The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-04-18

'@ 49, 80 ~ -
King nodded. There has never been
peace along the northwest border. II
did not need vision to forcscc trouble
from that quarter. In fact II must
have been partly on the strength OF
some OF Kings reports that the gen.
crnl was planning now.
"Well. the trlbes'll know presently
how many men we're sending oversee.
There've been rumors about Khlnjan
by the hundred lately. They're cook
ing something. Can you imagine 'em
keeping quiet nowf"
THAT depends, sir. Yes, I Gun
imagine IT,"
The general laughed. "That's why
I sent for you. I need n man with
Imagination There's n woman you've
got to work with on this occasion who
cnn Imagine II shade or two too much.
What's worse, she's ambitious. So ]
chose you to work with her"
Kings lips stinfened under his mus
tnche. and the corners Of his eyes
wrinkled into crows feet 80 CORE
spond. Eyes are never coal-blnck, Of
course, but his looked II at hat min.
ute.
you know we've sent men to Khin-
Jan who are said to have entered the
caves. Not one OF ZEN has ever re-
turned"
King frowncd.
"She claims she can enter the caves
and come out again at pleasure. She
has offered 10 do II, and | have nc-
ccptod. Can you guess who she ISL"
"!Not Yasminlr" King hazardcd, and
the general nodded. The hclmct-strnp
mark, printed indelibly on Kings jaw
and cheek by the Indian sun, tight
encd and grew whiter-ns the general
noted out Of the corner Of his eye.
"KnOw herr"
"Know Of her, Of course. sir. Every
body does. Never met her to my
knowledge"
"Cm-m-m! Whose fault was that?
Somebody ought To have seen to that.
Go to Delhi now and meet her. I'll
send her n wire to say you're coming.
She knows I've chosen you. She tried
To insist on full discretion. but | over
ruled her"
Kings tongue licked his lips, and his
eyes wrinkled. The generals vote" be.
came the least shade more uuthorita'
tive.
"Whcn you see her, get n pass from
her thatll take you into Khininn
caves! Ask her for 1t! For the sake
Of appearances I'll gazette you sec.
onded 10 the Khyber rifles. For the
sake Of success, get u pass from her!"
Every well. sir"
you've u brother In the Khyber
rifles, haven't youf Was It you or your
brother who visited Khinjan once and
sent in n rcport?"
81 did, sir"
He spoke without pride. Even the
brigade of British.Indlan cavalry that
went to Khinjun on the strength OF
his report and lcveled Its dcfcnses
with the ground, had not been able
to find the famous caves. Yet the
caves themselves are n byword.
There's talk Of n jihad (holy war;
There's worse than that! When YOU
went 10 KhinJan. what was your chief
objcctf"
"To find the source Of the evcrlnst-
ing rumors about the sO.called Heart
Of the I%Iills,' sir"
"Yes, yes. remember. I read your
report. You didn't find anything, did
you? Well. The story Is now that the
Heart of the HIS has come to life
So the spies say"
King whlstled softly.
There's no guessing what II
MEANS" said the general. eco and
work with Yasminl. The spies keeI
bringing In rumors OF ten Thousand
/, men in Khinjan caves, and of another
large lashkar not fur away from Kiln
jan. There must be no jihad. King
!. India Is all hut dcfcnseless! This
, story about II Heart OF the Hills com
| Ing to life may prcsagc unity of action
and n holy war such as the world has
; not seen. Go up there and stop II II
you can. At least, let me know III,
, facts"
, King gruntcd. To stop n holy wal
single handed would be rather Hike
stopping the wInd-possibly easy
, enough, IL one knew the wny. Yet h,
knew no general would throw away 9
man like himself On n useless venture
He began To look happy
The general cluckcd TO the mare
/ and one wheel ceased to touch tn
. gravel Os they whiried along n semi
g circular drive. Under the porch OF {
p]rctcntious residence, scntries salut
ed, the sails swung down and In les.
$ than sixty seconds King was follow
Ing the general through n wide On
20 trance into a crowded hall. The in