Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-11-16

ing the cobra's hNte-song that Is pre-
lude to the pOisOn-death.
They struck ut the woman, one after
the other and she leaped out Of their
range, swift and as supple as they.
Instantly then she joined in the dance,
with the snakes striking right and
left at her. Left and right she swayed
to avoid them. far more gracefully
than n matadOr avoids the bull and
counting a deadlier peril than he-poi-
sonous. two to his one. AS she danced
she whirled both arms above her head
and cried as the werewolves are said
to do ON stormy nights.
"Do you do this Often?" wondered
King. in calm aside to Rewa Gunga,
turning half toward him and taking his
eyes off the dance without any very
great effort. .rs..
Rewa Gunga clapped his hands and
the dance ceased. The woman spirited
her snakes away. The blind was
drawn upward and in moment all
was normal again with the punkah
swinging slowly overhead, except that
the seductive smell remained, that was
like the early-morning breath of all
the different flowers Of India.
"If she were here" said the Hangar,
a little grimly-with trace Of disap-
p0intment in his tone---"yOu would not
snatch your eyes away like that Per-
haps you shall see her dance some day!
Adhere Is Tsmail," he added in an
altered tone Of voice. He seemed re-
lieved at sight of the Afridi.
Bursting through the glass-bead cur.
tains ut the door. the great savage
strobe down the room, holding Gnt
Telegram. With murmur of clnven-
tionsl apology King tore the envelope
and In second his eyes were ablaze
| with something more than wonder. A
mystery. added to mystery, stirred
all the zeal in him. But in second he
! had sweated his excitement down. ~o-
"Read that, will you?' he said, pass
Ing 1t to Rewn Gunga. II was not In
cypher, but in plain everyday Eng
lish,
She has not gone North. She is still
In Debit. Suit your own movements to
your plans.
"Can You expIainT' asked King in
level voice. He wns watching the
Hangar narrowly, yet he could not
detect the slightest symptom Of emo
ton.
"Explain?' said the Hangar. "Who
can explain foolishneSs? 1t means
that another fat general has made an
other fat mistake"
"Ahw said King. "YOu are positive
she has started for the North?'
4Sahib. when she speaks it is>best to
believe! She told me she will GO.
Therefore | an ready to lead King
sahib up the Khyber TO herr"
"There's train leaves for the
North tonight" said King.
The Ranger nodded.
"You'll want pass up the line.
How many servants? Three-fOur--
how manyY
"One," said the Hangar, and King
was instantly suspicious Of the mod
esty of that allowance; however he
wrote ont pass for Rewa Gunga and
one servantAnd gave 1t to him.
"Be there on time and see about
your own reservation he said. "Tll
attend to Ismal's pass myself"
He folded the list of names that the
Hangar had marked and wrote some
thing on the back. Then he begged
an envelope, and Rewa Gunga had one
brought to him. He sealed the list in
the envelope. addressed 1t and beck
Oned Ismail again.
"rake this to Saunders sahib!" he
ordered. "GO first to the telegraph of.
fee. where you were before, the babu
there will tell you where Saunders
sahib may be found. Deliver the letter
to him. Then come and find me ut the
Star OF India hotel and help me to
battle and change my clothes"
'rTo hear Is to obey!" doomed Ismail
bowling; but his last glance was fol-
Rewa Gunga, and he did not turn to &c
until he had met the Rangers eyes.
When 1smail had gone, striding dowr
the room King looked into the Rangers
eyes with that engaging frankness OF
his that disnrms so many people.
"Thep you'll be on the train to
nlght?" he asked.
''ro hear Is to obeyl With pleas
ure, sahib."
"Then good.by until this evening""
King bowed very clvilly and walked
out. rather unsteadily because hi
head ached. Probably nobody else, ex
cept the Rangar. could have guessed
what an ordeal he had passed through
or how near he had been to losing self
command.
In the street he found gharry afte
while and drove to his hotel. Ant
before Ismail came he took u stroll
through bazaar where he made ,
few strange purchases. In the hote
lobby he invested In leather ba,
with good lock, In which to put them
Later on Ismail came and proved him
self an efficient body.servant.
That evening Ismnll carried tn,
leather bag and found his place on tn,
train, and thnt was not 80 difficult. be
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