Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-12-10

med. have thousand friends in
yonder city. ready at my call. Only.
this is not the time. Still. ! can call
to them. and by tomorrow there will
not be a stone Of the palace upon an
other. Be not alarmed. Pundita will
return. but mayhap alone"
So they waited.
Now. Pundita, being a woman, was
wise In the matter of lure. She en-
tered the city unquestoned. She
came to the palace steps Just as Um-
balla was issuing forth. She shiv-
cred a little-she could not help It:
the man looked SO gloomy and for
boding. The scowl warned her to
walk with extreme care.
He stopped when he saw her and
was surprised into according her the
salute one gave to q yoman of quality.
"Ah!"
"Durga RAM" she began. Il am
seeking you" Her voice trembled ever
SO little.
Indeed! And why do you seek mo,
who am your enemy. and who always
will be?"
not where she Wills"
Umballa seemed to ponder over
this truth.
And why have you sought me7"
"A woman's reasons. My husband
and the memsahib-"
you know then. where she is?"
quickly.
Aye. Durga Ram: alone know
where she Is hiding"
He sent shrewd glance into her
eyes. Had she wavered. Ill would have
befallen her.
Tell me-"
"Follow."
He laughed. Nearby stood two Of
the palace guards. "All women are
liars. Why should trust you?"
THAT is true. Why should you
trust me?" She turned and with
bowed head started to walk away.
Watt" he called to her. at the
same time motioning to the guards to
follow at distance.
IF lead you TO the memsahib 1t
must be alone"
You say that you alone know where
she is?"
Il meant that I alone will lead you
to her. And you must decide quickly.
Durga Ram, for even now they are
preparing for flight. and this time they
will go far"
Lead on"
Send the guards back to the
palace"
Umballa made a sign with his
hand. but another with his eyes. The
guards fell back to the palace steps
understanding perfectly that they and
others were to follow unseen. Only
once during the journey did he speak
.Pundita, remember. II you have lied
you Will be punished"
"Durga Ram. l have not lied.
have promised to lead you to her. and
lead you to her I shall"
"Durga RAM" he unused. She did
not give him his title OF prince: In
deed, she never had. She was really
the rightful heir to this crown: but
her forbears had legally foresworn
All! the Colonel Sahib's camp. Good
! He knew now that in Kathlyn's es
cape he had the man Ahmed to reckon
with. Presently.
"She is there. Durga Ram
And what more?" ironically.
His coolness caused her some un'
easiness. Had he. by means unknown
to her. signed to the guards to follow
Umballa entered the living room
OF the bungalow. 1t was apparently
deserted He cast quick glance
about. The curtains trembled sus
piciousiy. and even as he noted it.
Bruce, Ramabai and Ahmed sprang
forth, carrying ropes. Umballa made
| a dash for the door. but they were too
quick for him.
Struggling he was seized and bound /:
but all the while he was laughing In.
wardly. Did they dream of trapping
him in this childish fashion? BY now
20 or 80 of his paid men were draw.
ing a Gordon about the camp. All OF
them should pay the full penalty for
this act. What mattered a few ropes ?
He was rather puzzled as to the rea.
son Of their leaving his right arm free.
Next. the curtains were thrown back
and Kathlyn stood revealed. Near her
leopard strained impatiently on the
leash. Umballa eyed her wonderingly.
She was like the woman who had ar
rived weeks ago. And yet to him she
seemed less beautiful than when he
paid five thousand rupees for her in
the slave mart He waited.
"Umballa, write an order for my
fathers release"
And II I refuse?" Umballa wanted
to gain time.
You shall be liberated at the same
time as this leopard. You have had
experience with leopards. Do you not
recall the one my father killed. saving
the life of your benefactor?"