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e RON JOSEPH VANCE AUTHOR Or "THE BRASS UOWIs." ETC. OllQSSimilATOEIS by OMSCT COPYfllCHT OY LOWS tJOSCPH VANCE 10 8YNOP8HJ. David Amber, tnrtlr. for h duek-ahoot-In visit with his fries. Qualn, romo up on a youn? lady aqucsrlan wlip lias bcert dismounted by hrr f-cjfte beromlnc frlKl: . ned at tho sudden l,jarnhca In tho rcA of a burly. Hindu. Sa felarra li h llshar , J,al Chatlrfyjl, "Tn appolrvj mouthpiece pf the Bell," addrrinea Amw h ran! bronzi .VI a a man of high rank and preimlnK S myaterloua llttl bronze box. "Tlio JO" ken,1 Jnto iiia hand, dliappeara In th wood. The irtrl calls Amber by name. He In turn uildrs her an Minn Boplila Farrell, daURhter of Col. Farrtll of tlm ilrltlfiti diplomatic aervlca In India and ylattlnfr the 6ualns. tho Qualrt hnnio la burglarized and the tins. He1 bronxe box stolen. Ambfr and Qualn so hunting on an island and become lont and AmDer is leit marooned. He wamlera about, finally reochta a cabin and rrc ofmlira aa fta occupant an old friend named Rutton, whom he laat mot In Kna iana, ana who appears to be In hiding. When Mil rarroll li mentions! Itutton is strangely agitated. CliatterJI appear and aummoria Ilutton to a meet I tit of a myaterloua body. Ilutton aelzea a revol ver and daahea aflcr Chatlnrjl. He re turn wildly excited, saya lis haa killed the Hindu, take polacl, and when dying aaks Amber to bo to India on a myaterl oua errand. Amber derldca to leave at once for India. On the way he Hendt a letter to Mr. Laberfouehe. n acientlflr friend In Calcutta, by a quicker rouie upon arriving he nnda a note awaitm him. It dlrecla Amber to meet hla friend at a certain place Tho latter telle. him ho knows hln Inlulnn In in irnt Mlna Wr. rail out of tho country. Amber attempla to dispose of the Token to n money-lender, l mlatnkon for Itutton and barely eacapei being mobbod. CHAPTER X. (Continued). "Pardon, bazoor, but is this worth thy while? I am no child; what I know I know, If thou art Indeed not Har Dynl Itutton, how 1b It that thou dost wear upon thy finger tho signet of thy houso" Sallg Singh Indicated tbei emerald which Amber hod for gotten "the Tdkon sent thee by! tho Hell? If thou aro not my lord tho rightful Maharnna of Khandawur, how la It that thoit hnBt nnsworcd tho summons of tho Dell? Aro tho serv ants of tho Dody foola who havo fol lowed thco hither, losing trace of time no single Instant since thou didst slay the Bengali who boro tho Token to theo? Am I blind I, 8allg Singh, thy childhood's playmato, tho grand vizier of thy too-brtof rule, to whom thou didst surrender tho reins of govern ment of Kbandawar? I know thco; thou canst not decclvo mo. Tmo it is that thou art changed sadly changed, .nay. lord; and the years havo not worn upon thco as they might I had thought to find thee an oldor man and, by thy graco, a wiser. Hut oven os I am Sallg Singh, thoil aro nduo other than my lord, Har Dyal nut ton" Salt gingh put his shoulders against tho wall and, leaning so with areas folded, regarQed Amber with a triumph not unmixed with contempt. It was plain that he considered his argument final, his crsq complete, tho verdict his. White Amber found no words with which to combat his falso Impression, and, could only stare, open mouthed and fascinated. But at length he recollected himself and called his wits together. "That's all very pretty," ho admitted fairly, "but it won't hold water. I don't Rupposa these faithful servant of the Dell you mentioned happened to toll you that Chattorjl himself mis took me for Tttitton, to begin with, and juBt found out hln mistake in time to rocover tho Token. Did they?" Tho man shook his bond wearity. "Nothing to that import hath comb to tnlno cars," he said. "All. right. And of course they dtdn'b tell you that Itutton committed aul clde down there on Iong Island, just after ho had killed tho bnbu?" Again Callg Singh replied, by malting a negaUva movement of IiIr houd. "Well, all I've got to any la that your