The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-09-02
enc KIM. q I've been tEleada.l

= Q + y. "a
sBala Khan, we have been friends
md my father was your good friend
1t: is trde.7
"WtlI you do a favor for the son?s
Eyes, II the Colonel Sahib and his
laughter live. If they are dead, woe
to your people, son Of my friend! l
nave given my word to the memsahib.
have made threat before my men
and must fulfil It II would hold them
hereafter. If the Colonel sahib and
ais daughter live, ask what you WILL
Ramabai bowed
Il will set my camp five miles be
yond your walls and wait. When |
see the memsahib l will salaam. turn
right about face and go home Now,
10 you, Bruce Sahib: Leave not your
treasure within my walls when shall
be absent, for | cannot guarantee pro-
lection. Leave 1t where 1t Is and bring
It with you. Save myself, no one OF
my men knows what your saddlebags
contain. Let us proceed upon our
Iunket-or our war;"
Umballa reached the ancient gate OF
Alfalfa at the same time Bruce stopped
before the walls OF Bala Khan's city.
He pulled the curtains of the howdahs
and threatened death II they called out.
From time to time he gave directions
to the weary men astride the ele-
plants neck The thought OF gold was
not as tempting as it had been. There
was fear in his heart. This false holy
one was or had been the most power.
Cul man in all Alfalfa. Hero he would
be among friends. And the man who
had but recently been q peaceful fish.
erman felt intermittent hot flashes
about his throat.
Umballa had no intention whatever
of making his presence known In ALA
ha. He determined to wiring the Sc
cret from either the colonel or his
daughter, return for the treasure and
depart for Egypt down the Persian
gulf. He could have tortured his cap
tives on the way, but he was oriental;
he wanted to feel all the Injuries he
had formerly known. to enjoy himself
physically as well as mentally. He
missed the exhilaration of his kings
peg. .'''
lie made a wide detour and came
out ut the rear of his house. No one
was In sight He dismounted and en-.
tered, found three or four of his Will.
ON slaves, who, when he revealed his
identity, felt the old terror and fear
of the man. His prisoners we're brought
in. A slave took the elephants to the
stables. He wanted to run away and
declare Umbulla's presence, but fear
was too strong.
Ironically Umbalh babe the fisher
men to enter, to eat and drink what
they liked. Later he found them in
drunken stupor in the kitchen. That
was where they belonged.
Umballa cast his prisoners into the
secret chamber. Then he gave himself
up to the luxury of a bath, had his
hair and beard combed, his body
anointed with perfumes, and put on his
finest raiment. Then he drank his peg.
AS for his prisoners. he did not visit
them again that day nor yet that
night. The initial torture of suspense
was always excellent. One thing an.
noyed him, however-not a murmur
from these calm-eyed white people
who we're about to face death. He
ragged against this lack of feeling, for
it robbed him of half his pleasure. He
liked his victims to whine and cringc
and beg for mercy.
Like many rich Asiatics, Umballa
had his own menagerie. He had in.
herited it along with the demi-palace