Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-11-26

out compunction. ~ ono ofuahes .
poisonous viper.
Legally! Why, an the crimes IN
Hind are done under that word 1t
is the shibboleth OF the British raj.
Legally! Come!"
II will not stiri"
Then be carried" he replied. beck
oning his servants.
mo. mol"
"Ah! Well, then. we'll ride together
in the palanquin."
To struggle would reward her with
nothing but shame and humiliation:
SO she bent her head to the Inevitable.
Behold" cried Umballa later, as
he entered the presence OF the Coun-
Gil. behold slave of mine" He
pushed Kathlyn forward. This day
bought her for five thousand rupees"
The Council stirred nervously
do you not recognize herr" e1-
ultantly.
The Council whispered to one an
other.
Legally she is mine, though she
has been a queen. But by running
away she has forfeited her rights to
|
right?"
The Council nodded gravely. They
had not yet wholly recovered from
their bewilderment.
| "On the other hand. her identity
must remain a secret till / have de-
veloped my plans" continued Umballa.
You are all counting a terrible re-
prisal." said Kathlyn. 81 beg Of you
| to kill me at once; do not prolong my
| torture, my misery. l have harmed
none of you, but you have grievously
harmed me. One even now seeks aid
of the British raj; and there are many
soldiers"
| The threat was ill timed.
The head of the Council said to Um-
balla: 1T would be wise to lock her
up for the present. We all face great
complication"
| "A very wise council" agreed um-
balla, knowing that he had but to
| say the word to destroy them all.
"And she shall have company.
would not have her lonely. Come.
majesty; deign to follow your humble
servant" Umballa salaamed.
Kathlyn was led to a cell In the
| palace prison. whose walls she had
but little while ago viewed in pass
ing. and thrust inside. A single win
dow admitted faint light. Umballa
remained at the door. chuckling soft.
ly. Presently. her eyes becoming ac-
customed to the dark. Kathlyn dis
covered a man chained to a pillar.
The man suddenly leaned forward.
Kit. my Xiii"
Father"
She caught him to her breast In her
strong young arms, crooned to him.
and kissed his matted head. And they
stood that way for a long time.
At this very moment there appeared
before the Council a wild-eyed. dis
heveled young man. How he had
passed the palace guard none Of them
knew.
"A white woman was brought into
this room forcibly a few minutes ago.
I demand her, And by the God Of
my father l will cut out the heart OF
every one of you II you deny me! She
is white: she is of my race!"
There is no white woman here,
Bruce Sahib.'
You lie!" thundered the young
man.
Two guards came in quickly.
Il say you lie! She was seen to
enter here!"
The man is mad! Besides. 1t 10
sacrilege for him to enter our pres
ence in this manner" cried one OF the
Council. Seize him!"
QfY
guards and Bruce followed: but his
race to the city and the attendant ex-
citement had weakened him. He was
carried away, still fighting manfully.
In the meantime Umballa conclud-
ed that the reunion had lasted long
enough. He caught Kathlyn roughly
by the shoulder and pulled her away.
Behold, Colonel Sahib. Mine!
bought her this day in the slave mart.
| Legally mine, Now will you tell me
where that silver basket lies hidden.
with its gold and game?"
Father. do not tell HIM" warned
Kathlyn. so long as We do not tell
him he does not put US out OF the
way
Xiii"
Dad. poor dad"
Little fool" said Umpaila.
Kathlyn struggled to reach her ia.
ther again. but could not. Umballa
folded his arms tightly about her and
attempted to kiss her. This time her
strength was superhuman. She freed
her hands and beat him in the face.
| tore his garments. dragged of his
turban. The struggle brought them
within the radius of the colonel's
reach. The prisoner caught his en-