Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-04-23
CHAPTER VI.
(COntinued.)

"Now, " she said, Il will tell
little of the why's of things" And
Colonel Kirby hoped it was the
punkah, and not funk, that made
the sweat stream down his neck I'M
til his collar was a mere uncom-
Portable mess, For more than
year there has been much talk III
India. The winds have brought IL
all to me. There was falkland the
government has known it, for l am
one of those who told the govern
ment-of a ripe time for a blow for
independence.
There base been agents of an
other power, pretending to be mer-
chants, who have sOwn their SEED
carefully in the baZars. And then
there went natives in the pay OF
the merchants who had word with
native sowars, saying that it is not
we'll to be carried over sea to tgnr
another's quarrels. All =. TINS the
government knew, though, OF
course, thou art not the govern
ment. but only a soldier with
ready pistol and dull wit.
What bearing has this on Kan
ioor Singh" asked Kirby. 1t was
so long since he had been spoken
TO so bluntly that he could not SIT
still under it.
81 am explaining why the colonel
sahib shall beg for his Ranjoor
Singh" she smiled. Does the hre
burn yet, | wonder"
She struck a gong, and maid
aDpeared in the door like an in
slant echo.
Does the fire still burn?" she
asked.
The maid disappeared. during
which Kirby and Warrington sat in
silent wonder. They wondered
chiefly what the regiment would
say il it knew-and whether the
regiment would ever know. Then
the maid came back.
1T burns" she said. 81 can see
flame from the roof, though not so
much flame"
80" said Yasmini. Listen, sa-
hibs."
1t is doubtful if trumpet could
have summoned them away, for she
had them bound in her spells, ana
each in different spell, as her way
is. She had little need to order
them to listen.
The talk in the bazars did little
harm, for the fat bunnias know
well whose rule has given them
their pickings. They talk for the
love of words. but they trade for
the love of money. and the govern
ment protects their money. Nay. 1t
was not the bunnias who mattered-
But there came a day when the
rings of talk had reached the mis-,
and hillmen came TO Delhi to hear
more. as they ever have come since
India was India. And it was clear
then to the government that PROOF
of disloyalty among the native reg
iments would set the hfllmen
screaming for holy WARRIOR the
hills are cold. sahibs, and the hill
men have cold hearts and are quick
to take advantage, even as l am, OF
others embarrassment. Hillmen
have no mercy. Colonel sahib. |
was weaned amid the hills"
IL seemed 10 Kirby and Warning
ton both-for not all their wits
were stupefled-that she was spar
ring for time. And then Warning
ton saw race TelleCtSu III que w
the mirrors and nudged Kirby, and
Kirby saw IT, too. They both saw
that she was watching'it, 1t was
fat face. and it looked terrified. but
the lips did not move and only the
eyes had expression, In "a moment
a curtain seemed to be drawn in
front OF 1t, and Yasmini took up
her tale.
And then. sahibs. as ! have told
already. there came wind that
Whistied about war; and II pleased
the government 10 know which. II
any of the native regiments had
been affected by the talk So
closer watch was set then net was
drawn, and Ranjoor Singh ran into
the net"