Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-03-03
Ramabai wa. sors 3,

twenty years. Ramabai was sors At
heart
They had to wait two days tin
his mind cleared again. His first
question upon his return to his
mental balance was directed to
Kathlyn. Where was the document
he had given to his friend Hare?
Kathlyn explained that Umballa had
taken it from her.
But, your majesty" exclaimed the
colonel rather impatiently. what diff
ference does 1t make? Your return
has nullified that document
mot in case Of my death. And IN
Allaha the elder document is always
the legal document. unless 1t is legally
destroyed. It is not well to antago-
nize the priests. who hold us firmly to
this law. l might make will in IA
vor of Pundita. but 1t would not legal
ly hold in Justice II all previous wills
were not legally destroyed. You must
find this document"
"Did you ever hear of law to equal
that?" asked Bruce of the colonel.
mo, my boy, never did. It would
mean a good deal Of red tape for
man who changed his mind frequently.
He could not fool his relations; they
would know. The laws of the dark
peoples have always amazed me. be-
cause If you dig deep enough into
them you are likely to find common
sense at the bottom. We must search
Umballa's house = oroughly. ! wish
to see Ramabai and Pundita in the
shadow of their rights. Can't destroy
a document off-hand and make a new
one without legally destroying the
first Well, let us be getting back to
the bungalow. Well talk 1t over
there"
At the bungalow everything was
systematically being prepared for the
homeward journey. The laughter and
chatter of the two girls was music to
their fathers ears. And sometimes he
intercepted secret glances between
Bruce and Kathlyn. Youth. youth:
youth and love! Well. SO it was. He
himself had been q youth. had loved
and been loved. But he grew very
lonely at the thought Of Kathlyn
eventually going into another home;
and some young chap would soon come
and claim Winnie, and he would have
no one but Ahmed. II only he had had
boy, to bring his bride to his fathers
roof!
Pictures were taken down from the
walls, the various wild animal heads.
and were packed away in strong boxes.
And Ahmed went thither and yon.
hundred cares upon his shoulders. He
~, han tIao n ah time
to mourn Lal Singh.
Bruce's camp was, Of course. in ut
ter ruin. Not even the cooking uten-
sils remained; and of his men there
was left but Ali. whose leg still caused
him to limp a little. So Bruce was
commanded by no less person than
Kathlyn to be her fathers guest TIL
they departed for America. Daily
Winnie rode Rajah. He was such
funny old pachyderm, kind of clown
among his brethren, but as gentle as
kitten. Running away had not paid.
He was like the country boy who had
gone to the big city: he never more
could be satisfied with the farm.
The baboon hung about the colonefs
heels as n dog might have done; while
Kathlyn had found tiger cub for q
plaything. So for awhile peace reigned
at the camp.
They found the much-sought docu
ment in the secret chamber In Um
balla's house Dust as he intended they
should: and the king had it legally
destroyed and wrote a new will. where
in Pundita should have back thai
which the kings ancestors had taker
from hers-a throne.
After that there was nothing fol
Colonel Hare to do but proceed to shiI
his animals to the railroad. thence tt
the ports where he could dispose o.
them. Never should he enter this par
of India again. Life was too short.
High and low they hunted Umballa
but without seccess. He was hiddeI
well. They were. however. assured
that he fingered in the city and wa,
sipisterly alive.
Day after day the king grew stronge
mentally and physically. Many OF thu
reforms suggested by Ramabai wer'
put into force. Quiet at length reall!
settled down upon the city. They be
gan to believe that umballa had fie'
the city. and vigilance corresponding
ly relaxed.
The king had private chamber
the window OF which overlooked th
garden of brides. There, with his sher
bets and water pipe he resumed hi
old habit of inditing verse in pur'
Persian. for he, was n scholar. HI
never entered the zenana or harem
but occasionally he sent for some O
the women to play and dance befor
him. And the woman who loved I'm
balla was among these. One day sh