THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA.
By
Talbot Mrandy
Copjrright by the Bobbi-MerrUI Company
A Story That Combines the Thrill of Modem Detective Fiction With the Romance of Arabian Nights Tales
ADVENTURE AND ROMANCE EXTRAORDINARY
In this remarkable tnlc Mr. Mundy Introduces us to tlio mysteries
and charm of Indln, and to an Interesting people of the Orient about
whom the western world known little or nothing. Iu the company of
Onptnln Athelstan King, his hero, we go on u wonderful Journey In
Khlnjan caves; nnd with him wo meet YnBinlnl, an exotic benuty of
innrvclous fascination. It gives us great plensurc to publish "King of
the Kliybcr Rifles" because we believe our rcudors will enjoy the
serial more than any wc have printed In a long time.
TUB EDITOR,
CHAPTER I.
The men who govern India more
power to them and her! aro few.
Those who stand In their way nnd pre
tend to help them with n flood of
words arc n host. The charge has
Fcen the light In print that India well
spring of plaguo and sudden death
nnd money lenders has sold hersoul
to twenty succeeding conquerors In
turn.
So when the world war broke the
world wns destined to be surprised on
India's account. The Red seu, full of
racing transports crowded with dark
skinned gentlemen, whoso one prayer
was that tho war might not bo over
before they should have struck a blow
for Britain, was tho Indian nrmy's an
swer to the press.
More than one nntlon was deeply
shocked by India's answer to "prac
tices" that had extended over years.
But there wcro men In India who
learned to lovo India long ago with
that lovo that Casts out fear, who knew
exactly what was going to happen und
could thcrcforo afford to wait for or
ders Instead of running round In rings.
Athelstan King, for Instance, noth
ing yet but & captain unattached, sat
In mcagcrly furnished quarters with
his heels on a table. Uo Is not a
doctor, yet ho read a book on sur
gery; and when ho went over to tho
club he carrlod tho book under his
arm and continued to read It there.
In tho other room whero tho telegraph
blanks wcro littered In confusion all
about the floor, the other ofllccrs sent
tclcgrnlns and forgot King, who sat
and smoked and read about surgery;
and beforo bo had nearly finished one
box of cheroots n general at Poshnwur
wiped a bald red skull and sent him
en urgent telegram.
"Come at once I" It said simply.
King was at Lahore, but miles don't
matter when tho dogs of war aro
loosed. Tho right man goes to tho
right place at tho exact right tlmo
then, and the fool goes to tho wall. In
that ono respect wnr Is better than
porno kinds of peace.
In tho train on tho way to Pcslmwur
ho was not troubled by forced con
versation. Consequently ho reached
Pcslmwur comfortable, In splto of tho
heat. And his genial maimer of salut
ing tho full-general who met him with
n dogcart at Pcslmwur station was
something scandalous. Full-gencruls,
particularly in tho early days of war,
vAirT
"Come at Once," It Said.
do not drlvo to tho station to meet
captains very often; yet King Qllmbcd
into tho dogcart unexcltedly. uftcr
keeping the general waiting whllo ho
checked a trunk I
Tho general cracked his whip with
out any other comment, than a smile.
A blood mare tora sparks out of tho
macadam, and n dusty military road
begun to ribbon out between tho
wheels. Sentries in unexpected places
announced, themselves with a ring of
shaken steels as thcJr rifles camo to
the "present," which courtesies tho
cciieral noticed with a raised whip,
On tho dogcart's high front sent, star
ing straight ahead of him botwecn
stlia, liorso's euro, King listened. Tho
general did nearly all tho talking.
"Tho "North's tho danger."
King grunted with tho lids half-low
cred over full, dark eyes. IIo did not
look especially hnndsonio in that at
tltudc. Some men swear ho looks like
a Roman, , nnd others liken lilm to a
enrgoyje. all of them choosing to Ig
noro tho smllo that can transform his
wholo face instantly.
"We're denuding India of troons
not keeping back more thnn a mere
handful to hold the tribes In check."
