Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1915-03-18
wenty years. Ramabai was sore at

neart.
They had to wait two days till
his mind cleared again. His first
question upon his return to his
mental balance was directed to
Kathlyn. Where was the document
he had given to his friend Hare?
Kathlyn explained that Umballa had
taken 1t from her.
But, your majesty" exclaimed the
colonel rather impatiently, what diff
ference does 1t make? Your return
has nullified that document"
Not in case of my death And in
Alfalfa the elder document is always
the legal document, unless 1t is legally
! destroyed. 1t Is not well to antago-
nize the priests, who hold US firmly to
this law. might make a will in ia
vor of Pundita, but it would not legal
ly hold in justice IL all previous wills
were not legally destroyed. You must
find this document"
did you ever hear of law to equal
that?" asked Bruce of the colonel.
mo, my boy, never did. 1t would
mean a good deal Of red tape for a
man who changed his mind frequently.
He could not fool his relations; they
would know. The laws of the dark
peoples have always amazed me, be-
cause II you dig deep enough into
them you are likely to find common
sense at the bottom. We must search
Umballa's house = oroughly. / wish
to see Ramabai and Pundita in the
shadow Of their rights. Can't destroy
document offhand and make new
one without legally destroying the
first. Well, let us be getting back to
the bungalow. Well talk it over
there"
At the bungalow everything was
Systematically being prepared for the
homeward journey. The laughter and
chatter of the two girls was music to
their fathers ears. And sometimes he
intercepted secret glances between
Bruce and Kathlyn. Youth, youth;
youth and love! Well, so it was. He
himself had been youth, had loved
and been loved. But he grew very
lonely at the thought of Kathlyn
eventually going into another home;
and some young chap would soon come
and claim Winnie, and he would have
no one but Ahmed. If only he had had
boy, to bring his bride to his fathers
roof!
Pictures were taken down from the
walls, the various wild animal heads,
and were packed away in strong boxes.
And Ahmed went thither and yon,
hundred cares upon his shoulders. He
was busy because then he had no time
to mourn Lal Singh.
Bruces camp was, OF course, in ut
ter ruin. Not even the cooking uten-
sils remained; and of his men there
was left but Ali, whose leg still caused
him to limp little. So Bruce was
commanded by no less person than
kathlyn to be her fathers guest till
they departed for America. Daily
Winnie rode Rajah. He was such a
funny old pachyderm. kind Of clown
among his brethren. but as gentle as
kitten. Running away had not paid.
He was like the country boy who had
gone to the big city; he never more
could be satisfied with the farm.
The baboon hung about the coloneIs
heels as dog might have done; while
Kathlyn had found tiger cub for a
So for awhile peace reigned
at the camp.
They found the much-sought docu-
ment In the secret chamber in Um-
balla's house (just as he intended they
shouldD; and the king had 1t legally
destroyed and wrote new will, where
in Pundita should have back that
which the kings ancestors had taken
from hers-a throne.
After that there was nothing for
Colonel Hare to do but proceed to ship |
his animals to the railroad, thence to
the ports where he could dispose of
them. Never should he enter this part |
of India again. Life was too short.
High and low they hunted Umballa,
but without seccess He was hidden |
well. They were, however, assured
that he fingered in the city and was
sinisterly alive.
Day after day the king grew stronger
mentally and physically. Many of the
reforms suggested by Ramabai we're
put into force. Quiet at length really
settled down upon the city. They be-
gan to believe that Umballa had fed |
the city, and vigilance corresponding.
ly relaxed.
The king had a private chamber,
the window Of which overlooked the
garden of brides. There, with his sher-
bets and water pipe he resumed his
old habit of inditing verse in pure
Persian, for he was scholar He
never entered the zenana or harem;
but occasionally he sent for some of
the women to play and dance before
him. And the woman who loved Um-
balla was among these. One day she
asked to take journey into the ba-
zaars to visit her sister. Ordinarily |
such request would have been de-
MED. But the king no longer cared |