The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-08-12

/ .''Ao " N.'SN "het - toin6 On unc1u
OF me-.
/ "A white elephant. unused the colo.
mel. DO you know 1t for fact that
this Bala Khan has white ELEPHANT
he called across to Raniabai.
y have never seen Il. salIb. II lei
what they say.
"a pair Of mottled ears is the near,
est i ever came to seeing a white eles
phant and I've hunted them for 80
years. here. in ceylon. in Burma, In
Africa There was once a tiger near
Madras that hadn't any stripes. The
natives would not permit him to be.
killed because they held that, being
unique. he was sacred. sAlsacred white
elephant. Poor simple minded fools!n
The colonel felt in his pockets, then
dropped his hands dispiritedly.f How
long since he had tasted tobacco?
Bruce, have you got a cheroot in your
pocket? Think aSsmoke would brace
me up" NV 5i,s. = y. ~.
Bruce laughed and passed up bro.
ken. cigar, which the. colonel lighted
carefully! The WEAKNESS seemed to go
out ofshis face lmagically.y5i
This Bala Khan should be Moham.
medan.rs said Bruce. 1.-THE Pathan
desplses the Hindu @
There are Hlndus in .yondcr city,
quite as many" said Ramabal, "as
there are 5Mohammedans. Even the
Pathan respects that which he ,c:.,!not
understand isa
Isn't that the wall behind that sand
hill? Let me have the glasses mo.
ment,, colonel. -. HIM The walled
city, all right. Some people moving
about outside. Dancers, should say"
Professional" explained Ramabia.
Nothing religious, then? By
! George!"
/ Take look. There's an elephant
being led into the city gates"
The colonel peered eagerly through
the glasses. "The sun is shining on
him. I. a. No! he is /. I. white! AZ
white elephant! I'd give ten thousand
this minute to own it. There, he's en-,
tered the gate. Well, well, well! And
/ I've lived to see It! Poor old Barnum,
to have carried around a tinted paehy.
derm!. He's white as any elephant
flesh could be. Tsose dancing chaps
IRE going in. too. What caste would
those dancers be, Ramabai?"
"Pariahs. quite possibly; probably,
brigands.".
The rim Of the sun was sinking
rapidly as Bruce drew his elephant to
a halt before the gate of tho white
walled city. The guard ran out, bar.
ring the way.
Il am Ramabai, friend Of Bala
Khan: am come to. pay him visit.
Direct mo to his house or, his palace
The authority in Ramabai's voice
was sufficient for the guard. who gave
the necessary directions.l The party
continued on into town. Isl
Presently they came upon group In
the center Of which we're the dancers
at their vocation. They ceased their
mad Iwliirlings at the sight of tho two
elephants. There were nine OF these,
men, fierce Of eye and built muscular,
ly. 'effeminate THindus here, unused
Bruce who did not like the looks OF
them at all. .ti
On through the narrow streets,
sometimes the sides of the elephants
scraping against The mud and plaster
of the buildings, and one could easily
look into the second Stories, No one
seemed hostile; only "a natural curios-
ity was evinced by those standing in
doorways or leaning out of windows.
The house Of Bala Khan was not ex-
actly o palace, but 1t was of;respecta.
BILE size. A high wall surrounded the
compound. There was gateway,
open at this moment. A servant ran
out and loudly demanded what was
wanted.
Say to your master, Bala Khan,
that Ramabai. son of Maaho Singh.
his old friend, awaits with friendly
greetings"
Kit, whispered Kathlyn's father,
this chap Ramabai wouldn't make a
bad king. And look!" excitedly.
There's the sacred elephant, and IL
he isn't white I'll eat my. hat!"
The servant ran back into the COM
pound and spoke to dignified IMAM,
who proved to be ashigh caste Rrah-
min. having In his charge the care Of
the white elephant. He disappeared
and returned soon with the khan. The
pleasant face, though proudly nodded,
together with the simplicity Of his ap-
ipearance, conveyed to Kathlyn the
fact that here was man to be. trusted,
at least for the present He greeted
Ramabai cordially, struck his hands
and ordered out the servants to take
charge Of what luggage there was and
to lead away the elephants to be fed
and watered. VI
Courteously he asked Kathlyn how
she had become injured, and Ramabai
acted as interpreter. , He then ushered
them into his house, spread rugs and
cushions for them to sit upon. and
mildly inquired what had brought the
son of his old friend so far.