Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-10-12

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 as if
he found it interesting. On the whole
he looked sympathetic, so it was as
well that Hyde did not look around.
Baked ambition as q 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
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, missing nothing worth noticing
in all the hot kaleidoscope and seeming
to find new amusement at every turn.
1t was not in the least astonishing that
well-dressed native should address
him presently, for he looked genial
! enough to be asked to hold baby.
King himself did not seem surprised at
all. Far from it; 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 veree anxious to be servant. Can
you kindlee tell me, sir, where could
find Captain King sahib?'
Certainly" King answered him. He
looked glad to be of help. "Are you
travelling on this train?"
The question sounded like politeness
yelling from the lips of unsuspicion.
"Yes, sir. I am travelling from this
place where l have spent few days,
to Bombay, where my business is"
''HOw did you know King sahib is
on the train?" King asked him, smil-
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
l can at an interview"
81 see," said King. 81 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 a good chance to study his
face in profile.
"See that carriage" he asked, point
ing. "The fourth first-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"
ooh, thank you, sir !" said the native
oilily. you are most kind l 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 2
Hyde asked him angrily when he
stepped back into the compartment
."What were you out there looking
for?"
King smiled back at him blandly.
81 think there are railway thieve:
on the train" he announced withou
any effort at relevance. He nigh
not have heard the question.
Hyde snorted and returned to hi!
seat In the silence of unspeakabl,
} scorn. But presently he opened a suit
case and drew out repeating pisto
which he cooked carefully and stowet
beneath his pillow; not at all con
| temptible move, because the Indial
, 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
mesmerically subdivided into second
] by the thump Of carriage wheels ant
l lit at intervals by showers Of spark
4 from the gasping engine. Then King
strangely without kicking off his shoes
drew a sheet up over his shoulders. Ol
the opposite berth Hyde covered hi
] head, to keep dust out of his hair, an
] presently King heard him begin t
] snore gently. Then, very carefully b
r adjusted his own position so that hi
8 profile lay outlined in the dim ligh
: from the gas lamp in the roof. HI
s might almost have been waiting to b
shaved. Long after midnight hi
vigil was rewarded by slight soun
at the door. From that instant his eye
were on the watch, under dark close
( lashes; but his even breathing wa
Y that of the seventh stage Of sleep tina
d knows no dreams.
f A click of the door-latch heralde
g the appearance of a hand. With skill
of the sort that only special trainin
can develop, a man in native dress il
sinuated himself into the carriag
without making another sound of an
kind. Kings ears are part of tn
equipment for his exacting business
: but he could not hear the door clio
shut again.
= For about five minutes, while th
train swayed headlong into India
darkness, the man stood listening an
watching Kings face. He stood S
near that King recognized him for tn
one who had accosted him on Rawa
Pindi platform. And he could see tn
outline of the knife-hilt that the man
\ fingers clutched underneath his shir
| He feigned sleep so successfully tbs
! the native turned away at last.
Thought SOP He dared open hi
eyes a mite wider. "He's pukka-tru
to type! Rob first and then kill"
AS he watched, the thief drew I'll
sheet back from Hyde's face, wit
trained fingers that could have take
spectacles from the victims nose wit
out his knowledge. Then as fish glit
in and out among the reeds withoV
touching them, swift and soft and III
~ seen, his fingers searched Hyde's bod
They found nothing.
King moved in his sleep, rath
N noisily, and the movement knocked
SO book to the floor from the foot of h
n berth. The noise of that aWoke Hyd