The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-05-02

NORWOOD mas got TO DE killed,
said Rundhia. "He is in love with
Miss Lynn Harding. He hates me.
He is suspicious by nature. He is
on the defensive. And he is the
type of person whose idea of self
defense is to attack with every scrap
of energy he has. That kind of per-
son is much too dangerous. You
and l can't afford to let him live.
If we can blame his death on the
priests, that could be made to hold
water. The priests bribed him. By
this time, they probably know that
the news of the bribe is out. 1t
would be natural for them to murder
Norwood, to stop his mouth"
'Well, why not let them! Why not
leave it to them?" the Bengai re-
torted.
Because they won't do it, you
fool! Did you ever know a priest TO
do thing at the right time to suit
someone else? It viii have to be
done for them. Now here's the idea:
they keep a hospice where mendi-
cants may live as long as they
please, for no payment. There are
three men in that hospice, who
would kill their mothers and any
one else for an ounce of opium. For
two ounces, they would murder ten
children apiece. You know my man
Gulbaz?"
'Too well. Some day that bad
mash will turn on you"
Rundhia smiled: 'Long before
that, dear doctor, he shall swallow
one of your prescriptions Summon
Gulbaz. Give him money. I will
give you three hundred rupees, and
you may keep the change. Tell
Gulbaz he is to hire those three
men to assassinate Norwood tonight.
I don't care how they do it, and I
hope they get caught. They have
been living for months in the temple
hospice. Everyone will believe they
are in the pay of the priests. Do
you understand"
Il understand you. I won't do it.
/ have done what / have done, be-
cause you knew of former indiscre-
tions, for which you could have be-
trayed me TO the law. And I will
do what I will do, because / need
the money. There it ends. I wish
you wouldn't keep me waiting. I
am becoming nervous. l have
drugged his medicine until he needs
it five times daily. Now he is de-
manding one at bedtime. Why
waltz"
"Are you sure of the poison?"
"Quite sure. 1t is the same that
I gave you to test on the monkey
that you packed in ice and sent to
Delhi to be autopsied. 1t is vege-
table poison. 1t escapes analysis
by all known methods. 1t is one
of five poisons that battle analysis,
once it has become absorbed by the
blood. They will find in your uncle's
stomach, if they look, some traces
of marijuana. which it can be proved
that he himself bought, and which
I added to his tonic at his own writ
ten request. I advise you to act
quickly"
Rundhia nodded: 'If you will at
tend to the killing of Norwood, I
Will lCI yOd QO Tie OlllGI JOD lOIllSIlI.
But want Norwood out of the way"
There was chill at Lynn's heart.
AS she walked beside the Mahara-
nee into the room, that was called
the boudoir but retained the sump-
tuous, old-fashioned splendors of a
royal bibi-kana, she felt more self
critical than ever before in her life.
Not even Aunty Harding's cruelest
accusations had made her feel as
guilty, and as impotent to undo
wrong.
Lynn darling, why are you ST.
lent? I can almost always count on
you for chatter when feel despond-
ent."
"Maharanee, did you ever betray
anyone?"
LET us sit here by the window"
said the Maharanee. "Tell me how
it feels. Perhaps I can help you to
feel differently. You have helped
me in SO many ways. There is
law of compensation. Perhaps