St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1914-10-31

the street. Here they paused cautious
~. for two guards always patroled the
front Of the compound during the
night. Presently the three truants stole
away toward the ba1aars. which in this
desert town occupied but . single
street. Down they went into cellar
way and the gurus curse stalked be.
side them. For opium b the hand
maiden Of all curses.
Perhaps twenty minutes later slight
sounds came from the front Of tho
compound wall. A rife barrel clat-
tered upon the cobblss. Then. over
the wall. near the elephant a head ap-
peared. then . body. This was repeat
cd four times. and four hght-footed
nomads Of the desert lowered themr
selves into the compound. They ran
quickly to the gate and noiselsssly I'M
barred It. Outside were flve more dss-
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
junkets into the opium den had cast
the die this night.
/; With the utmost caution they ap-
preached the sacred elephant took OF
his chains and led him from the COM
pound. Immediately nix Of the maraul-
ers trotted far ahead toward the gate
they knew 70 be the least guarded. The
sacred elephant, passing through the
streets, attended BY three men.
aroused NO Suspicious In any shag-
gler Who saw. So remote was tho
vail city, 20 seemingly impregnable.
and % little interfered with that It WAS
only human that Ito guardians should
eventually grow careless.
When the keepers. staggering under
the fumes Of the drug. returned near
daybreak, first to md the gate open.
second to flnd their sacred charge
gone, they ned in terror: for It would
b 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 thie white ale
plant; and - It could not be pur.
chased there was no reason why Il
could not be stolen.
When the Brahmin arrived ct sun
rise to flnd his vocation gone he Get
up . wailing which awakened the
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 genur
inely sorry when the khan announced
what had taken place
Said he: Come, you are al 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 Get
out 1t once. After they had gone .
camel rider entered the compound and
sought an audience With Bala Khan.
kathryn and Pundita were In tho COM
pound at tho time and the former was
greatly Interested IN the saddle bags.
attached to one Of which was = pinocu-
|ar case. Kathlyn could not resist the
to open this case. II con-
tained IN exceptionally dne pair .of
glasses, such % were used In that day
In the British army. No doubt they
were . part Of some loot.
Suddenly m idea came 70 her. She
asked permission Through Pundita) 70
ride the camel outside the town. After
some argument the servant n charge
Upon knoll outside tho eity-a
hillock Of sand three Or four hundred
'eet In hsight-Kathlyn tried the
classes. From this promontosy she
had range Of something IKE fifteen
10 twenty miles. Back and forth hoe
ya8e roved and suddenly PAUSED.