iufornal 'Body' employs u giddy lot, of incompetents to run its errands." Snllc Singh Bald nothing, and Amber pondered tho situation briefly, Ho understood now how tho' bnbu's com panion had fallen Into error; how Chattorjl, ponscsslng sufficient Intel llgenco to recognize IiIb Initial mis take, had, having rectified It, saved his face by cnylng nothing to his com panion of tho incident; and how tho lattor ha4 remained in ignorance of Button's death after tho slaying of Chattorjl, nnd had pnrdounbly mis takon Amber for tho man ho had bqou sent to spy upon, Tho prologuo vu plain enough, but how to deal with this, its spquol, Was a problom that taxed hln ingenuity, A atnglo eolation seemed practicable, of Uio many ho debated: to get In touch with Laber- touche and leave tho rest to hlnl. Ho stood for so Ibng in modltntlon that the Rajput bogan to nhow traces of Impatience, Ho moved restlessly, yawned, and at length spoke. "Js, not my lord content? Can h not see, the dice aro cast? Whnt profit can he think to wis through furtherance of this forco?" "Well;" curiosity prompted Amber, to ask, "what do you want ot me, then?" "Is there need to ask? Through tho Mouthpiece, the Bengali, Beharl, Lai CbatterJI, whom thou didst slay, the massage of the Bell was brought to thee. Thou hast been called! It Is for thee to answer." "Called?" "To the Gateway ot Swords, ha- ueor. 'Oh, yes; to be sure. But where la Utundcratloa ts It?" 1 5 J "That my lord doth know." "You think bo? Well, havo It your own way. But oupposo I decline tho Invitation?" Snllg 8lngh looked bored. "Since thou haat como so far," ho said, "thou wilt go farther, haioor." "Mcanlng-by fprco?" "Of thine own will. Thoso whom tho Vdlco callcth Aro not led to itv aa(owny by their nofics." ,', "But," Amber persisted, "supj6e they won't go?" "Then, hnAoor, doth tho CounnS of tho Hand sit In Judgment upon them." Tho significance was savagety obvi ous, but Amber merely laughed. "And tho Hand strikes, 1 prcsumo?" Snl'g 8lngh nodded. "Bless your henrt, I'm not afraid of your 'Hand'! But am I to understand thnt compulsion Is not to bo used In order to get mo to tho Gateway wherever thnt Is? I mean, I'm free to oxorclso my Judgment, whether or not I nhall go fron to leavo this place and return to my hotel?" Gravoly tho Itnjput ( Inclined his bond. "Even so," ho 'assented. "I caused thco to be brought thither nolo ly to mnko certain what thou host out of thlno own mouth conllrmod tho report thnt thou hndat becomo" alto gether traitor to tho Ball. So bo It. Thoro rqmalns but tho warning tliat for four days more, and four days only, tho Gateway romalns opon lo thoso summonod. On .tho fifth It closes." "And to thoso who remain" in tho outer darkness on tho llfth day, Sallg Singh 7" "Godwin merciful." sold the Itajnut piously. "Very well. If that Is ill, I think I" will now leave yon, Salle Singh," mild Amber, fondling his pistol mean ingly. "One word moro," Sallg Singh In terposed, very much nllvo to Amber's nttltudo: "I wero unfaithful to tho trust thou didst onco roposo In mo wore I not to wnrn thco thnt whither thou gocnt, tho Mind will know; what thou dost, tho Kyo will see; the words thou shalt titter, tho Ear will hrnr. To all things thoro Is uri end, also oven to tho patlenco of tho Body, Shnbaah!" "Thauk you 'moBt to death, Sallg Singh. Now will you bo good enough to order a ghar! to take mo back to tho Gront Eastern?" 