The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1915-03-27


@Batteries?"
"One never knows what may be
needed. You have the key?"
YES"
Hare Sahib's daughter. And Hare
Sahib?"with twinkling eyes,
In some dungeon. mayhap. There
all avenues seemed closed up"
1 "Umballa needs money" said Lal
| Singh, thoughtfully. But he viii not
find it," in afterthought
Tomorrow
@At dawn"
These two men were spiders in that
great web of secret service that the
British raj weaves up and down and
across Hind. to Persia and Afghanis-
tan, to the borders Of the Bear.
Even as Lal Singh picked up hts
mouthpiece again and Ahmed sailed
forth into the bazaars Umballa had
brought to him in the armory that
company Of soldiers who had shown
such open smutiny, not against the
state, but against him.
eravely he questioned the captain.
PAY our wages. then. heaven born"
said the captain, with yelled insolence.
PAY us. for we have seen not 80 much
as betel money since the last big
rains"
Money" unused Umballa, marking
down this gallant captain for death
when the time came.
"Ai. money; bright rupees. or. better
STILL yellow British gold. Pay us!"
Let us be frank with each other"
| said Umballa. smiling to cover the IRE
in his eyes.
| THAT is what we DESIRE" replied
the captain, with knowing look at his
silent troopers.
| Il must buy you"
The captain salaamed.
/ but after have bought your" IRON
ically.
i Heaven born, our blood Is yours to
spill where and when you will"
/ From under the teak table Umballa
drew forth two heavy bags Of silver
| coin. These he emptied upon the table
dramatically; white. shining metal.
sparkling as the candle flames wav-
cred. Umballa arranged the coin In
stacks, one Of them triple In size.
Yours, captain" said Umballa. in
dicatins the large stack
II The captain pocketed It. and one BY
one his troopers passed and helped
themselves and fell back along the
nj wall in military alignment, bright eyed
and watchful.
Thanks, heaven born!"
The captain and his troopers died
OF out. Umballa fingered the empty bags,
ny his brow wrinkled. Cut on . cobra'a
70. head and It could only wriggle till
. sunset. Umballa gave the vanishing
ur- captain two weeks. Then he should
cir vanish indeed.
rm The next morning while the Coun
on ell and Umballa were In session rela
he tive as to what should be done witt
TX; Kathlyn in the event Of her refusal t
q bend, two soldiers entered, bringing
An with them q beautiful native younl
his woman, one Pundita, wife Of Ramabs
Dol, found in murder.
Umballa wiped his betelstained lip
the and salaamed mockingly. Not SO lon
ore ago he had been attentive to tht
MS young woman-after her marriage
OF She had sent him about his bushes
neo with burning ears and hot cheel
the made SO by the contact Of her stron
MS young hand. Revenge, great or small
last was always sweet to Umballa.
To the slave girl who attende
ant Pundita he said: go summon tn
hey queen. 1t is for her to decide whs
and shall be done with this woman"
new Through the veil Pundita's eye
e. sparkled with hatred.
nan When Kathlyn came In 1t was ,
bal once explained to her that the wor
10 ans husband had been taken for mu
10 der; by law his wife became Il
orse queens property, to dispose OF as 81
not willed. The veil was plucked fro
pa Punditas face. She was ordered
res salaam In submission to her quee
The Pundita salaamed, but stoutly refus'
&c to kneel They proceeded to force d
not roughly, when Kathlyn interviewed.
'alla Tell her she is Free" said Kathly
IA "Free?" came from the amaz
tiles Pundita's lips.
"You speak English" cried Kathl
inne excitedly.
rico Yes, majesty"
'neiy Kathlyn could have embraced
Oh. for the very Joy Of the knowledge.
80 u woman who could talk English, "
ne could understand, who perhaps COZ
pc. help! Yes, yes; the God Of her
r, In .hors moe good
umballa smiled. All this was
insn' actly what he had reason to exp<
p,pe Seven days Of authority; 1t wo
y nen amuse him to watch her.
eses Tell me your story" urged Ks
!, Ign kindly. BE not afraid Of tn
'ne men. / shall make you my lady
waiting ]. 80 long as an
.ne queen" with searching glance at
: - balla's face. She learned nothing II
the half smile there.
Pundita's narrative was rather /
but not uninteresting. She had lear
English from the old white priest '
had died during the last plague.
- 49, IL