Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-01-04

surrey.
"CoUrtenay at Jamrud?"
Eyes. In charge there and growing |
tired of doing nothing
Signal down and ask him to have |
Tat bath ready for me that l spoke
about. Goodby."
So he left Ali Masjid at the head of
a motley procession that grew noisier
and more confident every hour. Ismail
began to grow more lively and to have
a good many orders to fling to the rest.
"You mourn like a dog" King told
him. "Three howls and Il whine ard
a little sulking-and then forgetfU-
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, and at
least tried to seem bereaved. 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 wom-
en- from Khinjan, carrying their ba-
bies and their husbands loads; and
behind them again We're the other
women, who had been told they would
bn OVprtoIya0 in tho E-bvbor I,,,+ IL.
had actually had to run themselves
raw-footed in order to catch up.
Down the Khyber have come con-
querors, a dozen conquering kings and
as many beaten armies; but surely no
stranger host than this ever trudged
between. the echoing walls. The very
eagles screamed at them. Signals pre-
ceded them, and Courtenay himself
rode up the pass to greet them. At
Jamrud they were given food and their
rifles were taken away from them and
a guard was set to watch them. But
the guard only consisted of two men.
both of whom were Pathans, and they
assured them that, ridiculous though it
sounded, the British were actually
willing to forgive their enemies and
to pardon all deserters who applied for
pardon on condition of good faith in
the future.
That they prayed to Allah like little
children lost and found. The women
crooned love-songs to their babies over
the clear fires and the men talked
and talked-and talked until the stars
grew big as moons to weary eyes and
they slept at last, to dream of khaki
uniforms and karnel sahibs who knew
neither fear nor favor and who said
things that were SO. 1t is a mad world
to the Himalayan hillman where men
in authority tell truth unadorned with
out shame and without consideration
mad, mad world, and perhaps too ex-
otic to be wholesome, but pleasant
while the dream lasts.
Over in the fort Courtenay placed
bath at Kings disposal and lent him
clean clothes and razor But he was
not very cordial.
"Tell me all the war news !' said
King. splashing in the tub. And Cour-
tenay told him, passing him another
cake of soap when the first was fin
ished. After all, there was not much
to tell-butchery in Belgium-Huns
and guns-and the everlastingly glori.
Gus stand that saved Paris and France
and Europe.
| According to the cables our men are
going the records one better. 1 think
that's ALL" said Courtenay.
''Then why the stiffness?" asked
King. why am I talked to at the
end of a tube, so to speak?"
You're under arrest!" said Courte
nay.
"The deuce am!'
I'm taking care of you myself tt
obviate the necessity of putting q sen
try on guard over YOU
Good of you, I'm sure What's i
all about?'
81 don't mind telling you, but II
rather you'd wait. The minute yo1
were sighted word was wired down t,
headquarters, and the general himsel
will be up here by train any minute
very WELL" said King. "Got a ei
gar? Got black one? Blacker tn
better!'
He was out of his bath and remem
bered that minute that he had no
smoked a cigar since leaving India
Naked, shaved, with some of the stat
removed, he did not look like a man il
trouble as he filed his lungs with tn
saltpeterish smoke of a fat Trichino
poll.
And then the general came and di
not wait for King to get dressed bu
burst into the bathroom and shoe
, hands with him while he was sti
naked and asked ten questions Qik
} a gatling gum while King was gettin
, on his trousers, divining each answe
after the third word and waving tn
rest aside.
"And why am l arrested, sir?" aske
King the moment he could slip th
question in edgewise.
''Oh, yes, of course. Try the cas-
here as well as anywhere. What doe
this mean?"
Out of his pocket the general pre-
duced a letter that smelt strongly {
a scent King recognized. He sprea
it out on a table, and King read.
was Yasmini's letter that she had ser
down the Khyber to make India to
hot to hold him.
TOO bad about your brother" sal
the general. 1.-THE body is burie,
How much is true about the head"
King told him.
Where's she?' asked the general.
King did not answer. The gener;
waited.
] 81 don't know, sir"
! ASK the Rangar," Courtenay su
gested.
where is he?" asked King
Caught him coming down the Kh
ber on his black mare and arreste
him. Hes in the next room! I hoI
he's to be hanged. So that l can bu
the mare" he added cheerfully.
King whistled softly to himself, al
the general looked at him throus
, half-closed eyes.
500 in and talE IN him I[inr