The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-05-02

and Umballah will not catch Us with the elephants he
has at hand. By the time he starts his expedition we
snail be thirty miles away. Let us be cheerful
Kit" said her father, "I couldn'S help it. 1 can't
think quickly any more. 1 am like q man In a nightmare.
I've been down to hell, and 1 can't just yet realize that
I am out Of it. I'm sorryg'
Poor dad' Kathlyn pressed him in her arms, while
Bruce nodded enviously but approvingly.
By and by they drew aside the curtains. Kathlyn saw
here and there objects which recalled her first journey
along this highway. If only she had known!
lone thing is forecast" said Bruce. When Ramabai
returns 1t will be to fight. He will not be able to avoid
1t now. l shouldn't mind going back with him. Ahmed,
what is this strange hold Umballah has over the actions
Of the Council Of Three? They always appear to be
afraid of him."
"Ah, sahib," said Ahmed, resting his ankus or goad on
the skull Of his mount, " there is said to be another pris-
oner in the palace prison. Lal Singh knows, I believe"
Whats your idea?'
"sahib, when I put you all safe over the frontier I
am coming back to Alfalfa to find out" And that was
all Ahmed would say regarding the subject.
"Tn wager he knows" whispered Bruce.
"But who can 1t be? Another poor devil of a white
man? Yet how could a white man influence the actions
of the Council?' The Colonel spoke irrita bly,,
"Look!'-from KathIyn. There Is one of those won
derful trees they call the fame Of the jungle" She
called their attention to the tree merely to cause a diver
sion. She wanted to keep her fathers thoughts away
from Alfalfa.
So they j~ourneyed on into the sunset, into twilight
into the bright, starry night.
Back in the city the panic was already being forgotten
as a thing Of the past. The leopards were back at their
patrolling; the high officials and dignitaries, together
with the unsuccessful candidates., had gone their several
ways. Umballah alone paced the halls, well satisfied
with the events Of the day, barring the disturbances
caused by the escape Of the leopards.
His captain entered and saluted. ir; ,I,.
"Highness a mahout has news'T u
"News2 OF what?'
He claims that he saw the kings turban in a howdah
which passed the ancient gate about an hour gone"
"That is not possible" replied Umballah.
~ told him that the king was in his chamber"
$50 he is. Wait! I will go myself and see," all at
once, vaguely perturbed. He was back in a very short
time, furious. "It is truel Woe to those who permitted
him to eScapeg'
!" Highness, the escape Of the leopards and the confu.
sion which followed 49,"
B all the gods of Hind, and twas you who left the
door open! You opened It for me to pass out first. Sum-
mon the council. OFF with you, and give this handful Of
silver to the only man who has sense enough to believe
his eyes. Hare Sahib is mine, and I win follow him into
the very house of the British Raj! Guards and ele-
phantsl And the bride to be, what Of herr Look and
see. Nay, I will go with you"
Umballah found an empty chamber; the future queen
was gone. More, he found one Of the women of the
zenana-his f~avorite-bound and gagged with handkee-
chiefs. Quickly he freed her.
" Highness, the brides face was dark like my own, but
her arms were as light as clotted cream! And she spake
the tongue OF the white people,
Kathlyn Harel She lived; she had escaped the bril-
gands; she had fooled him! And Ramabai had played
with him as a cat plays with q wounded mouse. O, they
should see this timel
Suddenly he laughed. 1t echoed down the corridor,
and one Of the treasure leopards roared back at, the sin.
lister sound.
" Highnessp' timidly.
" Enough! ] hold You blameless." He rushed from
the palace.
Poor foolsi Let them believe that they had escaped.