Meade County news., 1914-12-03

WIN Ill SC0lO
Kathlyn called out to the mon, but
they turned and fed in terror. To them
Rajah was amuck. The elephant
passedlthe fire 80 closely that the wind
of his passing stirred the fire into life
again: and this time it crept toward
the highly inflammable grass. A few
hundred yards beyond Kathlyn turned
to see the flames leaping along the
grass. Rajah, getting whiff OF the
acrid smoke, quickened his stride. The
fire followed with amazing rapidity
and stopped only when It reached the
bed Of a trickling stream. no doubt
torrent during the big rains. A great
pail Of smoke blotted out everything In
the rear; blotted out hope. for Bruce
never could pick up the trail now.
Kathlyn's eyes were feverishly dry
and bright. 1t was only q matter OF
time when the howdah would slip
down the brute's side. She prayed that
she might die instantly. Strange
fancies fitted through her mind. dis
ordered by all these days of suspense
and terror.
And suddenly the jungle came to an
end. and a long plowed field opened
into view Beyond this field rose
ruined wall. broken by a crumbling
gate. and lounging in the gateway
were soldiers. Near by were two ele
plants employed in piling logs.
Rajah, perforce, slackened his gait.
The soldiers became animated. lmme-
diately the two mahouts charged their
brutes toward Rajah. who stopped
He had had his sport, He swayed to
and fro. One Of the mahouts reached
forward and clouted Rajah on the
knee. He slowly kneeled. The sol
diers ran forward to help Kathlyn out
of the howdah. At the sight OF her
skin their establishment was great.
She was very weak and faint. and
the increasing babel Of tongues was
like little triphammers beating upon
her aching head One Of the soldiers
gave her a drink Of water. He held
his canteen high, so that the water
trickled into her mouth; no lips but
his own must touch the nozzle, other
wise, being a Brahmin, he would be
defiled. Natives instantly fiocked
about, jabbering in wonder. Some OF
the bolder touched her bare arms.
The soldiers drove them back angrily.
Through the press horseman pushed
forward. The rider stared at the
strange captive, started, and uttered
an astonished cry.
THE white queen of Alfalfa, whom
mine own eyes saw crowned at the
Durbar there!" he murmured. by the
shroud of the prophet, what can this
mean? Stop!" he called to the sol
diers. Kathlyn looked up DULY
Convey her to his highness the ku
mor!" The prince should decide what
should be done with her.
The kumor was big and lazy and
} sensual He gazed upon Kathlyn with
eyes which sparkled evilly. like cats
! Who is this woman?" he demanded
, "Highness, she Is the white queen
} of Alfalfa, but who may say that she Ii
! here?" with a smile as evil as his
masters
} But how came she here?"
The horseman briefly recounted the
events as he had seen them in the cap
ital OF Allaha.
: who are you, maiden?" the kumoi
J asked in English, for. like all poten
tates, little or great, in India, he
! spoke English. 1t presented the de
, lectable pastime Of conspiring in two
: languages; for from Bombay to Cal
: cutta, from Peshawar to Madras, India
. seethes, conspires, and takes an occa
sional pot shot at some poor devil o
} a commissioner whose only desire 10 Il
/ have them combine religion and sani
) tation.
, 81 am an American. Please take mi
: to the English commissioner" Some
: how instinct told her that she nigh
/ not expect succor from this man will
: the pearls about his gross neck.
: 81 regret that his excellency thu
3 commissioner has gone to Bombay
q Besides, | do not know that you tel
the truth. STILL can offer you wha
8 pearls and emeralds you may find u
t your liking"
0 Your highness. there are thos'
/ whose coming shortly will cause yo'
Q much annoyance II you refuse to Civ
Q me proper aid. There is no possible
8 way for you to cover up my appear
l. ance here. Send me to the commits
d sioner's bungalow, where / may avail
d the coming of my friends"
o Indeed" The kumor saw here
a conflict not altogether to his liking
o He was lazy, and there was the damn
d able. unrelenting hand Of the BritisI
raj looming in the distance. II
d shrugged. "Achmet, call the captai
q of the guard and have him convey thi
d runaway queen to Allaha. Surely.
,. may not meddle with the affairs Of
friendly state" With a wave Of hi
!. fat, bejeweled hand he appeared 10 dill
, miss the matter from his mind.
Il Kathlyn was led away. The huma
n mind can stand only so many shock
4 (TO BE CONTINUEp)
"
q The Greatest Degree.
Science assures US that there 10
D definite limit to the lowest conceiV