The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-01-25


not learned yet; but King did not make
the mistake of trusting hirn any better
for his easy manners, and his eyes
sought swiftly for some unrhythmic,
unplanned thing on which to rest, that
he might save himself BY sort of
mental leverage.
CHANGING along the wall that faced
the big window, he noticed for the first
time huge Afridi, who sat on a stool
and leaned back against the silken
hangings with arms folded.
ssWho is that man?'' he asked.
aHe? Oh, he Is savage-just a
big savage" said Rewa Gunga. looking
vaguely annoyed.
'sWhy is he here?"
He did not dare let go of this chance
side issue. He knew that Rewa Gun
ga wished him to talk of Yasmini and
to ask questions about her. and that If
he srccumbed to that temptation all
his self-control would be cunningly
Slapped away from him until his Sc
crets. and his very senses. belonged to
some one else.
"What is he doing here?" he insisted.
aHe? oh, he does nothing. He waits, !"
purred the Hangar. 'He is to be your
body-seryant on your journey to the
North. He is nothing nobody at all |!
except that he is to be trusted ut
terly because he loves Yasmini. He is
obedlencei A big obedient fool! Let
him bel"
aNo," said King. eff he's to be my
man I'll speak to him !"
He felt himself winning. Already
the spell Of the room was lifting, and
he no longer felt the cloud of sandal
wood like veil across his brain.
"Won't you tell him to come here to
met"
| Rewa Gunga laughed, resting his silk
turban against the wall hangings and
clasping both hands about his knee. It
| was as man might laugh who has
been touched in bout with foils.
"Oh!-Ismail!" he called, with a
voice like a bell, that made King stare.
The Afridi seemed to come out of a
deep sleep and looked bewildered, rub
bling his eyes and feeling whether his
turban was on straight. He combed
his beard with nervous fingers as he
gazed about him and caught Rewa
Gunga's eye. Then he sprang to his
feet.
"Come!" ordered Rewa Gunga.
The man obeyed.
did you seer" Rewa Gunga
chuckled. "He rose from his place like
a buffalo, rump first and then shoulder
after shoulder! Such men are safe |!
Such men have no guile beyond what
will help them to obey! Such men
think too slowly to invent deceit for
its own sake!"
The Afridi came and lowered above
them. standing with gnarled hands
knotted into clubs.
''What is thy name?" King asked
him.
"Ismail r. he doomed.
'Thou art to be my servantf"
"Ayel So said she. I am her man.
I obey!''
"When did she say so?" King asked
him blandly. The hiIlman stroked his
great beard and stood considering the
question. King entered q shrewd sus-
picion that he was not so stupid as he
chose to seem. His eyes were too
hawk-bright to be a stupid mans.
Before she went away. be an
Lswerea at Inst.
"When did she go away2"
He thought again. then Yesterday"
he said.
"Why did you wait before you an
swered?"
The Afridi's eyes furtively sought
Rewa Gunga's and found no aid there.
Watching the Hangar less furtively,
but even less obviously, King was
aware that his eyes were nearly closed,
as IL they We're not interested. The
fingers that clasped his knee drummed
on 1t indifferently, seeing which King
allowed himself to smile.
"Neyer mind" he told Ismail. SIT is
no matter. 1t is ever well to think
twice before speaking once, for thus
mistakes die stillborn. Only the mon
key-folk thrive on quick answers-is It
not so? Thou art O man of many inches
-of thew and sinew--hey, but thou
art a mani If the heart within those
great ribs of thine is true as thine
arms are strong shall be fortunate
to have thee for servant !"
"Ayel" said the Afridi, aRut what
are words? She has said am thy
servant, and to hear her is to obey!"
"Then, take me q telegram" said
King.
He began to write at once on half
sheet Of paper that he tore from let
ter he had in his pocket, transposIng
into CIPHER as he went along.
Yasmini has gone North. Is there any
reason at your end why should not
follow her at once?
He addressed it in plain English to
his friend the general at Peshawur.
and handed it to Ismail, directing him
carefully to government Office where
The cypher signature would be recog-
IL