Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1918-03-02
CHAPTER XIV.

''Kurram Khan p the lashless mullah
howled, like a lone wolf in the moon
light, and King stood up. In that grim
minute he managed to seem about as
much at ease as native hakim ought
to feel at such an initiation.
"Come forward !" the mullah howled,
and he obeyed, treading gingerly be-
tween meu who were at no pains to let
him by, and silently blessing them, be-
cause he was not really in any hurry
at ALL Yasmini looked lovely from
distance, and life was sweet.
"Who are his Witnessed"
"Ir' shouted Ismail, jumping up.
al" cracked the roof. I'll Iw So
that for a second King almost believed
he had a crowd of men to swear for
him and did not hear Darya Khan at
all, who rose from place not very far
behind where he had sat.
Ismail followed him In hurry, like
man wading Il river with loose
clothes gathered in one arm and the
other arm ready In case of falling.
Darya Khan did not go so fast. As he
forced his way forward a man passed
him up the wooden box that King had
used to stand on; he seized 1t in both
hands with a grin and jest and went
to stand behind King and Ismail, In
line with the lashless mullah, facing
Yasmini. Yasminl smiled at them all
as IL they were actors in her comedy,
and she we'll pleased with them.
Look yet" howled the muilah
"Look We and look well, for this is to
be one of u.s."
King felt ten thousand eyes burn
holes in his back, but the one par Of
eyes that Knocked him from the bridge
was more disconcerting.
'Turn, Kurram Khanl Turn that
all may see!'
Feeling like man on spit, he re-
volved slowly. BY the time he he'd
turned once completely around he had
decided that Yasmini meant he should
be frightened, but not much hurt just
yet. SO he ceased altogether to feel
frightened and took care to look more
scared than ever.
"Speak, Kurram Khan!" Yasmini
purred. smiling her loveiiest. "Tell
them whom you slew"
King turned and faced the crowd,
raising himself on the balls of his feet
to shout, like man facing thousands
of troops on parade. He nearly gave
himself away, for habit had him I'M
awares. A native hakim, given the
stoutest lungs in all India, would not
have shouted In that way.
"Cappitin Attleystan King" he
roared. And he nearly jumped out Of
his skin when his own voice came rat
Ting back at him from the roof over
head.
Yasmini chuckled as little rill will
sometimes chuckle among ferns. 1t was
devilish. 1t seemed to say there were
traps not far ahead.
"Where was he slain2" asked the
mullah.
'Tn the Khyber pass" said King.
"Now give proof" said the mullah.
Words at the gate-proof in the cav
ernl Without good proof, there Is
only one way out Of here!"
"proofw the crowd Numbered.
proof !" the roof echoed.
There was no need for Darya Khan
to whisper. Kings hands were behind
him, and he had seen what he had seen
and guessed what he had guessed while
he was turning to let the crowd look
at him. His fingers closed on human
hair.
"Nay, 1t is short ~ Kissed Darya
Khan. "Take the two ears, or hold 1t
by the jawbone! Hold it high in both
hands ~
King obeyed, without looking at the
thing, and Ismail, turning to face the
crowd, rose on tiptoe and filled his
lungs for the effort of his life.
"The head of Cappitin Attleystan
King-infdel --- kaffir British arrh'
Ger ~ he howled.
"Good !" the crowd beloved "Good
Throw 1t
The crowds roar and the roors
echoes combined in pandemonium.
Throw it to them, Kurram Khan :"
Yasmini purred from the bridge end
speaking as softly and as sweetly as
IL she coaxed child. "It is the Gus
tom I"
Throw III =. row til" the crowd
Numbered.
He turnet the chastity thing until 1t
lay face.upward in his hands, and so
at last he saw 1t. He caught his breath,
and only the horn-rimmed spectacles,
that he had cursed twice that night,
saved him from self-betrayai. The
cavern seemed to sway as he looked
into the dead face of his brother
Charles.
If YasmIni detected his nervousness
she gave no sign.
-~~--~------ >