Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1918-08-08

Il =
He smiled, With that Genial. fact
transforming smile OF his that has SO
often melted road for him through
sullen crowds. But the Llan In charge
Of the women did not grin. He was
suffering. He growled al the women,
and they went away like obedlent AMI
mails, to sit halfway down the ledge
and await further orders. He himself
made as II to follow them, and the
dumb man on guard did not pay much
attention; he let women and man pass
behind him, stepping one pace forward
toward the edge to make more room.
That was his last entirely voluntary
act In this world.
With suddenness that disarmed all
opposition the other bumped himself
against the wall and bucked into the
dumb mans back, sending him,
weapons and all, hurting over the
precipice to the caverns into which the
water tnmbled thousands Of feet away.
The other rufiian spat after him. and
then walked back to where King stood.
snow heal me my boils!" he said.
grinning at last, doubtless from pleas
ure at the prospect. He was the same
man who had stood on guard at the
"guest-cave" when Ismail led King
out to see the Cavern Of Earth's Drink.
The temptation was to fling the
brute after his victim. The tempta-
ton always is to do the wrong thing
to cup wrath with wrath, injustice with
vengeance. That way wars begin and
are never ended. King beck0ned him
into the cave, and bent over the chest
Of medical supplies. Then. finding the
light better for his purpose at the en-
trance, he called the map back and
made him sit down on the box. s-
The business Of lancing boIia IL not
especially edifying In Itself; but that
particular minor operation probably
saved India. But for hope Of 1t the
man with the hollis would never have
stood two turns on guard hand rum
ming and let the relief sleep on; SO he
would not have been on duty when the
message came to carry Kings belong
lngs to his new cave Of residence.
There would have been no object In
killing the dumb man, and so there
would have been MI expert with load
ed rifle to keep Muhammad Amin lurk-
Ing down the trnil.
Muhammad Amin came-like the
devil, to scotch Kings fnith. He had
followed the women with the loads.
He stood now, like big bear on ~
mountain track, swaying his head from
side to side six feet away. King
jumped, nearly driving the lance into
. new place In his patients neck.
"Let him go!" growled Muhnmmad
Amin. "Go, thou! Stand guard over
the women until I comel'
The mullah turned rifle this way
and that In his paws, like great bear
dancing. The very Orakzai Pathan
who had sat next King In the Cavern
of Earth's Drink, was creeping up be-
hind the women and already had his
rifle levelcd Mt the man with bOils.
"Ayew said the muRah. watching
Kings eyes. "lle has done well, and
the road IL clear"
The man with. bolts offered no fight.
He dropped his rifle ana threw his
hands up. In moment the Orakxai
pathHn was In command Of two rifles,
holding King from among the women.
whom he seemed to regard as his plum.
der too. The women appeared su-
premely Indifferent In any event. King
nodded back to him. A friend Is a
friend In the "Hills." and rare IL the
man who spares his enemy.
"None comes to earn living In the
Hills" gr0wled the mullah, swayinR
his head slowly and devouring King
with cruel calculating eyes. "Why art
thou here2"
II slew a man." said King.
"Thou Hest 1t was my men who got
the head that let thee inl Speak
Why art thou herey"
But King did not answer. The mul.
fAh resumed.
.'IIe who brought me the message
Yesterday says he has It from another,