The Carlisle independent., 1915-06-17
CHAPTER xIx-continued.
-13-

discuss Mrs. Brood, Joe-or you, Dan"
 T was just going to say, Jim, that if I was you I'd thank the Lord that she's going to do it." substituted Mr. Riggs, somewhat hastily. She's wonder ful nurse She told me bit ago that she was going to save his life in spite of the doctor"
 What does Doctor Holder say?" de- manded Brood. pausing in his restless pacing of the floor.
 He says the poor boy is as good as dead" said Mir Riggs.
 "Ain't got chance in a million" said MT. Dawes.
 They were surprised to see Brood vince. He hadn't been so thin-skinned in the olden days. His nerve was go- ing back on him, that's what it was, poor Jim! Twenty years ago he would have stiffened his back and taken it like man. It did not occur to them that they might have broken the news to him with tact and consideration.
 But you can depend on us, Jim, to pull him through" said MT Riggs quickly. Remember how we saved you back there in Calcutta when all the fool doctors said you hadn't a chance? Well. sir. we'll still"
 .lf any feller can get well with a bullet through his" began MT. Dawes encouragingly, but stopped abruptly when he saw Brood put his hands over his eyes and sink deiectedly into a chair, deep groan on his lips.
 T guess we'd better go." whispered MT. Riggs, after a moment of inde- cision and then, inspired by a certain fear for his friend, struck the gong re- soundingly. Silently they made their way out of the room, encountering Ranjab just outside the door.
 You must stick to it, Ranjab." said MT. Riggs sternly.
 With your dying breath added NIT. Dawes, and the Hindu, understanding, gravely nodded his head.
 .Well?" said Brood. long afterward, raising his haggard face to meet the gaze of the motionless brown man who had been standing in his presence for many minutes
 Miss Lydia ask permission of sahib to be near him until the end" said the Hindu. She will not go away. I have heard the words she say to the sa- hibah. and the sahibah as silent as the tomb She say no word for herself Just sit and look at the floor and never move. Then she accuse the sahibah of being the cause of the young masters death. and the sahibah only nod her head to that, and go out of the room. and up to the place where the young master is, and they cannot keep her from going in. She just look at the woman in the white cap and the wom- an step aside. The sahibah is now with the young master and the doctors. She is not of this world, sahib but of another.'
 And Miss Desmond? Where is she ?"
 She wait in the hall outside his door. Ranjab have speech with her She does not believe Ranjab. She look into his eye and his eye is not honest -she see it all. She say the young master shoot himself and"
 T shall tell her the truth. Ranjab." said Brood stolidly. "She must know she and her mother Tonight I shall see them, but not now Suicide! Poor. poor Lydial"
 Miss Lydia say she blame herself for everything. She is a coward, she say, and Ranjab he understand. She came yesterday and went away. Ran 1ab tell her the sahib no can see her"
 Yesterday: I know. She came to plead with me. I know" groaned Brood. bitterly.
 She will not speak her thoughts to the world. sahib," asserted Raniab. Thy servant have spoken his words and she will not deny him. It is for the young masters sake. But she say she know he shoot himself because he no can bear the disgrace"
 Enough, Ranjab." interrupted the master. Tonight I shall tell her every thing. Go now and fetch me the latest word"
 The Hindu remained motionless just inside the door. His eyes were closed.
 "Ranjab talk to the winds. sah;b. The winds speak to him. The young master is alive. The great doctor he search for the bullet. It is bad But the sahibah stand between him and death. She hold back death. She laugh at death. She say it no can be. Ranjab know her now Here in this room he see the two woman in her, and he no more will be blind. She stand there before Ranjab, who would kill, and out of the air came a new spirit to shield her. Her eyes are the eyes of another who does not live in the flesh, and Ranjab bends the knee. He see the inside It Is not black It is full of light-a great big light, sahib. Thy servant would kill his masters wffe-but, Allah defend. He cannot kill the wife who is already dead. His masters wives stand before him-two not one-and his hand is stop"
 Brood was regarding him through wide-open, incredulous eyes. You you saw it too?" he gasped
 "Tne serpent is deadly Many time Ranjab have take the poison from it's h;c .to