Meade County news., 1915-03-04

l6dpeu BIG WAS lOSIB IOr BIG COulu uOI
hope to hold the door against the on
rush Of beasts as heavy as these lions
were.
Elsewhere in the bazaars the colo
mel. Bruce, and Ahmed we're setting
nets for the recapture of the lions,
quite confident that Kathlyn was by
this time safe in the haven of Rama
BATS house.
The girl glanced hurriedly over her
shoulder toward the dim rickety stair
case. The moment the shifting ceased
she withdrew from the door and ran
up the stairs to the first landing, to
find all these doors lockless! A crash
below announced that the lions had
heard her and had entered. There
was a second flight, and UP this flew
the girl She might fire at the beasts,
and even If she succeeded in hitting
them it would serve only to madden
them. One cannot kill lions with a
toy.
Still lockless doors! No safety.
She then espied ladder which gave
to the roof top, and up this she
climbed. They could not possibly fol-
low her up the ladder, and as she
reached the top she knew that for the
present she had nothing to fear from
the lions.
The interior of the house was Of the
fiimsiest wood, slovenly put together
Along the roof was a parapet She
left the trap one SO that she could
see all that went on below. Almost
as she looked the tawny bodies swept
UP to the foot of the ladder, and there
remained, snarling and splitting and
reaching up as far as they could.
Somewhere on the way Kathlyn knew
that these lions had tasted blood.
1t was in this street dwelt the sister
of the woman in the zenana, the wom-
an who loved Umballa.
Kathlyn leaned over the parapet,
the street was totally deserted All
the doors Of the shops were closed
and the windows shut. She must
fight it out alone. She drew a deep
breath and squared her shoulders, q
trick she had long ago learned from
her father. She had fought battles
alone ere this, SO she was not with
out confidence. Perhaps the lions.
finding their efforts futile, would de-
part. She must wait.
1t grew to noon. The sun beat down
upon her savagely. Here and there
she could see fires in the city. Pillage.
The muezzin's tower of the mosque
was like finger pointing to heaven.
She could even glimpse a patch of
white stucco which belonged to the
palace.
And she had fought her way that
morning to the steps of the palace, as
the daughter of the Goth had scaled
the steps Of the Quirinal in Rome! II
was unbelievable! She could not re-
member anything but the dead Lal
Singh and the strong arms of her IA
ther as she came out of her swoon.
And she had turned defeat into vic
tory! She drew her hand across her
eyes.
One of the lions sent up a nerve
shaking roar; but Kathlyn did not stir
Silence.
Then, round the passage she saw
palanquin, carried by slaves. She
leaned far over.
"Help!" she cried. "Help!"
The bearers paused abruptly, and
the curtain of the palanquin was
swept back. The dark sinister visage
of Umballa was revealed.
Thou" he said Then his laughter
rose up to the girl, motionless through
her terror Come down, o houri ol
Sa'adi! Come to the arms of Durga
Ram, who loves you! Wilt not? Woe
to thee!" dropping his mockery.
"Yes, Durga Ram. it is II" replied
Kathlyn, finding her voice, insensate
rage usurping the throne OF terror
"Here | am: come and take mel"
Let him face the lions!
Umballa left the palaquin, openec
the door of the house, espied the rub
bish in the hall; was in the act o
mounting the first steps when one o
the lions roared again. Drunk as n
was. filled with drunkard's courage
Umballa started back. The lions! ou
into the street he went. He turnet
to the bearers and ordered them TO mr.
the infiammables in the hall. But the!
refused, for they recognized the chail
armor Mad with rage, Umballa strucl
at them, entered the hall again. am
threw a lighted match into the rur
bish.
He left the Mortified bearers an
staggered to the house where he wa
to find shelter. He was admitted. tn
door closed and barred. From a WIZ
dow he watched the progress OF tn
fire At last! He would pass fror
Alfalfa, but not without his revenge
1t was sweet! She could not escape
the lions would bar the way till 1t wa
too late. Let her God save her II h
could!
The smoke rose quickly. 1t volleye
and poured out of the windows thic
and black. Flame tongues darte
hither and yon. Higher and highe
till at length the form on the parapt