Show SAVING THE RAJAH by AUGUSTUS GOODRICH SHERWIN agreed twelve men clamped down twelve ugly looking loaded revolvers on a great flat rock at the word gib dor kell bully and former leader of 0 the group spoke the word bad gib as ho he was familiarly known looke looked d wickeder wic keder than ever as aa he aspirated aspirate d gutturally his eye shielding a hidden hidde n fire alre of hatred his hig teeth gritting britting grit ting his sinewy throat muscles convulsing dont get riled ailed gib spoke bold dan perkins youve had the run ol of the camp while we were working now that we disband fairness and equity is the rule the majority says equal division on tho the crumbs of splints As to the ralah rajah that goes by lot that in on the deal too I 1 suppose growled gib the find it challenged dan coolly badgie was silent but he darted a harming glance of enmity at the lithe shrinking native who was the cook of the camp see here proceeded dau dan you bossed us into cutting away from a find where later comers found ten fortunes then you got your dander up and nigh well killed old dinah the mother of ramon hero here the as you call him clyde burridge Burrl dge defended her and well you found your place bad gib winced A flashing bashing quiver crossed the face of the native but instantly repressed it showed however a lurking blaze la that dusky frame you drove the woman into the wilderness to die and sent burridge Burrl dge on the same route it please us but you was sworn boss you aint now the pact Is broken when we stop work that was the bargain so the majority rules and the majority piped in dig big ben boulder tho the giant of the camp 4 D r aa A P ut UJ the tha glittering eyes of bad gib followed him votes tor for an even division on the chicken teed feed and draw lots on the rajah As den ben spoke he threw across the rock a chamois bag and lifting one end tipped out into the sunlight a thousand prismatic sparkles of 0 radiance then he be selected a dull yellowed lump from the mass two hundred carats barats it if anything he gloated gloatingly twisting the big diamond between forefinger and thumb so EO all could catch the prismatic glow shining past the interstices in its overcoat of native soil mark alark some chips one to twelve some of you leave one blank throw them in the bag and heres to the lucky man line up men ordered dan jangling the gambling ivories bad gib drew IS 13 and cursed viciously five others followed it came the turn of ramon with his usual deference and timidity he approached the bag put in his hand band and drew out blank there was a dead silence except tor for a low murderous hiss from the lips of bad gib then the bluff hearty dan grasped one hand of the astonished but delighted ramon in honest congratulation and placed the wonderful gem in the palm of the other it was only for a very few hours that ramon enjoyed his opulent possession the glittering eyes of dad bad gib followed him every move he made he shuddered when he met that metallic gleam probing menacing still more distraught the poor native became when it ft was announced that they would trek in a body to the nearest river settlement then they would break up each man going his own way ramon realized that it was riot cot within the range of possibility that be would reach cape wold the first metropolitan ro safety point in the district sure fiure was he that it had become the one motive of life with the sanguinary scoundrel bad gib to trall trail him step by step to catch the critical moment and despoil him of his lawful posses sion ion the rajah there were others in the group who coveted the precyous pre clous gem but border vonor alaur WM was lacrie with thema them ahus they were heedless as to the of 0 ramon they would not deliberately set a plot to rob him lie ile must how bow ever protect himself they the ignored and forgot him and his princely pos session ramon sought big 1319 den ben at dusk ile he led him aside bad gib watching his every movement was glowering at him darkly from a lear distance you are mv friend spoke the native to ben listen it Is fate the man who drove my mother to starvation death and my only friend burridge after her will never allow me ma to got get to cape wold with my treasure give him the slip camou ran advised den ben bluffly 1 I cannot hope it asserted ramon dolefully my aly friend see I 1 must carry it about with me I 1 dare not hide it for he la Is watching me ramon drew out a chamois bag and shook it As he restored it to his bosom tile eyes of the observing gib shone like two living coals of fire 1 it I you would do something tor for rn me suggested ramon plaintively see friend and he held up a I 1 knobbed club it was of some hard forest wood hacked by usage and blackened by time all of 0 the camp knew of 0 this souvenir of 0 the father of ramon who had been a native chief it was as a war club sacredly treasured by the son you will reach cape wold in safe ty ramon resumed it perchance burridge Dur ridge has reached there or in my y mother or you find only those ot of in my kin give them this family mementos memento sure I 1 will acquiesced den ben willingly but casually dont give up ramon light out you know all the trails you ought to be able to slip blip bad gib that night ramon stole away from the camp within an hour bad gib was also missing big den ben shook his head gravely A month later to a day den ben arria arrived ed at cape wold A surprise sur arise greeted him tor for he round found burridge there and in the same little hotel being nursed under his direction the mother of ramon burridge told a vivid story of how h he a had come across the outcast woman in the wilderness nearly starved and in delirium he took the war club the next morning he gave cave it to the sick woman moman A week later worn to a skeleton on with wild eyes prid md mixed emotions ot of excitement ant an delight ramon arrived on the scene when he learned of all that burridge had bad done for his mother he fairly groveled at his teet feet in a paroxysm ot of extravagant gratitude the war club it is safe he inquired in a quiver of suspense and expectancy pec tancy 1 ayour your mother has it I 1 explained burridge va and then when ramon returned with the ancient relic to burridge it was tr to disclose a hidden cavity in the knob end of the club within which snug and secure reposed the ralah rajah they sold the splendid gem for a small fortune the share forced upon burridge took him back post haste to a certain loving little lady in a distant distan land waiting to become his bride copyright 1914 by W G chapman |