The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-10-23
By CLARISSA MACKIE

London, where he had met many dis
tinguished people in high life; then on
to India, where his task was finished
Never having been in that part of the
world before, he wandered around fo1
some time making himself familiar
with the sights and customs Of the
country.
For week he had been in Bombay
fascinated by the odd streets, beauti.
full temples and palaces and the gen.
eral mysticism of the life of a people
so totally different from that expert.
enced in any other part of the world
On the eve before his departure from
the city John Barclay stood on Temple
hill, and Bombay seemed very fal
away that GREATNESS night as he look,
ed toward the mystic towers of the
city that lay a few miles distant.
Temple hill was in suburb of In.
dia's great city, and John Barclay had
spent a delightful day In examining
the ruins Of ancient temples and In
wandering through the beautiful gar.
den of deserted palace.
Now the garden lay behind him, at
the foot Of Temple hill Overhead the
moon shone, a soft, luminous disk
against the dense blue sky The great
stars beamed; not cloud flecked the
sky; not zephyr stirred the hair on
his temples.
From some distant garden came the
sounds Of music and merrymaking.
After awhile that died away, and
there was no sound save the weird
call Of a night bird or the distant cry
Of jungle prowler.
John Barclay was lost in dreamy
abstraction when he felt touch on his
arm.
He started violently and drew away
from the gaunt framed Hindu who had
touched his sleeve.
what do you want2" demanded Bar
clay sharply.
The man salaamed.
Pardon, sahib," he said softly, 'but
the rance requests your presence at
once"
"The rance? Let me see," unused
Barclay. 1.-THE rance is the woman
ruler of a district or province. Sort
Of lady rajah, eh?"
"ExactlyP' put In the Hindu calmly.
1.-THE dickens! So you understand
English pretty plainly, my mani Well,
what does her royal highness want OF
poor American tourist?"
The Hindu salaamed again.
"She would speak with the sahib."
VERY well, lead the way" decided
Barclay, ready for adventure. II hear
the rance is young and lovely" he
smiled to. himself as he followed his
guide down the hill and through the
gate that led into the very garden In
which he had spent the beautiful after
noon.
The guide walked silently and swift
ly through the garden, and Barclay,
thrilled with the mystery and romance
attending his summons to the presence
of the rance, followed.
Heavy scents of roses, jasmine and
lilies chung close to him as he walked
A nightingale burst into rapturous
song from some hidden covert.
The waits Of the palace rose dark
and forbidding. There was not one
ray of light to be seen. Only the white
turban Of the Hindu served as a guide
for the American to follow.
Here, sahib," said the man, pausing
suddenly before low arched doorway.
Follow me-"
A man of weaker nerve than Bar
clay might easily have quailed at the
risk taken in following so blindly a
guide on an unknown mission in q
country like India. He well knew how
mysteriously people disappeared in
those big cities Of India, never to be
heard of again. OF course a sense of
the danger flashed through his mind,
but his nerve was good, and he rather
enjoyed the thrill of excitement in the
adventure. Added to this was his
curiosity to see the inside Of one Of
those wonderful palaces of India and
to be In the presence, according to re-
port, Of one Of the worlds most beau
tiful women.
Barclay stepped close behind the 9TH
er as the mans softly shod feet noise
lessly trod a stone passageway and
mounted a narrow flight Of stone steps.
Up, up they went until at last they
emerged upon the fat roof of the pal
ace.
Here was all the warm luxury of
eastern life-gay awnings, soft, silken
rugs, cushioned divans. delicately shad-
ed lights swinging to and fro, sweet
meats and luscious fruits heaped on
low tables and over all the sweet per-
vading fragrance of many flowers.
Under a silken awning lovely wom-
an reposed on a soft divan Barclay
caught a general impression of perfect
features. dusky hair twined with flow
ers and jewels and the wonderful har-
mony Of silk robe that drifted away
from her little slippered feet,
There were no attendants. no ladies
in waiting. The beautiful rance sat
alone, her glorious dark eyes fixed ex-
pectantly on the approaching Ameri-
can.
Barclay salaamed, as he had seen the
Hindu salute his noble mistress.
To his surprise the rance spoke in
English.
THANK you for coming, stranger, "
she said in a rich, musical voice.
II am at your highness' service" said
Barclay clumsily.
"You know who ann"
'The rance of Obdurah. She is said
to be the most beautiful as well as the
wisest among the women rulers of In.
dia," was Barclays quick response.
The rance shrugged her shapely
shoulders.
"And the most miserable, they might
have added" she said bitterly.
Il am at your service" reminded
John Barclay.
Thank YOU"
The rance took from her girdle q
tiny box, half inch square, Of ivory.
From this she extracted something pale
and cleaning and held it toward him.
What is this, strangerT' she asked.
John Barclay examined 1t. "a bit Of
polished rock crystal" he announced
fright" she murmured complacent-
~. Your errand for me is to take
this to a very high official In London.
You will be amply paid for the service.
If should die before you reach your
destination you need go no farther.
Turn about and 60 home and keep the
crystal In memory Of a most unhappy
ruler" The rance closed her eyes and
shuddered.
Il trust your fears are groundless,"
said Barclay cheerfully.
Perhaps = who knows? you may
bring me luck" muttered the woman.
Now, will you do this errand for me?''