Rocky Ford enterprise., 1915-12-24

cred white elephant. Bala Khan was
for giving orders at once to set out
with his racing camels to catch and
cruelty every mothers son Of them on
the city walls. But Ramabai inter
posed.
"As came toward the compound I
was given a message. The man who
gave 1t to me was gone before could
get good look at his face. These
men who stole the sacred white ele-
phant are brave and desperate. At
the first sign of pursuit they promise
to kill the elephant"
"And by the beard of the prophet"
cried Bala Khan. his face purpling
with passion. "these men Of the desert
keep their promises. And SO do l.
promise later to nail each one of them
to the walls to die hanging to nails!"
But Just now." said Ramabai quiet
ly. the main thing is to rescue the
elephant. and have a plan"
Let me hear it."
| From what you told me last night"
went on Ramabai. those nomads or
brigands are opium fiends."
| Bala Khan nodded.
i bIuC6 odulu ucIo anu Will uhaCA-
take to carry them doctored opium.
know something about the drug. be-
lieve that we saw the thieves last eve
ming as we came through the streets.
My plan is this: We will take FIVE rae
Ing camels. go north and turn. making
the well from the west. That will not
look like pursuit"
But five camels?" Bala Khan was
curious.
Yes. In order to allay the suspi-
cions of the brigands. Kathlyn Memsa-
hib and my wife must accompany u.s."
The colonel objected. but Kathlyn
overruled his objections.
But, Kit, they will recognize US.
They will not have forgotten me- They
will know that we have como from the
town. despite the fact that to all ap-
pearances we come from the west"
| Bruce also shook his head. ut
doesn't look good. Ramabai. Why not
we three men?"
They would be suspicious at once.
They would reason. II they saw Kath.
lyn Memsahib and my wife with us
that We were harmless. Will you trust
me?"
Anywhere" said the colonel. But
they will simply make US prisoners
along with the elephant"
"Ah, but the Colonel Sahib forgets
the opium" Ramabai laid his hand
upon the colonel's arm. Let them
mako prisoners Of us. The very first
thing they will do will be to search the
saddle bags. They will find the opium.
i W. ~ will ha
as dead and we can return"
1T is a good plan." said Eala Khan.
when the conversation was fully trans
lated to him. And once the elephant
is back in the compound I'll send a
dozen men back for the rogues. All!
they will play with me; they will steal
into my town. overcome my guards.
take the apple Of my eye! Ramabai.
thou are a friend indeed. Haste and
Allah fend for thee! Umballa may ar
rive with an army. but he shall not
enter my gates"
Guided by a servant, Bruce and Ra-
mabai set of for the opium den. The
proprietor understood exactly what
they desired. There were times when
men entered his place who were in
need of a long sleep. having money
tucked away in their fantastic cum.
merbunds.
So. mounted upon five swift camels.
the party started on on a wide circle
| Whether they caught the brigands at
the well or on the way to their noun
tain homes was OF no great Importance.
| Ramabai was quite certain that the
result would be the same. The colonel
grumbled a good deal. Suppose the
rascals did not smoke: what them
They will smoke" declared Rama
bal, confidently. The old rascal of
| whom we bought the opium has enter
| tanned them more than once. They
are too poor to own pipes. Have pa
tience, Colonel Sahib. A good deal de-
pends upon the success of our adven-
ture this morning. II know anything
about Umballa. he will shortly be on
the march. Bala Khan has given his
word"
Had 1t not been for liberal use of
opium the night before, the brigands
would not have tarried SO long at the
well; but they were terribly thirsty,
bit nerve-shattered and craved for
the drug. The chief alone had fully
recovered. He cursed and raved at his
men. kicked and beat them. What,
After all these weeks OF waiting, to let
sleep stand between them and thou.
sands of rupees? Dogs! Pigs! Did
they not recollect that Bala Khan had
way Of mailing thieves outside the
walls of his city? Well. he for one
would not wait. He would mount the
sacred elephant and head toward the
caves in the hills. Let them who
would decorate the walls of Bala