Show LOST OPAL OF MYSORE I OR THE SECRET OK THE GHANTS I BT WILLIAM MURRAY GRAYDON Copyright ISM By William Murray I Gr don V CHAPTER IrA I-rA OF DRUMS Ho get away you bullockman youve eard the bugle blowed Spheres a regiment acomin down the Grand Trunk road I In ringing tones Mylcs Chesney shouted shout-ed out the stirring couplet from his favorite Barrack Room Ballad Then he made a Imaginary slash at little Pal tu who dodged nimbly aside Me no bullockman Chesney sahib Die grunted Dont you wish you were cried Myles laughing Thats better than a IFCO any day But come on or well aniss the show Side by side the two oddly contrasted companions ran across the lawn of the British residency They passed through the gates indifferent to the helhieted soldier standing guard and halted on the edge of the streeL V That distant bugle blast had not deceived de-ceived Jlyles Chesneys keen ears The regiment was comingnot down the Grand Trunk road but along one of the principal thoroughfares of Mysore the capital city of the native state of that name in southwestern India Nearer and nearer marched the gallant gall-ant fellows keeping step to the roll of I the drums and the fanfare of bugles First the band then the mounted colonel col-onel and his officers then the columns of bronzed faces and dusty uniforms and flashing rifles Myles drew himself up to the full Ftature of his 16 years and his face glowed > Theyre marching from the Madras railway station to the barracks Paitu lie exclaimed Its the 1st Light Infantry In-fantry the Bedfordshire regiment that was ordered here from Burma The soldiers bore plain eviderc or te Myr cent campaigning with the cruel dacoits 1 Here and there were scarred faces faces > stamped with the mark of illness and exhausting wounds The musterroll too could have told a sad story Prom out of the passing ranks more than one pair of eyes glanced with interest terest at the two boys before the residency resi-dency gatesthe handsome English lad with his ruddy cheeks and curly brown hair the thin dusky little Hindoo in white waistclout and jacket Half the regiment had marched by when three horsemen cantered out of the residency grounds and brought up within a few feet of the moving columns col-umns They were Col Tcversham the British resident Copt rhesney his private secretary and the father of My les and an orderly They were waiting until the street was clear to start on thr evening ride The soldiers recognizing them ten < lere salutes and eheer Col Teversharn lifted his hand to his forehead In friendly acknowledgment lr was an aristoeratiolooking old sol die with keen eyes and the carriage of a aitI martinet His cheeks were florid 4nd Mack hairs were as plentiful as gray in his close cropped mustaohe and hln lard Hut there were wrinkles on 1n 1anl Ms 1row J and under his eyes the in tlelir stamp of the tragedy in his life TJ > tory was well known but none eser inferred to i His wife and Cv < V old boy had perished in their h lr 1g bungalow during the outbreak at Mertit in 1S57 I was now the injnth of January 1S93 Thirtysix long V years since the great mutiny Yet the colonel had not forgotten He merely learned to hile the suffering that still gnawed keenly at his heart Tbp serviceworn troops filed on to waul the cantonments Outside theta the-ta nk of the ith company and proudly holding step with it marched a lad of Yt i with black hair and sunbronzed cheeks In spite of his semimilitary 1 dress he was evidently not attached to the regiment He seemed to be on rI friendly terms with the private at his side a tall wellbuilt fellow of i or thereabut with sandy hair and mustache mus-tache a freckled face and big gray I humor eyes that twinkled with jolly good Ten opposite the residency gates the N young stranger and Myles Chesney exchanged ex-changed glances of mutual attraction Bach saw in the other a possible future acquaintance Suddenly Col Teversham spied the lad His face paled and he uttered an unguarded I f un-guarded exclamation For a moment fcis hands trembled Then his selfcon Jands tremble trol came back and only flue hungry i look in his eyes as they turned I to follow the ranks of the fifth company I betrayed his secret agitation Myles Intercepted part of the glance I nnd he instinctively divined its mean ing The sad story had often been told him Tjy his father That chap must remind the colonel of his own son he thought Ive seen Jiim look the same way at other boys V more than once The dusty columns marched on bringing bring-ing closer the rear guard of baggage I carts and ambulance wagons Suddenly there was a commotion In fronthoarse cries the clatter of hoofs and S shrill sound like the blast of a V trumpet The hubbub came from a cross Ihoroughlare that led to the rajahs palace pal-ace and skirted one side of the residency resi-dency grounds In a trice Myles and Paltu were racing toward the corner of the two streets surrounded sur-rounded by a motley throng of natives vho seemed to have sprung out of the V very c rth I ver lads reached the