Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-12-14


about. Goodby"
So lie left Ali Masiid Mt the head OF
Il motley procession that grew noiscr
and more confident every hour. Ismail
began to grow more lively and to have
II good many orders to fling to the rest.
you mourn like dog" King told
him. Three howls and a whine and
n little sulking-and then forgetful-
ness
Ismail looked nasty at that but did
not answer, although he seemed to
have hot word ready. And thence
forward he hung his head more. ana at
least tried to seem bereavcd But his
manner was uncOnvincing none the
less. and King found it food for
thought.
The ex.soldiers and would-be soldiers
marched In four behind him, growing
hourly more like drilled men, and talk
ing, with each stride that brought
them nearer India more as men do
who have an interest in law and or
der. Behind them tramped the wonl-
en- from khinjan, carryin. their hl-
bcs and their husbands loads, and
behind them again We're the other
women. who had been told they would
be overtakcn in the Khyher. but who
had actually had to run themselves
rawfooted in order to catch up.
Down the Khyber have come con
querors, dozen conquering kings. and
rs many beaten armies, but surely no
stranger host than this ever trudced
between the cChoing walls. The very
eagles screaTed az them Signals pre-
rgded them. and Court, nay iim>elt
rode up the pass TO erect them. A
Jamrud they were given foni end thei'
rifles were laken away tro,l hem and
q guard was set TO watch them. Rut
the guard only consisted Of two men,
both Of whom were pathons. and they
assured them that. ridicuou, Though il
! sounded the British wcre~>ae.ually
willing to forgive their enemies aud
! u. Ear,Ion.ali deserters who applied for
pardon on condition of good faith III
the future M
n That they prayed to Allah like little
children host and found. The women
crooned lovc-songs to their babies over
tho clear fires and the men talked
and talked--and talked until the stars
grew big as moons TO weary eyes ana
they slept at last to dream of khaki
uniforms aud karnel sahibS who knew
neither fear nor favor and who said
things that were 50. Ii is n mad world
to the Himalayan hillman where men
in authority tell truth unadorned with
out shame and without consideration
a mad, mad world and perhaps too eX-
otto to be wholesome. but pleasant
while the dream lasts
Over in the fort Courtenay placed
bath at Kings disposal and lent him
clean clothes aud razor But he was
not very cordial
"Tell me all the war news" said
King splashlng in the sib. And Cour-
tenay told him. passing him another
cake Of soap when the first was fin
ished Af.r all there was not much
TO tell-butchery in lgium--HunS
and guns--and the cverlastingly glorj-
Gus stand that saved Paris and France
and Europe.
according to the cables our men are
going the records one better. | think
that's all" said Courtenay.
"Then why the stiffness" asked
King. "Why am talked to at the
end of a tube, so to speak?'
you're under arrcst.' said Courte-
nay.
"rhe deuce am
I'm taking care Of you myself to
ohvate the necessity of putting sen
try on guard over you
Good Of you, I'm sure, WHAT'S 1t
all about?'
81 don't mind telling you, but I'd
rather you'd wait The minute you
were sighted word was wired down to
headquarters. and the general himself
will be up here by train any minute
every WELL said King. Got Il CT.
gar? Got a black one? Blacker the
BETTER"
He was out of his bath and rcmem.
bered that minute that he had not
smoked n cigar since leaving India
Naked, shaved, with some Of the stain
removed. he did not look like n man IN
trouble rs he filed his lungs with the
saltpeterish smoke of Il fat Trchino-
poll.
And then the general came and did
not wait for King TO get dressed bui
burst into the bathroom and shook
hands with him while he was still
naked and asked ten questions (likC
n Calling gum while King was getting
on his trousers, divining each answer
after the third word and waving the
rest aside.
aiii WHY HIii HtIFNtFtl I'll HNkf'
King the moment he could slip the
question in edgewlse.
"Oh yes, Of course. Try the ease
here as well as anywhere. What does
this meanf"
Out of his pocket the general pro
duced letter that smelt strongly oi
n scent kim rppopnIxal IIa anrpu,