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Show THE BULLETIN HOW 4r" MUNDY BY TALBOT O TALBOT MUNDY SEW T .-- Ruth Wyeth Spears WNU SERVICE J CHAPTER XVU that I received an insolent communi- 15 cation from the Maharanee. She has invited Lynn to stay with her without consulting me, mind you. And I have received an astonishing note from my niece, addressed to me, but intended for Captain Norwood, of all impossible people! As if I were a mail box! And as if I didn't know what is being said about Captain Norwood! It was a deliberately malicious Insult to me!" "Did you forward the note to Captain Norwood?" "No. Why should I?" "May I see it?" "No. Certainly not" "Well, Mrs. Harding, I think you are within your rights about that Quite commendable. Yes. Very. But shouldn't Norwood get it? If you care to put it in an envelope and seal it I will have it sent to him by a very reliable messenger." "One more effort to make of me a mere convenience! I won't do it" The Resident having felt out Mrs. Harding's punches, countered. He began his attack: "Mrs. Harding, it is quite true that you don't know what is going The Resident was worried. In view of the prevalent political and of the convenient fact that the State of Kadur had been quiescent for years, he had received confidential instructions from his State Department to be very discreet in his relations with the court of Kadur. It was impossible to misinterpret the order. It was plainly worded. He was not to interfere, if it could possibly be helped. On the other hand, be had discovered, rather to his annoyance, un-re- it that Norwood was a very likeable person, with an exceptionally good Even prejudice service record. couldn't make him believe that Norwood had accepted a bribe. It might be impossible to prove that Norwood hadn't accepted one, and there might be a cloud over Norwood's career forever after. But the Resident hadn't a doubt that Rundhia, or else perhaps the priests, or even both of them in some nefarious secret alliance, bad framed Norwood. He was inclined to believe that the priests' agents had bought Rundhia, with view to some political advantage after Rundhia should have come to the throne. Rundhia, he suspected, would do almost anything for cash. Not being a fool, nor even a very unimaginative man, he suspected that Norwood's interest in Lynn Harding was something rather more than platonic. And one could believe almost anything of Rundhia: even believe that Rundhia might act honorably, if honor and the circumstances didn't clash with Rundhia's convenience. The Resident liked Rundhia. Almost everyone did who knew him. But It was a bit difficult to separate Rundhia, from Rundhia's inclinations and his record. So the Resident wrote a report, marked "secret." to the State Department, in which he respectfully urged His Majesty the King's advisers to oppose Prince Rundhia's succession to the throne of Kadur. He had small doubt that his advice unre-generat- e would be found acceptable. But that wasn't going to save Norwood. It was far more likely to ruin Norwood, because Rundhia employed a secret agent in Delhi, who would learn of the Indian Government's Intentions about the veto in next to no time. Rundhia, and Run-- 1 dnia's friends, would Jump to the conclusion that Norwood had been using secret influence in order to get back at Rundhia for the accusation of bribery. Rundhia and his friends would strike back, and there would be so much purchased, perjured evidence produced, that wood would have no chance what- ever. So the Resident decided to do some private investigation on his own account. There was nothing for It but to call on Mrs. Harding and to ask her to summon Lynn to the guesthouse for a confidential interview. He detested Mrs. Harding. He knew she was a snob and he suspected her s. He bad of being a called on her once, and she had been damned rude, because she hadn't understood his position; she had suspected him of being merely one more penurious British officer who wished to make Lynn's acquaintance. But there are lots of unpleasant tasks that a man feels called on to undertake, in the course of duty, so the Resident ordered his ear and set forth, calling en route at the Post Office to register his letter to the Department of State, so title-huntres- that his Parsee secretary shouldn't know about it and be tempted to talk. Aunty Harding's locked and labelled trunks stood in a severe row at one end of the veranda. Aunty Harding reposed on pillows at the other end, where she received the Residept with hostile politeness. The veranda faced away from the sunset and the surrounding trees cast a deep shadow, so the electric light , had been turned on in the and the only light there was wincame through the living-rooliving-room- m dow. Aunty Harding couldn't see him very well, and she hadn't her spectacles. But she remembered his name, and she bad