Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-10-29

| DullL CaSIl6 IN SCQemeS came ClatteT-
ing down! At the very moment when
he had secretly worked upon the king
to throw himself into the protecting
arms of the British raj-assassinated!
The Council? The egg of Brahma was
| strangely hatched-this curious old
world!
Ahmed remained hidden in the ba-
zaars. to await the ordeals. Nothing
should harm his mistress; he was
ready now and at all times to lay down
! his life for her; in this the British raj
came second. He had sent a courier
| to Bruce Sahibs bungalow, but the
man had returned to report that It was
still unoccupied.
And while he bit his nails in futile
wrath and smoked till his tongue grew
bitter, some miles away there was
much confusion in the jungle by the
water. Tents were being set up, ma
tive bearers and coolies were running
to and fro. building fires. carrying wa
ter. hobbling the pack elephants. Wan
dering in and out this animated scene
was young man. clean shaven, deeply
tanned. with blue eyes which were di-
rect, small pupiled, yet kindly. Pres
emily he called to one of the headmen.
All. you might send three or four
men on to the bungalow to clean up
things. We shall make 1t to morrow.
It's but two hours ride, but there's no
hurry; and besides there's a herd OF
elephants behind us somewhere.
They've come up far for this time of
year"
Yes. Oahib."
ANY news worth while?"
Ali made a gesture; it slgnified a
great many things.
Bruce Sahib will not believe"
Believe WHAT" said Bruce. empty
ing his pipe against his heel.
There is white queen in the city"
What? What bally nonsense is
this?"
1T is only what I've been told sahib.
Hare Sahib is dead"
Bruce let his pipe slip through his
fingers. Hare? Good Lord!"
Yes, sahib. But that is not all 1t
seems the king went mad after we
went to Africa. You remember how
Hare Sahib saved him from the leop-
ard? Well, he made Hare Sahib his
heir. He had that right; the law OF
the childless king has always read so
in Allaha. The white queen is Hare
Sahib's daughter"
Bruce leaned against tent pole.
Am | dreaming or are you?" he
gasped.
ut is what they tell me, sahib. l
know 1t not as a fact"
The king dead, Hare dead. and his
daughter on the throne! How did she
get here? And what the devil is a
chap to do?' Bruce stopped and re-
covered his pipe and swore softly. 'Ali, !
If this is true, then it's some devil
work; and I'll wager my shooting
eye that that sleek scoundrel Umballa.
as they call him. is at the bottom of
it. A white woman, good old Hare's
daughter. I'll look into this"
The native who had spread this as.
founding news In Bruce's camp was al
ready fastening back to the city.
some IA miles away. He had been a
bhisti (water carrier) to the house
OF Ramabai up to the young bankers
incarceration. To him. then. he car
ried the news that white hunter had
arrived outside the city-"Bruce Sahib
has returned
Ramabai lost no time In taking this
news to Kathlyn.
"Ramabai, l have saved your life;
save mine. Go at once to him and tell
him that am prisoner but am called |
a queen; tell him | am Colonel Hare's
daughter. she who Travelled with him
on the same ship from Hongkong to
Singapore. Go! Tell him all. the
death OF my father and UmhaIla's
treachery. Hasten'"
Bruce was eating his simple evening
meal when RamabaI arrived.
Bruce Sahib?"
Yes. Your face is familiar"
You have been twice TO my bank. |
! am Ramabai"
Il remember. But what are you do |
ing here?"
II have come for aid, sahib, aid for
young woman, white like yourself"
Then It is true? Go ahead and let
me have all the facts. She is Hare
Sahibs daughter; Ali told me that. |
Precious rigamarole of some sort. The
facts!"
She is also the young lady who
travelled in the same boat from Hong
kong to Singapore" Ramabai paused
to see the effect of this information.
Bruce lowered his fork slowly The
din about him dwindled away into |
nothing lie was again leaning over
the rail. watching the phosphorescence
trail away. a shoulder barely touching
his: one of the few women who had |
ever stirred him after the first glance.
In Gods name. why hadn't she said
something?
II shall enter the city as soon as
can settle my bungalow. This rather
knocks me out"
"Nn. sahih; don't wait: rnnn hacl,