spot Just in time I to behold a thrilling sight Down the cross street came a huge runaway elephant I ele-phant most gorgeously caparisoned The mahout perched on the beasts neck was vainly shouting and prodding with his steeltipped goad To the sides of the magnificent howdah I how-dah which glittered with gold and tinsel 1 tin-sel clung his royal highness Cham Bahadur the rajah of Mysore He I looked far from regal nov for terror was stamped on his youthful coffee colored face and his jewelstudded turban tur-ban was sadly awry At the heels of the elephant clattered I a mounted troop of the rajahs native retainers enlisted from various quarters of Asia Here were Afghans Persians fi L d4i N I hj I I Ik I i I i Wait a Moment Exclaimed Myles Sikhs Rohillas a perfect arsenal of jeweled kummerbunds weapons bristling in their multicolored I The rajahs evening ride bade fair to I have a sorry ending and so it proved The center of the regiment chanced to be passing the cross street just then and I at sight of the lumberjng quadruped trumpeting with rage the soldiers who I had unflinchingly faced the perils of Burmese jungles broke ranks in confusion I confu-sion and fled right and left 1 Either from fright or at the jingle I and flash of the mens equipments or out of sheer perversity the elephant I swerved suddenly to one side and fell on his knees I The shock broke one of the straps of the howdah which instantly lurched forward with a jerk Out flew its royal occupant turning a complete somersault somer-sault that landed him on his back in I the street I A great cry of horror burst from the spectators The rajah lay rieht in the I path of the wild horsemen whose fiery steeds were but ten feet distant Escape Es-cape seemed impossible A moment more and he would be trampled to a bleeding mass But that brief instant proved a heros right to the name The private whom 1 V V I V I I I I 3 I I I I I I 4 I I ESCAPE SEEM ED IMPOSSIBLE I I I Myles had seen marching beside the lad I made a dash to the spot None doubted I that he was going to his death I He stopped like a flash and as quickly he was erect again with the slim form of the rajah clasped under his left arm Up shot his right hand just in time to snatch the bridle of the Reed that was about to strike him down a powerful black animal straddled by a bearded Afghan The brave fellow hung on like a Hercu I leg now gaining a foothold now dangling was in air miraculous How he escaped the flying hoofs I He was dragged full a dozen feet and then he actually brought the plunging II steed to a standstill just as the rest of the troop who had managed to swerve a little to right and left passed clear of I himThe I The a rang with acclamations and there was a rush forward from all sides By this time the elephant had risen to his feet and stood sullenly swinging his trunk He was under the full control of his ma hout who had escaped sharing the ra jahs peril by sticking to the overturned howdah The horsemen were reining up their steeds one by one and wheeling around The Resident and his escort spurred impatiently im-patiently through the crowd in the thick of which were Myles and Paltu The bro ken ranks of the now stationary regiment regi-ment looked on wavering between duty i and kdf Their officers were riding back from the front Beyond a few bruises and a badly disordered dis-ordered dress the rajah was uninjured He imperiously waived aside his retainers and thus cleared a small space to the center of which he drew his brave rescuers res-cuers What passed between them was inaudible inaudi-ble but the soldiers face showed embarrassment embar-rassment and confusion while the rajahs sparkling eyes expressed warm gratitude t LVV V The Resident found himself beside amounted a-mounted officer who was an old acquaintance acquaint-ance They shook hands and exchanged a few hasty words of greeting Im proud of that tellow Colonel Te versham said the officer I was a most heroic deed He did some plucky thinsj with the deceits too But hes a sort of blaik sheep always breaking the regulations you know Its kept him in the ranks Sorry to hear i replied the Resident briefly He ought to have the Victoria cross But tell me Captain Dundas who is that lad I saw marching beside you here 11 like his face A sort of protege of mine answered tie captain Theres the making of a fine soldier in him The poor boy is an orphan He came out from England a year ago to join his father who was Cap tain Wynvard of ours Ive heard of him interrupted Colonel Colo-nel Tetersham He was killed by dacoits da-coits up in Burma Yes only a week before the boy arrived ar-rived It was very sad Whats his name Jack replied Captain Dundas same as his father The Resident gave a little start Ex cuseme he said hastily I must congratulate con-gratulate his highness He touched up his horse and trotted forward through the yielding throng About this time Myles and Paltu chanced to rub elbows with the object of the Residents inquiries and they promptly prompt-ly scraped acquaintance on the