King nodded. There has never been
pence along the northwest border. It
did not need vision to foresee trouble
from thnt quarter. In fact It must
hnve been partly on the strength of
some of King's reports that tho gen
eral was planning now.
"Well, the trlbrs'11 know presently
how mnny men we're sending ovcrseu.
Thero'vo been minors ubout Khlnjan
by tho hundred lately. They're cook
ing something. Can you Imnglno 'em
keeping quiet now?"
"Thnt depend, sir. Yes, I can
Imagine It."
The general laughed. "That's why
I sent for you. I need a man with
Imagination I There's a womun you've
got to work with on this occasion who
can Imnglno a shndo or two too much.
Whnt's worse, she's ambitious. So I
choso you to work with her."
King's Hps stiffened under his mus
tache, and tho corners of his eyes
wrinkled into crow's feet to corre
spond. Byes aro never coal-black, of
course, but his looked It at that min
ute. "You know wo'vo sent men to Khln
jan who nro said to havo ontorcd the
caves. Not ono of 'cm has over re
turned." King frowned.
"She claims sho can enter tho caves
and como out again nt pleasure. Sho
has offered to do It, and I havo ac
cepted. Can you guess who sho Is?"
"Not Ynsmlnl?" King hazarded, and
tho general nodded. Tho helmet-strap
mark, printed Indelibly on King's Jaw
and cheek by tho Indlnn sun, tight
ened and grow whiter' as tho general
noted out of tho corner of his eye.
"Know hcr?"
"Know of her, of course, sir. Every
body ' docs. Never met her to my
knowledge"
"Um-m-m I Whoso fnult was that?
Somebody ought to havo seen to that.
uo to Delhi now and meet her. I'll
send her a wlro to say you're coming.
Sho knows Pvo chosen you. Sho tried
to Insist on full discretion; but I over
ruled her."
King's tongiio licked his lips, nnd his
eyes wrinkled. Tho general's voice bc-
camo tho least shndo moro authorita
tive.
"When you seo her, get a pass from
her that'll tnko you Into Khlnjan
caves 1 Ask her for it I For tho sake
of appearances I'll gnzctto you sec
onded to tho Khybcr rifles. For tho
sake of success, got a pass from her 1"
"Very well, sir."
"You'vo a brother In tho Khybcr
rifles, hnven't you? Was It you or your
brother who visited Khlnjan onco and
sent In n report?"
"I did, sir."
IIo spoko without pride. Even tho
brigade, of British-Indian cavalry that
went to Khlnjan on tho strength of
his report nnd leveled its defenses
with tho ground, had not been able
to find tho famous caves. Yet tho
caves themselves nro a byword.
"There's talk of n Jihad (holy war),
There's worso than that I When you
went to Khlnjan, what was your chief
object?"
"To find tho sourco of tho ovcrlast
Ing rumors about tho so-called 'Heart
of tho Hills,' Blr."
"Yes, yes. I remember. I read your
report. You didn't And anything, did
you? Well. Tho story is now that tho
'Heart of tho Hills' has como to life.
So tho spies say."
King whistled softly.
"There's no guessing what it
means," said tho general, "do and
work with Yasmlnl. Tho spies keep
biluglng In rumors of ten thousand
men In Khlnjan caves, and of another
largo lashkar not far away from Khln
Jan. Thcro must bo no Jihad, King I
India Is all but defenseless I This
story nbout n 'Heart of tho Hills' com
Ing to ltfo may prcsago unity of action
ami a holy war such as tho world has
not sccu. Go up there and stop It if
you can. At least, let mo know tho
facts."
King grunted. To stop n holy wnr
single handed would bo rather llku
stopping tho wind possibly easy
enough, if ono knew tho wny. Yet he
knew no general would throw away a
man Ilka himself on a useless venture.
IIo began to look happy.
Tho general clucked to tho maro
nnd ono wheel censed to touch tho
gravel us they whirled along u semi
'Irculnr drive. Under tho porch of n
pretentious residence, sentries saint
ed, the sals swung down nnd In less
than sixty seconds King wus follow.
