The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-02-01

! Around them the clatter of the station
crowd began to die, and Parsimony
| in a shabby uniform went round to
Hover lights.
"Are you sure"
Kings merry eyes looked into Saun-
ders' as If there were no world war
really and they two were puppets in a
comedy.
"-are you absolutely certain Yas-
mini is in DELHI"
ssNo," said Saunders. "What I swear
to is that she has not left by train.
She's the most elusive individual in
Asial One person in the world knows
where she is, unless she has an accom-
pllce. My information's negative. I
know she has not gone by"
King struck a match and held it
out, so the sentence was unfinished ;
the first few puffs of the astonishing
cigar wiped out all memory of the miss
/ ing word. And then King changed the
| subject.
"Those men / asked you to ar
rest-?''
'Nabbed,' -"every one Of 'em!'
puff-puff- "all under" puff-puff-
flock and key,--best smoke !, ever
tasted"
'Well-Tll go along with you If
you like and look them over"
Both tone and manner gave Saun-
ders credit for the suggestion, and
Saunders seemed to like it. There is
nothing like following up, in football.
war or courtship.
IT see you're judge Of a cigar,
said King, and Saunders purred, all
men being fools to some extent, and
the only trouble being to demonstrate
the fact.
They had started for the station en-
trance when nasal voice began In
toning, "Cap-teen King sahib- Cap
teen King sahib r. and telegraph mes
senger passed them with his book I'M
der his arm. King whistled him. A
moment later he was tearing open an
official urgent telegram and writing a
string of figures in pencil across the
/ top. Then he de-coded swiftly:
Advices are Yasmini was In Delhi as re-
Gently as six this evening. Fail to under
stand your inability to get in touch. Have
you tried at her house? Matters in Khy-
Der district much less satisfactory. Word
from &C Khyber rifles to effect that
| lashkar is collecting. Better sweep up
in Delhi and proceed northward as quick
" as compatible with caution. L, M. L.
"Good news?" asked Saunders. blow
ing smoke through his nose.
Excellent. Where's my man? Here
you-Ismail r.
The giant came and lowered above
him.
"You swore she went North!''
Ella, sahib To Peshawur she went r
81 have telegram here that says
she is in Delhi !"
He patted his coat, where the inner
pocket bulged.
"Nay, then the tar lies, for I saw her
go with these two eyes of miner
ut is not wise to lie to me, my
friend" King assured him, so pleasant
~ that none could doubt he was telling
! truth.
"If lie may / eat dirt!" Ismail an
swered him.
Inches lent the Afridi dignity, but
dignity has often been used as a stalk
ing horse for untruth. King nodded,
and it was not possible to Judge by his
expression whether he believed or not.
Lets make move" he said, turn
ing to Saunders. "She seems at any
rate to wish it believed she has gone
North. I'll take the early morning
train. Where are the prisoners?"
"In the old Mir Khan palace. Shall
we take this gharry?"
/ With Ismail up beside the driver
nursing Kings bag and looking like a
great grim vulture about to eat the
horse, they drove back through swarm
ing streets in the direction of the river.
King seemed to have lost all interest in
crowds. He sat staring ahead in
silence, although Saunders made more
than one effort to engage him in con-
versation.
'sNol" he said at last suddenly $50
that Saunders jumped.
"No what?"
mo need to stay here. I've got what
I came for ~
sWhat was thatT' asked Saunders,
but King was silent again. Conscious
of the unaccustomed weight on his left
wrist, he moved his arm so that the
sleeve drew and he could see the edge
of the great gold bracelet Rewa Gunga
had given him in Yasmini's name.
''Know anything of Rewa Gunga?'
he asked suddenly again.
"Not much. I've seen him. I've
spoken with him, and I've had to stand
impudence from him-twice. I've been
tipped off more than once to let him
alone because he's her man. He does
ticklish errands for her, or so they
say. He's what you might call known
to the police all right"
They began to approach an age-0ld
palace near the river, and Saunders