The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-12-04
CHAPTER xIV-contInued.

Immediately the high priest an
nounced that the successful candidate
would be conducted to the palace zena
ma and confined there till the final
ceremonies were over.
Umballa dreamed of what he had
seen.
To Ramabai was given the exalted
honor Of conducting the king and his
betrothed to their respective quarters,
Once in the private passageway to the
harem, or zenana. Ramaba threw eau
tion to the winds.
We must go a roundabout way to
the garden of brides, which will be de-
serted Outside the gate Bruce Sahib
and Ahmed and Lal Singh await with
elephants, Once we can join them we
are safe. And in months time /
shall return"
Meantime one of the leopard keep
ers rushed frantically into the throne
room, eXclaiming that the seven guar.
dian leopards were at large. Even as
he spoke one of the leopards appeared
in the musicians balcony. The panic
which followed was not to be de-
scribed A wild scramble ensued to-
ward all exits.
The fugitives entered the royal
zenana. Kathlyn proceeded at once
to the exit which led to the garden of
brides. There she waited for her fa-
ther and Ramabai, who had paused
by the door of one of the zenana cham
bers. Between them and Kathlyn lay
the plunge.
Ramabai addressed the lady Of the
zenana, telling her that if guards
should come to state that Kathlyn was
concealed in her own chamber. To
this the young woman readily agreed.
Suddenly leopard appeared behind
the colonel and Ramabai Kathlyn, |
being first to discover the presence
of the animal, cried out a warning
Fly, Kit! Save yourself / am ac-
cursed" called the colonel
Ramabai and the young woman at
the chamber door hurriedly drew the
colonel into the chamber and shut
the door. The colonel struggled, but
Ramabai held him tightly.
We are unarmed, sahib," he said,
"and the memsahib never loses her
head"
"Ramabai tell you shall die here.
1t is useless to attempt to aid me. |
am accursed accursedi Kit Kit"
The leopard stood undecided before
tho door which had closed in his face.
Then he discovered Kathlyn, fumbling
at the wicker door at the far side of
the swimming pool There was some
thing upon which to wreak his tenn
per; for all this unusucl commotion
and freedom had disturbed him great
Iy. Kathlyn opened the wicker door
closing it behind her Clear headed
as Ramabai had said, she recollected
the palanquin which had been last
10 enter the garden of brides. She
-an into the garden, flew to the palan-
luin just as she heard the leopard
rash through the flimsy wicker. door.
She reached and entered the palanquin
lot a moment too soon She huddled
lown close to the floor The leopard
rotted round and round, snarling and
milling Presently he was joined by
mother. From altar she could hear |
houting. She readily understood. /
through some carelessness the leop- [
rds of the treasury were at liberty,
nd that of her own and her father
1as in jeopardy Just without the
arden of brides was Bruce and help, lt
nd she dared not move II
Bruce, from his howdeh, heard the 81
oise in the palace female shrieks, al
ommands, a shot from a musket. Il
vhat in heavens name had happened? ii
Where was Kathlyn? Why did she al
OF appear? He fingered his revolvers.
ut Ahmed signaled to him not to sc
.ir. The knowledge of whatever had VI
appened must be brought to them; it,
4 their lives they dared not go in at
,arch of it. SO
This comes from your damnable je
'iental way Of doing things If had sh
I'd my way, Umballa would be dead ca
Id buried"
"All in good time, sahib." ey
The elephants stirred restlessly, for
T scented the cat whom they hated. sh
Within the palanquin Kathlyn dared ha
arcely to breathe; for outside seven me
opards prowled and shifted and
arled! IN,
ov,