Part 47 (1/2)

In vain the English sought to return to the scrie play; it was too late

The Rajputs had them rattled Topham at full-back on the pie-bald was a stone wall, swift, hard-hitting and resourceful, but in vain Swooping down the wings, and passing with the dextrous wrist-work and a body-bends that they alone seelish team on the defensive and kept theether the English did succeed in carrying t he ball down-field, but that was their last chance, and they missed it

In the last two oals, the last one driven ho stick and the thunder of a neck-and-neck stahed dick ”I hope you won't starve for thirty days!”

The croentand singing Sa as if he rather enjoyed to lose three thousand rupees in an afternoon

”If you'll excuse o and shake hands with Utirupa He deserves congratulation It was head-on that game”

”I wonder what she said to him at the end of the third chukker,” Tess whispered to dick

Sa orders to the saises, and shook hands with hiratulate you By the way: there's going to be aon important business in my office half an hour froe, I wish you'd come and join us

We want a ith you”

”Where are the gunners going to?” asked Tess ”The round in the same direction”

”Dunno,” said her husband ”Let'saround Sa for that money!”

Half an hour after that, Utirupa presented himself at Samson's office in the usual neat Rajput dress that showed off his lithe figure and the straightness of his stature There was quite a party there to , Norwood, Sir Hooku warround beyond the couns were drawn up at attention But if Utirupa felt surprise he did not show it

”To an at once, ”as you know, Gungadhura abdicated yesterday The throne of Sialpore is vacant, and you are invited to accept it I have here the required authority from Simla”

Utirupa rose fro to accep,” he answered quietly His face showed no eh,” said Samson ”We are tired of these foolish 'islands'--our territory in yours and yours in ours There's a contract here As your first official act--there's no tie the River Palace, on this side of the river, for out fort on your side”

Utirupa said never a word

”It's not a question of driving a bargain,” Samson went on ”We don't knohat the palace may be worth, or what is in it If there is any valuable furniture you'd like removed, we'll waive that point; but on the teruns and whatever else is there except the actual harness and supplies of the garrison, against the land and palace and whatever it contains except furniture”

Utirupa suns in that fort were known to date fron,” said Utirupa And he signed the contract there and then, in presence of all those witnesses Tenbatteries fired hiht kno a new maharajah occupied the throne of Sialpore

Meanwhile, up at the house on the hill Tess and dick found Yas at her ease, dressed as a woarette in the -seat of the bedroom Tess had surrendered to her

”What was it you said to him after the third chukker?” was the first question Tess asked