The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-06-12

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The house was not guarded then; so he had no difficulty
in gaining admittance. But he had to gain entrance
through a window In the zenan.. He would not trust
either his servants, his slaves, or his chief eunuch. 70
the women Of his own zenana he had always been care
lessly kind, and women are least bribable of the two
sexes.
Umballah entered at once his secret chamber and food
and water were brought, one Of the women acting as
bearer. On the morning after the guards arrived, and
UmbalIah knew not how long he might have to wait.
Through one of the women he sent a verbal message TO
the majordomo with the result that each day he learned
what was taking place in the palace. So they hunted
for the king?
He was very we'll satisfied. He had had his revenge;
and more than this, he was confident when the time came
he would also gain his liberty. He had a ransom to
pay the king himself!
Now then, Ramabai felt it incumbent on him to hold
a banquet in the palace, there to state to his friends,
native and white, just what he intended to do. And on
the night Of this sober occasion he sat in the throne
room before a desk Uttered with documents. As he
finished writing a note he summoned the m~ajordomo.
Have this delivered at once to Hare sahib, whom
you will find at his bungalow outside the city. Tell him
also that he must be present tonight, he, his friend, and
his daughters. 1t is of vital Importance"
Pundita, who was staring out of the window, turned
and asked her lord what he was sending the Col Sahib
that he could not give him TT the banquet
"A surprise, an agreeable surprise"
The majordomo cooked his ears; but Ramabal said
nothing more.
At the colonel's bungalow there was rejoicing. Rama
bal had written that, since the king could not be found,
he would head the provisional government as regent
search for and arrest Umbalah, and at any time the
Col. Sahib signifed would furnish him with a trusty
escort to the railway, three days journey away. He
added, however, that he hoped the Col Sahib would
be good enough to remain till order was established.
M ,o;o-dou,o cor+rivod 70 tarrv long enou0h IN
hear as much of the conversation as needed-for he I'M
derstood English-and then returned to the city to carry
IN. news to Umballah. 20 him Umballah gave a white
powder.
"Tonight, you say, Ramabai gives a banquet"
"Yes, Huzoor."
"WeI, put this in his cup and your obligation to me
is paid"
The m~ajordomo stared a long time at that little packet
of powder. A cold sweat formed upon his brow under
his turban.
"Well?" said Umballah, ironically.
"Huzoor, it is murderI"
UnbalIah shrugged and held out his hand for the
packet.
The m~ajordomo swallowed a few times, and bowed
hi, head. at shall be done, Huzoor. My life is yours
to dc with as you please. l have said 1t"
BE gone, then, and bring me the news on the morrow
that Ramabai is dead. You alone know where the king
is. Should they near the hut in which 1 have hidden
him; see that he is killed. He is also useless"
The majordomo departed with heavy heart Ramabai
was an honest man; but Durga Ram had spoken.
At the banquet, with it's quail and pheasant, its fruits
and flowers, its rare plates and its rarer goblets for the
light wines high castles permitted themselves occasionally
to drink, Ramabai toyed idly with his goblet and thought
lessly pushed it toward Kathlyn. who sat at his right.
Imbued with a sense Of gratitude for Ramabais pa
thence and kindness and assistance through all her dread
full ordeals, Kathlyn sprang up suddenly, and without
looking reached for what she supposed to be her own
goblet, but inadvertently her hand came into contact with
Ramabai's. What she had in mind to say was never
spoken.
The majordomo stood appalled,. This wonderful white
woman over whom the gods watched as they watched
the winds and the rains, Of whom he had not dared
speak to Umballah. She? No! He saw that he himself
must die. He seized the goblet ere it reached her lips,
drank, and flung it aside, empty. He was as good as
dead, for there were no antidotes for poisons Umballah
gave. Those seated about the table were too astonished
to stir. The majordomo put his hands to his eyes, reeled,
steadied himself. and then Ramabai understood.
"Poison!" he gasped, springing up and catching the
majordomo by the shoulders. Poison, and it was meant
for mel Speak,"
Lord, I will tell all. I am ~dyingI"
1t was a strange tale of misplaced loyalty and graft
tude, but it was peculiarly oriental. And when they
learned that Umballah was hidden in his own house and
the king in a hut outside the city, they knew that God
was just, whatever his prophets name might be. Be
fore he died the m%ajordomo explained the method of en-
tering the secret chamber.
The quail and pheasant, the fruits and wine remained
untouched. The hall became deserted almost imme-
diately. To the king, first; to the king Then UmbaIlah
should pay his debt.
They found the poor king In the hut, in a pitiable
condition. He laughed and babbled and smiled and wept
as they led him away. But in the secret chamber which
! was to have held Umballah there was no living thing.
!, For Umballah had, at the departure of the majordomo,
, conceived a plan for rehabilitation so wide in its rami-
, fcations, so powerful and whelming, that nothing could
\ stay 1t; once it was set in motion. The priests, the
). real rulers Of Asia the wise and patient gurus, who
held the most compelling of all scepters, superstition
\ Double fool that he had been, not to have thought Of this
i before! He knew that they hated Ramabai, who in
a religion was an outcast and a pariah, VINO w~orshiped
i but a single God whom none had ever seen. of whom no
: idol had been carved and set up in a temple
Superstition!
Umballah threw of his robes and donned his candy
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