The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04

burg where I've a large standing order. I'm going first
to Ceyon for elephants"
The colonel knocked the ash from his pipe.
The old boy used to do some trapping himself and
whenever he'd catch fine speciman he'd turn it over
to me- lie had hunting lodge not far from my quar-
ters. One day Ahmed came to me with message say
ing that the king my presence at the lodge
where his slaves had trapped fine leopard. Yes, my
dears slaves There is slave the capital
this day. barbarici fairy land with its good gen
and its bad diinns."
close to Kathlyn.
can't give you chupatti-"
What's that?" asked Winnie y
Something like hardtack. WE'LL he can't give you
with Ahmed the old boy-he had the complexion of
prima donna-the old boy sat his portable throne
gtering with orders. Standing beside him was a chap
called Umba1a. He had been a street rat. bit
of impudence had caught the kings fancy and he
brought up the boy, clothed, fed him. and sent him
away down to Umballa to school, When the boy
turned he talked Umballa morning noon, and night till
the soldiers began call him that, and from them it
passed to the natives all of whom disliked the up
start Hanged if l recall his -eal He
ugly and handsome at the same time suave, patient
courteous; yet somehow other the real man
below-he Tartar blood. 1 took dislike to him. first
off. It's the animal sense. You've got it, Kit. Be-
hind the king the Council of Three-three wise old
ducks wouldn't trust with old umbrella"
Winnie laughed.
While salaaning and genufecting and using
grandoquent phrases the bay leopard got loose some
how. Maybe let hira -oose; l don't know
Anyhow. he made for the king, who too thunder
struck to dodge The OF took their heels you
may lay odds that Now, had honest liking for
the king Seeing the brute make for him, l dashed
forward. You see, ceremonals you're permitted
to carry arms 1t had to be with my hands The
leopard knocked the old boy began maui him
kicked the brute in the face, swept the kings
off his head and flung it about the head of the leopard
Somehow or other got him down. Some of the fright
ened natives came up and with the help Of Ahmed we
got the brute tied up securely. When the king came
around he silently shook hands with me and smiled
peculiarly at. Umbaa, who came running up
And that's how you got those poor hands!" e.-
clamied Kathlyn, kissing the which stood ou.
white against the tan
That's how" raising the hands and putting them on
kathyns head in kind of benediction.
Is that all ?" asked Winnie, b-eathlessy.
Isn't that enough?" he retorted. Well, what is
it, Martha? Dinner? Well, if haven't cheated you
girls out of your tea.
Teal |" shifted Winnie, disdairfuly. " Do you know
dad, you're awfuy to Kit and If you'd take
the trouble you could be interesting than any book
l read"
He doesn't believe his stories would interest vain
young ladies'" said Kathlyn, gravely.
Her father eyed her sharply. OF what she
thinking? In those calm unwuvering eyes of hers he
question, and he feared in his soul she might
voice it. He could evade the questions of the vola
tile Winnie, but there getting by Kathyn with
evasions Frownng he replaced the order in the box
which he put away in a drawer. 1t was all arrapt
nonsense, anyhow nothing could possibly happen il
there did he would feel certain that he longer dwe
in real workaday world The idle whim of a sardonic
old nothing than that.
Father, is the king dead?"
Dead! What makes you ask that Kit?"
" The past tense; you said he was, not is"