Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1917-11-08

1 1uc scHcIdl IauSueu. 1u0t WY
I sent for you. l need a man with
Imagination! There's woman you've
| got to work with on this occasion who
can imagine a shade or two too much
| What's worse, she's ambitious. So
| chose you to work with her"
Kings lips stiffened under his mus.
tache. and the corners Of his eyes
| wrinkled into crows feet to CORE
spond. Eyes are never coal-black. of
| course, but his looked 1t at that min.
| ute.
"You know we've sent men to Khin-
jan who are said to have entered the
caves. Not one of 'em has ever re-
turned"
King frowned.
"She claims she can enter the caves
and come out again at pleasure. She
has offered to do 1t, and have &C.
cepted. Can you guess who she ISL"
mot Yasmini?" King hazarded. and
the general nodded. The helmet-strap
mark, printed indelibly on Kings jaw
and cheek by the Indian sun, tight
ened and grew whiter-as the general
noted out of the corner of his eye.
"Know herr"
"Know of her, Of course, sir. Every
body does. Never met her to my
knowledge"
"Um-m-m! Whose fault was that
Somebody ought to have seen to that.
90 to Delhi now and meet her. I'll
send her wire to say you're coming.
She knows I've chosen you. She tried
to insist on full discretion, but over
ruled her."
Kings tongue licked his lips, and his
eyes wrinkled. The generals voice be-
came the least shade more authorita-
tive.
"When you see her. get a pass from
her that'll take you into Khinjan
caves! Ask her for 1t! For the sake
Of appearances I'll gazette you Sec
onded to the Khyber rifles. For the
sake Of success, get q pass from her 7"
"Very well, sir"
"You've brother in the Khyber
rifles, haven't you? Was 1t you or your
brother who visited Khinjan once and
sent in a report7"
II did, sir"
He spoke without pride. Even the
brigade of Britlsh-Indian cavalry that
went to Khinjan on the strength of
his report and leveled its defenses
with the ground. had not been able
to find the famous caves. Yet the
caves themselves are byword.
"There's talk Of a jihad (holy wary
There's worse than that! When you
went to Khinjan, what was your chief
Object?"
ITO find the source Of the everlast.
ing rumors about the so-called Heart
Of the Hills SIR"
eyes, yes. I remember. I read your
report. You didn't find anything did
you? Well. The story is now that the
Heart Of the Hills has come to life.
So the spies say"
King whistled softly.
"Theres no guessing what II
MEANS" said the general, 'Go and
work with Yasmini. The spies keep
bringing In rumors Of ten thousand
men In Khinjan caves, and Of another
large lashkar not far away from kim
jan. There must be no jihad. King
India Is all but defenseless! This
story about Heart Of the Hills com.
Ing to life may presage unity of action
and holy war such as the world has
not seen. Go up there and stop 1t II
you can. At least. let me know the
facts"
King grunted. To stop holy war
single handed would be rather like
stopping the wind--pOssibly easy
| enough. II one knew the way. Yet he
knew no general would throw away a
man like himself on a useless venture
He began to look happy.
The general clucked to the mare
and one wheel ceased to touch the
g,avel as they whiried along semi
circular drive. Under the porch Of a
pretentiOus residence. sentries salut-
ed. the sails swung down and in less
than sixty seconds King was follow.
Ing the general through a wide en-.
| NouNC AutV NlV"uVu 1uV iu'
slant the generals fat figure darkened
the doorway twenty men Of higher
rank than King. native and English
rose from lined-up chairs and pressed
forward.
"SOrry-have to keep you all wait.
ing-busy!" He waved them aside
with little apologize gesture. "Come
In here, King"
King followed him through door
that slammed tight behind him on rub
Der jambs.
"Sit down."
The general unlocked steel drawer
and began to rummage among the pa
rers In II. In a minute he produced
u package. bound In rubber bands
with II faded photograph face upward
on the top.
that's the womanl How d'you
like the look Of herr"
King took the package and for 9
minute stared hard at the likeness Of
a woman whose fame has travelled VI
and dowc India, until her witcher,
has become a proverb. She wa,
/ n u.