The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1914-09-25

My plan Is this; we will take five nc.
ing camels, go north and turn, making
the well from the west That will not
look like pursuit"
But five camels?" Bala Khan was
curious.
Yes. In order to allay the suspk
eions OF the brigands. Kathlyn Memsa.
MO n my wife must accompany us"
The colonel objected, but Kathlyn
oyerruled his objections.
But, Kit, they will recognize us.
They will not have forgotten me. They
VIII know that we have come from the
town, despite the fact that to all ap-
~pearances we come from the west
Bruce also shook his head. 1T
doesn't look good, Ramabai. Why not
We three mem"
They would be suspicious at once
They would reason, II they saw Kath-
lyn Memsahib and my wife with us
that we were harmless. VIII you trust
me?"
Anywhere said the colonel. But
they will simply make US prisoners
along with the elephant"
"Ah, but the Colonel Sahib forgets
the opium" Ramabai laid his hand
| upon the colonel's arm. Let them
make prisoners of US. The very first
thing they will do will be to search the
saddle bags. They will find the opium.
In a quarter OF an hour they will be
as dead and We a return"
1T Is a good plan," said Eala Khan.
when the conversation was fully trans
lated to him. And once the elephant
Is back In the compound I'll send a
dozen men back for the rogues. All!
they will play with me; they will steal
into my town, overcome my guards,
take the apple Of my eye! Ramaba.
thou are a friend indeed. Haste and
Allah fend for thee! Umballa may ar
rive with an army, but he shall not
enter my gates"
Guided by a servant, Bruce and Ra-
mabaiJ set off for the opium den. The
proprietor understood exactly what
they desired. There were times when
men entered his place who we're In
need Of a long sleep, having money
tucked away In their fantastic cum
merbunds. ....
So, mounted upon five swift camels,
the party started off on a wide circle.
Whether they caught the brigands at
the well or on the way to their noun
tain homes was Of no great Importance.
Ramabai was quite certain that the
result would be the same. The colonel
grumbled a good deal. Suppose the
rascals did not smoke; what them"
"They will smoke" declared Rama
bal, confidently. THE old rascal OF
whom we bought the opium has enter
tanned them more than once. They
are too pool to own pipes. Have pa
thence, Colonel Sahib. A good deal de.
ponds upon the success Of our adven-
ture this morning. If I know anything
about Umballa, he will shortly be on
the march. Dala Khan has given his
word"
Had 1t not been for liberal use OF
opium the night before, the brigands
would not have tarried so long at the
well: but they were terribly thirsty,
a bit nerve-shattered and craved for
the drug. The chief alone had fully
recovered. He cursed and rayed at his
men. kicked and beat them. What!
After all these weeks Of waiting, to let
sleep stand between them and thou
sands Of rupees? Dogs! Pigs! Die
they not recollect that Bala Khan had
a way of mailing thieves outside the
walls of his city? Well. he for one
would not wait. He would mount the
sacred elephant and head toward the
caves in the hills. Let them who
would decorate the walls OF Bals
Khan. The threat Of Bala Khan put
life into the eight followers. and they
were getting ready to nov on wher
one of them discovered a small cara
van approaching from the west.
Camels? Ha! Here was a chance
~ leaving Bala Khan's city far In thu
roar. And there would be loot besides
Those helmets we're never Q b.
any ave white men. The chief scowlet
under his shading palm. Women! 0
this was going to be something wortl
while.
When the raw came within hail
ing distance the chief Of the brigandl
stepped forward m%enacingly. TIT
new arrivals we're informed they wer'
prisoners, and we're hidden to dis
mount at once.
But we are on the way to the cit!
Of Bala Khan" demonstrated Rama
bal !.
(Which you left this morning!
ieered the chief. "Dismount!"
But | am selling opium there!"
"Opium!"
where is 1t? Give it to u.s." crie'
one Of the brigands.
The chief thought quickly. II hi
men would smoke they snouIo sumo
the penalty Of being left at the well =
await the arrival Of the tender Bal
Khan. The white elephant was wort
10000 rupees. He might not be oblige
to share these bags Of silver. His me
could not complain. They had dii
charged him. Let them have the pipei
He himself would only pretend t
smoke.
But the first Whit Of the fumes wa
too much for his will power. Il
sucked in the smoke, down to the bo
tom OF his very soul. and suddenl
, found peace. The ~superdrug wit
!. which the poppy had been mixed wa
unknown to Ramabai, but he ha
! often witnessed tests Of its potenc.