learned, indirectly, sinre their first interview, that he was a personage. So she bristled and patronized him, "Mayn't I offer you whiskey? You English are such devotees of that drink, aren't you. In the States, our men drink Bourbon. Please smoke." "I came to talk with Miss Lynn Harding." "You will have to look for her elsewhere." "Oh. I know she's at the palace. Isn't there a telephone? Could you ask her to come here a moment? It won't take Ions; I merely want to ask her a few questions." "I can't do what you ask. I am no longer responsible for Lynn. If I should summon her she wouldn't obey me." "Oh? I hope nothing serious on. If it weren't wood, who is a that Captain Norgentleman whose opinion I respect, has assured me that your niece is a thoroughly nice girl- -" "How does be know?" Aunty in- terrupted. "He is an officer of unblemished record, and a gentleman who has never done a shabby thing in his life. That is why I value his opin- They'll sit quiet them Brahmins will. What you're up against Is what I warned you. That Bengali doctor was too scared for bis own skin to be telling me lies. Set your lamp to one side of the tent and eat your supper in shadow, if you can't eat in the dark. Watch out they don't chuck no more cobras at you. They've guns. They've automatics. And there's Gulbaz in back o' this, so watch out Gulbas and a woman," Norwood stared at him. "Woman?" he said. "What do you mean?" "You told me to mind my own business. This ain't my business." "Talk!" "How about another whiskey?" "Do you wish to be sat in the another. They came from two directions. "Sentries, hold your fire!" he shouted. Stoddart came charging up, breathing hard, fastening his tunic and belt as he ran. "All present sir! All ready!" "Very well. Stoddart Keep your hair on. Post two men to guard my tent Send two to the horse-lin- e and the remainder to guard the store tent Thieves I think." Norwood walked ahead into the darkness, shadowed by O'Leary. "Now what?" asked O'Leary. "For the love o " "Fetch a lantern on a long stick. Norwood stood in deep black shadow waiting for him. O'Leary ran up with a lantern at the end of a very long stick at least ten feet Long. "Give that to me. Next shot they fire, raise a yell that I'm hit" "Okay. I get you. You're a credit to your Uncle Moses." Norwood held the pole extended toward his left to its limit He walked forward. The lantern danced as if it were in someone's hand. A bullet spat out of the darkness. Norwood felL O'Leary shouted at the top of his hings: Hi there, Stoddart! "Stoddart! They've shot the Captain! He's dead! They hit him through the heart!" ?" I'd" "Well, that is perhaps outside my province. But there is no question about my responsibility in connection with Captain Norwood. He is a distinguished young officer, in temporary difficulty, who needs all the legitimate help he can get He is well connected, and popular. He is the younger brother of the very distinguished Earl of Ashlawn. Numbers of people would be shocked if Norwood were disgraced. You have a letter belonging to Captain Norwood, that he possibly needs. Think that over. Mrs. Harding. It is now up to you. Good evening." CTIAPTER XVin The efficiency of the United States mail is so taken for granted that very few people really know what takes place - between the time a stamped envelope is deposited in one d boxes of those familiar and when it is received by the ad- I &K zfe HEl" II -- 2S3 J fc CWTAIN ROD I good-looki- RIGHT SIDE wl ng Ask Me Jlnoiher Vermin w The Antwert 1. A contest is any battle for supremacy; a tournament usually refers to some test of athletics or i Proud Hearts What hypocritites we seem to card skill. be whenever we talk of ourselves I 2. George Eliot was a woman. Our words sound so humble 3. Two one to mountain time, while our hearts are so proucL and one to Pacific time. Hare. 4. A U. S. coin not minted since 1885, made for trade in the Orient, 5. Ad libitum, at pleasure; exempli gratia, for example; id est, that is; videlicet, namely. 0. General usage of the word Roman implies the early Roman empire, although the word may be applied to anyone or thing of the city of Rome. The term Italian is generally used. Hmy BMfcM.Ksi.imMr M.Bm Itmrndfiftm CAMELS ARE SLOW-BURNIN- G. THEyGIVEME SMOKING PLEASURE AT ITS BEST AW MORE OF (T fER SSk iS- JACK Whatever price yon pay per pack. It's important to remember this fsoti By burning 2S tUwtr thaa the average of the 15 other of the largest-sellin- g breads tested slower than aj of them CAMELS give a smoking plus equal to olive-colore- HA BOLD MiCKACKEN mated Arctic txpbrtr out-of-to- Impossibility. In this country the use or tne railHarmful Noise Noisy work performed in a way postal car dates to 1861, when d John L. Scripps, then postmaster of space Is more harmful to the Chicago, suggested that the mail ears than if done in trie open air, which had accumulated at Cairo, says Hygeia, the Health magazine. 