Ing tho general through a wldo en
trance Into a crowded halL Tho In
Rtant the general's fat figure darkened
the doorway twenty men of higher
rank than King, native and English,
rose from llncd-up chnlrs and pressed
forward.
"Sorry have to keep you nil wait
ing busy 1" lie waved them nsldo
with a little apologetic gesture. "Como
In here, King."
King followed him through a door
that slummed tight behind him on rub
ber Jambs.
"Sit down I"
The gencrul unlocked n steel druwer
and began to nunmugo umong the pa
pers In It. In n minute he produced
a package, bound In rubber bnnds,
with a faded photograph face upward
on the top.
"Thnt's the woman I now d'you
like the look of l"?r?"
King took the pnekngo and for n
minute stared hard at the likeness of
a woman whose fame has traveled up
and down Indln, until her witchery
hns become a proverb. She was
That's the Woman I How Do You
Like the Look of Her?"
dressed as a dancing womnn, yet very
few dancing women could afford to bo
dressed as sho was.
The general watched his ace with
eyes thnt missed nothing.
"Remember I said work with her I"
King looked up nud nodded.
"They say sho's three parts Rus
sian," said tho general. "To my knowl
edgo sho speaks Russian llko n native,
and about twenty other tongues as
well, Including English. Sho was tho
girl widow of n rascally hill rajah.
I'vo heard sho loved her rajah. And
I'vo heard sho didn't I Thcro's another
story that sho poisoned him. I know
Bho got away with his money and
that's proof enough of brains 1 Sorao
say sho's n sho-devll. I think thnt's
an exaggeration, but bear in mind
she's dangerous 1"
King grinned. A man who trusts
Eastern women over readily docs not
rlso far In tho secret service.
"If you'vo got nous enough to keep
on her soft side und uso her not let
her uso you you can keep tho 'Hills'
quiet nnd tho Khybcr safe! If you
can contrive that now In this pinch
thcro's no limit for you I Com
mander In chief shall bo your job be
foro you're sixty I"
King pocketed tho photograph nnd
papers. "I'm well enough content,
sir, as things nro," ho said quietly.
Tho general paced onco ncross tho
room nnd onco bnck again, with hands
behind him. Then ho stopped In front
of King.
"No mnn in India hns n stlffcr task
than you havo nowl A Jihad launched
from tho 'Hills' would mean anarchy
In tho plains. That would cntnll send
ing back from Franco an array thnt
can't be spared. Thcro must bo no
Jlhiul, King I Thcro must not be
ono I Keep thnt In your hcadl"
"What arrangements havo been
made with her, sir?"
"Practically none I Sho's watching
tho spies In Delhi, but they'ro likely
to brenk for tho 'Hills' any minute,
Then they'll bo arrested. When thnt
happens, tho fato of India may bo In
your hands nnd hers I Get out of my
wny now, until tiflln-tlmoj"
In a wny thnt some men never learn
King proceeded to effneo himself en
tlrely among tho crowd In tho hall
contriving to say nothing of any ac
count to anybody until the great gong
boomed nnd tho general led them nil
In to his long dining tnblo. Yet he
did not look furtlvo or secretive. No
body noticed him, nnd he noticed ev
erybody. Thcro Is nothing whntcver
secretlvo about thnt.
The faro wns plain, nnd tho meal a
porfunctory affair. The geitcral and
his guests wero thero for no other
reason thnn to ent foov nnd only tho
man who happened to seat himself
next to King n major by tho nnmo
of Hyde spoko to him at nil.
"Why aren't you with your regl
incut?" ho asked.
"Recuuso tho general asked mo to
lunch, sir!"
"I suppose you'vo been pestering
him for an appolutmentl '
King, with his mouth full of curry,
did not answer, but his eyes smiled.
After lunch he was closeted with
tho general again for twenty minutes.
Then one of tho general's carriages
took him to the station ; and It did not
appear to trouble htm at all that tho
other occupnnt of tho carriage was the
self-same Major nydo who had sut
next him nt lunch. In fact, ho smiled
so plensantly thnt Hyde grew exas
perated. Neither of them spoke. At
the station Ilydo lost his temper open
ly, nnd King left him abusing nn un
happy nntlve servant.
