The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1939-10-26
CHAPTER XVIII-Continued.


baobab tendril. He didn't even have
to stand in the saddle to reach it.
The sails rode forward and took the
reins. Norwood climbed the tendril,
hand over hand, swung himself on
to the wall, and walked forward.
As he emerged out of the shadow
of the overhanging trees, he saw
O'Leary looking backward toward
him. Norwood extended both arms
and moved them slightly up and
down. That was an order to O'Leary
to patrol the road. Norwood want
ed no witnesses. He walked for
ward along the wall, toward the
kiosk, where Rundhia stood talking
to Lynn.
Lynn saw him first. She looked
startled and Rundhia faced about
for a moment speechless.
''Yeu, is it," he said. What the
devil do you mean, climbing walls
at this hour of the night?"
81 came looking for you. No, it
isn't my ghost. They missed me.
Did you hear the shooting? Aren't
you rather a duffer at choosing
marksmen?"
81 don't know and I don't care
what you mean by that remark"
said Rundhia. Get off the wall"
when I'm ready. Rundhia, what
have you been saying about me?"
You fiatter yourself. l don't care
to talk about you"
What did you say to the Resi-
dent? He mentioned that you had
called to see him.
Did he? Well, my conversation
with the Resident was confidential"
$50 was mine, Rundhia. Say to
me what you said to him.
You may go to the devil" Run
dhia glanced backward at Lynn,
then sneered at Norwood: "People
who pocket brides are not entitled
to"
It wasn't exactly a haymaker. It
was a right-handed wallop without
any ringside pedigree, but with all
the strength, contempt and anger of
a clean-living man behind it, that
landed on Rundhia's chin like a gun
going off. 1t brought laugh from
O'Leary, who couldn't possibly
have seen it. Rundhia reeled back
ward toward the garden as if pole
axed, cut for the count. He did
forward knife-bend on the edge of
the wall, and toppled backward into
the darkness. The crash of shrub
berry announced that he had fallen
soft. Norwood glanced at Lynn then:
Just a minute, please"
He ran down the steps to take
look at Rundhia and dragged him
out of the shrubbery on to the path.
He made a rough estimate that no
bones were broken and let him lie
there. He returned up the steps
and confronted Lynn.
II suppose you've killed him"
''Oh, no."
They could see each other almost
as distinctly as in full daylight.
Lynn'S hair was a mass of spun
gold. Her emotions, revealed on
her face, her parted lips, her star
tied, questioning, proud eyes drove
out of Norwood's mind the few terse
phrases that he had prepared. He
said suddenly, because he couldn't
think of anything else to say:
what are you doing in that
make-up?"
Yen should have hit me-" Lynn
answered. THAT was a cowardly
blow. You gave him no warning.
Are you sure you haven't killed
him?"
I'm afraid he'll live. Is it true,
Miss Harding, that you told Rundhia
about packet of diamonds that you
saw drop from my pocket this morn
ing?"
Yes"
Norwood stared at her. She didn't
finch. She continued speaking aft
er moment:
THAT is why I wrote inviting you
to come and see me. wanted to
tell you what had done, and to ex-
plain how I came to do it, and to
apologize"
81 didn't believe you had said it,"
Norwood answered. ST came to"
Lynn interrupted: 'I did say it.
1t was my fault. I wish you had hit
me, instead of Rundhia. / would
have preferred that to the humilia-
ton of being despised and of be-
ing"
Rundhia moaned on the path in
the darkness below.
Captain Norwood, I must go and
help Rundhia. Will you please let
me pass?"
No" said Norwood. ST will shout
for servants presently, to carry him
to bed"
His nose may be bleeding!"
Serve him right. I came to tell
you"
81 can't bear to be told. I know.
You're too late, Captain Norwood.
! have heard that what I said has
got you into serious trouble. 1 am
ashamed of it, if that is what you
want to know. If you had read
my
Norwood interrupted her. what
do You mean by too late?"
IF you had answered my letter."
Lynn's lips were trembling. She
was choking. "Rundhia-''
She couldn't continue. She felt
like crying. Suddenly she controlled
herself and looked straight in his
eyes:
Captain Norwood. If you please.
! must go and look after Rundhia.
viii you let me get by?"
Norwood didn't move: "What did
you say in your letter." he asked.
IF you despised me too much to
read it, why ask that now? / know
you got the letter. It was sent by
one of the Maharanee's roessencers