The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1918-06-06
CHAPTER XIV.

"Kurram Khan 7" the lashless mullah
howled. like n lone wolf In the moon.
light, and King stood up. In that grim
minute he managed to seem about as
much at ease as a native hakim ought
to feel Mt such an initiation.
"Come forward :" the mullah howled,
and he obeyed, treading gingeriy be-
tween men who were at no pains to let
him by, and silently blessing them, be-
cause he was not really in any hurry
ut all. Ynsmini looked lovely from a
distance, and life was sweet.
who are his w~itnessas"
"1!" shouted Ismail. jumping up.
"1!" cracked the roof. II! r." So
that for a second King Utmost believed
he had n crowd Of men to swear for
him and did not hear Darya Khan Mt
all. who rose from n place not very far
behind where he had sat.
Ismail followed him in a hurry, like
a man wading q river with loose
clothes gathered In n arm and the
other arm rendy 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 II In both
hands with n grin and a Jest and went
to stand behind King and Ismail, In
tine with the lashless mullah, facing
Yasmini. Yasmini smiled at them all
rs II they were actors In her comedy,
and she well pleased with them.
Look ye!" howled the mullah.
Look ye 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 pair Of
eyes that Knocked him from the bridge
was more disconcerting.
"Turn, Kurram Khani Turn that
all may seeT"
Feeling like a man on a spit, he re-
volved slowly. BY the time he hsd
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 I" Yasmlni
purred. smiling her ~loveliest. "Tell
them whom you slew"
King turned and faced the crowd,
raising himself on the balls OF his feet
to shout, like n man facing thousands
OF troops on parade. He nearly gave
himself away. for habit had him un-
awares. A native hakim, given the
stoutest lungs In all India, would not
have shouted In that way.
"Cappitin Attleystan Kingw he
ronred. And he nearly Jumped out of
his skin when his own voice came rat.
thing back at him from the roof over
head.
Yasmini chuckled as a little rili will
sometimes chuckle among ferns. 1t was
devilish. 1t seemed to say there were
traps not far ahead.
"Where was he slainf" asked the
mullah.
"In the Khyber pass" said King.
snow give proof !" said the mullah.
words at the gate-proof In the cav.
ern! Without good proof. there Is
only n way nj Of herer"
proof" 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 seer
and guessed what he had guessed while
he vas turning to let the crowd look
mt him. His fingers closed on human
hair.
"Nay, II is short! !" Kissed Darya
Khan. "Take the two ears, or hold II
by the jawbone! Hold 1t high In both
hands -
King obeyed. without looking ut the
thing, and Ismail, turning TO face the
crowd, rose on tiptoe and filled his
lungs for the effort Of his life.
"Tbe head OF Cnppitin Attleystan
King-infdel - kafiir British arrfi-
Ger !" he howled.
Good !" the crowd beloved. "Good |
Throw III"
The crowds roar and the roofs
echoes combined In pandemonium.
Throw II to them. Kurram Khan I"
Yasmini purred from the bridge end,
speaking rs softly and rs sweetly NJ
II she coaxed a child. at 10 the Gus.
'om'"
Throw Il! Throw itw the crowd
Numbered.
He turned the CHASTITY thing until Il
lay face-upward in his hands, and 20
at last he say II. He caught his breath,
and only the horn.rimmed spectacles,
that he had cursed twice that night,
saved him from seif-betrayal. The
cavern seemed to sway as he looked
into the dead face Of his brother
Charles.
II Yasmini detected his nervousness
she gave no sign.