The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-05-05
KING OF THE KHYBER RIFLES
CHAPTER

S1AE Ell ]
The men who govern India-more
power to them and her!--are few
Those who stand in their way and
pretend to help them with flood OF
words are host. And from the host
goes up an endless cry that India is
the home OF thugs, and Of three hun
dred million hungry ones.
The men who know-and Athelstan
King might claim to know little
answer that she Is the original home
OF chivalry and the modern mistress
of as many decent. gallant. native
gentlemen as ever graced page OF
history.
The charge has seen the light in
print that India-well-spring Of plague
and sudden death and money-lenders
has sold her soul to twenty succeed.
ing conquerors in turn.
Athelstan King and hundred like
him whom India has picked from Brit.
ian stock and taught, can answer
truly that she has won 1t back again
from each by very purity of purpose.
So when the world war broke the
world was destined to be surprised on
midas account. The Red Sea, full
Of racing transports crowded with
dark-skinned gentlemen, whose one
prayer was that the war might not be
over before they should have struck
blow for Britain, was the Indian
army's answer to the press.
The rest of India paid its taxes and
contributed and muzzled itself and
set to work TO make supplies. For
they understand In India, almost as
nowhere else, the meaning of such
old-fashioned words as gratitude and
honor; and Of such platitudes as,
Give and It shall be given unto you"
More than one nation was deeply
shocked by midas answer to "prac-
tises" that had extended over years.
But there were men In India who
learned to love India long ago with
that love that, casts out fear, who
knew exactly what was going to hap
pen and could therefore afford to
wait for orders instead OF running
round in rings.
Athelstan King, for instance, moth
ing yet but . captain unattached. sat
in meagerly furnished quarters with
his heels on a table. He is not doc
tor. yet he read book on surgery;
and when. he welt over to the club
he carried the book under his arm
and continued to read 1t there. He
is considered a rotten conversational
list, and he did nothing at the club
to Improve his reputation.
Man alive-get a move ON" gasp
ed a wondering senior. accepting
cigar. Nobody knows where he gets
those long. strong. black cheroots,
and nobody ever refuses one.
"Thanks-got book to read" said
King.
You ass! Wake up and grab the
hest thing in sight, as stepping
stone to something better! Wake up
and worry!" @e
King grinned. You have to when
YOU don't agree with senior officer,
for the army is like school in many
more ways than one.
Help yourself, sir! I'll take the
job that's left when the scramble's
over. Something goods sure to be
overlooked
White feather? Laziness? Dark
Horse?" the major wondered. Then
he hurried away to write kilograms,
because a belief thrives in the early
days of any war that influence can
make or break a mans chances. In
the other room where the telegraph
blanks were Uttered in confusion all
about the floor. he ran into a crony
whose chief sore point was Athelstan
King. loathing him as some men
loathe pickles or sardines, for no real
reason, except that they are what they
are.
Saw you talking to King" he said.
YES. Can't make him out. Rum
fellow!"
Rum? Huh! Trouble is he's sew
enth OF his family in succession to
serve in India She has seeped into
him and picked his heritage. He's