The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-03-14

He thought he had him at dis
advantage:
"You sing" he answered. Per
haps you know something for good
little boys and girls. Do you know
any hymns?"
Norwood surprised both of them.
He took the guitar and changed the
tuning, struck some chords at ram
dom and then played the thing bet
ter than Rundhia could. He felt his
way through one air to another, un-
til he found one that suited his mood.
Then he trolled out Kipling's "On
the Road to Mandalay."
He had a fine voice, baritone, and
he could whistle the chorus instead
of repeating familiar words. It
wasn't great art, but it was manly.
1t was decent Where there weren't
no Ten Commandments" Norwood
plainly had inviolable standards of
his own.
Gas usual, the Army roars its slo-
gans to the sky" said Rundhia. II
can imagine you In love with Bur-
mese woman, Norwood. Why not
apply for Rangoon billet?"
"And miss this?" Norwood an
swered. He was looking at Lynn.
Here's your guitar. Are we go-
ing?"
He offered Lynn his arm and she
was too astonished to refuse. He
wasn't her rightful escort. She hard
ly knew him, and what she did
know had annoyed her. However,
she found herself walking beside
him with her arm in his, and there
was nothing for Rundhia to do but
to follow them down the ancient
steps until the garden path was wide
enough for three abreast. Norwood
pressed Lynn's arm to make her lis
ten. He spoke so low that she could
hardly hear him:
"The Maharanee is a dotard on
Rundhia. You can't depend on her
for that reason. Leave Kadur the
moment your aunt is fit to travel" :"
"Oh, you can't guess"
Eyes, | know. was an orphan.
I was raised on stupid discipline
and fossilized injustice-Oh, hello,
Rundhia, you there? Thought you'd
stayed behind to pray or some
thing"
Rundhia was grinding his teeth.
He didn't answer.
Lynn took pity on him: when
will you show me the treasure
room2"
when we're alone," Rundhia an
swered. Then, spitefully: ours is
one Of the few treasures that haven't
found their way to London"
"You mean the others were plum
dered?" Lynn asked.
"Pawned," said Norwood.
After that they walked in silence
to the palace front door.
Good night" said Rundh'a point
edly.
Norwood smiled. "In ask you to
be kind enough to see me to the gate,
Rundhia. The guard let me out once
tonight. They might think I'm my
own ghost if l turn up alone. Miss
Harding, you know why the beauti
full Indian girls are locked up II
zenanas, don't your"
as that a conundrum? No, why?'
Because good-looking Indi mer
would be ashamed of 'emselves i
they couldn't make Casanova lool
| like a mere amateur.
Are you being rude?"
Rundhia came to her aid: Eek
cuse him, Lynn! Soldiers fold thei
tents and leave their girls behin'
them. They suppose all women ar
alike. He meant it as a friendl,
warning not to trust me-"
Lynn stood at bay on the palac'
steps. It was on the tip of he
tongue to insult Norwood so thor
oughly that he would never presum'
to speak to her again. She WASH
quite sure he didn't expect that
But she glanced from one man t.
the other and changed her mind.
How about stroll as far as tht
guesthouse to find out how your aun
is?" Rundhia suggested.
Thanks, no Thare's = nhone II