The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-09-04

! LlluNit SOuluSlO al bIlC JulISiS ~ SAS
water, Tents were being set up, ma
| tive bearers and coolies were running
to and fro, building fires, carrying wa
ter, hobbling the pack elephants. Wan
dering in and out this animated scene
was young man, clean shaven deeply
tanned, with blue eyes which were di-
rect, small PUZZLED, yet kindly Pres
emily he called to one of the headmen.
Ali, you might send three or four
men on to the bungalow to clean up
things. We shall make it to morrow.
It's but two hours ride, but there's no
hurry; and besides there's a herd Of
elephants behind us somewhere.
They've come up far for this time of
year"
Yes, sahib."
Any news worth While?"
Ali made a gesture; it signifed a
great many things.
Bruce Sahib will not believe"
Believe WHAT" said Bruce, empty
ing his pipe against his heel.
There is a white queen in the city" "
What? What bally nonsense is
this?"
1T is only what I've been told sahib.
Hare Sahib is dead"
Bruce let his pipe slip through his
fingers. Hare? Good Lord
Yes, sahib. But that is not all. 1t
seems the king went mad after we
went to Africa. You remember how
Hare Sahib saved him from the leop-
ard? Well, he made Hare Sahib his
heir. He had that right; the law of
the childless king has always read so
in Alfalfa, The white queen is Hare
Sahib's daughter"
Bruce leaned against a tent pole.
Am | dreaming or are you?" he
gasped.
1T is what they tell me. sahib l
know it not as a fact"
THE king dead. Hare dead, and his
daughter on the throne! How did she
get here? And what the devil is a
chap to do?" Bruce stopped and re-
covered his pipe and swore softly. All,
If this is true, then it's some devil
work; and I'll wager my shooting
eye that that sleek scoundrel Umballa,
as they call him, is at the bottom of
it. A white woman. good old Hare's
daughter. I'll look into this
The native who had spread this as
founding news in Bruce's camp was al
ready fastening back to the city.
some IA miles away. He had been a
bhisti (water carrier) to the house
Of Ramabai up to the young bankers
Incarceration To him, then, he car
ried the news that white hunter had
arrived outside the city-"Bruce Sahib
has returned"
Ramabai lost no time in taking this
news to Kathlyn.
"Ramabai, l have saved your life;
save mine Go at once to him and tell
him that | am prisoner but am called
a. queen; tell him am Colonel Hare's
daughter, she vino travelled with him
on the same ship from Hongkong to
Singapore. Go! Tell him all, the
death of my father and Umballa's
treachery. Hasten!"
Bruce was eating his simple evening
meal when Ramabai arrived.
| Bruce Sahib?"
"Yes. Your face Is familiar"
"You have been twice to my bank.
am Ramabai."
81 remember. But what are you do
ing here?"
Il have come for aid, sahib, aid for
a young woman, white like yourself"
Then 1t is true? Go ahead and let
me have all the facts. She is Hare
Sahib's daughter; Ali told me that,
Precious rigamarole of some sort. The
facts!"
She is also the young lady who
travelled in the same boat from Hong
kong to Singapore. Ramabai paused
to see the effect of this information.
Bruce lowered his fork slowly. The
din about him dwindled away into
nothing. He was again leaning over
the rail, watching the phosphorescence
trail away, shoulder barely touching
his: one of the few women who had
ever stirred him after the first glance
In Gods name, why hadn't she said
something?
Il shall enter the city as soon as !
can settle my bungalow. This rather
knocks me out"
no, sahib; don't wait: come back
with me-" Quickly he outlined the des.
perate straits in which Kathlyn stood
Tomorrow may be too late"
ALI" called Bruce, rising.
Yes, sahib."
THE pasha. No questions. Give
him water. Use the hunting howdah
Both guns and plenty Of cartridges
That's all.
There will be many pitfalls, sahib,
said Ramabai
Indeed"
I--n