Tho stntlon was crammed to suffo
cation by a crowd thnt ronrod and
writhed nnd smelt to high heaven. But
the gcncrnl himself had telephoned for
King's reservation, so ho took his time.
Thero were din nnd stink nnd dust be
neath a savage sun, shaken Into re
verberations by tho scrcnm of nn en
gine's safety vnlve. It wns Indln In es
sence nnd nwakcl Indln arising out
of lethargy ! India ns sho Is more
often nowndnys nnd it mndo King,
for the tlmo being of the Khybcr rifles.
happier than somo other men enn bo In
ballrooms.
Any ono who watched him and
there was at least one man who did
must have noticed his strango abil
ity, almost like that of water, to reach
the point he aimed for, through, and
not around, the crowd.
He neither shoved nor argued. Or
ders and blows would have been equal
ly useless, for had It tried tho crowd
could not havo obeyed, und It was In
no mind to try. Without the least ap
parent effort ho arrived and thero Is
no other word thnt quite describes It
ho arrived. He climbed into his car
riage and leaned from tho window.
"Why nro you here?" asked nn ncld
volco behind him; nnd without troub
ling to turn his head, he knew that
Major Hydo was to bo his carriage
mate again.
"Orders," said King.
"Is thnt your answer?" asked the
major. Balked ambition is nn ugly
horse to ride. Ho had tried for a
command but had been shelved.
"I have sufficient authority," said
King, unruffled. Ho spoko ns if he wero
thinking of something entirely differ
ent His eyes were as if vthcy saw the
innjor irom a very long wny ore unu
rather approved of him on tho whole.
"Show mo your authority, please I"
King dived into an Inner pocket and
produced a card that hud about ten
words written on Its face, above a
general's signature. Hydo read it and
passed It back.
"So you're ono of those, nro you I"
ho sold in a tono of voice that would
start a fight in some pnrts of tho world
and in somo services. But King nodded
cheerfully, nnd thnt annoyed the major
moro than ever ; ho snorted, closed his
mouth with a snap nnd turned to re
arrange the sheet and pillow on his
berth.
CHAPTER II.
The train pulled out, amid a din of
voices from tho lcft-bchlnd that nearly
drowned tho panting of tho overloaded
engine. Hyde all but stripped himself
and drew on striped pajamas. King
was content to Uo in shirt sleeves on
tho other berth, with knees raised, so
thnt nydo could not overlook the gen
crnl's papers. At his cuso ho studied
them one by one, memorizing n string
of names, with details ns to their own'
crs antecedents nnd probnblo present
wherenbouts. Thero wero several
photographs In tho packet, and ho
studied them very carefully Indeed.
But much most carefully of all he
examined Yasmlnl's portrait, returning
to it ngaln nnd again. IIo reached tho
conclusion in tho end that when It wns
taken sho had been cunningly dis
guised.
"This wns Intended for purpose of
identification at a given tlmo nud
place, he told himself.
"Wero you muttering nt me?" asked
Hyde.
"No sir. Nothing of tho sort In
tended."
Hydo turned an Indlgnnnt back on
him, and King studied tho buck us if
ho found it interesting. On tho whole
ho looked sympathetic, so it was as
well that Hydo did not look around.
Balked ambition us a rulo loathes sym
pathy.
After many prlckly-hot, Interminable,
Jolting hours tho train drew up at
Rnwal-Pindl station. Instantly King
was on his feet with his tunic on, and
ho wns out on tho blazing hot platform
beforo tho train's motion had quite
ceased.
Ho began to walk up und down, not
elbowing but percolating through tho
crowd, missing nothing worth noticing
In nil tho hot kaleidoscope and seeming
to find new amusement at every turn.
It was not In tho least astonishing that
n well-dressed native should address,
him presently, for ho looked genial
enough to bo asked to hold u baby.
King himself did not seem surprised at
nil. Fur from It; ho looked pleased.
"Excuse me, sir," said the man In
glib bnbu English. "I nm seeking Cap
tain King sahib, for whom -my brotht-r
Is verco unxlous to bo servant. Can
you klndlce tell me, sir, where I could I
find Captain King sahib?"
