Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-01-14

covered her Dreatn. BELOW the
leopards were still leaping and strik-
ing futilely: and even in her terror
she could not but admire their grace
and beauty. And, oddly. she recalled
the pet at home. Doubtless by this
time he had fallen back into his saw.
age state.
When she dared risk 1t che gained a
| securer position on the wall and sat
| up, finging her legs over the side OF
1t. She saw things in bit of blur
at first, her heart had been called upon
SO strenuously; but after a little OBJ
jects resumed their real shapes, and
she espied the two elephants. She
called, waving her hands.
, TT is Kathlyn!" cried Bruce; for the
eyes Of lover are always keenest.
"Kit!" shouted the colonel. who
, shared the howdah with Bruce. kit.
hang on for moment longer! All
med. to the WALL"
The colonel and Ramabai had left
the zenana by one Of tho windows
| overlooking the passage which ran
past the garden of brides. They had
had no trouble whatever in reaching
the elephants. But the subsequent
waiting for Kathlyn had keyed them
all up to the breaking point. The pity
of It was. they dared not stir, dared
not start In search Of her. Had 1t been
leopards only. Bruce would have made
short work OF 1t: but 1t would have
been rank folly to have gone in
search of the girl II she had been
made captive, she needed their free
dom to gain her own. Besides. the
counsel of both Ahmed and Lal Singh
was for patience.
Ahmed had the greatest faith in the
world in Kathlyn's ability to take care
OF herself Think of what she had al
ready gone through unscathed! kath-
lyn Memsahib bore charmed life.
and all the wild beasts Of the 1ungles
of Hind could not harm her. 1t was
written.
And then Bruce discovered her upon
the wall.
1t took but a moment to bring the
elephant alongside; and Kathlyn
dropped down into the howdah.
"A narrow squeak. dad" was all she
said.
Let us get on our way" said the
colonel. hoarsely. And remember.
shoot to kill any man who attempts to
stop us. My XIII" embracing Kathlyn.
Perhaps the escape Of the leopards is
the luckiest thing that could have hap
pened. 1t will keep them all busy for
an hour or more. Since Umballa be-
lieyes you to be dead, he will be con-
cerned about my disappearance only.
And it will be some time ere they
learn of my escape. Forward. Ahmed!
This time
Don't father!" interrupted Kath-
lyn. Perhaps We shall escape. but
none of US is sure. Let us merely
hope. I'm SO ured!"
Bruce reached over and pressed her
hand reassuringly: and the colonel
eyed him as from new angle.
Good" he murmured under his
breath. Nothing better could hap
pen. He is a man. and a tried one. !
know. Good! II once we get clear of
this hell. shall not stand in their
way. But. Winnie. Winnie; what in
Gods name will that kitten be doing
all these terrible weeks? VIII she try
to find US? The first telegraph office
we reach I must cable her under no
circumstances to stir from home. All
med" he said aloud. how far are we
from the nearest telegraph stauon7"
Three days, sahib.'
Shall we be obliged to stop at the
gate to change our mounts?"
mo, sahib: only to take supplies
enough to last US.
Lose as little time rs you can. Now
drop the curtains. Bruce"
So through the streets they hur-
rIed unmolested. Those who saw the
curtained howdah took 1t for granted
that some unsuccessful candidate was
returning to her home.
1t was well for Kathlyn that she had
made up her mind to leap for the vines
at the moment she did. For the ele-
plants had not left the first turn in
the street when keepers and soldiers
came running pell-mell into the street
with ropes and ladders. prepared for
the recapture OF the treasury leopards.
which. of course. were looked upon
as sacred.
At the ancient gate the fugitives
paused for the supplies awaiting
them. Ahmed was not known to the
guards there: that was good fortune.
In the dialect he jested with them,
winked and nodded toward the cur
tanned howdah. The guards laughed;
they understood. Some disappointed
houri was returning whence she had
come. Ahmed took his time; he had
no reason to hurry. Nothing must
pass which would arouse the suspi-
cions of the guards: and haste always
alarmed the oriental.
To the colonel. however. things ap-
1ns nriI 10