The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1915-06-19

ad solid steel doors which could Be
-rawn up or lowered at viii. The ami
nal dens were more like cages.
With no little curiosity she noted
singular arrangement Of the three cen
raj bars. The removal of these three
bars left an opening sufficiently wide
Tor the egress of the largest tiger or q
lion
Il am not answered" said Umballa.
A click resounded from the four
sides, and bar disappeared from each
OF the cages.
That will be all for the present"
said Umballa- Food and water you
will not require. Tomorrow morning
another bar will be removed"
And he left them.
Overhead the blue sky was growing
bluer and the shadows in the Court of
Death q deeper black.
Early the next morning the town
began to seethe in the squares. Bala
khan's army lay encamped outside the
city: Those who possessed treasures
dug pits for them in the cellars of
their houses. Within the great temple
there was futter among the robed
ones. What could they do? They
knew not where the white goddess
was. nor Umballa- They dispatched a
peace messenger to the camp. but the
messenger was sent back before he
had passed the outposts.
When Bruce, Ramabai, Pundita, and
Ahmed halted their elephants before
the temple they were greeted by the
now terrified priests who begged to be
informed what Bala Khan proposed to.
Deliver to US the memsahib."
The priests swore by all their gods
that they knew nothing of her.
He speaks the TRUTH" volunteered
Ramabai, as the chief priest fell be-
fore one of his gods. "Umballa has
doubtless entered secretly"
What would you advise? For Gods
sake. think OF something, Ramabai!
He may be torturing them!"
Let US enter the temple" said Ra-
mabai. Ahmed, bring the treasure
and leave 1t In the care Of the priests"
A few moments later Ramabai adj
dressed the assemblage. "Bala Khan
Is hostile. but only for the sake of his
friends. He lays down this law. how.
ever-obey 1t or disobey It: The Colo
mel Sahib and his daughters are to go
free, to do what they please with the
treasure. Pundita, according to the
will of the late king. shall be crowned.
Obey or disobey. warn you that
these are not my dictates, but Bala
Khan's."
Peace. peace!" The cry rose from
all directions, even from the priests
themselves.
The high priest held up his hand for
silence. I'VE obey, on one condition
that the new queen shall in no manner
interfere with her old religion nor at.
tempt to force her new religion into
the temple"
To this Pundita agreed.
"Ramabai, soldiers! To the house
of Umballa We shall find them
there!" cried Ahmed
Umballa squatted upon his cushions
on the terrace. The second bar had
been removed. The beasts were press
Ing their wet muzzles to the openings
and growing deep challenges.
Once more. and for the last time,
will you reveal the hiding place of the
treasurer"
| Not word from the prisoners. II
they told or did not tell it would have
made no difference with the man
above. He was drunk.
"The third BARI
But 1t did not stir.
THE third bar; remove IT."
The slave who had charge of the
mechanism which operated the bars
refused to act. Perhaps his refusal
saved the lives of the colonel and his
daughters. The bastinado was or.
dered for the poor, disobedient wretch.
Then he was thrown out into the
street.
/ And there Bruce found him ano
learned what was toward.
The events which followed were of
greatness raptdlty. Ramabai and Um
balla met upon the parapet in a strug-
gle which promised death or the tread
mill to the weaker. At the same time
Bruce opened the door to the Court
Of Death as the final bar dropped in
the cage. At the sight of him the
colonel and his daughters rushed to
the door. Roughly he hurled them
outside, slamming the iron door. upon
which the Infatuated tigers flung them
selves.
A week later, Kathlyn, Winnie, their
father and Bruce, accompanied by the
faithful Ahmed, reached the coast and
set sail for their beloved California.
The parting with Ramabai and Pun
dita. the real queen of Alfalfa, who at
last had come into her own, was q sad
one. Kathlyn and her friends had
come to respect the devotion and 10y.
atty Of this couple who had shared
with them 30 many trials and hard
ships.
The young newspaper man to whom
Wtpp1o Vuoo ou~o1oH ana A. !