Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-11-14

"Were you muttering at me?" asked
Hyde.
mo sir. Nothing of the sort in
tended"
Hyde turned an indignant back on
him, and King studied the back as if
he found it interesting. On the whole
he looked sympathetic, so 1t was as
well that Hyde did not look around.
Baked ambition as a rule loathes sym.
pathy.
After many prickly-hot, interminable,
jOlting hours the train drew up at
Rawal-Pindi station. Instantly King
was on his feet with his tunic on. and
hs.was ont on the blazing hot platform
before the trains motion had quite
ceased.
He hegan to walk up and down, not
clbcwing but pcrcoiatng throuyh the
crowd missing nothing worth noticing
in all the hot Kaleidoscope ana ,emia /,
to find new amusement at every turn.
a well-dressed native should address
him presently, for he looked genial
enough to be asked to hold a baby.
King himself did not seem surprised at
all. Far from 1t he locked pleased.
Excuse me, sir" said the man In
glib babu English. 81 am seeking Cap
tain King sahib, for whom my brother
is veree anxious to be servant. Can
you kindlee tell me, sir, where could
find Captain King sahb?"
Certainly" King answered him. He
looked glad to be of help. "Arc you
travelling on this train?'
The question sounded like pollteness
yelling from the lips of unsuspicion.
eyes, sir. am travelling from this
place where ] have spent few days,
to Bombay, where my business is"
"How did you know King sahib is
on the train?" King asked him, sml-
ing so genially that even the police
could not have charged him with more
than curiosity.
"By telegram sir. My brother had
the misfortune to miss Captain King
sahib at Peshawur and therefore sent
a telegram to me asking me to do what
! can at an interview"
II see" said King. II see" And
judging by the sparkle in his eyes as
he looked away, he could see a lot.
But the native could not see his eyes
at that instant, although he tried to-.
He looked back at the train. giving
the man good chance to study his
face in profile.
"See that carrlage?" he asked, point
Ing. "The fourth frst-class carriage
from the end? Well-there are only
two of us in there; I'm Major Hyde
and the other is Captain King. I'll tell
Captain King to look out for you"
"Oh, thank you, sir" said the native
OILY. you are most kind am your
humble servant, sir"
King nodded good.by to him. his dark
eyes in the shadow Of the khaki helmet
seeming scarcely interested any longer
Couldn't you find another berth p
Hyde asked him angrily when he
stepped back into the compartment
"What were you out there looking
for?'
King smiled back at him blandly.
II think there are railway thieves
on the train" he announced without
any effort at relevance. He might
not have heard the question.
Hyde snorted and returned to hi,
seat In the silence Of unspeakablt
scorn. But presently he opened n suit
case and drew out u repeating pisto
which he cooked carefully and slowed
beneath his pillow; not at all con
temptlble move, because the Indian
railway thief Is the most resourcefu
specialist In the world. But King tool
no overt precautions Of any kind.
After more interminable hours nigh
shut down on them, red-hot, black-dark
y mesmerlcnlly subdlvided into seconds
A. Al....,.. - mn eel 4. sva xs,1....lp A N.