The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-09-30

lion came the quickest reasoning
and the swiftest intuition. Smith
threw himself face downward and
commenced the measuring worm
progress of the devotee in the d.
rection Of the red path before him.
He had gained the middle OF the
road and was approaching the
broken rickshaw when a second
honk from the motor car warned
him that it was turning into the
loop. The rapid hoofbeats OF trot-
ting horses came to his ears and,
CHANGING to the right, he saw the
rcd remnants Of an escort OF Ben
gal Lancers as they topped the
rise in ground.
In another undulation Smith
reached the rickshaw. He rose to
his feet. seized it upon the wheel
less side by axle and shaft and.
excrting all his strength. ran 1t
upon one wheel to the steep noun
tain side. A shot rang out from
the bushes, but in another minute
the rickshaw careened over the
prccipice and fell the dizzy height.
As Smith staggered back to the
road and broke into q run, there
came a mighty explosion from the
valley below. The whole noun
tain top trembled from tho con-
cussion. Native cries and curses
came from the bushes. Another
shot rang out and Smith went
down in u heap at the foot OF the
red clay path. He tried to rise
but failed, and started wriggling
his way up the path with his hands
und one leg. He was wounded,
but he was not satisfied that his
work was finished.
One more shot came from the
bushes, and then the giant hill
man. screaming with rage and
rushed at the wriggling Smith. In
his rear came score OF other
hillmen. All they desired was re-
venge upon the man who had
wrecked their plans.
Smith saw his enemies coming.
He also saw the Bengal Lanciers
halted in the distance with the
motor car in the rear. The pain in
his leg was terrific and dizziness
swept over him. AS in a dream
lie saw dark form bound across
the road and familiar face bend
over him. Then all was dark.
He awoke with the trickle OF
burning brandy in his throat. He
found his head resting in some
body's lap and looked up into the
face OF Langa Doonh-the faith
| full servant who had been left be-
hind in Calcutta.
Glad you are feeling better"
said an officer as he screwed the
top back on his pocket flask. You
have done the country a great
service. His Excellency will re-
ward you. Your friend. here.
saved your life. He picked up
your revolver and killed one and
wounded another. We couldn't
get 10 you in time"
Smith was yet too faint to speak
but he understood what was said.
lie placed his hand over that OF
his servant and pressed. AS he
did so an old Anglo-Indian.
.grizzle and weather-beaten.
shouldered his way into the little
group and gazed down at the
wounded man. A smile slowly
spread over his face.
! It's a good disguise" he said,
land it takes the head OF the
Criminal Intelligence Department
to penetrate it. Have you got the
leader Of these murderers,
SMITH"
! Smith was about to reply when
his eyes fell upon the old hermit
seated not two yards from him.
He tesitated and then grinned.
"Uh-huh," he said quietly.
Something crunched within tho
hermit's mouth and thei old head
fell forward and the body went
limp upon the ground.
"He has just taken poison
added Smith. indicating the
crumpled figure. Sir Oliver, the
job is finished"
The hermit?" exclaimed Sir
Oliver. "Impossible! These old
fellows never bother with worldly
matters"
Quickly Smith slipped OF his
puggree and dipped it into the
hermit's water bowl. He reached
for the inert head and rubbed the
wet cloth over the face. Paint
and grease soon stained the white
cotton and in few minutes the
dead features of Cyril Sanderson
were revealed.
THE - scoundrel!" exclaimed
Sir Oliver. He must have
double-crossed our government for
years"
The old sleuth dived suddenly
into the hut and began an investi-
CATION.
|. Another holy man." he called
from the hut. land a wireless set
with wires leading through the
wall TO where our friend Sander
SON sat at the door. The game
must have been to set off the ex-
plosive in the rickshaw by wire
less at the exact instant that His
Excellency's motor passed"
They carried out OF the hut an
other old man. almost the exact
duplicate Of what Sanderson had
been with the aid Of his clever
makeup. His hands and feet were
tied. and he seemed to be quite
llfeless.
Better have him proper up
against the wall in the sunlight"
advised Smith. He is probably
in Il state OF samadhi or religious
trance You may be sure that he
Is quite innocent"
Sir Oliver himself CIT the cords