Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1917-12-08
CHAPTER XIV.

hUdn the ldSnipSS Ilulldn
howled, like a lone wolf in the moon
light, and King stood up. In that grim
minute he managed to seem about as
much at ease as native hakim ought
to feel at such an initiation.
"Come forward" the mullah howled,
and he obeyed. treading gingerly be-
tween men who were at no pains to let
him by, and silently blessing them be-
cause he was not really in any hurry
at all. Yasmini looked lovely from
distance, and life was sweet.
"Who are his Witnessed"
"If' shouted Ismall. jumping up.
az" cracked the roof. 81! Iw So
that for a second King almost believed
he had crowd of men 70 swear for
him and did not hear Darya Khan Mt
all. who rose from a place not very far
behind where he had sat.
1smail followed him in a hurry, like
a man wading river with loose
clothes gathered in one arm and the
other arm ready in case of falling.
Darya Khan did not go so fast. As he
forced his way forward a man passed
him up the wooden box that King had
used to stand on 4; he seized it in both
hands with a grin and jest and went
to stand behind King and Ismail, in
line with the lashless mullah, facing
Yasmini. Yasmini smiled at them all
as if they We're actors in her comedy.
and she well pleased with them
Oh he Lob
Look We and look well, for this is to
be one of us!'
King felt ten thousand eyes burn
holes in his back, but the one paAz If
eyes that Knocked him from the bridge
was more disconcertng.
Turn. Kurram KhanI Turn that
all may see!"
Feeling like d man on a spit he re-
volyed slowly. BY the time he hrd
turned once completely around he had
decided that Yasnini meant he should
be frightened, but not much hurt just
yet. SO he ceased altogether to feel
frightened and took care to look more
scared than ever.
speak, Kurram Khan" Yasmlui
purred. smiling her loveliest. "Tell
them whom you slew"
King turned and faced the crowd,
raising himself on the balls of his feet
to shout, like man facing thousands
of troops on parade. He nearly gave
himself away, for habit had him UNI
awares. A native haldm, given the
stoutest lungs in all India would not
have shouted in that way.
"Cappitin Attleystan Kingw he
roared And he nearly jumped out of
his skin when his own voice came rat
Ting back at him from the roof over
head.
Yasmini chuckled as a little rill will
sometimes chuckle among ferns. II was
deyilish. 1t seemed to say there were
traps not far ahead.
where was he slain2" asked the
mullah.
"In the Khyber pass" said King.
''Now give proof" said the mullah.
words at the gate-proof in the cav
ern Without good proof. there is
only one way out of here"
proof" the crowd Numbered.
proof !" the roof echoed.
There was no need for Darya Khan
to whisper. Kings hands were behind
him, and he had seen what he had seen
and guessed what he had guessed while
he was turning to let the crowd look
at him. His fingers closed on human
hair.
NAY, it is shortI' Kissed Darya
Khan. "Take the two ears, or hold it
by the jawbonel Hold it high in both
hands"
King obeyed, without laoklog at the
! thing. and lanai, turning to face the
crowd, rose on tiptoe and filed his
lungs for the effort Of his life.
THE head Of Cappitn Attleystan
King -infdel - kaiIir british arrg-
ceri' he howled
Coon :" the crowd beloved. Good
Throw I'll"
The crowds roar and the roofs
echoes combined in pandemonium.
Throw Il 80 them Kurram Khan "
Yasminl purred from the bridge end.
speaking as softly and as sweetly as
If she coaxed child. 1T Is the Gus
tom"
Throw IT, Throw it, the cyo"d
numbered
lie turned the CHASTITY thing until IT
Law face upward ln his hands. and So
al last he saw IT, He caugfs his breath
aud only the horn-rimmed 4pecta@les
that he had cursed twice that Night
saved hon FROM selfbctrayai. The
cavern seemed "a sway as he looked
into The dead face Of his brother
Charles
If Yasmlnl detected his nervousness
sue gays no sign