11 fish-bo- DL, on account of the Civil war, be sorted while it was aboard the train. A few years of experimenting proved the merits of this idea and the use of railway post offices became a reality. Originally the post office cars were used only on the main lines of dressee. railroads, but today nearStrange as it may seem, only a long-ru- n mail ly every line in the country has small proportion of is actually sorted in the marble service to form a network encompalaces whose portals are inscribed, passing every town and hamlet of our nation. "Neither sleet or rain . . ." Within these rolling post offices A letter from New York to San Marino. Calif., for example, is han efficient crews of clerks not only dled once In New York and once break down mail shipments into in San Marino. In the meanwhile, section rind state groups, but also however, that envelope may be sort- sort it for cities and then go further ed half a dozen times in order to to separate individual letters desspeed it on its way in the shortest tined for different postal stations in a given city. possible time. A clerk on the New York to For some unknown reason the United States post office rarely Washington run, for example, is mentions the RPO (Railway Post expected to know the exact location Office) and its important part in the of any address in New York City, distribution of mail, hence very few Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washingneonle realize that without it our ton and perhaps several other interpresent postal service would be an mediate ciUes served by that route. iM uthSrn Edge's to Attie magic 'or the entrance halL 'T'HE bride came home, but not of drawers. A glazier put a mirto weep on Mother's shoulder. ror in the oval gold frame. Those "There are too many bare spots in are dusky pink branches in the our house," she said; "and I want lovely against the rose-re-d to rummage in your attic." "You brocade hanging. The diaare welcome," replied Mother, gram shows how the hanging was "but you will find no antiques made from a part of the portier. The edges were finished with dull nothing there but Junk." A golden oak dresser; a fish gold colored braid and fringe; and bowl; an old portier; a chromo it hung with matching cord, tasin a wide gold frame; and an old sels and an ordinary curtain rod. What became of the stool and the piano stool; were carted away. will be told next week. Varnish remover and plain mirror NOTE: Readers who are now drawer pulls transformed the Books No. 1, 2 and 3 Sewing using chest will be dresser into a happy to learn that No. 4 is ready for mailing; as well as the 10 cent editions of No. 1, 2 and 3. Mrs. Spears has just made quilt block patterns for three designs selected from her favorite O A General Quiz Early American guilts. You may have these patterns FREE with your order for four books. Price 1. What is the difference between of books 10 cents each postpaid. Set of three quilt block patterns a contest and a tournament? 2. Why did George Eliot, the without books 10 cents. Send orEnglish novelist and poet, not live ders to Mrs. Spears, Drawer 10, to be an old man? Bedford Hills, New York. S. How many time changes from Chicago to San Francisco? FOP 600D TfMEOMt TAtE 4. What is a trade dollar? 5. For what do the following abbreviations stand: Ad lib.; e.g.; Le.; viz.? 6. Would you call a person living in Rome a Roman or an Italian? Important Railway "Yes." PICTURE Hurry." Stoddart and four men came hurrying. Norwood whispered: "Pick me up. Carry me into the ion." tent feet first" "1 have my "Mournful and solemn," O'Leary Aunty Interrupted: own opinion of an 'officer and a gen-added. "Lay me on the cot in full lampcook-firelight Spread a sheet over me," "You'd spoil your supper! But I've said Norwood. Iwm thlnlrinv Tf vmi want tn faiiw "He's as dead as trouble," said ! what I was thinking, I'll tell you. O'Leary. So they carried Norwood to the Barring two or three injustices you've done to me, and I'm of a cot and there be lay, in lamplight, forgiving disposition, there's only while Stoddart slightly overdid the one man in Kadur, by my reckon- business of taking over command. ing, who'd pay money to see you O'Leary scouted. At the end of ten dead and buried." minutes, O'Leary returned to the tent "You may name him." "That's done It They've gone. I "Name him yourself. Him and crashed among the bushes like a a was and singyou thumbing guitar ing to the same girL Let's suppose pig with a panther after him. Nohe knows, for instance, that the body fired a shot There wasn't a priests slipped you a bribe. And Let's sound. They've gone for good. All suppose he thinks you're honest Kadur win know mat you're dead, Let's suppose he thinks you'll earn within twenty minutes. They may the bribe and fix it so the priests even tell 'em the news at the palwin their case. And him