spot I Want that a brave thing to do said I Myles in a tone of great enthusiasm Well I should say it was replied the young stranger Hes like Pink Triscott Hes an awfully good fellow He ought to be a lieutenant Or a captain said Myles going one better Ill bet the rajah will load him with presents Pink wont take them was the slightly slight-ly scornful reply He hates to be made much of Say whats your name Mine I is Jack Wynyard And mine is Myles Chesney That Is my father there He is the Residents secretary A wistful look came into the lads eyes My father is dead he replied softly He was a soldier and the dacoits killed lim I havent anybody now but Pink Triscott and Captain Dundas Hullo there goes the bugle Ill see you again He hurried off to his post beside Tils cott who had alreadv returned to the ranks and an instant later the dusty columns col-umns were in motion The Residents party cantered toward the suburbs of the city and the Rajah Cham Bahadur rode back to the palace on a steed borrowed from one of his retainers re-tainers The spectators scattered in different dif-ferent directions all unconscious that the seeds of what might blossom into a great tragedy had just been sown The native Indian state of Mysore the reader must know was only nominally governed by its Hindoo prince The Residents Res-idents duties were hardly in accord with his smoothsounding name lie was thereto there-to watch the rajahs court to report everything ev-erything to the viceroy at Calcutta and to order out the British troops at the least sign of revolt I was one of the duties also to collect the annual tribute of 250000 rupees In no other native states perhaps was less dang of friction and trouble apple headed The rajah now over thirty year of nge had been reared under English tutors His present prime minister a Hindoo named Pershad Jung wag I well known sympathizer of British institutions and customs and an Intimate friend of the Resident Moreover Mysore had held loyal during the bloody times of the great mutiny So Colonel Teversham is little to be blamed if he regarded his post as somewhat of a sinecure There was an air of bachelors hall about the residency in spite of its luxurious luxuri-ous fittings and large corps of servants Colonel Teversham had never married a second time and Captain Chesneys wife had been dead twelve years Myles remembered re-membered his mother but dimly and equally vague were his recollections of his English home His studies under a tutor had ended a few weeks ago and lie was shortly to enter the military school at Naimee Tal up in the Himalayas Paltu lived at the residency in I the capacity ca-pacity of svce or stable lad His mother was one of the house servants and his father Mete Mal belonged to the rajahs native body guard The little Hlndoo was devotedly attached to Myles During the week following the arrival of the 21st light infantry at Mysore several sev-eral things occurred that must needs bp chronicled In the first place Myles and Jack Wynyard sought each other out and speedily became close chums They play ed cricket and took horseback rides In the cool of the evening and indulged in other AngloIndian sports About the middle of the week Captain Chesney was threatened with an attack of fever and the doctor ordered n change of air So with some officers from the cantonment he went to the Neilgherry Hills on a two weeks shooting expedition expedi-tion leaving Myles behind as a sort of substitute Three days later Colonel Teversham was summoned by telegram to Madras to cor > fer vMth the viceroy who happened to bp there on an official tour The colo iiel had to go and as there was no getting get-ting at Captain Chesnpy he did what had been done before under similar circum crcum stances he left the affairs of his otc in charge of Pershad Jung the rajahs prime minister V V few hours after Colonel Tcvershams departure and shortly before midnight Pink Triscott dlsapneaml from one of the side approaches to the V cantonment where he had been stationed on guard duty dutRI Ir investigation shed no light on the mystery The neighboring sentries posted post-ed fifty yards away had heard nothing rod seen no one The indications pointed to premeditated flight and Pink Triscott was straightway branded n deserter City and suburb were searched in vain placards pla-cards were posted in public places and a description of the fugitive was telegraphed telegraph-ed to Madras and other seanorts for his objective luu l point was believed to be Eng An hour after sunset on the day follow iou Pink Triscotts desertion Myles and Ialtu were strolling about In the garden among the shrubs and fireflies V The residency and guards occupied a whole block and were enclosed bv a ten foot wal of masonry The principal entrance en-trance was constantly guarded and at intervals in-tervals during the night a sentry paced around the tauare The house fronted the main street and on the right side was the avenue that led to the palace On the left ran a less pretentious street in close