The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-03-08
CHAPTER XIV.

"Kurram Khan ~ the lashless mullah
howled, like lone wolf in the moon
light, and King stood up. In that grim
minute he managed to seem about as
much at ease as native hakim ought
to feel at such an initiation.
"Come forward - the mullah bpwled,
and he obeyed, treading gingerly be-
tween men who were at no pains to let
him by, and silently blessing them, be-
cause he was not really in any hurry
at all. Yasmini looked lovely from a
distance, and life was sweet.
"Who are his witnesses?"
'T!" shouted Ismail, jumping up.
"I!" cracked the roof. "Ii Iv So
that for second King almost believed
he had a crowd Of men to swear for
him and did not hear Darya Khan at
all, who rose from place not very far
behind where he had sat.
Ismail followed him in a hurry, like
a man wading river with loose
clothes gathered in one arm and the
other arm ready in case Of falling.
Darya Khan did not go so fast. As he
forced his way forward a man passed
him up the wooden box that King had
used to stand on; he seized it in both
hands with grin and jest and went
to stand behind King and Ismail, in
line with the lashless mullah, facing
Yasmini. Yasmini smiled at them all
as If they were actors in her comedy,
and she well pleased with them.
s'Look YET" howled the mullah.
'Look We and look well, for this is to
be one of us!"
King felt ten thousand eyes burn
holes in his back, but the one pair Of
eyes that Knocked him from the bridge
was more disconcerting.
'Turn, Kurram Khan! Turn that
all may see!"
Feeling like man on a spit, he re-
volved slowly. By the time he had
turned once completely around he had
decided that Yasmini meant he should
be frightened, but not much hurt just
yet. So he ceased altogether to feel
| frightened and took care to look more
scared than ever.
"Speak, Kurram Khanw Yasmini
purred. smiling her loveliest. "Tell
them whom you Slew"
King turned and faced the crowd,
raising himself on the balls of his feet
to shout, like man facing thousands
of troops on parade. He nearly gave
himself away, for habit had him I'M
awares. A native hakim, given the
stoutest lungs in all India, would not
have shouted in that way.
"Cappitin Attleystan King" he
roared. And he nearly jumped out of
Ting back at him from the roof over.
head.
Yasmini chuckled as a little rill will
sometimes chuckle among ferns. It was
devilish. It seemed to say there were
traps not far ahead.
"Where was he slain?" asked the
mullah.
''In the Khyber pass" said King.
"Now give proof" said the mullah.
"Words at the gate-proof in the cav
ern! Without good proof, there Is
only one way out Of here"
"Proofw the crowd Numbered.
"Proofv" the roof echoed.
There was no need for Darya Khan
to whisper. Kings hands were behind
him, and he had seen what he had seen
and guessed what he had guessed while
he was turning to let the crowd look
at him. His fingers closed on human
hair.
"Nay, 1t is shortv' Kissed Darya
Khan. 'Take the two ears. or hold 1t
by the jawbone! Hold It high in both
hands"
King obeyed, without looking at the
thing, and Ismail, turning to face the
crowd, rose on tiptoe and filled his
lungs for the effort Of his life.
"The head of Cappitin Attleystan
King-infidel - kafir British arrd-
rw he howled.
"Good!" the crowd beloved. "Good
Throw 4t!'
The crowds roar and the roofs
echoes combined in pandemonium.
Throw it to them, Kurram Khan"
Yasminl purred from the bridge end,
speaking as softly and as sweetly as
If she coaxed child. ut is the Gus
toni"
Throw It'll Throw itr the crowd
Numbered.
He turned the CHASTITY thing until 1t
lay face-upward in his hands, and so
at last he saw it. He caught his breath.
and only the horn-rimmed spectacles,
that he had cursed twice that night,
saved him from self-betrayal. The
cavern seemed to sway as he looked
into the dead face Of his brother
Charles.
If Yssmini detectsil bis nervousness
she geTe % Gt9as