The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-03-01
CHAPTER xXI-Continued.

-18-
The Bengal backed away from
Norwood. He looked three shades
paler. He was trembling. The Ma
harajah's right hand seized the
drumstick of the golden gong. He
raised it.
"No," said Norwood. "Not yet,
please, Your Highness."
The Maharajah stared. He seemed
uncertain whether to feel f1attered
or offended. He laid down the drum
stick and resumed the tapping on
the desk with his fingernails:
81 become nervous" he said,
"without my tonic. This is very
bad for my nerves. Captain Nor
wood, how did you know about
.this?'
Norwood answered without look
ing at him. He was watching the
Bengal and the white-clad servant:
II didn't know. / guessed it. Both
OF you, 60 and stand over in that
corner, with your backs to the
WALL"
The servant obeyed promptly. He
went down on his knees in the cor
ner. He put his hands together and
held them in front of his face. The
Bengal backed away slowly, watch
ing Norwood's eyes. He backed I'm
til he reached bookcase. Sudden
ly he snatched stamp album and
hurled it at the goblet. Norwood
caught the album in his right hand,
by one leaf of the cover. He set
the goblet on the desk, without spill
ing more than two or three drops.
Then he closed the album carefully
and gave it to the Maharajah. The
Maharajah petted it, stroked it:
"My collection of Cape of Good
Hopes! My triangular black" He
glared at the Bengal. "You vandal!
Now know you are guilty! Why
did you throw it?''
The Bengal had recovered some
of his presence of mind: SIT was at
him I threw it. By his touch he has
defiled your drinking goblet! He is
a bribe-taker! suspect him OF hav-
ing tempered with your tonic.
What has he put into it? I advise
Your Highness not to taste it'll"
The door behind the screen
opened, closed again, and the Ma
haranee appeared. Norwood bowed
to her, but she took no notice OF
him. She went straightato the Ma
harajah, knelt beside his chair, and
whispered. He grumbled at her,
soto voce. She continued whisper
ing. At last he nodded. She stroked
his right hand, murmured tradition
al phrases of respect and left the
room. She didn't even glance at the
Bengali.
IT need my tonic," said the Ma
harajah. 81 am becoming more
nervous each minute"
''Whiskey and soda should be a
good prescription for that" said
Norwood. 'I'd have brought flash
if l had any sense. I didn't think
of it."
-'I have never defiled myself with
whiskey," said the Maharajah.
Norwood kept his eye on the Ben
gall: eff you had never drunk any
thing worse than scotch and soda,
they wouldn't be betting in Kadur
bazaar that you'll be dead by mid
night. Any money on it, doctor?
What odds did you get?"
The door behind the screen opened
again. The Maharanee reappeared,
yelled. She was followed by Lynn,
and then Rundhia. Rundhia looked
startled. He shot one penetrating
glance at the Bengal, then at Nor
wood, then at the Maharajah. He
made a very obvious effort to re-
cover self-possession.
Captain Norwood" said the Ma
haranee, "why did you wish to see
me?"
"About this" said Norwood. He
hadn't time to reply decently. He
had noticed that Rundhia was trying
to signal the Bengal through the
opening under the desk, so he got
in the way. As soon as Rundhia
had stood up again, Norwood spoke:
sRundhia, here's something for
your bruised face. Come and drink
it."
Lynn stared with parted lips from
one man to the other. Rundhia
glanced at her; he looked stung,
scared, sullen. Norwood. hadn't
looked at Lynn once since she en-
tered the room.
The Maharajah pointed the gong
drumstick at the Bengali: sStand
STILL" he commanded. 'If you are
unable to stand, you may sit--on the
fioor-where you are"
s'Rundhia," said Norwood, chow
about trial by ordeal? You have
accused me, behind my back. ac-
cuse you, to your face, of an at
tempt to poison His Highness. What
do you say? Shall we share this
drink together? You drink half. I'll
drink what's left"
"You are the last man / would
drink with" Rundhia retorted.
Norwood laughed. He thrust his
right hand into his tunic. STEADY,
Rundhial Keep your hand away