The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-11-11


dom"
An expression OF fury passed
swiftly over the Rajah's face, leav-
ing an expresslonless blank which
fUrboded i'll.
Colonel Marsden refers to some
thing in particularly
Il refer to the prisoners answer
returned the colonel in a whitening
voice as he again inserted MS
monocle. The man said that palace
guards had stolen his daughter and
that he heard her crying upon the
other side of the wall"
Smiths gray eyes wandered from
one TO another Of the group while
II hand contracted upon the carved
arm of the chair.
And refrained from translating
correctly out Of Difference to west
ern ideas of morality" replied the
Rajah indifferently.
Perfectly justifiahle," said Baron
Stivenskl. I'm polite society the
whole truth is seldom used. 1t ap-
pears to me that the mighty colonel
was the first to practice deception
when he pretended that he could
not understand the dialect. Did not
Your Highness say that there was
TO be some penalty for the first OF VI
who attempted deception"
Baron Stivenski seems to forget
that it is possible to understand a
language to a considerable extent
without being able to speak IT," re-
torted the colonel with quiet dis
dain.
Perhaps each Of lis was n tHfe
to blame, colonel" said the Ra1ah'
Shall We call It quits"
Without waiting for an answer
tho Rajah raised his emerald
adorned hand and once again mo-
toned the strangers TO their task.
Before they raised the silken cord,
however. Smith struggled indolently
to his feet and walked across the
skin covered floor to- the scene OF
torture.
Your Highness." he spoke over
hts shoulder. there is apt to be an
accident"
No one knew what the young man
was about to do. His act and re-
mark We're so unexpected that there
was a silence while he bent over
and examined the thin cord without
touching II. The Rajah, his features
hardening, waited for further en-
PLANTATION while the Baron showed
decided pleasure at the possibility
Of trouble which would not fall upon
him.
With the exception Of Smith. him.
self. the colonel appeared to be the
most indifferent man in the room.
Yet he was worried-terribly wor-
ried. lie knew that Smith was
about to try to save the life OF the
wretched coolie-something he had
fenced for himself-and he could
see nothing but disaster ahead.
The great Sikh also sensed catas-
trophe, for he moved up beside his
master so that his long, white coat
touched the colonel's arm. Colonel
Marsden understood the movement
for he felt something hard In his
servants side pocket. There is no
pocket in mess uniform which Is
large enough to hold a weapon and
the colonel knew that his servant
had brought his service revolver in
case some emergency should arise.
The cord Is too thin. Your High
ness" said Smith, turning around,
1T is almost sure to break. ! once
saw a hanging where the rope broke
because il had been struck by a
bullet. II was u very messy job.
Could we not have your men double
the cord
My dear fellow" returned the
RaIah. that cord is strong enough
10 bear the weight of two men. II
has performed its Office many times
and there is not the slightest chance
OF breAking.'
Yet could snap 1t with my two
hands" answered Smith.
Absurd" calculated the Baron.
"A thousand crowns against 4 hun
bred rupees that You can't
The Rajah laughed quietly.
mir. Smith," he said. AS an agent
of midas secret service you are
very easy to read. You wish to save
the life of the condemned man and
propose IN impossibility In attack
ing your problem. Very we'll, shall
call your blur. I. too, shall lay n
wager. II you snap the cord the
cuolie goes free. II you fail-you
shall hold one end Of the cord while
he dies. DO you accept"
"l'h- huh" said Smith.
Like flash he turned and
grasped tho silken cord. holding II
high above his head before tho two
executioners knew what he was do
ing. With n rapid twist about his
hands he gave one jerk and the cord
fell in two pieces 10 the floor.
"Gcntlemcn," exclaimed the Ratah,
Ct learned to he a good loser ut
oxford. The man goes free. I'm
bind him"
The two strangers. after a mo-
mcnt 0c establishment, fell upon the
pieces of cord and tore at them
with all their strength. Yet neither
could break his piece.
As the prisoner was freed and
led away the Rajah slipped OF one
Of his emerald rings.
Il would buy the secret OF your
trick" he said 10 Smith.
Il could not sell IL" replied Smith.
Il learned it partly from boy who
tied up parcels in country store
and partly from Il conjurcr with
whom | once studied. conjurers
are jealous of their secrets"
1t was in the same room that the
Raiah and his guests drew their
chairs about Il small table in tho
great bay and puffed their after
dinner cigars. Outside the mOonlit
scene shimmered I'm Eastern glory
and Il delightful breeze played
through the open windows. The
tension that had existed seemed to
have vanished-at least upon the