"Certainly," King answered him. He
looked glnd to be of help. "Arc you
traveling on this train?"
The question sounded like politeness
welling from the Hps of unsusplclon.
"Yes, sir. I nm traveling from this
place where I have spent a few dnys,
to Bombay, where my business Is."
"How did you know King sahlb Is
on tho train?" King asked him, smil
ing so genially that even the police
could not have charged htm with more
than curiosity.
"By telegram, sir. My brother had
the misfortune to miss Cuptnin King
sahlb nt Pcshnwur nnd therefore sent
n telegram to me asking me to do what
I can at an lntorvfew."
"I see," said King. "I see." And
Judging by the sparkle In his eyes as
ho looked nway, he could see a lot.
But the native could not see his eyes
nt that Instant, although he tried to.
IIo looked bnck at the train, giving
the man a good chunce to study his
face in profile.
"See that carriage?" he asked, point
ing. "The fourth first-class carriage
from the end? Well there are only
two of us In there; I'm Major Hyde,
and the other Is Captain King. I'll tell
Captain King to look out for you."
"Oh, thank you, sir 1" said the nntlve
olllljv "You nro most kind 1 I nm your
humble servant, slrl"
King nodded good-by to him, his dark
eyes In the shndow of the khaki helmet
seeming senrcely Interested nny longer.
"Couldn't you find another berth?"
nydo asked him angrily when ho
stepped back Into the compartment.
"What were you out thero looking
for?"
King smiled bnck at him blandly.
"I think there are railway thieves
on the train," ho announced without
nny effort nt relevance. Ho might
not have heard the question.
Hydo snorted nnd returned to his
sent in the sllcnco of unspeakable
scorn. But presently he opened a suit
case and drew out n repenting pistol
which he cocked carefully and stowed
beneath his pillow; not at all a con
temptible move, because the Indian
railway thief Is the most resourceful
specialist in the world. But King took
no overt precautions of any kind.
After more Interminable hours night
shut down on them, red-hot, bluck-dark,
raesmerlcally subdivided, into seconds
by tho thump of carriage wheels nnd
lit nt Intervals by showers of sparks
from tho gasping engine. Then King,
strangely without kicking off his shoes,
drew a sheet up over his shoulders. On
the opposite berth Hydo covered his
head, to keep dust out of his hair, and
presently King heard him begin to
snore gently. Then, very carefully he
adjusted his own position so that his
profllo luy outlined In tho dim light
from tho gas lamp in tho roof. Ho
might almost have been waiting to be
shaved. Long after midnight his
Vigil wns rewnrded by n slight sound
nt tho door. From thnt Instnnt his eyes
wore on the wntch, uuder dnrk closed
Inshes; but his even brenthlng wns
that of tho seventh stage of sleep that
knows no dreams.
A click of tho door-latch heralded
tho appcaranco of a hand. With skill,
Of the sort thnt only special training
can develop, a mnn In native dress In
sinuated himself into tho carriage
He Feigned S'4p So Successfully
Thct the Native Turned Away at
Last.
without making another sound of any"
kind. King's enrs nro part df tho
equipment for h'-s exacting business,
but ho could not henr tho door click
shut again.
For nbout tKo minutes, while the
train swayed headlong into Indian
dnrkness, tho mnn stood listening nnd
watching King's face. IIo stood so
nenr that King recognized him for the
one who had accosted him oti Rawal
pindi platform. Ami he could seo tho
outline of the kulfe-hllt thnt the man's
fingers clutched underneath his shirt.
Ho feigned slejp so successfully that
the nutlre turned away at lust.
mm
"Thought sol" He dared open his
eyes a mite wider. "He's pukka truo
to type I Rob first and then kill I"
As he wntched, the thief drew tho
sheet back from Hyde's face,- with
trained fingers that could have taken
spectacles from tho victim's nose with
out his knowledge. Then as fish glide
In nnd out nmong tho reeds without
touching them, swift nnd soft nnd un
seen, his fingers searched Hyde's body.
