, 1923-03-02

Meanwhile Yasmini smoked a cigar
otto in the bedroom Tess had sur
rendered to her.
That evening Tom Triple turned
up. and his dog Trotters remaining
outside the window with a succession
Of volcanic grows rumbllng between
flashed teeth.
whats the matter with the dog.
that he won't come in7" asked Tess.
Nothing. ma'Rm. He's Just en-
e%ouraging himself. He stays here to-
night"
It's known all over sialpore that
the Princess is staying here. n Sun
gadhura's at large somewhere"
What have you in your hand2"
Yasmini asked.
"-Gungadhura' turban that he wore
the night when Akbar chased him
down the street" Tom replied.
Yasmlnl nodded. understanding in
stantly.
Five minutes later Tom took his
leave. They heard his voice outside
the window;
"Trotters"'
The dogs tail beat three times on
the veranda.
Take a smell o. thisl'
There was silence. followed by a
growL.
II he comes-kiu himi there
there's the turban for you to lie on
an memorize the smell! XIII him, ye
understand
A deep growl was the answer, and
Tom Tripe marched off.
Great preparations were made for
n royal wedding. And when Samson
heard that Yasmini was to be Utiru-
pas bride he was sufficiently disgust
cd. rive to satisfy Yasminl, who was
no admlrer OF his.
He was feeling jumpy about the
treasure, too. a company Of sappers
had dug right up to the pipal trees
without discovering anything so far.
except a few old coins.
Samson ed the wisest way was
to keen silent and continue digging.
even II the operation did kill ancient
trees.
And. Of course. he could not refuse
to recognize the wedding officially.
Yasmini had contrived the novelty of
wedding wedding and coronation cere-
mony and festival in one. Instead OF
two successive %outbursts OF squander-
ing, there would be only one. 1t was
economic progress! one could not
withhold approval of it.
Soon after the wedding and coron.
] alton It began to he rumored that
/ Utirupa had given Blaine another con.
D tract and fha n1m-g - an,,-a, --.-r
ed Samson's ears.
So Samson called on Utirupa and
requested explanations. He was told
that the new maharanee. II seemed.
had a fancy to build n palace where
the fort stood, n the matter was
receiving shrewd investigation by
Dick.
Samson could not go and invest.
gate what Blaine was doing. because
he was given plainly to understand
that the new palace was the mahar
anee's business.
The efforts of quite n number OF
spies, too, were unavailing.
So Dick had his days pretty much
to himself, except when Tess brought
his lunch TO him. or Yasmini herself
in boots and turban rode up.
/ The guards on the bast!ons, and ir
. the great keep in the center, knew
nothing whatever of what was hap
penlng. because all Dicks actlvit,
was underground and Tom Triple, witt
that ferocious dog of his. kept guart
over the ancient door that led to tn,
lower passages.
Tom keeping strictly sober, slept II
the fort and said nothing Of import
ance 10 any one. He looked draw
and nervous. as II something had ter
rified him, but public opinion ascrib
ed that to the snakes on the nigh.
OF the coronation.
Then <bout shutdown one evening
Tom Tripe gaEoped in n great. hurr,
TO Utirupa's palace. That was moth
ing to excite comment. because If
his official capacity he was alwayi
supposed 10 be galloping all over tn,
place on some errand or another.
But after dark Utirupa and Tas
mini rode out OF the palace unattend
ed, which did cause comment. Vas
mini in mans clothes. as usual wher
she went on some adventure.
Tess was up at the fort befor,
them. waiting with Dick outside tn,
locked door leading to the ancien.
passages below They aid nothins
beyond the most perfunctory greet
ings, but. each taking a kerosen,
lantern, passed through the door fl
single file. Tom leading, n locked
The door inter them.
I've not been in said Dick
voice from behind them. IAN ",
done is force an entrance"
From in front Tom Trtpe answered
"And I wouldn't have liked you
job, sir II vas bad enough TO ri
and guard the door. After you,
gone O. nights I'd sit for hours will
my hair IN end, listening; and III.
dog 'ud growl beside me as II he saw
ghosts!"
Maybe it was snakes" Yusmln
answered.
NO, Your Ladyship. This wa
the sound O. some one digginE-die
ging al night long down in the bow
ols Of the earth, Look out!''
They al jumped. but Il proved L
be only Toms own shadow that ha
frightened him.
They passed down into a sort o
aHHaa HL-H -