'My lord's will Is hla servant's." Sallg. Singh startod for the door tho least trnco too eagerly. "Ono moment," said Amber sharply. "Not so fast, my friend." Ho tapped his palm with tho barrel of tho pistol to udd weight to his peremptory man ner, "I think it you will lift your volco and call, Borao pno will answer. I vo taken a great fancy to you, If you don't know It, and I don't pun pose letting you out of my sight until I'm safely out of this houso." With a sullen air tho Itajput yield ed. From lifs expression Amber would havo. wagerod much that thoro was a bad quartor of an hour In storo"1 for thoso who had neglected to disarm him when the opportunity was tholra. "Aa you wljl "conceded Sallg Singh; and ho clapped his hands smartly, crying: "Oho. Motol" Almost instantly tho Iron door swung opon and tho lnmp-bgarer ap peared, salaaming. "Toll him" ordered Ambor, "to brlug mo a cloak of boiuo eort not too conspicuous, I'vo no fancy to kltjlc up a B0andal at tho hotel by re turning wltn theso dudB yislblo, You can charge It up to profit and loss; If It hadn't boon for tho tender treat ment your nssnsBlns gavo mo, I'd bo loss disreputable" A faint . Btullo fllckerod In Sallg Singh's oyos n look that was not wholly dovold ot admiration for tho man Who had turned tho tables on lilni with such case. "Intlood," ho said, "1 was lucking In courtosy did I refuso thco thrtt." And turning to tho Borvunt ho Issued lnntruct!ons lu accordance with Ambor's domnnds, adding gratuitously an ordqr that tho way of exit should bo kept clear. Ab tho mnn bowed and withdrew Ambor grinned cheorfully. "It wasn't n bad afterthought, Sallg Singh," ho observed; "Precautions like that re lieve Uio mind Wonderfully some times." But tho- humor of tho situation seemed to bo loBt upon tho Rajput. Without unduo delay tho servant returned With a light cloak and tho announcement Ihnt tho ghart was In waiting. His offer to help the American don tho garment was graciously declined. "I've ft,fancy to havo my nrms froo for the .prosont," Amber explained; "I can getit on by roysolt In tho gharl." He took tho cloak over his left arm "I'm ready; lead on!" ho cald, and with a graceful wave of the pistol bowed , Sallg Singh out of the collar. Amber civilly Insisted that both the Beryant and his master leave tho house before him, but, once outside, he made a wary detour and got be tween them and tho waiting convey ance. Then, "it's kind ot you, Sallg Singh," ha said; "I'm properly grate ful. I'll 'say this for you; you play the game fairly when anybody calls I your attention to the rules. Good night to you and, I say, bo kind enounh to shut tho door as you go in. I'll Just wait until you do." Tho Rajput found no answer; con ceivably, his chagrin- was Intense. With a curtjtoodho turned and.fror cnte'rod tho house, Mbto followiUig Tho door closed and Ambor Jumpo'd briskly Into tho gharl. "Home, James," ho told tho gharl wallah, In great conceit with himself. "I mean, tho Great Eastern hotel and Juldno Jaoi" Tho driver wrapped a whiplash round tho corrugated flanks of his. hbrso nnd tho gharl turned tho cor ner with grntlfylng apecd. In half a tnlnuto they wero In tho Chltpur road. In 16 they drow up before tho hotel. A Bengali drifted listlessly past, a bored nnd blaso babtl In a ault of pink natln, wandering homo nnd In terested In nothing' saVo bis 'own bland self and tho. natlvo clgaretto that drooped languidly from his lips. Ho passed within a foot of Amber, and from somewhero a volco spoke tho Virginian could havo taken nn oath that tht babu's lips did not movo in n cloar, yet discreet whisper. "Tomorrrr' it said; "Darjeollng." Amber HlShcd his cloak round him nnd cntoXV tho hotel. CHAPTER XI. The Tonga. 1 ''Bndshah Junction, Mr. Ambor . . Badshah Junction . . . We'll bo thoro In 'alt an hour . t ." Inexorably tho volco droned on, ro penttng thovadmonltlon over and over, Mutinous, Amber stirred nnd grum bled jn his sleep; stirred and, grum bling wakened to anothor day. Dog- gott stood over him, doggedly Insist ent , "Not much tlrao to dross, sir; we'ro dUo in loss than 'alf an hour." "Even a tonga will bo. a rcllof nftor it Was 8lgned: throo days ot this, Doggott," ho ob served, surrendering hlmsolf to tho mluUitratlonB of tho servant, It was tho third morning succeeding thnt on which ho hnd rlson from his bod In the Grent Eastqm hotel in Cnlcuttn, possessed by a wild anxloty to find his way with tho least posslhlo delay to Darjcollng and Sophln Far roll a Journey which ho was dostlned nuvor to mako. For while lie brea.k fasted a telegram had boon brought to him. "Your train