proximity to the native bazars Here the wall was natve a pair of heavy gates which were always locked and were used mainly by the servants and stable employee Just inside these gates were the stables two long low buildings with a passage between In the rear the grounds abutted on a narrow thoroughfare across which was the English church standing among trees and shrubbery and enclosed by a low stone parapet A tiny gate of carved brass built in the high wall opened toward the churchyard I was possibly intended for the secret use of the Resident At all events the key was kept hidden in the house and that hiding place Myles happened to know On the aforementioned evening thp two lads being in the rear of the grounds heard a low whistle and then a subdued pronunciation cf Myles name They hurried to the small gate and by the dim light they saw Jack WynyarJ peering through the bars from the outer out-er side I thought i was you talking he exclaimed gladly The guard at the main gate wouldnt let me In He said it was too late I knew the Resident was away but I wanted to see your father Hes away too Interacted Myles Gone to the Neilghery lillls By Jove thats bad said Jack In a tone of keen dlssapolntment And Capt Dundas Is with the party too I dont know what to do now Walt a moment exclaimed Myles coming to a sudden and imprudent resolve re-solve I wont do for you to stay here The sentry may drop along you know He vanished In the direction of the house and was back Jn less than five minutes with a key in his hand He e It r V V V VV VV V V V V unlocked the gate and opened it far enough to admit Jack Then he closed it softly Jung is in charge of affairs while father Now we can talk he said Perehad and Col Teversham are away and if you want to see him No not him quickly spoke Jack anybody but hint See here Myles Its I just this Im awfully worried about 1 Pink Triscott You know what happened V hap-pened last night of course Yes replied Myles I could hardly believe i And you would believe it still less I jou knew Pink as well a I do Why hes the very soul of honor He never deserted Myles never Ill tell you one thing though He hasnt been l like himself I him-self since tlie rajah went for him four or I five days ago He seemed worried over fve something and he wouldnt ay a word about his visit Theres oeen foul play Myles and thats a sure as you and I stand here Foul play exclaimed Myles incredulously incredu-lously You dont mpan to say I moan that the rajah has got a finger In Pinks disappearance exploded Jack lowering his voice to a whisper Tiere its out now Thats what I wanterl toe to-e Colonel Teversham about When I spoke to tome of the officers they only r s AMI rA v r vQ X liV rr li V rsJ V A V V V5 > = z a m V i 2 V 4ri11V MM ft e TIe TI-e 1 T v y N vp V L TEDDY IIIIOKB SOKTIV AiD fJUDDCXIA THROUGH THE THICKET laughed at me You see Pink and I were awfully good friends and I cant bear to V Lwiuly < tlink thit that i A sound that was suspiciously like a sob ended the sentence and Jack turned his IIK Hl away Myles gave a long low whistle and tapped his friend on the shoulder Say lr fellow he Igerrhen he stopped for a bell near by had suddenly I started to clang in deep dismal tones Another joined in and then another until all the bells in the city seemed to have gone mad Bang went the alarm gun at gcne fortress and its echoes woke up a pandemonium of shouts and yells and scurrying feet and clatter of horses and whee1s Fire sahibs yelled Paltu pointing to a red glare that was visible through the gate in the direction of the English i j church 1 I I is the palace cried Myles jerking I open the gate Come on Pink Triscott was forgotten and a moment mo-ment later the gate was locked the key was in Mvles pocket and the three lads wac vcre outside the grounds racing at breakneck break-neck speed toward the rajahs palace To be Continued I I you Im goin to town to put the constable con-stable on the watch an Ill look in on the way back this evening With a smack at his pocket that made the coins therein jingle Mr Jefferson Skimmer Jumped into his buggy and drove swiftly off I sifty believed In this thing of I bindin out beleved remarked Mr Klrk t wood with a meditative shake ot his head It simply makes slaves of em I I wont 1 an often to a hard taskmaster won ofen say Jeff Skimmer is that though it Jef Sltmmer aint unlikely Hes a close one at drlvln a bargain Well a the lad is his property and hes a lawful right to hunt him and drag him back I I saw Joe Hackett the last time I Teddy He I was up the valley said I was cutting corn and he had only one cuttng I wonder if he really is on V the mountain Id like to earn the reward re-ward Two dollars and a half will buy lots of things I want i i Ill save my share I I get i replied V Nick Well keep our eyes open any Wel way Teddy and you bet Joe Hackett If 1 get sight of him will be a goner wi get this Ill draw a bead on him like throwing his gun to his shoulder and throwing Il yell gn Halt throw up your hands That will fetch him sure |