They found nothing.
King moved In his sleep, rather
noisily, nnd tho movement knocked n
book to the floor from the foot of his
berth. The noise of that awoko Hyde,
nnd King pretended to begin to wuke,
ynwnlng nnd rolling on his bnck (thnt
being much tho snfest position nn tin
nrmed mnn can take nnd much the
most nwkwnrd for his enemy).
"Thieves I" Hyde yelled nt the top of
his lungs, groping wildly for his pistol
nnd not finding it.
King sat up and rubbed his eyes.
The native drew the knife, nnd be
lieving himself In command of the
situation hesitated for one priceless
second. Ho .saw his error and darted
for the door too late. With n move
ment unbellevnbly swift King was
there ahead of him ; and with another
movement not so swift, but much more
disconcerting, he throw his sheet as
the rctlnrius used to throw a nc in
nnclent Rome. It wrapped round the
native's head and arms, and the two
I went together to tho floor In n twisted
stranglehold.
In another hulf-mlnute the nntlve
was groaning, for King had his knife
wrist in two hands and was bending it
bnckward while ho pressed tho man's
stomach with his knees.
Tho knife fell to the floor, and the
thief made a gallant effort to recover
It, but King wns too strong for him.
He seized the knife himself, slipped It
In his own bosom nnd resumed his hold
before the nntlve guessed what he was
after. The train screnmed Itself to a
standstill nt a wayside station, and a
man with a lantern began to chant
the station's nnme. The Instant the
trnln's motion nltogether censed the
heat shut In on them as If the lid of
Tophet had been shimmed. The prick
ly hent burst out all over Hyde's skin
nnd King's too.
There wns plenty of excuse for re
laxing hold, nnd King made fall use of
it. A second Inter he gave a very good
pretense of pain in his finger ends as
the thief burst free. The native made
a dive at his bosom for the knife, but
ho frustrated that. Then he mnde n
prodigious effort, Just too late, to
clutch the man again, nnd he did suc
ceed In tenrlng loose a piece of shirt;
but the fleeing robber must have won
dered, as he bolted into the blncker
shadows of tho station building, why
such on Iron-fingered, wlde-nwako
sahlb should hnve mnde such a truly
feeble showing at tho end.
"nnng It I couldn't you hold him?
Wero you afraid of him, or what?" de
manded Hyde, beginning to dress him
self. Instead of answering, King leaned
out Into the Inmp-llt gloom, nnd In a
minute he caught sight of a sergeant
of native Infantry passing down tho
train. He made a sign that brought
the man to him on tho run.
"Did you see that runaway?" ho
asked. ,
"na, sahlb. I saw ono running. Shall
I follow?"
"No. Tills piece of his shirt will
Identify him. Take It. Hide It I "When
a man with a torn shirt, Into which
thnt piece fits, makes for the telegraph
ofllce after this train has gone on, seo
that ho is allowed to send any tele
grams ho wants to I Only, hnve copies
of every one of them wired to Captain
King, care of the statlonranster,' Delhi.
Have you understood?"
"Ha, snhlb."
"Grab him. and lock him up tight
afterward but not until he has sent
his telegrams 1"
"Atchn, sahib."
"Make yourself scarce, then I"
Mnjor Hydo was dressed, having per
formed that military evolution in some
thing less thnn record time.
"Who was that you wero talking
to?" ho demanded. But King did not
seem to understand until the native
sergeant had quite vanished Into tho
8hndows.
Tho engine shrieked of death and
torment; the hent relaxed as the en
glno moved loosened let go lifted
at Inst, nnd a tralnlpad of hot passen
gers sighed thanks.
"What nro you looking nt?" Hyde
demanded nt last, sitting on King's
berth.
"Only a knife," snid King. Ho was
standing under tho dim gas lamp that
helped make the darkness moro un
bearable. IIo stowed tho knife nwny
In his bosom, and tho major crossed to
his own side.
In Delhi, King meets Rewa
Qunga, Yasmlnl's man, who tells
him she has already gone north.
In Yasmlnl's ho'uso the captain
is nlven his first test of charac
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
