Evening star., 1934-08-01
CHAPTER xxxr.

T-HF DWARF stared At the dan
Rerout letter. II it vent
| assray he might pay with his
a life Who should carry ~
His heart answered. No
Gre
Then he would -hiniseif--esFTy u
tn tse asflib commanding the English
rescue force Slowly ne ross and.
taking the paper. saw z, wss dry
As he Aeacended tfa great siaif-
rass messenger also descending.
sped past him. almost overscttine him
In his hurry. Khoon aripped the man.
what nevs takest thou7" queE-
toned the M0ngoi, feeling for his
knife.
But the man wlts.ed himself free
nf ths dwarfs grip and again sped on
his way.
A he ran the man called back
hystfrically that. the favorite Of the
harem had been slain by Shiy the
ilerem.
Tne sentries outside the entrance TO
fbe Mrs palaee--sn ugly mud brick
building. rs innumersbie windows
and wooden balconies earelessiy
daubed with whitewash-came 70 at
tention al the buriy figure Of Moham-
med Shah in his shabby Norfolk
saeket and fhsk jodphurs rode past
them into the courtyard. The strain
of the past few days had evidently
cold upon him for he looked gloomy
and prcoccupied
'The Mir sahib is waiting TO re-
eeive your honorl" announced the
rignified vzier, who greeted Mohanl-
med Shah
The aged ruler of Yanistan. still
Keen and hawklike. was seated In q
red plush armchair ~ one end OF a
long. gloomy room whose dark blue
walls we're decorated will ill-cared-
for Oriental weapons and shields.
Mohammed Shah bent low in salu-
fation and the vizier, having an
nounced the visitors titles in COM
plinentary profusion. took up his
stand behind his royal master, his
arms folded across his chest.
Let your honor be seated" said
the Mir courteousiy indicating some
cushions on a Persian carpet. We
received a telegram from our good
friend. the vieeroy, asking us TO send
500 of our soldirs with the colonel
sahib. and we had given the necessary
orders. Yet this morning there has
come to us a second telegram from
Simla oanceling the request that we
should send them. Can you explain
it?"
AT the time Of the storm even *he
strongest seek shelter" began Mo-
hammed Shah warily.
Storm" questioned the Mir.
"Your honor doubtless refers to the
troubled state OF our country"
That is 50, htghness," replied
Mohamned shah eravely, BLACK
cfnuds are gathering fast, where your
hirhness' wisdom would have all to
be fair"
From black clouds fall white
dropsr" was the quick response
What of the second telegram? Who
was TO lead the five hundred We were
sending2" demanded the Mir of his
counsellor.
"The chief, Yussuf Khan, royal
master"
The Mir nodded We trust him,
he said simply.
Il have asked that ! may myself
60 with the rescue force, your high
ness" remarked Mohammed Shah
slowly.
There is one disciple of Satan
responsible for the poisoning of the
wells of truth to which VIC have al
luded, mighty prince. The Cobra,
and he alone. Is responsible for the
kidnapping of Miss Lindsay and the
disappearance of Maj. Gray Sahib-
though, miserable wretch that l am,
II was my voice which spoke the
words to Maj Gray Sahib which
caused him to take with him one who
was certainly a traitor
The old Mir looked up inquiringly.
THE Sirdar Mohammed Shah
sehih speaks OF one Khoon. who went
as guide to the sshib, who is lost"
Our dear friend. Sir John Lindsay
Eahib, was not poisoned by him, you
Think" oueried the Mir anxiously
THAT was aSsuredly done by one of
his servant people"
A sudden guest Of the temper that,
fven 10 years before. had made hard
fned warriors tremble when it struck
SAlONh biit iran III Va AtlC NIL
in the red plush armchair. IF we
have 70 drain our kingdom of the
youngest sons of every house, We will
ind Lindsay Miss Sahib!''
The conversation was cut short by
The appearance of a tall, pale youth,
Hresed in a wide-skirted coat of green
velvet. The Mir looked down at him
hffectionately as the lad bent before
him and touched his fathers san
hals with the tips of effeminate
hands
welcome, Royal Som" he said
And, after repeating the titles of his
visitor, who had risen as the young
prince entered, he mentioned that
hohammed Shah had suggested him
sS leader of the 500 levies.
The boy turned his heavy-lidded
toormah~darkened eyes to Mohammed
Shah. II like not war he said sulk-
tly.
@-------s-T--