for Bonnres," ho Bald, "loaves Howrnh nt 0:30. Imperative." it wna signed: "Pink Sntln," Ho acted upon It without thought of disobedience; ho was In tho hands of lnbertoucbo, nnd I.abortoucho know best. Between tho lines ho read that tho EnglBhmuU considered It unwlso to attempt furthor communication In Cnlputtn Something had happened to ouminnto tho trip to Darjcollng. Labertoucho would undoubtedly con trlvo to meot and enlighten him, olth or on the way or In Bonares Itself. In tho long, tiresome, eventless Jour ney thnt fotlowcd his fnlth was sore ly tried; nor was It JuBtlnod until tle trnln paused somo tlmo after midnight at Mogul Soral. There, bpforo Am bor and Doggott could alight to change for Benares, their compart ment was Invndcd by an unmistakable lonfer, very drunk. Tall and burly; with red-rlmmod eyes In a pasty pock marked faco, dirty and rusty with a woek-old growth of beard; clothed with sublime contempt tor tho mod and exalted beyond reason with liquor a typical loafer ot the Indian rail wayshe flung tho door opon and hlmsolf Into Amber's arms, almost knocking the lattor down; and resent ed tho accident at the top of his lutlgs. "You mlsarablo, misbegotten blighter of a wall-oyed American " At this point he became unprlntably profane, nnd Doggott fell upon him with tho laudablo Intention of throwing him out. In tho struggle Amber caught his eye, and It was bright with mean ing, "Pink Satin!" he hissed. "He's gono ahead. . . . You'ro to keep on to 'Agra. , . . Change for Bad- .-f "l i i.'. m- ,-r "" 1 'ft -i t-i'-i ' shah Junction, Rajputana Route. . Thon tonga to Kuttnrpur. . Farroll's there and his daughter. . That's right, my man, throw out! -,, Ills downfall was spectacular. me In hi enthusiasm for the part.Jio played, ho had erred to tho extent of deliv ering a blow in Doggott'B face, more forcible, probably, than ho had In tended It to bo. Promptly ho landed sprawling on tho station platform. And tho train continued on Its ap pointed way, bearing both Amber and tho Injured Doggott. Thus they camo to tho heart of Rajputana. In tho chill of dnwn they wero de posited at Badshah Junction. A scanty length of rudo platform rccelvod Ihem and their two small traveling bags. They stood, then, forlorn In a howl ing desolation. For Blgns of Ufa they hnd the station, a flimsy shelter roof ed with corrugated Iron, a beaten track that wandered off northwards and disappeared over n grasslcss swell, a handful of mud huts nt a distance and tho ticket agent. Tho latter, a sleepy, surly Eurasian In pyjamas, surveyed thorn llsllossly from tho threshold of tho station, and without a sign cither of Interest or contempt turned and locked himself In. Amber sat down on his upturned suit case and laughed and lit a clga retto. Doggott growled. Presently tho sun rose In glory and sent Its burning lovel rays to cast a shadow several rods long ot nn en raged American beating frantically with clonched lists upon the door of ah unrsponBlvo rallwny station. Ho hammered until ho was a-wenry, then deputized his1 task to Doggott, Who resourcefully found him a stono of size and proceeded to mako dents In tho door. This method elicited tho Eurasian. He canto out, listoned nt- "Pink Satin." tontlvely to abuse and languidly to tneir demands Tor a tonga to bear them to Kuttarnur. and observod that tho mall tonga left once a day at tljreo In tho afternoon. Doggott caught him as ho was on tho point of returning to his lntorruptod reposo and called his attention to tho un wisdom of his ways. Apparently convlncod, this ticket ngcrit announced his Intention ot en denvorlng to find a tonga for tho sahib. BoBldes, ho wns not unwilling to ncqulro rupees. Ho scowled thoughtfully at Amber, ferociously nt Doggott, wont back Into the station, gosslpped cnHunlly with tho telegraph sounder for a qunrtor of an hour, nnd finally reappearing, without a word or d nod left tho platform for tho road and walked and walked and walked nnd walked. An hour pnssed as three. Tho heat becamo