The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-08-13

s.. for two guards always patroled the
front Of the compound during the
|aight Presently the three trnants stole
away toward the bazaars. which in this
desert town occupied but a single
street Down they went into a cellar
way and the gurus curse stalked be.
side them For opium Is the hand:
maiden of all curses.
Perhaps twenty minutes later slight
sounds came from the front OF the
compound wall. Arrifie barrel clat.
tered upon the cobbles. Then, over
the wall, near the elephant, a head ap:
peared. then a body. This was repeat
ed four times. and four light.footed
nonads Of the desert lowered them.
selves into the compound. They ran
quickly to the gate and noiselessly I'M
barredit. Outside were FIVE more des.
ert nomads. gathered about the insen,
sible bodies of the sentries.
These nine men were the dancers
who had entered the. town in advance
of Kathlyn. For weeks they had lain
In wait for this moment. They had
spied upon the three low caste keepers
and upon learning Of their nocturnal
iunkets into the opium den had cast
the die this night.
With the utmost caution they ap-
preached the sacred elephant. took off
his chains and led him from the com.
pound. Immediately six Of the maraud.
ers trotted far ahead toward the gate
they knew to be the least guarded. The
sacred elephant, passing through the
streets, attended by three men.
aroused no suspicious in any strag.
gler who saw. So remote was the
wall city, so seemingly impregnable.
and SO little interfered with that It was
only human that It's guardians should
eventually grow careless.
When the keepers, staggering under
the fumes OF the drug. returned near
daybreak, first to find the gate open,
second to find their sacred charge
gone. they fled in terror; for It would
be death. lingering and painful, for
them to stay and explain how and why
they had left their post.
The wild and lawless brigands knew
exactly what they were about. There
were several agents OF European and
American circuses after this white ele.
plant; and as It could not be pur-
chased there was no reason why 1t
could not be stolen.
When the Brahmin arrived at sun.
rise to find his vocation gone he set
up wailing which awakened the
household. The khan was furious and
ordered general search. He vowed
death to the foul hands which had
done this sacrilege!
Kathlyn and the others were genu.
lnely sorry when the khan announced
what had taken place.
Said he: Come. you are all skilled
hunters. Find me my elephant and
these guns and newer and surer ones
shall protect you from Durga Ram.
should he take It into his head to come
this way"
The colonel. Bruce and Ramabai set
out at once. After they had gone a
camel rider entered the compound and
sought an audience with Bala Khan.
kathlyn and Pundita were in the com.
pound at the time and the former was
greatly interested in the saddle bags,
attached to one OF which was n binocu-
lar case. Kathlyn could not resist the
inclination to open this case. 1t con.
tanned an exceptionally fine pair of
glasses, such as were used in that day
In the British army. No doubt they
were q part OF some loot.
Suddenly an idea came to her. She
asked permission Through Pundita) to
ride the camel outside the town. After
some argument the servant in charge
consented.
Upon a knoll outside the city-a
hillock of sand three or four hundred
feet in height-Kathlyn tried the
glasses. From this promontory she
had range Of something like fifteen
TO twenty miles. Back and forth her
gaze royed and suddenly paused.