Meade County news., 1915-02-04

mare. I've been down to hell, and
can't Just yet realize that am out OF
it. I'm sorry!"
Poor dad!" Kathlyn pressed him
in her arms, while Bruce nodded en-
viously but approvingly.
BY and by they drew aside the cur
tains Kathlyn saw here and there OBJ
jects which recalled her first journey
along this highway. If only she had
known!
"One 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 Umballa 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
prisoner in the palace prison. Lal
Singh knows, believe"
whats your idea?"
"Sahib, when put you all safe over
the frontier l am coming back to Al
laha to find out" And that was all
Ahmed would say regarding the sub
ject. .
"Ill wager he knows" whispered
Bruce.
But who can 1t be-? Another poor
devil of a white man? Yet how could
white man influence the actions OF
the Council" The colonel spoke ir-
ritably
"Look!"-from Kathlyn. There is
one of those wonderful trees they call
the fame of the Jungle" She called
their attention to the tree merely to
cause a diversion. She wanted to keep
her fathers thoughts away from
Alfalfa.
So they journeyed on into the sun
set, into twilight, into the bright, starry
night.
Back in the city the panic was al
ready being forgotten as a thing of
the past The leopards we're back at
their patroling; the high officials and
dignitaries, together with the unsuc-
cessful candidates, had gone their sew
eral ways. Umballa alone paced the
halls, we'll satisfied with the events OF
the day, barring the disturbance
caused by the escape Of the leopards.
His captain entered and caluted.
"Highness, mahout has news"
News? 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 Um-
balla.
81 told him that the king was in his
chamber"
80 he is. Wait! will go myself
and see," all at once vaguely per-
turbed. He was back In a very short
time, furious. 1T is truel Woe to
those who permitted him to ESCAPED"
"Iiighness, the escape Of the leop-
ards and the confusion which followed.
.
"By all the gods Of Hind, and twas
you who left the door open! You
opened 1t for me to pass out first.
Summon the Council. on with you.
and give this handful Of silver to the
only man who has sense enough to be-
lieve his eyes. Hare Sahib is mine,
and will follow him into the very
house of the British raj Guards and
elephants! And the bride to be, what
OF her? Look and see. Nay, will go
with you"
Umballa found an empty chamber;
the future queen was gone. More, he
found one of the women Of the zenana
his fayorite-bound and gagged
with handkerchiefs. Quickly he freed
her
"Highness, the brides face was dark
like my own, but her arms we're as
light as clotted cream! And she spake
the tongue of the white people."N
Kathlyn Hare! She lived; she had
escaped the brigands; she had fooled
him! And Ramabai had played with
him as a cat plays with wounded
mouse. o, they should see this time!
Suddenly he laughed. 1t echoed
down the corridor, and one Of the