torrlflc; not a breath of wind stirred. Tho faco of tho world lost Ub contours In wavering mlrngo. In tho simple fulness of Asiatic time a tonga camo from heaven know where. Amber got up and looked It over .with a Just eyo and n temper nono mo Bweeter for hla experience. It wan a brute of n toncn. a rtnnh,i and ramshacklo wreck of what had onco'oocn a real tonga, with no top to protect the travelers from tho sun, and accommodation only for three, ln- ciiuung tno driver. The. Eurasian ticket agent alighted and solicited runeea. Hn ant ihom and wth them Amber's uny.nrnlsbed opinion oi mo tonga; something which wbb not received with civility by the driver. Ho remained In his seat a short, swjvt native with, an evil countenance, and, acroBs his knees, a sheathed tul war arguing with Amber In broken English and abusing him scandalous ly In lmpurest Hindi, flinging nt him In silken tones untranslatable scraps of bazar Billingsgate. For, na ho ex plained In an audlblo aside to the ticket agent, this sahib was an out lander and, being as Ignorant aa most sahibs, could not understand Hindi. At this tho Eurasian turned away to hide a grinDf delight and the driver wink deliberately at Ambor tho while he broadly sketched for him his ancestry and tho manner of his life at homo and abroad. , Thunderstruck Amber caught hlm solf Just ns ho was on tho point of, att tempting to drag tho drlfvr from ;hls seat, nnd bent him Into a moro endur able) framo of mind. Ho Bwnllowed tho hint and gavo un tho contest. "Oh, very well," ho conceded. "I prcsumo you'ro trying to say thoro Isn't another tonga to bo had and It can't bo helped; but I don't llko your tone. However, thoro doesn't seem to bo anything to do but take you. How much for tho tw6 of us?" "Your servant, sahib? Ho cannot rldo in this tonga," asserted tho driv er Impressively. "Ho cari'L' Why not?" "You can seo thoro Is room for but two, and I havo yet another passen ger." "Whero?" "At tho first dak-bungalow, Bahlb, whero the mall tongn broko down last night. This tongn. which I any Is nn excellent tongn, an aram tonga, a ton ga for caso, Is sent to tnko Its place. Moro thon this, t am bidden to go In haste; therofore thoro lo little tlmo for you to decide whethor or not you will go with mo alone. As for your servant, he can follow by this, after noon's mall tongn." Upon this ultlmntum ho stood, Im movable; neither throats nor bribery availed. It was an order, ho said; ho hnd no choice other than to obey. ShabnBh! Would tho Bahlb bo pleased to mako up his mind quickly? Pcrforco, tho sahib ylolded. "It'll bo Labertoucho; Iio'b arranged this," he told himself. "Thnt lonfer said he'd gono on nhcad ot us," And comforted ho Issued his orders to Doggott, who received nnd acceded to them with all tho: 111-graco Imagin able. He waB tp remain nnd follow to Kuttnrpur by tho afternoon's tonga. Climbing aboard, tho Virginian set tled hlmsolf against the endless dis comforts of tho rldo which he fore saw; tho tonga waa .anything but "an aram tongn a tonga for caBe;" thcro Was no sh'ado and no breeze, and tho faco of tho land crawled with heat-bred hazo. To a crisp crackling of tho whip lash over tho backs ot tho two sturdy, Bhaggy, flea-bitten ponies, tho tonga swopt away from tho station, awlft as a hunted fox with a dusty plume. Amber leaned fprwnrd, watching the driver's face, "Your name, tonga wallah?" ho enquired. "Ram Nath, sahib." The man spqko without moving his head, attending diligently to tho management ot his ponies. "And this other passenger, who awaits us at tho dak-bUngalow, Ram Nath Is ho, perchance, ono known both to you nnd to mo?" Ram Nath flicked tho flagging ponies. "How Bhould I know?" ho re turned brusquely. "Ono,'! persisted Amber, "who might bo known by such a namo as, aay, Plnlc Satin?" "What manner of talk 1b this?" de manded Ram Nath. "I nm no child td bo amused by a riddle. I know naught ot your 'Pink Satin." Ho bent forward, shortening his grasp upon tho reins, ns If to signify that tho Interview