The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-08-24

butt. driven. harried, cursed-he, Dur.
ga Ram! A gun butt in the hands Of
a low caste! He had not only been
beaten; heThad been dIshonored and
detiled His eyes flashed and his fin.
gers closed convulsively, but he was
sober. To take yonder white throat
In his hands! 1t was true; he dared
not harm hair Of her head!
Your sister Rathlyn persisted under
the wheels of the car OF Juggernaut."
Winnie did not stir. The aspect Of
tho man fascinated her as the near
ness of cobra would have done.
ripers not only crawled in this ter.
rlblo land; they walked. One stung
with fangs and the other with words.
"she is dead, and tomorrow your
father dies"
Tho dlshevcled appearance Of the
man did not in her eyes confirm this.
Indeed, the longer she gazed at him
the more strongly convinced she be.
came that no was lying. But wisely
she maintained her silence.
Dead" he repeated. within a
week you shall be my wife. You know.
They have told you. want money,
and by all tho gods of Hind, yours
shall be the hand to give 1t to me.
Marry me, and one week after / will
give you the means OF leaving Ala.
lin VIII you marry me?" i
Yes The word slipped over Win.
MES lips family. She recalled All.
med's advice; TO humor the man, to
play for time; but she knew that II
he touched her she must scream.
Keep that word. Your father and
sister are fools"
Winnie trembled. They were alive,
Kit and her father; this man had lied.
Alive! o, she would not be afraid OF
uny ordeal now. They were alive, and.
more than that, they were free.
Il will keep my word when the timo
comes" she replied clearly.
"They are calling me Durga Ram
the Mad. Beware. then, for madmen
DO mad things"
Tho door opened and shut behind
him. and she heard the key turn and
the outside bolt click into its socket.
They were alive and free, her loved
ones! She knelt upon the cushions,
her eyes uplifted.
Alone, with torch in his shaking
hand, Umballa went down into tho
prison. to tho row of dungeons. In tho
door OF ono was sliding panel. lIe
pulled this back and pecred within.
Something lay hidden in corner. lIe
drew the panel back into its place,
climbed the worn steps, extinguished
the torch, and proceeded to his own
home, gift OF his former master,
standing Just outside the royal con.
zines. Once there, lie had slaves anoint
his bruised back and shoulders with
ungucnts. ordered his peg, drank 1t,
and lay down to sleep.
On the morrow he was somewhat
daunted upon meeting Ramabai In the
corridor leading 10 tho throne room,
where Winnie and the Council were
gathered. He started to summon the
guards. but the impassive face of his
enemy and tho menacing hand stayed
tho call.
You are a brave man, Ramabai, to
enter the lions den In this fashion.
You shall never leave here alive"
Eyes, Durga Ram. shall depart us
came, free man."
you talk like that to me?" furl.
ously.
Even so. Shall / go out on the
balcony and declare that know what
certain dungeon holds?"
Umballa's fury vanished. and sweat
oozed from his palms.
"You?"
YES, l know. A truce! Tho people
nro muttering and murmuring against
you because they were forbidden to
attend your especial Juggernaut. Best
for both OF US that they DO 7uioted and
amused"
"Ramabai, you shall never wear the
crown"
81 do not want it"
Nor shall your wife"
Ramabai did not speak.
You sEall die first!"
"war or peacc?" asked Ramabai.
WAR"
so be It. ! shall proceed to strike
the first blow
Ramabai turned and began TO walk
toward the window opening out upon
tho balcony; but Umballa bounded
after him, realizing that Ramabai
would do as he threatened, declare
from tho balcony what he knew.
"waiti A truce for IS hours"
agreed. have a proposition to
make before you and the Council. Let
US go in"
Before tho Council (startled rs had
Umballa been at Ramabai's appear.
ance) he explained his plan for the
paclficatlon and amusement Of the
TT...LnIt. 49, u n nj