Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1920-06-18
CHAPTER vl.-cOntinued.

gent night kissed his feverish face,
and he was blotted out by Its protect
ing curtain.
Jalisingrao Jitendra squatted in the
corner of the cell from which the
American had so miraculously been re-
leased, and bent over the PROSTATE fig
ure of the Mexican who had been on
guard in the corridor.
Back and forth on the breast of the
soldier, who lay rigidly upon his back,
swayed two sinister, menacing points
Of crimson, and in perfect unison
swayed also two others upon the head
Of the Hindu.
"Wouldst thou have life?' sternly
demanded the little brown man of the
PROSTATE figure.
ISL senor"
"rhen heed well what / shall say"
went on the other in cold, precise ac-
cents. ''If they wake to find Sahib
Buck gone, thou, instead Of he, will
die. So. thou too must depart"
He leaned closer to the man, whose
face was distorted with hideous ter
ror. AS the Mexican comprehended
the half-friendly attitude of the Hindu,
hope struggled with despair in his
eyes.
"Tell me, Is it true that !, too, am
to die with the coming Of the SUM-"
The Mexican nodded. "But that,
senior, is not of my doing, nor Is it in
my power to save you-unless you. flee
with Ell Americana"
eve shall see," crlsply returned the
Oriental. Where is it that the killers
Of men will work their evil powers
upon me IL I remainT
'In the yard Of the carcel, senior.
They will tell you to go. that you are
free, and then as you near the gate to
pass through 1t they will fire at your
back"
Jitendra pondered a moment, his
head inclined little forward. He was
debating what course to pursue. If he
attempted to flee now out into the
night in this unknown country, his
swollen feet would be terrible handi-
cap. Even with horse he would al
most certainly be seen, overtaken and
shot by the soldiers who swarmed
through the province of Sinal0a.
Beside, Sahib Buck must have ample
time to reach his friends, else what he
had done for his preseryer would count
for nothing.
"Where will the men stand to slay
one who bears them no maliceT he
querled.
'Does the senior remember how the
carcel yard looks2"
Somewhat"
"The passage through which you
were brought to this cell leads to the
carcel yard. Directly across on the
other side Is the gate to the street.
The soldiers"
How manyT
six, senior, and a corporal, make
up the firing squad. These will take
you to the yard. You will be told that
any reasonable request of yours will
be granted. It may also be made to
appear that you are free to depart.
But, IL so, be not deceived. You win
never pass the gate alive.
Behind. near the edge of the yard,
close to the building and directly over
an old drain, the six win stand with
rifles ready. As you near the gate you
will die by their shots. have spoken
truth, senior, swear 1t by the saints"
"What is this drain?-I do not I'M
derstand."
"A very old, large, round pipe, senior,
40 SsRf esAn hrrk
abandoned. You may see the end
above the ground on the way to the
gate. It is not far from the carcel it
self where Il comes up through the
ground, from there 1t runs along the
yard beneath where the soldiers stand.
Senior, I swear I have told you all
will you now not take from me this
strange, hideous monster with the
flaming eyes, ere die7"
Zone more thing must know" Jelly
replied the Hindu. SIT should ask Of
the corporal a cigarette then9
1.-THE officer In command would give
it to you"
SNOW, listen with care to my words
for on them hang life or death for
thee" venomously Kissed Jitendra,
bending so low that his lips almost
touched those OF the other man. 81
shall ask for that cigarette when
start for the gate. And, If ] am given
IL not-weII, st were better for thee
that thou vert never born. If / receive
It, and thou also obey me in what ]
shall now require OF thee-it shall be
life and Joy to thee In the years to
come. Heed well, therefore, and fail
not 10 obey me in all / shall command
ef thee"
He whispered a few words In the
ear Of the PROSTATE figure.
ssThat Is ALL" he observed.
4 understand. senior. BY the blessed
saints, swear TO do as you have
asked. Now, may departTe
Slowly Jitens1ra arose and stood be-
fore me door. The angry, crimson
orbs above the breast of the soldier