The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-03-07
keep Rundhia within bounds.

keep Rundhia within bounds.
The first arrival was Rundhia. in
dinner jacket and turban of cloth of
silver, critical of the cocktails; he
introduced ingredients learned in
Europe. He watched Lynn. He
made apparently random remarks
10 discover her system, in case she
had one.
Miss Harding, you look innocent.
gay and very beautiful. But I mis-
trust you. Your emotions seem to
me to be too honest. You will go
home and laugh at us ALL"
Going home soon," Lynn an
swered. "Aunty didn't laugh when
she said that. She meant it."
rs that what amuses your"
mo. I'd rather stay here. / love
1 wonder what you mean by love
1t. Do you love us?"
I love the Maharanee. And I
love these pussy-footed eastern
nights. I'm wild about it all. I
can't bear the thought of going home
yet"
Rundhia smiled.
The sheep-faced Maharaiah en-
tered, toadied by attendants. who
arranged the cushions for him in
chromium-plated armchair at the
END of the long room. Too polite to
speak any other language than Eng
hsh in Lynn's presence, he frowned
sullenly at Rundhia and refused a
cocktail:
Your Bengali didn't bring my
tonic"
Sorry" said Rundhia. "He was
attending to Mrs. Harding. He
hasn't forgotten it."
Then came Norwood. Hot night
though it was, he was in full mess
uniform, not whites. Shorter than
Rundhia; but five feet eleven inches
is, after all, plenty, if it's built right
and properly carried. Rundhia's six
feet one, and almost perfect fea-
lures, somehow weren't SO notice
able after Norwood came into the
room. Norwood had red hair and
one of those bits of moustaches that
draw attention to the line of his
lips. His red shell jacket gloved a
vigorous torso. There was nothing
meek about him; nothing arrogant.
he was British gentleman in uni
form, as unselfconscious as a visitor
at the zoo.
He recognized Lynn instantly. His
expression changed to let her know
he recognized her. But he was i'm
perturbable. Nothing surprised him.
The palace chamberlain presented
him to the Maharajah and the Ma
haranee. He was gracious to them.
The Maharanee introduced him to
Lynn. He studied her. He smiled.
He said:
How do you do. We have met,
l believe. / am very curious. Don't
tell me. 1t might spoil the fun of
finding out. Am to sit next to you
at dinner? ! was always lucky"
Then he walked up and shook
hands with Rundhia: pleased.
Eyes. Nice to meet you"
1t suggested the well-oiled motion
of machine-guns getting ready. They
were enemies, at sight, as charmed
to meet each other as match and
powder barrel. Lynn knew it in
stantly.
Then Aunty arrived After that,
there was nothing to do but to listen
to Aunty's distant condescensions.
She was wonderful Even Rundhia
admired her spunk. Dressed in a
formal evening gown on purpose to
make Lynn feel ashamed of her.
self, taped and strapped by the doc
tor until she could hardly move, in
torture from the twisted ankle, she
proposed to dominate that compa-
ny. She did, until Norwood subdued
her. She wasn't used to being
snubbed by mere captains.
What do Engineer officers do?"
she demanded.
Nothing" he said, Except an
swer questions. Why? l might lend
you a man who can do thinPs "