was at an end. Amber sat back, annoyed by the fellow's Impudence yet sensitive to a suspicion that Ram Nath was playing his part better than his passenger, that the rebuke was merited by ono who had ventured to spoak of secret things In a land whose very stbncs havo ears. For all that be could say their every move was watched by In visible spies, of whom the rock strewn waste through which they sped plight well harbor a hlddon legion. '. . . But perhaps, after all, Ram Nath had nothing whatever to do with Labortouche. Undeniable as had beon his wink, It might well have been nothing moro than nn Im pertinence. Meanwbllo tho tonga rocked and bounded fiendishly over nn infnmous parody of a road, turning nnd twist ing between huge boulders nnd In nnd out of pebbly nullahs, Ram Nath tool ing It along with tho hand of n mas tor. But all his attention was of ne cessity contered upon tho ponlos, nnd presently hla tulwar slipped frofn hl knees nnd. clattered upon the floor of tllo tongn. Amber bAw his chnnce and put hla foot upon It. "Rnm Nath," ho nskod gently, "havo you no other arms?" "1 wero a fool had r not." Tho man' dhbnot deign to. glance round. ' "Ho hath need of., weapons who doth trnf- no witn tno gnoaon or tno voice, salilb." 1 ' (TO BE CONTINUED.) By-Product From Smelter Acid. It Is announced by the geological survey thnt the discovery of phosphate rock In Montana Is llkoly to havo an Important effect In providing an out let for tho sulphuric acid that might ho manufactured by the big smelters there,, but which Is now allowed to go to waste and poisons tho range within n radius ot thirty miles from tho smelter works. Tho withdrawal of tho phosphate lands from homestead entry was announced somo weeks ago after the fields wore reported by Hoyt Dale, ono of tho Hold geologists. These deposits are extensive and aro con sidered of great potontlal value. Tho smelter trouble with the production of sulphuric acid fumos has been In vestigated by tho bureau ot animal In dustry of the department ot agricul ture. There have boon a number of suits against the smelters, but they havo allowed the acid fumes to go to waste for lack ot somo profitable way to employ them. With the combina tion ot cheap sulphuric acid and phos phate rock In close proximity, the of ficers ot tho geological survey aay cheap phocphate fertilizers ar a possibility. YoHra for uni formity. Youra for great est loavoning power. Youra for never failing results. Youra for purity. Youra for economy. Youra for nvrrv. thine that noes to make up a strictly nign graao, ever dependable baking powaer. ' ' That is Calumet. Try' it once and note the im provement in your bale- Incf. tfffl llrruf miiflt mn.k li economical over the high- n nrlrrl trnt '"Kmnrta l.v..;'"l 19 mu. w.muu0, nun much better than the cheap ana Dig-can kinds. Calumet is highest in quality moderate in cost. Received Highest Award WarM'Pur.Pvwl ' ' Expoiitioil. ' 1 MEAN 'MAN. "Now, John, if I -wero to dlo you would weop over mo nnd tell every body what a good wlfo I was." "No, I wouldn't, believe me." "Well, I would tor jou, Just for de cency's sake. And that shows I'm not half as mean as you are." Up-tc-Date. Undo Mose, a plantation negro, was being asked about Ida religious affiliations. 'Ts n preacher, Bah, ' ho said. "Do you mean," asked tho nston-, lshed questioner, "thou you preach tho Gospel?" Moso folt hlmsolf getting into doop water. "No, sah," ho BLld. "Ah touches, that subject very light." Success Magazine, New Disappointment. 1 First Summer Girl So you thought a man was coming? Second Summer Girl Yes; but as wo got a closer view yo saw Jt was only a bird.. Puck. Where It Points. ' "For whom Is who wearing black her lato husband?" "No, for her next. She knows she looks well In It." Judge, Try For Breakfast Scramble two eggs. When nearly cooKed, mix in about a half a cup of Post Toasties t and serve at once seasoning to taste. It's immense I "The Memory Lingers Potturn Cereal Company, Ltd. Baula Creek, Mick "Ua,