The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1918-04-12

assured them that, KidicuIOua though ie
sounded, the British were actually
willing to forgive their enemies and
to pardon all deserters who applied for
pardon on condition Of good faith In
the future.
That they prayed to Allah like little
children lost and found. The women
crooned love-songs to their babies over
the, clear fires and the men talked
and talked-and talked until the stars
grew big as moons to weary eyes and
they slept at last, to dream Of khaki
uniforms and karnel sahibs who knew
neither fear nor favor and who said
things that were so. 1t is mad world
to the Himalayan hillman where men
in authority tell truth unadorned with
out shame and without consideration
a mad, mad world, and perhaps too ex-
otto to be wholesome, but pleasant
while the dream lasts.
Over in the fort Courtenay placed
q bath at Kings disposal and lent him
clean clothes and razor. But he was
not very cordial.
'Tell me all the war news!" said
King, splashing in the tub. And Cour-
tenay told him, passing him another
cake Of soap when the first was fin
ished. After all, there was not much
to tell--butchery in Belginm-Huns
and guns-and the everlastingly glori-
GUS stand that saved Paris and France
and Europe.
According to the cables our men are
going the records one better. I think
that's ALL" said Courtenay.
'Then why the stiffness?" asked
King. "Why am / talked to at the
end Of tube, so to speak?"
you're under arrest1" said Courte-
nay.
'"The deuce ami"
"Pm taking care of you myself to
obviate the necessity Of putting sem
try on guard over you"
"Good Of you, I'm sure. What's it
all aboutY
II don't mind telling you, but I'd
rather you'd wait. The minute you
were sighted word was wired down to
headquarters, and the general himself
will be up here by train any minute"
Every WELL" said King. SCOT ci-
gar? Got black one? Blacker the
betteri'
He was out of his bath and remem-
bered that minute that he had not
smoked cigar since leaving India.
Naked, shaved, with some Of the stain
removed, he did not look like man In
trouble as he filed his lungs with the
saltpeterish smoke Of a fat Trichino-
poll.
And then the general came and did
not wait for King to get dressed but
burst into the bathroom and shook
hands with him while he was still
naked and asked ten questions (like
gatling gum while King was getting
on his trousers, divining each answer
after the third word and waving the
rest aside.
sand why am arrested, STRIP asked
King the moment he could slip the
question in edgewise.
."Oh, yes, Of course. Try the case
here as well as anywhere. What does
this mean?"
Out Of his pocket the general pro-
duced letter that smelt strongly of
a scent King recognized. He spread
1t out on a table, and King read. 1t
was Yasmini's letter that she had sent
down the Khyber to make India too
hot to hold him.
"Too bad about your brother" said
the general. "The body Is buried.
How much is true about the head?"
King told him.
where's she?' asked the general.
King did not answer. The general
waited.
II don't know, SIR"
"Ask the Rangar," Courtenay sug-
gested.
where is he?" asked King.
Caught him coming down the Khy-
Der on his black mare and arrested
him. He's in the next room! hope
he's to be hanged. So that I can buy
the mare" he added cheerfully.
King whistled softly to himself, and
the SeuSfdA AOOkeu at ulm through
half-closed eyes.
go in and talk to him, King. Let
me know the result"
He had picked King to go up the
Khyber on that errand not for moth
ing. He knew King and he knew the
symptoms. Without answering him
King obeyed. He went out of the room
into a dark corridor and raped on
the door Of the next room to the
right. There was muffied answer
from within. Courtenay shouted some
thing to the sentry outside the door
and he called another man, who fitted
a key in the lock. King walked into
q room in which one lamp was burn
ing and the door slammed shut be-
hind him.
He was in there an hour, and it
never did transpire just what passed,
for he can hold his tongue ON any sub
ject like clam, and the general, If