The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-04

perhaps they perceived this pity, which
was fearless
"She gets a little from me. I suppose
Col. Hare had once answered to query,
for. i've always had a way with four
footed things. But I think Ahmed is
right. kathryn Is heaven born I've
seen the night when Broken would be
tame beside the pandemonium round
about. Yet half an hour after Mt starts
the rounds everything quiets down. The
gods are in IT,"
The living room Of the bungalow was
large and comfortable. The walls were
adorned with the heads of wild beasts
and their great furry hides shared
honors with the Persian rugs on the
floor. Hare was man who would
pack up At a moments notice and go to
the far ends of the world to find a per-
feet black panther. a cheetah with "A lit
ter or a great horned rhinoCcros. He
was tall and broad and amazingly ac-
tive. for all that his hair and mustache
were almost white
For thirty years or more he had gone
about the hazardous en,,.pIise Of sup
plying geological gardens and circuses
with wild beasts. lie was known from
Hamburg to Singapore. from Mpmbassa
to Rio Janclru. The Numidian lion. the
Rajput tiger and the Malayan panther
had cause TO fear Hare Sahlb. He was
even now preparing to return to Ceylon
for an elephant hunt.
The two daughters went over to the
tea tabarct. where matronly maid
was buSying with the service. The
fragrant odor Of tea permeated the
room. Hare paused at his desk. Lines
suddenly appeared on his bronZed face.
He gaz"d for a space at the calendar.
The day was the 18th Of July. 'iould
he go back there. or should he give up
the expedition? lie might never return.
India and the border countries What
land fun Of beauty and roman o. ;
terror and squalor. at once barharic and
civilized lie loved it and hated it, and
sometimes feared It, he who hal faced
on foot many wounded tiger
He shrugged reached into ia" desk
for a box Of Jaipur brass enamel and
took from it a medal attached to a rib
bon. The golden disk was encrustcd
with uncut rubics and emeralds
Girls" he called. come here "A mo-
nod toward the door. II never showed
you this before
Goodness gracious" cried Winnie,
reaching out her hand.
"Why. II looks like a decoration.
father" said Kathlyn. What lovely
stones . 1t would make a Leautiful
pendant"
"Vanity,vanity, all is vanity" said the
Colonel, smiling down into their charm
ing faces. Do you love your old dad?"
"Love you" they exclaimed in uni
son. Indignantly too since the question
was an ipputation of the fact,
would you be lonesome If ] took the
Big Trek" whimsically.
Father"
Dad"
They pressed about him as vines
about an oak
Hang II, l swear that this shall
be the last hunt I'm rich. Wen get
rid OF all these brutes and spend the
rest of the years seeing the show places.
I'm a bit tired myself of jungle fodder.
Wen go to Paris, and Berlin. and Rome,
and Vienna. And you, Kit, shall go
and tell Rodin that you've Inherited the
spirit Of Gerome. And you. Winnie.
shall make a stab at grand opera"
Winnie gurgled her delight. but her
sister searched her fathers eyes. She
did not quite like the way he said those
words. His voice lacked its usual hearth
ness and spontaneity
where did you get this medal.
father" she asked.
"That's what started out to tell
you"
"Were you afraid we might wish to
4, 1, IL \
Winnie, who never went below the
surface Of things.
mo. The truth is / had almost
forgotten IT, But the preparations for
India recalled 1t to mind. 1t represents
a royal title conferred on me by the
King OF Alfalfa. You have never been
to India, Kit. Alfalfa IL the name we
hunters give that border kingdom. Some
day England will gobblc it up only
waiting for a good excuse"
what big thing did you DOE" de-
manded kathlyn, her eyes stll filled
with scrutiny.
What makes you think 1t was blg?"
Jestingly.
Because" she answered seriously.
"yOu never do anything but big things.
AZ the lion Is among beasts, you are
among men,"
Good lord" The Colonel reached
embarrassedly for his pipe. lit 1t, pulled
few minutes, then laid down the pipe.
India Is full of strange tongues and
strange Kingdoms and principalities.
Most OF them were dominated by the
british raj, some are only protected,
while others do about as they please.
This State"-touching the order-"docs
about as II did since the days Of the
ARotx ,t,it
OF Hind. 1t is small. but that signifies
nothing; for yoi can brew n mighty
poison In small pot. Well, happened
to save the old kings life"
Il knew ii would be something like