San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-20

vi
The gisl still stood, motionless, APP
parently sightless, unmoved by what
had passed.
Hutton" said Alpin, sat the first
appearance of something that doesn't
exist, / shall shoot"
The Hindu shrugged his shoulders.
"You escaped from prison in Aus
tralia.'
Evidently
why did YOU send the snake to
Mrs. Sandys?"
Rutton Lal maintained stubborn
silence.
do you want him to know?" Alpin
pointed to the still sleeping Beggar.
mo. No. He must not know"
81 thought so. Sublime goodness
can impress even such as you. Talk
and l promise he shall not know. How
is Mrs. Sandys concerned in this:S
"She was one of u.s."
ain Australian"
ayes"
"Where your business was abduct-
ing girls for your master, the Mana
raja of SawnporeI"
Yes" very sullenly.
"She was the Mary Moves who gave
you up 10 inc pulICe' why -
Love" said Rutton Lal with .
sner. "She loved man
a GOOD man."
a good man..
"Who knew her story. and her
wickedness-her abandoned childhood
and the current of events which threw
her into your hands:"
Yes"
"And he persuaded her to cleanse
her soul? He took his life in his
hands that she might be redeemed?'
He was brave man." said Rut-
ton Lal.
"Sandys?" q.
"Yes.n -
"You have hunted them down"
"For two years l have Searched
"You chose a strange means"
"A warning. The story would go
far. Many would read it. Those who
read would fear to do as this woman
did,"
Alpiu nodded. $50 I reasoned"
said he. And now, under shelter OF
the virtue of the Beggar of Benares
you have entered again the business
Of abduction?"
but he does not know. He does
not know"
lis there an honest man in this
householder
"All save four. 1t was neces-
sary."
~Rutton Lal,- said Alpin, "you will
| disappear. Now, while l wait. you
will send your message TO the inteli-
gence of the Beggar that you have
been called away. and who viii take
the trust Of his affairs. He must not
suffer-"
Rutton shrugged Realistically. he
shut his eyes and remained silent
moment. alt is done" he said.
when he awakens he will know"
q do not wish TO frighten the
girl. Tell her to awaken tomorrow
in her own home-without memories
at is done" said Rutton presently.
"Come," said Alpin. He bent over
and free Rutton's feet. There is
very modern telephone, Jenkins. VIII
you be so good as to notify the po-
lice. and call a taxi-cab TO take Miss
CRANE TO her home?" He turned TO
Rutton Lal. Perhaps he said, you
need refreshment. Will you choose
glass from the tray:"
"For the first time since birth,
said Rutton, 81 acknowledge intelll-
gence in an Occidental. You play
well to the last move He lifted
glass to his lips. and then sat down.
composing his limbs comfortably, and
buried his face in his arms as he
had sat when first we entered the
room.
We waited. Half an hour passed
in silence. Rutton Lal sat notion
less; the girl stood as If carved from
stone. The turbaned butler entered,
paused uncertainty.
,, Alpin arose. "Cover Rutton Lal,
he said. There may be trickery. 1
doubt it, but he may hope this is not
checkmate but only mate"
He motioned the butler. to follow
him. and they disappeared. Almost
instantly he returned with our old
friends. Detectives Samuels and
Roush at his heels.
"Gentlemen." said he. with a note
of eomplscence in his voice. Miss
Marylin CRANE. Wonder is Rutton
Lal, abductor extraordinary to His
Highness the Maharaja Of Sawnpore.
The story will wait. Let US make
haste"
Ed Roush stepped heavily TO .Rut-
ton Lal's side and placed a profess
sional hand on his shoulder. The man
did not move. Roush lifted the ORR
entail head; the eyes were closed; IL
was the face OF one who has gone
peacefully 10 sleep-blt it was the
sleep from which there is no Awaken
ing.
Late that night we rspped at the
Sandys' door.
1T is L. said Alpin, aud we were
admitted.
There is no need to move on" he
said. "Rutton Lal is dead.
You know" For the first time
Sandys exhibited strong emotion.
The story in all its details. But
you need have no fear. Malicious
tongues will never touch Mrs. Sandys.
Now you may begin 10 live.
But hOw:s l said. How did you
arrive at all this:H
The index" he said. The cobra
was a favorite means OF Rutton Lai.
He used il twice in Australia. once
in Shanghai. and nobody knows how
many times in other places IL. taken
with the disappearance OF number
of young society women, pointed 10
recurrence of the infamous Sydney
exposures Of two years ago. The
cable told me Rutton was q, large.
But admit l was shaken when
faced the Beggar Of BensreS. IL seem.
ed impossible evil could shelter itself
under such simple virtue. Then
saw RuttOn'S eyes
He turned TO Mrs. SsndvS-
Madam said he. may | congratu-
late you upOu q husband such as few
women possess.
Il am trying she said. with CRATE
full tears, ~to be worthy of him.
l---.-ts rOnN ~. Nfnfros.alts.n