The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1915-05-15


quin.
himself, sought the chain for which
he had come, and reluctantly stepped
out into the corridor again. He
would return soon to this door But
for that fool of white man who had
saved the king from the leopard, he
would have opened this door long
since. And as walked to the outer
door he thought briefly of the beauty
of kathlyn. She was dead, and dead
likewise was his passion for her.
Beyond the gate to the garden of
brides Ahmed and Lal Singh waited
with elephants. From here they would
make the north gate. transfer to new
elephants, and leave Alfalfa and it's
evil schemes behind. They created
no suspicion. There We're many ele-
plants about the palace this day. In
one of the howdahs sat Bruce, armed;
in the other, Pundita, trembling with
dread. So many times had silva, that
evil spawn, interviewed that Pundita
they had crossed the frontier.
They will be coming soon, sahib,"
said Ahmed
Bruce wiped the sweat from his
palms and nodded.
Now, when Umballa and his captain
of the guard departed with the be-
trothal chain they did not firmly close
the outer door, which shut off the
leopards from the main palace. The
leopards were Immediately freed and
began their proving through the cor
ridors, snarling and growing as they
scented the air through which the two
men had just passed One paused by
the door, impatiently thrusting out a
paw. The door gave.
In the throne room the mockery of
the betrothal was gone through, and
then the calm Ramabai secretly signi-
fed that the hour for escape was at
hand for everywhere now that the
ceremony was done, vigilance would
| be lax,
Immediately the high priest an
nounced that the successful candidate
would be conducted to the palace zena-
ma and confined there till the final
ceremonies were over
| Umballa dreamed of what he had
seen.
To Ramabai was given the exalted
honor of conducting the king and his
betrothed to their respective quarters
Once in the private passageway to the
harem, or zenana, Ramabai threw eau
tion to the winds.
I'VE must go a roundabout way to
the garden of brides, which will be de-
serted. Outside the gate Bruce Sahib
and Ahmed and Lal Singh await with
elephants. Once we can join them we
are safe. And in a months time
shall return
Meantime one of the leopard keep
ers rushed frantically into the throne
room. exclaiming that the seven guar
dian leopards were at large. Even as
he spoke one of the leopards appeared
in the musicians balcony. The panic
which followed was not to be de
scribed. A wild scramble ensued to
ward all exits.
The fugitives entered the roya
zenana. Kathlyn proceeded at ono,
to the exit which led to the garden o
brides. There she waited for her ia
Their and Ramabai, who had pause,
by the door of one of the zenana cham
bers. Between them and Kathlyn la.
the plunge.
Ramabai addressed the lady of tn
zenana, telling her that If guard
should come to state that Kathlyn wa
concealed in her own chamber. T
this the young woman readily agreed
Suddenly leopard appeared benin
the colonel and Ramabai. Kathlyr
being first to discover the presenc
Of the animal, cried out a warming.
Fly, Kit! Save yourself! | am a,
cursed" called the colonel
Ramabai and the young woman Z
the chamber door hurriedly drew th