The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-03-07
CHAPTER Nv

regular ribbon of silver streaming
from the enormous temple: and the
temple was a citadel of nvsterv
| that loomed against Indian night
There was stiffness that seemed
like the womb of music, into which
the clatter and voices from the camp
kitchen fell naturally and the hoof-
beats of a cantering horse thudded
on dusty earth like calculated drum
beats.
A shadow that was a horse WINS
reined in with unnecessary vigor.
A palace messenger dismounted.
Norwood's servant, careful for his
masters dignity, accepted a silver
tube with the air Of conferring a
| favor.
Norwood opened the tube, after he
had made sure that the servant had
withdrawn to sufficient distance.
Then he went to the table and wrote.
inserted his own letter into the tube
and returned it to the messenger.
who cantered away.
'Ten Moses / want him."
Moses O'Leary came and stood in
the door of the tent.
"I've been invited to the palace
for supper"
II haven't had time yet, sir. to
find out much about what's doing at
the palace"
HAS anyone from the palace been
enquiring about me?"
asUAe Driro1
ant came asking if you'd need to
borrow horse. He knew you didn't.
because we were standing right un-
der our horses noses when he asked
the question. Besides, weren't
the right person to ask. But he
slipped me a box O. the Princes
cigars and asked lot about you"
What did you tell him?"
"Me? told him you're the mild
est man on earth, and how nothing
interests you so much as running
surveys"
What did you find out?"
Same as / told you-not much.
He had his orders, and he hadn't
had time to forget 'em, and he's
scared O. the Prince. | got a line
on the Prince all right. His brains
are made o. curry powder and red
pepper. He's about as safe to tackle
as a she-cobra that has just laid
her eggs. He's what they call a
steamer"
What do you mean?"
Nothing for nothing. Lavish-at
cent per cent. He'd give you any,
body's money, if he knew what he
was getting for it."
eff I should hear of your taking
his money, you'll find yourself in Sc
rious trouble"
"Me?"
Eyes. YOU"
"Pm incorruptible."
what else did you find out?"
Nothing, excep' what I've al
ready told you. There's Mrs.
Harding and Miss Harding at the
guesthouse. Mrs. Harding has
hurt foot and has been attended by
Prince Rundhia's doctor. Miss Hard
ing has already met Rundhia, and
they've talked"
''What about the doctor?"
Hes no good"
''No good in what way?"
mo self-respect. Scared. He lets
the Prince brow-beat him-takes a
tongue lashing without answering
back-lets himself be treated like
dog-no dignity excep' when the
Prince isn't looking"
Nothing new about Moor NAH
lam?"
mo. reckon they'll call him off.
He was just try-out, that's all he
was-sort O. skirmisher to feel out
the lay of the land"
Find out all you can about Prince
Rundhia."
'That ought to be easy. I'll go to
the bazaar tonight"
Nothing was ever quite Ike it in
Kadur's history. Plumbing, electric
light, modern furniture, and even
the will to do it can't make an In
dian palace, dusty with tradition,
lend itself to what the Maharanee
kept insisting was a picnic. She
wanted to be so modern and uncon-
ventional that even Rundhia would
approve. Sullenly defied by the out
ragged head-steward, whose turban
almost rose from his hair with hor-
ror, she dismissed him and took
charge.
The eventual compromise was
something between bean-feast and
a banquet, in the glass-roofed patio,
amid a forest Of potted palms and
canaries in silver cages. There were
Chinese lanterns and an utter drunk
enness of flowers. The long table
was loaded with silver and gold.
But there were paper napkins Chose
were Lynn's suggestion).
The Maharanee summoned the
Keeper of the Jewels, selected a
cluster of the most famous diamonds
from the Kadur collection. and
pinned it artfully on Lynn's black
silk. Lynn looked stunning N en,
broidered black silk. 1t sh~.
her eyes and her golden hair. Ex-
citenent made her parted lips so
kissable that the Maharanee had
qualms of conscience.
Darling, my nephew Rundhia is
a bad boy Be careful!"
Lynn laughed. The prospect of
annoying Aunty was delicious. Aunty
would be scandalizeu by high inks