Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1918-02-09

He put fingers between his teeth and
blew until the night shrilled back at
him. Ismail seized the leather bag and
started to obey.
leave that bag. Leave it, sayw
"But some man may steal 1t, sahib.
How shall thief know there Is no
money in it?"
"Leave it and gow
Ismail departed grumbling, and
King turned on Darya Khan.
"Take the remaining men and go up
the pass" he ordered. "Stand out of
earshot and keep watch. Come when
| | whistle!"
"But this one has a bellyache where
Ismail smote him Can man with a
bellyache stand guard? His moaning
will betray both him and mel" OBJ
jected Lord Of the Rivers"
"Take him and gow commanded
King.
"But-"
King was careful now not to show
| his bracelet. But there was something
in his eye and in his attitude-a
subtle, suggestive something's other
about him-that was rather more con-
vincing than pistol or stick. Darya
Khan thrust his rifles end into the hurt
mans stomach for encouragement and
started off in the mist.
"Come and ache out Of the sahibs'
sightr he snarled.
In minute King and his brother
stood unseen, unheard in the shadow
by patch of silver moonlight. Athel-
stan sat down on the mules pack.
"Well?" said the younger. "Tell me.
I shall have to hurry. You see I'm in
charge back there. They saw me come
out, but hope to teach 'em lesson
going back"
Athelstan nodded. "Good" he said.
1--WE a rowing commission. I'm or
dered to enter Khinjan caves"
His brother whistled. "Tall order
"What's your plan?'
Haven't one-yet. Know more
when I'm nearer Khinjan. You can
help no end"
"How? Name it"
II shall go in disguise. Nobody can
put the stain on as well as you. But
tell me something first. Any news
of holy war YETI"
His brother nodded. "Plenty Of
talk about one to come" he said. 1--WE
keep hearing Of that lashkar that we
can't locate, under a mullah whose
name seems to change with the day of
the week. And there are everlasting
tales about the Heart Of the Hills"
mo explanation of 'em?" Athelstan
asked him.
"Nonel Not a thingw
'D'you know of Yasmini?"
Heard of her, Of course" said his
brother.
HAS she come up the pass?
His brother laughed. mo, neither
she nor a coach and four"
IL have heard she's up the pass
ahead of me-" said Athelstan.
"She hasn't passed Ali Masjid!' said
his brother, and Athelstan nodded.
"Are the Turks in the show yetP
asked Charles.
mot yet. But Tsknow they're ex-
pected in"
"You bet they're expected in!" The
young man grinned from ear to ear.
"They're working both tides under to
prepare the tribes for 1t. They f1atter
themselves they can set alight holy
war that will put Timour Hang to
shame. You should hear my jezailchies
talk at night when they think I'm not
listening!"
"The jezailchiesll stand though"
said Athelstan.
stake my life on It'll" said his
brother. They'll stick to the last man !"
II can't tell you" said. Athelstan,
'why we're not attacking brother Turk
before he's ready. But my job is to
help make the holy war seem unprofit-
able to the tribes, so That they let
the Turk down hard when he calls on
'em. Every day that l can point to
forts held strongly in the Khyber Is
day In my favor. There are sure to
be raids. In fact, the more the merrler,
provided they're spasmodic. We must
keep EN- separated-keep 'em swarm
ing too fast-while l sow other seeds
among EN-"
His brother nodded. Sowing seeds
was almost that family's hereditary
Job Athelstan continued:
"Hang or to Ali Masjid like leech,
old mani The day one raidlng lash
kar gets command of the Khyber's
throat, the others'll all believe they've
won the game. Nothing'n stop 'em !