heir to ace, though I doubt that Palaces the throne. And him and you mash- get the news late, after other folks ing the same golden-haire- d beauty. have had time to lay their bets." as you He'd be as officer-heade- d Norwood sat up. He stared at are If he didn't hit quick and below O'Leary. O'Leary held his tongue. the belt He'll bit hard! What's to He watched, waited. Norwood didn't stop him from spiking the Brahm- speak for sixty seconds. Then: ins' case by getting them blamed "O'Leary, there is Just one chance for having murdered you? Answer in fifty that Prince Rundhia is on that one? Why not lay off the girl? the wall, by that kiosk, where he If I was you, was last night" "Don't let me have to caution It almost seemed as if the night you too often, O'Leary. What I "Ne, way should I?" expect from you is information. I knew that Norwood had made up tleman' about whom even babus and do my own thinking. If I should his mind. He was riding a fresh servants gossip. If Lynn bad wished ever need advice from you I'll tell horse, but he didn't hurry. He was to associate herself with common you." followed by a mounted sais, and by "'Tain't never no use advising O'Leary on another horse. The graft and bribery, she might better have remained in America. We have nobody about no woman," said horses, the sais and O'Leary beplenty of corrupt officials mostly of O'Leary. "I know symptoms when haved like a snake's tail. They folforeign extraction, I am thankful I see 'em. All right mum's the lowed the head without asking questo say. Many of them Irish." she word, I ain't saying nothin'." tions. Norwood gave no orders. He added. "Get out of here." didn't tell O'Leary what he intended After supper, Norwood wrote an- to do. But as they came near the The Resident smiled: "Yes. Mrs. Harding. I confess to being Irish. other letter to Lynn Harding. He palace garden wall, he reduced the He ad- speed a little and O'Leary. without So look out! I will take no nonsense didn't tear up that one. from you. If necessary. I will con- dressed it in care of Mrs. Harding needing to be told to do it went front you with Captain Norwood and at the guesthouse, and then stuck it scouting ahead. into his tunic pocket He was still let him demand that letter." O'Leary, on the other side, made undecided. "What if I destroy it?" Determined, but not plenty of noise. He made a signal, "I will have you arrested." ready with his plan. O'Leary came pointing with his right arm, as he "I am leaving tonight." said and warned him again about sitting broke from shadow into moonlight too near the lamp, so he went out- There was nothing mysterious about Aunty Harding, firmly. "Oh. yes? It is a long way from side the tent and sat in the shadow his signal; he simply pointed to the here to the station. You have a lot cast by the rising full moon. A swinging tendril of a baobab. It of luggage. You propose to catch sentry challenged. overhung the wall in search of earth 'Careful!" Norwood shouted. in which to take root It looked the midnight train?" "I have made my own arrange- "Don't shoot unless you have to. like a python, swaying slightly in ments with a native contractor, And don't shoot to kill!" the faint evening breeze. A bullet whizzed past him then thank you." (TO BE CONTINUED) "I understand, then, that you propose to go away at midnight, leaving your niece to her own devices." Postoffice Is Link in U. S. Mails Norwood went the round of the sentries. There were only four of them. They had already received orders from Sergeant Stoddart Norwood repeated the instructions: "There are thieves in the neighborhood, and there is a rumor that there might be a raid on the camp. It isn't likely to be anything serious, but look out for it Don't kill anyone if you can help it In any event you are to challenge three times and then fire your first shot "A plot! Dishonorable! Contempt- In the air. I am expecting visitors, ible I I won't bore you with my pri- who may perhaps approach stealthivate affairs. It is sufficient to say ly, because their business is secret has" So look out for them, and be careful not to mistake them for thieves." He returned to his tent, where O'Leary sat holding an empty glass with futile optimism. "Get out of here, now, and make yourself usefuL" "Me useful?" "Yes. Those Brahmins with whom I talked down near the waterfall this morning" "Yeah, they slipped one over on you! I heard all about it" "Hold your tongue then. I expect they'll be coming to talk to me about my visiting the mine." "You need a nurse," O'Leary an"You'd never get your swered. brass hat one of these days if it weren't for your Uncle Moses. Them there Brahmins are as likely to come and talk to you tonight as I am to kiss the Queen of England. They figure they've bought you. And they figure they can prove it on you, if you don't come across. 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