Crittenden record-press., 1917-10-18
CHAPTER u.

The train pulled out. amid din OF
voices fror the left.bchlnd that nearly
drowned th' painting of the overloaded
engine. Hyde all hut stripped himself
Gnd drew on striped rajamas. King
was content To lie In shirt sleeves on
the other berth. with knees raised, so
that Hyde could not overlook the gen
erals papers. At his ease he studied
them one by one, riemorlzing u string
of names, with details as to their own
crs' nntecedents and probable present
whereabouts. There were several
photographs in NE packet. and he
studied them very carefully indeed.
But much most carefully of all he
examined Yasmlni's portrait, returning
10 II again and again. He reached the
conclusion In the end that when II was
tnken she had been cunuingly dis
guiSed.
This was Intended for purpose of
Identification at given time and
place. he told himself.
Were you muttering at me?' asked
Hyde.
"No sir. Nothing OF the sort in
tended"
Hyde turned an indignant back on
him, and King studied the back a.
he found II interesting. on the who'c
he looked sympathetic, so II was as
well that Hyde did not look around.
Balkcd ambition as rule lonthes sym
pathy.
After many irlckly.hot. intermInnble.
Joltiug hours the train drew up at
Rnwal-Pindi station. Instantly kiEg
was on his feet with his tuHIc on. and
he was out on the blazing hot platform
before the trains motion had quite
ceased.
He began to walk up and down, not
elbOwing but percolating through the
crowd. nlsslng nothing worth noticing
In all the hot kaleld, scope and seeming
to find new amusement at every turn.
II was not In the least astonishing that
a well-dressed native should address
him presently, for he looked genial
enough To be- asked 10 hold q baby.
King hiMself did not seem surprised at
all. Far from IL he looked pleased.
Excuse me. sir" said the man In
glib babu English. II am seeking Cap
tain King sahIb. for whom my brother
is yerec anxious TO be S.rvuat. Can
YOU kindlce tell mr, sir. where could
tnd Captain King sahibT"
Certainly" King answered him. Ho
looked glad TO be Of help. Are you
travelling on this train?"
The question sounded like politeness
wellinG from the lips of unsuSpcion.
"Yos, sir. nm travelling from this
place where I have spent few days.
20 Bombay. where my busl.eSs is"
'IIow d.i you know King sahib IL
On the trnlni' King nsked him. smll.
Ing So geulally that even the police
could rot have charged him with more
than curiosity.
by telegram, sir. Ny brother had
the misfortune to miss Captain King
SahiJ ut PoShawur and therefore sent
a telegram to the asking me TO 10 what
| can ut an Interview"
Il see" said King. II see" And
judging by the sparkle In his eyes as
he looked away, he could see II lot.
But tie native could 20; see his eyes
at that Instant although he tried TO.
lie looked back ut the train, giving
the nan good chance Ia study his
face In profile.
See thu, carrlagcf" he asked, point
Ing The fourth nrst.claSs carriage
from the cudi Wcll-thcrc are "a. 5
two Of us In there; TIA Major Hyde.
ana the other is captnin King. I'll tell
Captain King TO look out for you"
"Oh, thank YOU, SIR" said the native
olily. You are most kind. lam your
humble servant, sir"
Kin; nodded good.by TO him, his dark
eyes In the shadow of the khaki helEet
seeming scarcely Interested any longer.
Couldn't you nEi aaothr berthT'
Hyde asked hn nngrily when he
stepped back into the compartment.
What were You out there looking
for3"
King smiled back ut him blandly.
Il thlEk there are railway thlcvcs
on the train" he announced wlthou,
any effort ut relevancc. lie Light
not have heard the question.
Hyde snorted aud returned to Ills
scat In the silence of unSpcakabl,
scorn. But presently lie opcacd suit
case and drew out \ repeating plsto
which he cooked carefully and slowed
beneath his pillow; rot ut all Goa
tcmptiblc move. hecarse the Indlar
railway thief Is the most rcsourcefu
specialist In the world. But King tool
no overt precautions Of amy klrd.
After more in,erminnble hours nigh
shut down on them. rel.hot, blacls dark
,nssE,ericnlly subdivided into seconds
~ the lhunp Of carriage wheels ans