Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-01


indeed, he was. The gharri rolled and
careened like dory in squan. A
dozen times Bruce and Kathlyn were
nung together, and quite unconscious
" she caught hold Of his lean, strong.
brown hand. 1t would not be true to
say that he was unconscious Of the
act.
Presently they entered the paved
streets of the bazaars. and the going
improved. kathlyn leaned back.
81 am Kathlyn Hare, and this is the
year
Come now, Miss kathlyn. no think
the worry and the planning. If we can
reach my elephants. all right; we'll be
in Delhi within seven days. The rest
of the going will be as simple as fall
ing off a log
That Yankee phrase did more to re-
habiiitate her than all his assurances.
From time to time Bruce stole a
glance through the curtained window.
Stragglers were fastening along close
to the walls, and there were soldiers
who had forgotten to bring their guns
from the elephant arena. Once he
heard the clatter of hoofs. A horse
man ran alongside the gharri, slowed
up. peered down and shrugged. kath-
lsn shrank toward Bruce. The rider
nized him as the ambassador from the
neighboring principally, ruled by
lsumor, who was in turn ruled by the
British Raj. Kathlyn could not shut
out the leer on his face.
By naidafternoon the gharri reached
Bruces camp Ranlabai and Pundita
greeted Kathlyn with delight. All
their troubles were over. They had
but to mount the elephants and ride
away.
Ahmed" urged kathlyn, leave the
gharri and come with u.s."
NO, Memsahib,"-Ahmed gazed at
her strangely-'I have work to do.
much work. Allah guard YOU He
struck the horse with his bamboo
stick and caTeened away.
Let us be off, cried Bruce. We
have sixty miles to put between US
and freedom. in fact. We cannot make
the railway. Ali. pack! Go to the
be questioned. Tell the truth There
is not an elephant in the royal stables
that can beat Rajah. All aboard! No
stops. -sniiling as he helped Kathlyn
into the howdah. I'VE shall be forced
to ride all night"
The elephants started forward, that
ridden by Bruce and Kathlyn in the
lead. Ramabai and Pundita following
a few yards In the rear.
Mr.. Bruce, I am sure Ahmed has
some information regarding father. I
may have lied to me- He may be
alive, alive
I'll return and find OUT once I get
YOU safe. / don't blame you for think
ing all this is nightmare God
knows it is night.narish. Do you know,
I've been thinking it over? 1t appears
to me that the king latterly took a
dislike to his protege, Umballah, and
turned this little trick to make him
unhappy. l dare say he thought your
father wise enough to remain away
Umballah hangs between wind and
water: he can go neither forward nor
backward. But poor Ramabai back
there will lose his gold for this"
"Ramabai has always been very
generally defends his benefactor when
the nighttime comes. To Umballah 1
was only means to the end. II he
declared himself king that would open
UP the volcano upon which he stands;
but as my prince consort that would
leave him fairly secure"
Only means unused Bruce, in
wardly. stealing 2 glance at her sad
yet lovely PRONE. Umballah was
man, for all his color; he was human;
and to see this girl it was only human
to want her. Your father was one of
the best friends 1 had. But, oddly
enough, l never saw photograph Of
you. He might have been afraid we
young chaps :" He paused. embar-
rassedly. IF only you had taken mo
into your confidence on board the
Yorckr'
"Ah, but did you offer me the
chance" she returned
Il never realized till now that a chap
might be too close Tipped sometimes.
Well, here we are, in flight togetherr'
That nigh, for the first tIme in many
hours kathlyn closed her eyes with a
sense of security. True it was not the
most comfortable place to sleep in, the
howdah; there were ceaseless rollings
from side to side. intermingled with
spine-racking bumps forward. as the
elephant occasionally fastened his