loot
ing would not be worth while. and his
position is Isolated and almost impreg-
nable Now, II I am right, we shall
find shelter there, for he was an old
friend OF my fathers. and might call
him a friend of mine, since fell asleep
for him occasionally"
"Bala Khan" muBed Bruce reminis-
Gently, Isn't he the chap who has
sacred white elephant?"
1T is the same" answered Ramabai
I'VE can reach there before sundown
IL would be wise to hasten, however,
as this desert and those hills are In
tested with lawless, nomadlc bands Of
masterless men-brigands. you call
them. They would cut the throat OF a
man for the sake of his clothes"
Let us go on" said the colonel. Il
don't care where, am dead for want
of food and sleep
And /, too" confessed Kathlyn. My
arm pains me badly
"My poor Kit" murmured her
father gloomily And all this because
| told you half a truth, because in play
tried to make mystery out Of few
plain facts. / should have told you
everything, warned you against follow
ing in case failed to turn up"
Il should have followed you just the
same"
shall rebind the arm?" asked
Bruce, turning.
NO, thanks" She smiled down at
him. This bandage will serve till we
reach Bala Khan's.'
"By the way, colonel is there a rair
Of binoculars in the howdah?"
Yes. Do you want them?"
mo. Just to be sure they we're
there. We may have occasion to use
them later, in case this place Ramabai
is taking US to should turn out hostile.
| like to know what is going on ahead
of me-"
"A white elephant" mused the colo
mel. do you know it for a fact that
this Bala Khan has a white elephant"
he called across to Ramabai.
81 have never seen it, sahib. It is
what they say
"A pair of mottled ears Is the near
est I ever came to seeing a white ele-
phant and I've hunted them for 30
wears. here, in Ceylon, in Burma, in
Africa. There was once a tiger near
Madras that hadn't any stripes. The
natives would not permit him TO be
killed because they held that, being
unique, he was sacred. A sacred white
elephant, Poor simple minded fools!"
The colonel felt in his pockets, then
dropped his hands dispiritedly How
long since he had tasted tobacco?
Bruce, have you got a cheroot in your
pocket? think a smoke would brace
me up"
Bruce laughed and passed up a bro
ken cigar, which the colonel lighted
carefully. The WEAKNESS seemed to go
out of his face magically.
This Bala Khan should be Moham-
medan," said Bruce. The Pathan
despises the Hindu"
There are Hindus in yonder city
quite as many" said Ramabai, "as
there are Mohammedans. Even the
Pathan respects that which he cannot
understand"
Isn't that the wall behind that sand
hill? Let me have the glasses a mo
ment, colonel . . HIM! The walled
city, all right. Some people moving
about outside. Dancers, l should say.
professional" explained Ramabia.
Nothing religious, then? By
George!"
Take a look, There's an elephant
being led into the city gates"
The colonel peered eagerly through
the glasses. The sun Is shining on
him. No! he is . white! A
white elephant! I'd give ten thousand
this minute to own it, There, he's en-
} tered the gate. Well, well, well! And
I've lived to see it! Poor old Barnum
: to have carried around a tinted pachy
: derm! He's white as any elephant
, flesh could be. Those dancing chaps
: are going in, too. What caste would
those dancers be. Ramabai?"
"Pariahs. quite possibly; probably
brigands"
The rim OF the sun was sinking