Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-01-07

tered with the yelled candidates. Tho
colonel In vain tried to hide his In
terest and anxiety. Kathlyn was there.
somewhere. among these kow-towing
women; but there was nothing by
which he could recognize her. As the
women spread about the throne, Ra-
mabai signified to the musicians to
cease.
Silence.
Then Ramabai brought candidate
after candidate close to the colonel, SO
that he alone might see the face be-
hind the veil. At each uplifting Of the
veil the colonel shook his head. A
dark frown began to settle over Um-
ballas face. II the colonel refused the
last candidate for nuptial honors. he
should die. But as Ramabai lifted the
veil of the last woman the colonel
nodded sharply; and Kathlyn. for
brief space gazed into her fathers
| eyes. The same thought occurred to
| both: what a horrible mockery 1t all
| was, and where would it lead finally?
Take care!" whispered Kathlyn, as
she saw her fathers fingers move
| nevously with suppressed longing to
reach out and touch her.
The spectators of this little drama
which was hidden from them evtnced
their approval by a murmuring which
had something like applause in 1t. A
queen was chosen! real queen at
last had been chosen. Ramabai had
accomplished by diplomacy what yon-
der Durga Ram had failed to do by
force. But Umballa secretly smiled as
he sensed this undercurrent. Present
ly they should see.
| The colonel extended his hand and
drew kathlyn up beside him: and now
| for a moment the whole affair trem-
bled in the balance: Kathlyn felt her.
self possessed with a wild desire to
laugh.
| The chain of gold, representing the
betrothal. was now ordered brought
from the treasury.
| The populace. outside the palace.
having been acquainted with what was
taking place. burst out into cheers.
The treasure room. guarded by
leopards in charge of incorruptible
keepers, was now approached by Um-
balla and his captain of the guard.
Umballa presented his order on the
treasury. The leopards were driven
into their cages. and the magic door
swung open. The two gasped for
breath: for Umballa had never before
looked within. Everywhere gold and
gems; fabulous riches. enough to
make a man ten times a king.
"Highness," whispered the captain.
there is enough riches here to pur-
chase the whole of Hindi"
As he stared Umballa surrended to
passing dream. Presently he shook
himself. sought the chain for which
he had come. and reluctantly stepped
out into the corridor again. He
would return soon to this door. But
for that fool OF white man who had
saved the king from the leopard. he
would have opened this door long
since. And as walked to the outer
door he thought briefly of the beauty
Of Kathlyn. She was dead. and dead
likewise was his passion for her.
Beyond the gate to the garden Of
brides Ahmed and Lal Singh waited
with elephants. From here they would
make the north gate, transfer to new
elephants. and leave Allaha and its
evil schemes behind. They created
no suspicion. There were many ele.
plants about the palace this day. In
one OF the howdahs sat Bruce. armed:
in the other. Pundita, trembling with
dread So many times had silva. that
evil spawn, intervened that Pundita
would not believe all was well till
they had crossed the frontier.
They will be coming soon. sahib."
said Ahmed.
Bruce wiped the sweat from his
palms and nodded.
Now. when Umballa and his captain
OF the guard departed with the be-
trothal chain they did not firmly close
the outer door. which shut on the
leopards from the main palace. The
leopards we're Immediately freed and
began their prowling through the cor
ridors, snarling and growing as they
scented the air through which the two
men had Just passed. One paused by
the door. impatiently thrusting out a
paw. The door gave.
In the throne room the mockery OF
the betrothal was gone through, and
then the calm Ramabai secretly signi-
fed that the hour for escape was at
hand; for everywhere now that the
ceremony was done. vigilance would
be lax.
Cro BE CoNTINUED.)