Meade County news., 1915-02-04

le0parQS we're Stlll leaplnB ana SLrlk-
ing futilely: and even in her terror
she could not but admire their grace
and beauty. And. oddly, she recalled
the pet at home. Doubtless by this
time he had fallen back into his saw
age state.
When she dared risk it she gained a
securer position on the wall and sat
up, finging her legs over the side OF
it. She saw things in bit of blur
at first, her heart had been called upon
SO strenuously; but after little OBJ
-jects resumed their real shapes, and
she espied the two elephants. She
called, waving her hands.
1T is Kathlyn!" cried Bruce; for the
eyes of a lover are always keenest.
"Kit!" shouted the colonel, who
shared the howdah with Bruce. Kit
hang on for moment longer! All
med, to the WALL"
The colonel and Ramabai had left
the zenana by one Of the windows
overlooking the passage which ran
past the garden of brides. They had
had no trouble whatever in reaching
the elephants. But the subsequent
waiting for Kathlyn had keyed them
all up to the breaking point. The pity
of It was, they dared not stir, dared
not start in search of her. Had 1t been
leopards only, Bruce would have made
short work of it; but 1t would have
been rank folly to have gone In
search of the girl. II she had been
made captive, she needed their free
dom to gain her own. Besides, the
counsel of both Ahmed and Lal Singh
was for patience.
Ahmed had the greatest faith in the
world in Kathlyn's ability to take care
of herself. Think Of what she had al
ready gone through unscathedl Kath-
lyn Memsahib bore a charmed life,
and all the wild beasts Of the jungles
of Hind could not harm her. 1t was
written.
And then Bruce discovered her upon
the wall.
1t took but a moment to bring The
elephant alongside; and Kathlyn
dropped down into the howdah.
"A narrow squeak, dad" was all she
said
Let US get on our way" said the
colonel, hoarsely. And remember,
shoot to kill any man who attempts to
stop us. My Xiii" embracing Kathlyn
Perhaps the escape Of the leopards Is
the luckiest thing that could have hap
pened. 1t will keep them all busy fol
an hour or more. Since Umballa be
lleves you to be dead, he will be con
cerned about my disappearance only
And 1t will be some time ere they
learn of my escape. Forward. Ahmed
This time :"
Don't father!" interrupted Kath
lyn. Perhaps we shall escape, bu
none of US is sure. Let us merel.
hope. I'm SO tired!"
Bruce reached over and pressed he
hand reassuringly; and the colone
eyed him as from new angle.
Good" he murmured under hi
. breath Nothing better could hal
pen. He is a man, and tried one,
know. Good! If once we get clear G
this hell, l shall not stand in thei
, way But, Winnie, Winnie; what 4
I Gods name will that kitten be doin
all these terrible weeks? VIII she tr
+ to find us? The first telegraph offic
. we reach l must cable her under n
circumstances to stir from home. All
, med" he said aloud, "how far are W
from the nearest telegraph station?
'-Three days, sahib."
Shall we be obliged to stop at tn
, gate to change our mounts?"
mo, sahib; only to take supple
enough to last us"
Lose as little time as you can. Nov
drop the curtains, Bruce"
So through the streets they hur
ried, unmolested. Those who saw th
curtained howdah took 1t for granted
that some unsuccessful candidate wa
returning to her home.
It was we'll for Kathlyn that she hat
made up her mind to leap for the vine
at the moment she did. For the ele
phants had not left the first turn II
the street when keepers and soldier
came running pell-mell into the stree
with ropes and ladders, prepared TO
the recapture of the treasury leopards
which, OF course, were looked upol
as sacred.
At the ancient gate the fugitive
paused for the supplies awaiting
them. Ahmed was not known to tn
guards there; that was good fortune
In the dialect he jested with them
winked and nodded toward the cuI
tanned howdah. The guards laughed
they understood. Some disappointe,
houri was returning whence she ha,
come. Ahmed took his time; he hai
no reason to hurry. Nothing mus
pass which would arouse the susp
? cions of the guards; and haste alway
/, alarmed the oriental.
|. To the colonel, however, things ar
I peared to lag unnecessarily. He finall
5 lost patience and swept back the cul
tain despite Bruce's restraining hant
!. A native mahout, who had been loitel
a ing in town that day, recognized a
t once the royal turban which the cole