Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-05-01
BY abbot
Munday

though thou shalt see thy murderer.
Come this way, sahib"
A Whit of warm wind might
nave blown her, so swiftly, lissome-
/ ly she ran toward the other door,
! laughing back at him across her
| shoulder and leaving a trail of aro-
matte scent. The two maids held
! their candle-lanterns high, and,
striding like soldier, Ranjoor
Singh followed Yasmini, not caring
| that the maids shut the heavy door
| behind him and boIted it. He arg
ued to himself that he was as safe
in one room as in another, and she
as dangerous; also, that it made
| no difference in which room he
might be when the squadron or his
| colonel missed him.
Look, Ranjoor Singh. Look
| through that hole,"
There was plenty of light in this
| room, for there was a lantern in
every corner. He could see that she
was gazing through a hole in the
| wall at something that amus-I
her, and she motioned to another
: hole eight feet away from it. He
crossed a floor that was solid and
| age-old; no two planks of it were
of even width or length, but none
creaked.
At her invitation he looked
through the little square hole she
pointed out. And then, for the first
| time, he confessed surprise.
Thou, Jagut Singh" he ex-
claimed.
He stepped back, blinked to reas-
sure himself, and stepped to the
hole again. Back to back, tied right
hand to right, left hand to left, so
that their arms were crossed be-
hind them, and dashed waist to
waist, trooper of d Squadron and
the Afridi whom he had kicked at
Aasmini's sat on the floor facing OPP
posite walls. Dumb misery was
stamped on the Sikh's face, the de-
spair of evaporated savagery on
the Afridi's.
"Jagut Singh!" said the risaldar-
major, louder this time; and the
trooper looked up, almost as if hope
had been that instant born in him
"Jagut Singh"
The trooper grined A white row
of ivory showed between his black
beard and mustache. He tried to
look sidewise, but the rope that
held him tight to the Afridi hurt
his neck.
Il knew it, sahib," he shouted. ~
knew that one would come for me,
This hill wildcat has fought until
the ropes cut both of us; but take
time, sahibi | can wait. Attend to
the duty first Only let him who
comes bring water with him, for
this is a thirsty placen
Ranjoor Singh looked sidewise.
He could see that Yasmini was alb
sorbed in contemplation of her pris-
oners. Her little 1.-the form was
pressed tightly against the wall, less
than two yards away. He could
guess, and he had heard a dozen
times, that dancing had made her
stronger than panther and more
swift. Yet he thought that if he
had her in his arms he could crush
those light ribs until she would
yield and order her prionser re-
leased. The troopers confidence
deserved immediate, not postponed
reward
lie watched Tor minute. lie
could see that her bosom rose and
fell regularly against the wood
work; she was all unconscious. OF
her danger. he was sure of it. He
changed his position. and she Meth
er loowed nor moved. He changed
il again; so that his weight was all
on his left foot; he was sure she
had not noticed, Then he sprang.
lie sprang sidewise, as horse
does that sees a snake by the road
side. every nerve and sinew keyed
TO the tightest pitch eye, ear and
instinct working together. And she.
in the same second. turned to meet
him smiling. with outstretched
arms, as II she would meet him
halfway and hug him TO her hos
-,om, only she stepped space back