The midland journal., 1940-02-02
CHAPTER xv-Continued

y
you reckon to find out?" asked Stod-
dart.
"Time,' said Moses. "Gulbaz
times it like jockey. He's the
best Judge o. pace in all India. He
times it to the minute. II he
isn't ready, then he'll play for
time.''
The truck halted in front of a
house whose red front door was
bolted, barred, and scrawled in
chalk with Infamous remarks anent
the virtue of its inmates. There was
an alley, yard wide, pitch dark at
the farther end. Into that alley yel-
low light streamed through a door
that was partly ajar. There was a
faint staccato drumbeat, a twang
of stringed music, the sickly wall of
flute, and stencil in which sensu-
GUS perfume fought with the reek Of
garbage. Moses spoke to the truck
driver. and the truck driver sounded
the horn-three times, then three
more, then once.
The dissolute and dirty looking
person in the big white tufban, to
whom Moses gave captured knife
in the bazaar. appeared suddenly.
apparently from nowhere.
whats that bloke up to? Where
did he come from?" Stoddart de-
manded.
'If you'd looked under the truck
you'd know" said Moses. "He amt
respectable, so he don't ride first
class like me and you"
Moses whispered to the man, who
walked down the alley and entered
the door. s
SIS this your harem? Aren't we
going in?" asked Stoddart.
"No. You'd break the ladies'
hearts. Wen wait here and give
'em chance. This is Gulbaz' tenn
porary field headquarters. I've sent
him message. He'll come or he
won't. If he don't, We'll know the
answer"
"What did you tell that bloke to
say to hin?"
II said that Sergeant Stoddart's
here with information that he'll sell
for price and wants a personal in
terview, face to face, no 60
betweens."
you've got your nerve" said
Stoddart. It'll be all over the
bloody bazaar that I'm telling Sc
crets. Why don't you use your own
manner"
We've hooked him. Here he
comes" said Moses. keep your
hair on now and sit tight. Say moth
ing, and leave it to me-"
Through the door, down the alley
and straight to the truck, without
glancing aside. without moments
hesitation, came a man of medium
height and middle weight, who
walked like a young god, though he
was middle-aged. He was dressed
in tight-fitting turban, white singlet
and loin-cloth and a striped silk
semi European jacket. He came to
the tail of the truck, gave one glance
at Stoddart and stared straight at
Moses. His smile changed, outward
ly only a little, but something hap
pened at the corners of his lips. 1t
had changed to fighting smile.
merciless, malicious.
You're a dog" he remarked in
plain English.
Fancy you giving away secrets, .
Moses answered. "I'm here to sell
'em for cash on the nose. Me and
this Sergeant know something. It's
hot. We're splitting fifty-fifty. How
much?"
Il win listen. You may tell your
secret"
''Cash on the nose," said Moses.
money down or nothing doing"
Gulbaz' smile changed again. II
conveyed a suggestion of vanity be-
yond the utmost. reach of ordinary
mortals. He glanced at Stoddart
then back at Moses.
'Are you satisfied?" he asked.
"You have recognized me? You can
truly report that you have seen me
in Kadur? You saw the door ] came
from? Very well, you may watch me
return. After that. you may go to
the devil"
III staying IC1C uIitA iIly hiSS-
senger comes out into the street
alive" said Moses.
81 will send him to you." Gulbaz
answered. "He is lucky. Luckier
than you are Wait and see."
Gulbaz strode back down the alley
and entered the door. A moment
later the messenger came out, look
ing scared, as if he felt murder be-
hind him. He ran and crawled in
under the truck. Moses spoke to
the driver. The truck started, for
ward, because the street was too
narrow to turn around in.
''Where now?" asked Stoddart.
"Back to camp" said Moses
"Well, you drew blank that time.
If you feel as foolish as you look
you'll think twice before you call me
q fathead again. You've spent a
rupee eight annas for nothing. and
you're not a cent the wiser.
sPlus having learned that you're
stupider than any other blasted Brit
isher ever met" said Moses, 1--WE
learned all came for. Gulbaz isn't
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