The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1940-03-28

She didn't hesitate.
Lynn, love you'll"
Weren't you going to show me
the emeralds?"
Strange, how such tactics checked
him. He behaved as he did in the
garden the previous night when she
mentioned the British Resident and
Norwood. 1t seemed to make him
nervous-to remind him of some in
sufficiency within himself. He
glanced past her, at the eyehole in
the door, then turned and opened
the iron chest. He took out two
handfuls of huge emeralds.
Thousands" she said, 81 sup
pose, are like me. What is it about
precious stones that"
Thrills you? Sensuous things,
aren't they? Feel their magicl Press
them against your facet Enjoy
themi One of these days they'll be
mine. These emeralds are not State
property. Lynn! Love me and I'll
give them to youl"
THANK you. don't want them"
"Maharanee Lynn of Kadurl How
would that be? Lynn"
He moved both arms toward her.
She poured back the emeralds into
his hands. He had to take them.
or they would have crashed to the
tiled floor and that might have
brought in the guard. Rundhia
dumped them back into the chest.
Lynn spoke before he could:
"Show me the diamonds. Captain
Norwood" Rundhia finched. Lynn
noticed it. wouldn't show me those
that he has"
Again she had sent Rundhia's
thought off on tangent His eyes
weren't steady any longer. Lynn
followed up:
"They looked like big ones, but
he's careless with them. If hadn't
noticed them fall he might have lost
them.
Diamonds" said Rundhia. I'm
Norwood's pocket? When?"
This morning. He let them fall
while r. was talking to me-"
She was already sorry she had
said it. Rundhia's eyes darkened
with what looked like cunning Lynn
felt safer. Rundhia was running
wild along a new line, for the mo-
ment. But Lynn felt guilty. She
should not have defended herself at
Norwood's cost. She hadn't meant
to. But she guessed now that she
had. It made her self-contemptuous
and angry.
"Rundhia, what are you thinking
about?"
"You! You only!" His eyes sought
hers again. ITO hell with Norwood!
Lynn beloved, beautiful, glorious
girl"
Lynn laughed. ASK Aunty Hard
ing what I ami She saw us!"
Damn her, what do we carer"
Captain Norwood also saw US"
"Any of his business?" Rundhia
checked again. His eyes darkened.
Look here, Lynn, I don't like to
tell tales about people"
why do it them"
"You ought to know this. Nor
wood has been talking"
"About me?"
Eyes. While he was waiting to
enter the audience room just now
he asked a palace official where you
slept last night"
"I don't believe it."
"The official told me-"
Na~x,vooI xax,ar uyo,.1I Hn
such thing"
Don't you know he's spy for the
British Intelligence? Such fellows
haven't a scruple. Do you think /
would lie to your"
Eyes! l know you would! Let's go
now, Rundhia. I've seen enough. /
want to talk to the Maharanee."
"Merciless! You want to tantalize
me? I'm already mad about you'll
Mad, tell you'll Lynn, do you be-
lieve this love that sweeps me like a
storm can't conquer you? Do you
suppose you can fire my veins, tor
ture my heart-and not burn in the
same ecstasy? said burnt You are
as passionate as am! You are no
cold beauty. Come here"
She was against the table. He
was pushing her backward. Things
were falling off the table. He was
kissing her. His face was buried in
her hair. She freed her right arm
groped-seized the tennis racket and
struck him hard in the face with its
edge. Blood. Blood on her frock.
Lots of it. Rundhia let go then. He
found his handkerchief and held it
to his face Blood.
Lynn gasped, breathless: What
have l done?"
He didn't answer. With the hand
kerchief to his face he turned away
from her.
"Rundhia," she said, II wouldn't
have hurt you for worlds"
"You have broken my heart" he
answered.
"Rundhial"
It was the Maharanee's voice The
great teak door had swung open.
The Maharanee stood in the door
way, staring, with the guards behind
her. She turned and dismissed the
guards.
"Rundhia, what have you been do
ing? There is blood on Lynn's frock!
Lynn! Darling, what has he done
to you?"
turned to hide the blood and the rip
in her frock.
r,na Ndob1roroa cy,olro 4o P,,pIhia