Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1918-08-15

was enough to start the mullah OF
again.
Il saw the Sleeper and his bride be
fore she knew Of either! 1t was who
let her into Khinjani It was I who
told the men she is the Heart Of the
Hills come to life! She tricked me |!
But this Is NO hour for bearing grudges.
She has plan and am minded to
help"
King lay still and looked up ut him.
sure that treachery was the ultimate
end of any plan the mullah Muham.
mad Amin had. India has been saved
by the treachery Of her enemies more
often than ruined by false friends. So
has the world, for that matter.
"A jihad when the right hour comes
will raise the tribes" the mullab
growled. "She and thou, as the Sleep
err and his mate. could work wonders.
But who can trust herr She stole that
head! She stole all the ammunition |!
Does she surely love theeT
King nodded again, for modesty
could not help him at that juncture.
Love and boastfulness 60 together In
the 'IIills."
''She shall have thee back. then, at o
pricew
King did not answer. Ills brown eyes
watched the mullah's, and he drew his
breath In little jerks, lest by breath.
Ing aloud he should miss one word OF
what was coming.
"She shall have thee back against
Khinjnn and the ammunition! She
and thou shall have India. but shall
be the power behind you! have mer
In Khinjan! ] have as many AZ she
On the day march there will be re
volt within. She would better agree
to terms r.
King lay looking at him, like pris
0ner on the rack undergoing examine
ton. He did not answer.
"Write thou letter. Since she Loves
tnes, state thine own case to her. II
~ tant hold thcs. h0s,ige, unu thu
lhinjan Is mine already for Il littlr
fighting In month she cannot pick
out my men from among her own. Her
position is undermined Tell her that.
Tell her that II she obeys she shall
have India and he queen. II she dis
obeys. she shall die in the Cavern Of
Earth's DRINK
"She IL proud woman. mullah," an
swered King. Threats to such az
she-2"
The mullah mumbled and strobe
back and forth three times between
Kings bed and the fire, with his fists
knotted together behind him and his
head bent, as Napoleon used to walk.
When he stood beside the bed again At
last II was with his mind made up, an
his clenched fists and his eyes indi-
Gated.
make thine own terms with her r.
he growled. "Write the letter and
send It! hold thee; she holds kim
jan and the ammunition. I am between
her and India. SO be 1t. She shall
starve In therel She shall lie In there
until the war Is over and take what
terms are offered her in the end Write
thine own letterl State the case, and
bid her answerr'
every WELL" said King. He began
to see now definitely how India was to
be saved. It was none Of his business
to plan yet. but to help others plans
destroy themselves and to SOW such
seed In tina broken ground as might
bear fruit In time.
The mullnh left him, to squat and
gaze into the fire, and mutter, and King
lay still. After while the mullah went
10 the mouth Of the cave. to stand and
stare out ut the camp where the thou
sand fires We're dying fltfully and wood
smoke purged the mir Of human nasti-
ness. The stars looked down on him.
and he seemed to try to read them.
standing with fists knotted together ut
his back.
And as he stood 10. six other null
lahs came to him and began to argue
with him In low tones. he browbeating
them all with furious words Missed be-
tween half-closed teeth. They were
whispering still when King fell asleep.
II was courage. not carelessness, that
let him sleep--c0urage and great
hope born Of the mullah's perplexity.
Ito be continued)