The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1915-03-20

NOllOn trust Win an OLD um-
hrella'
! Winnie laughed.
while we were salaaming and
genu6ecting and using grandiloquent
phrases the bally leopard got loose.
somehow. Maybe some one let him
loose; | don't know. Anyhow. he
made for the king. who was too thun-
derstruck to dodge. The rest of 'em
took to their heels, you may lay odds
on that. Now, | had an honest liking
for the king. Seeing the brute make
for him, | dashed forward. You see,
at ceremonials you're not permitted
to carry arms. II had to be with my |
hands. The leopard knocked the old |
boy fat and began to maui him.
kicked the brute in the face, swept |
the kings turban of his head and |
flung it about the head of the leopard. |
Somehow or other / got him down.
Some Of the frightened 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 Umballa, who now came running
up"
And that's how you got those poor
hands," exclaimed Kathlyn, kissing
the scars which stood out white
against the tan.
That's how" raising the hands and
putting them on Kathlyn's head in a
kind of benediction.
rs that all?" asked Winnie, breath
lessly
Isn't that enough?" he retorted.
well, what is it, Martha? Dinner?
Well, if l haven't cheated you girls
out of your tea"
Teal" shifted Winnie disdainfully.
do you know, dad, you're awfully
mean to Kit and me. II you'd take the
trouble you could be more interesting
than any book | ever read"
"He doesn't believe his stories would
interest vain young ladies' said Kath
Ign, gravely.
Her father eyed her sharply or
what was she thinking? In those calm
unwavering eyes Of hers he saw a
question, and he feared in his soul
she might voice it, He could evace
the questions of the volatile Winnie
but there was no getting by kathlyn
with evasions. Frowning, he replaced
the order in the box, which he put
away in a drawer. 1t was all arrant
nonsense, anyhow; nothing could pos
sibly happen; if there did, he would
feel certain that he no longer dwell
in a real workaday world. The idle
within Of a sardonic old man; nothin,
more than that.
Father, is the king dead?'
Dead! What makes you ask that
Kit?"
THE past tense; you said he was
not is
N Yes, he's dead and the news cam
!. this morning. Hence, the yarn"
Twill there be any danger in RI
turning?"
MY girl, whenever | pack my lug
gage there is danger. A cartridge ma
stick; man may stumble; ma
you rely on may fail you. AS for tina
there's always danger. It's the penalt
of being alive"
On the way to the dining room Katl
Ign thought deeply. Why had her T;
Their asked them if they loved him
Why did he speak of the Big Trek
There was something more than thi
glittering medal, something more tina
= this simple tale of bravery. What
Well, If he declined to take her I'M
his confidence he must have GOO
reason.
After dinner that night the colon
went the rounds, as was his hab
nightly. By and by he returned to IL
bungalow, but did not enter. He file
his Guilty and walked to and fro in II
moonlight, with his head bent and
n hands clasped behind his back. The
Il was a restlessness in his stride n
= unlike that of the captive beasts
the cages nearby. Occasionally
paused at the clink clink of the e.
plant irons or at the "wuff" as the u
easy pachyderm poured dust on
IN head.
Bah! 1t was madness. A parchme
In Hindustani, given jestingly or iron
. ally by humorous old chap in orde
and white linen and rhinoceros So
: dals. I. A throne Pshaw!
N was bally nonsense. AS if VIII
NJ man could rule over brown one
the choice of the latter! And yet, tt
III man Umballa's face, when he
III shown the. king the portraits of
III two lovely daughters! He would sc
III Ahmed. Ahmed knew the busint
III as well as he did. He would send
abdication to the council, giving tn
the right to choose his successor.
- himself would remain home with
III girls. Then he gazed up at the me
and smiled grimly.
Iii "Hukum hail" he murmured in +
III dustani. 1T Is the orders. I've sim
III got to go. When l recall those rub
ii and emeralds and pearls.
- Well, it's not cupidity for myself.
n for the girls. Besides, there's the C
III the adventure. I've simply go to
III can't escape it. l must be always
Ill the go since she died."
fow dave later 40 ctoOd ap