The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1915-04-17

old man spat.
"Memsahib," the Mohammedan
called out in English. do not look
toward me. or all viii be lost l am
Ali. Bruce Sahib's chief mahout; and
We have believed you dead. Take
care, | go to inform Ahmed. Bruce
Sahib has not returned
Kathlyn, when she heard that voice,
shut her eyes.
Umballa had drawn closer. There
was something about this half yelled
slave that stirred his recollection.
Where had he seen that graceful
poise? The clearness of the skin,
though dark: the roundness of the
throat and arms. n.
Three thousand rupeesl"
The old mahout purred and
smoothed his palms together. Three
thousand rupees, a rajah's ransom!
He would own his elephant; his wife
should ride in gilded palanquin, and
his children should wear shoes. Three
thousand rupeesl He folded his arms
and walked gently to and fro.
Five thousand rupees!" said UNI
balla, impelled by he knew not what
to make this bid.
A ripple of surprise ran over the
crowd. The regent, the powerful Dur
ga Ram, was bidding in person for his
zenana.
Kathlyn's nerves tingled with life
again, and the sudden bounding of
her heart stifled her Umballa! She
was surely lost Sooner or later he
would recognize her.
The mahout stood up. delighted. He
was indeed fortunate, He salaamed.
"Huzoor, she is gentle" he said.
The high-caste who had bid 5000
rupees salaamed also.
"Highness, she is yours" he said
Il cannot bid against my regent"
1t was the custom to mark pur.
chased slave with the caste of her
purchaser. Umballah, still not recog
nizing her, waved her aside toward
the Brahmin caste markers, one oil
whom daubed her forehead with vel
low triangle. Her blue eyes pierced
the curious brown ones.
''The sahib at the river" she wills
pered in broken Hindustani MANY
rupees. Bring him to the house o
Durga Ram" This in case Ali failed
The Brahmin's eyes twinkled He
Hindustani was execrable, but 'sahib
and river" were plain to his under
standing. There was but one sahil
by the river, and he was the whit
hunter who had rescued the vanished
queen from the ordeals. He nodde,
almost imperceptibly Inwardly h
smiled. He was not above giving tn
naughty upstart Thugee's twist. H
spoke to his neighbor quietly, as
signed to him his bowls and brushes
rose and made off.
Follow me-" said Umballa to tn
happy mahout. Presently he woul
have his bags of silver, bright an
twinkling.
Fate overlook Ali, who in his ma
race TO Hare's camp fell and badl
sprained his ankle. Moaning, les
from the pain than from the atten,
ant helplessness, he was carried int
the hut of a kindly ryot and ther
ministered TO-
The Brahmin however, filled wit
greed and sly humor, reached hi
destination in safety. Naturally cur
ming, double tongued, sly, ingratia
ing, after the manner of all Brahmin!
who will sink to any base level in o.
der to attain their equivocal ends hi
actions were unhampered by any sens
OF treachery toward Umballa. !
Thugees twist to the schemes of th
street rat Umballa, who wore tn
Brahmin string, to which he had n
, right! The Brahmin chuckled as h
, paused at the edge Of Bruce's CAM
, A fat purse lay yonder. He al
preached, his outward demeanor
mixture of pride and humility.
} Bruce had returned but half an hou
{ before, mind weary, bone tired. II
, sat with his head in his hands, his e
, bows propped upon his knees. Hi
! young heart was heavy. He ha
! searched the bewildering jungle a
! one might search a plot of grass b.
! fore ones door, blade by blade. A hun
dred times he had found traces of her
, hundred times he had called out he
t name, only to be Knocked and gibbere