The Kadoka press and Kadoka reporter. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1910-1923, 1917-11-30

men wait for proof"
He licked his teeth suggpstvely. aS
a wolf does when he c0ntemplates II
meal. Then, as an aftcrthought, as
! though ashamed, 81 love thee! Thou
art man after my own heart! But |
am her man! Wait and see!"
The mulah in the arena. blinking
with his lashless eyes, held both arms
| mp for silence in the attitude of IA
Christian priest blessing congrega-
tlon. The great cavern grew still, and
only the river could be heard sucking
hungrily between the smooth stone
banks.
"God is great" the mullah howlcd.
The crowd Numbered in echo to him !:
and then the vault took up the echoes.
"And Muhammad is his prophet -
howled the mullah. Instantly they an
Swcrcd him again. His prophets
his prophets his prophet 4" said the
Stalactltes. in loud barkS-then in mur-
murs-then in awe-struck whispers
That seemed to he all the religious
ritual Khinjan remembered or could
tolerate. Considering that the mullah
too. must have killed his man i'm cold
blood before earning the right to be
there, perhaps it was enough-too
much. There We're men not far from
King who Shuddered
"ThCre are strangers =" announced
the mullah. as man might say. ~
smell a rat" But he did not look at
anybody in particular; he hlinked at
the crowd.
Bring them :" he shouted ana King
suppressed a shudder-for what proof
had he of right 10 be there, beyond Is
mails verbal Corroboration Of a lie?
Would Ismail lie for him again: he
wondered And If so would the lie be
any use?
Not far from where King sat there
was an immediate disturbance in the
crowd. and wretched-looking Baluchi
was thrust forward at a run. with arms
la>hed 70 his sides and pitiful look
II terror on his face. Two more Ba-
ilchis We're hustled along after him.
protesting a little, but looking almost
as hopeless.
once in the arena. the guards took
charge Of all three of them and lined
them up facing the mullah, clubbing
them with their rifie-butts TO get quick
cr obedience. The crowd began 10 be
noisy again. but the mullah signed for
silence.
These are traitors :" he howled. and
| MS voice was like a VOLTS at hunting
time. Hear, and be warned"
The crowd grew very still, but King
saw that some men licked their lips,
as If they well knew what was coming.
These three men came, and one was
a new man.. the mullah howled. The
| other two We're his witnesses! All
three swore that the first man came
/ from Staying an unbeliever in the teeth
of written law. They said he ran from
the law. So, as the custom is, let all
three enterr'
Good" said the crowd. Good ~
They might have been five thousand
judges, judging in equity, so grave they
were. Yet they licked their lips.
"But later. word came to me saying
they are liars. So-again as the Gus.
tom isl ordered them bound and
held! Does any speak for them?"
Speak for them?" said the roof.
There was silence. Then there was
n murmur of astoniShment. Over Cd.
posite to where King sat the mullah
stood up, who the Pathan had said
was "Bull-with-a-b observation-disclosures
Amin.
The men are mine" he growled
Ills voice was like n hears at bay: II
was low but ii carried strangely. And
rs he spoke he swung his great head
between his shoulders, like n bear that
means 10 charge. THE proof they
brought has been stolen! They haC
good proof! l speak for them. The
men are mine"
The Pathan nudged King in the ribs
with an elbow like club and ticklet
his ear with hot breath.
"Bull-with-a-beard speaks truth ~ h,
grinned. Truth and lie together
Good may II do him and them, They
die, they three Baluchisr
"Proofw howled the mullah who bat
no hair or eyelashes.
Proof! Show us proof" yelled tn,
crowd.
The Pathan next King leaned over I,
whisper to him again, but stiffened I,