The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-05-30
CHAPTER Xxx

Lynn changed from the Indian cos
tune. She entered the Maharanee's
boudoir in a chiffon evening gown.
please don't get up, Maharanee
dear. You treat me as if I were
royalty and you subject or some
thing"
"Why did you change your dress,
Lynn? You looked so charming in"
"Oh, this dress feels more honest
somehow. I mean more like my
real colors. Maharanee dear, I'm
afraid I'm all upset. I'm not fit to
talk to-"
Lynn dear, what has happened?"
"Rundhia made love to me, and I
wasn't even polite to him. Captain
Norwood came, and punched Run
dhia-he knocked him off the wall.
/ thought he had killed him. Oh,
why do keep on getting other peo-
pie into troubled"
The Maharanee's worried face
seemed to age under Lynn's eyes:
Lynn, did he hurt Rundhia bad
ly?"
"No, think not. Rundhia walked
away"
Ibid you speak to Captain Nor
wood?"
"Yes, I insulted him. ! did it
thoroughly. I suppose I shouldn't
have, since it was I who injured
him. But I couldn't help it. He
tore up my letter, so I tore up his.
I am not meek by nature. I'm not
good at pretending"
"And Rundhia wasn't hurt? You
are sure?"
Captain Norwood went down off
the wall to look. 1t wasn't long be-
fore Rundhia walked away. / don't
know why he didn't come back and
face Captain Norwood, but perhaps
he was too stunned by being knocked
off the wall. Rundhia didn't behave
very WELL"
''He needs you, Lynn"
Lynn NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
GUS: "Needs me? ! need a friend.
Rundhia is"
"Be strong" said the Maharanee.
81 am your friend"
Eyes, bless you'll Rundhia seemed
strong" Lynn said. "And he talked
like a perfect lover. I had almost
begun to believe he can love. And
then something happened. There
was shooting-perhaps nothing i'm
portant-I don't know. / asked Run
dhia, and ! thought he was lying
when he said he didn't know. After
that-it was quite sudden-I didn't
believe in him any longer. ! can't
explain it. Then Captain Norwood
came"
A servant entered. He announced
that Prince Rundhia was waiting.
Lynn, will you see him?"
mot alone" Lynn answered.
The Maharanee thought minute:
"It is against precedent, against
custom. Lynn dear, will you be
shocked if l ask Rundhia to come in
here to talk to us?"
Lynn found a smile. ST suppose
you're afraid he might brag! Let's
| risk that. ! won't tell"
Rundhia STROBE in. He stood stock
still in the center of the room. He
was wearing a blood-red turban and
dinner jacket. Ee looked like the
real Rundhia again. Easy to imag-
inc him horsed and riding hard at
an enemy. He gazed at Lynn a mo-
ment, then at the Maharanee:
"Has Lynn told your" he asked.
Eyes, Rundhia. What did you do
to make Captain Norwood strike
your"
Rundhia tossed his head. He
looked like a man when he did that.
Lynn saw. Lynn heard" he an
swered. 81 went at once and de-
manded Norwood's arrest. His High
ness your husband, my revered and
beloved uncle, refused. Lynn must
decide"
Decide what?" Lynn asked.
Rundhia looked strangely at her.
"Does he live or die? 1t was be-
cause you were there that Norwood
struck me. hadn't offered to strike
him. There is only one possible re-
tort to that insult-unless you for
bid. That is what you must decide
now. Lynn, have offered you my
heart and the throne of Kadur.
What is your answer?"
Lynn" said the Maharanee-and
stopped speaking.
There was knock at the door. A
servant entered:
Captain Norwood sahib! He
waits. He begs leave to speak to
Her Highness the Maharanee. Cap
tain Norwood says his business is
very urgent.
"I will not see Captain Norwood" +"
said the Maharanee. "This is nc
hour for me to receive him." She
stared at Rundhia. Then, slowly, to
the servant: 'Tell Captain Norwood
he should ask for His Highness my
husband. I will send word to His
highness, asking him to receive
Captain Norwood"
The servant vanished.
| Lynn got up out of her chair. She
looked desperate but perfectly calm
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