The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-06-06

ered.Iynn! Reach into Rundhia's g
hip-pocket and put his pistol on the
deski"
Lynn stared-resentful. alarmed
puzzled. Parted lips. Wide blue
eyes. Frowning.
Norwood repeated the order:
"Lynn, do as I tell youi"
.sRundhia," she asked, shave vo,,
o revolver?"
Rundhia was watching Norwood's s
right hand. He didn't dare to take
his eyes off Norwood. He didn't
dare to move his own right hand.
Lynn felt in his pocket. She laid an
automatic on the table:
"Rundhia," she said, 'T didn't
think that of you"
"Rundhia!" said the Maharanee.
She had unveiled her face.
Lynn spoke again: "Rundhia. you
came to offer Captain Norwood
something else than that, didn't you.
Where is it?"
Rundhia snarled: ''Tell him to put
his own pistol on the desk"
'I haven't one,' said Norwood. He
reached for Rundhia's pistol. jcrked
it open, broke it with a blow on the
edge of the desk and tossed it into
the waste-basket.
"You have damaged my desk. /"
said the Maharajah. ''It is a beauti-
full desk"
There came a knock at the door.
The Maharanee rearranged her veil.
Norwood stepped aside, keeping his
eyes on Rundhia, who was biting his
lip. The Maharajah tapped the gong
with his fingers. The door opened.
The anteroom attendant spoke rap
idly in his native tongue. The Ma
harajah looked like a frightened
sheep. He nodded, speechless. The
attendant bowed in the Resident and
closed the door behind him. Nor
wood, still holding the goblet in his
left hand, reopened the door and
jerked his head at the Bengali:
"Get outl" he commanded.
The Resident stared. He almost
forgot to bow to the Maharaiah. He
watched the Bengali leave the room,
Then he looked at Norwood again
and raised his eyebrows.
Norwood spoke sotto voce: "Did
my man follow you?"
eyes," said the Resident.
"All right then. The doctor won't
get far"
"You surprise u.s." said the Ma
harajah. "We are overburdenec
with joy by this visit. But what does
it mean?"
The Resident looked comfortless
"I am at a loss for an answer
Captain Norwood sent me "A sort O.
| SOS. He"
MAY ! speak?" asked Norwood
The Resident answered: ST thinl
you'd better. If His Highness-"
eyes, please" said the Mahara
jah. He was looking more puzzled
than anyone else, except Rundhia
who seemed confused by Lynn:
gaze; he avoided it.
"Rundhia," said Norwood. H,
held up the blue goblet in his lef
hand, almost as if he were going tt
drink toast: Lets hear your &C
cusation. What have you agains
me?"
Rundhia eyed him sullenly
Nothing" he answered. ST dom
know you"
! Norwood smiled: sVery cautiou
of you, Rundhia. I am really alive.
The Resident also smiled. He star
tied everyone by saying:
"Rundhia, there is a conversation
on record. Of course, only my yer
sion of it. But I refused, you re
member, to treat it as confidential
I made memorandum of it,"
Rundhia swallowed what was lei
of his dignity. He was looking bear
en-. He spoke as if the insolenc
had all oozed out of him:
''I forget what / said. I with
draw it anyhow. I have alread
written this"
He groped in his inside pocket
avoiding Lynn's eyes, although Lynn
looked sympathetic. He produces
an envelope, strobe past Lynn AM
offered it to Norwood. Norwoo,
waved it aside and jerked his hea,
toward the Resident.
The Resident accepted the enve
lope, and bowed to the Maharajah
"You permit me?"
"By all means. ! am fascinated.
Rundhia, glaring at Norwood, re
treated backwards until he almos
tripped over Lynn's feet. He mur
INJURED some sort of apology, an,
went and stood with his back to th
wall. His hands went reaching TO
an album, on the shelf behind him
Norwood set the goblet on the desl
behind the gong.
"Can you hit it," he asked. "Hav,
try. Luck changes, you know, Run
dhia."
Rundhia muttered. He stuck hi
hands in his trousers pockets.
Lynn was watching the Resident
He had opened the envelope. HI
read the letter. He passed it t
Norwood:
"Is this satisfactory to you, Nor
wcod?"
"It's entirely up to you, sir.
accept it if you do"
The Resident stepped forward an,
laid the letter in front of the Maha
rajah: "Will your Highness pleas
read that and, if you see fit, wit
/ mace I'D hnNn a Gallant oAsoo hnr