San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-05-03
CONTINUED. Commenced April 26.1
The Elephant Tanner.

Tnoved and whispered, 'Sahib they age com
ingn
Roth men rose to their feet and, grasping
their weapons, stepped back into the corners
of the room. They heard whispering voices
outside; the window was pushed open, and
one by one the tive robbers crept into the
room. Suddenly there wa a faint CLEAN of
light. One of the men had taken lighted
lamp out of an earthenware pot in which he
had been carrying it, The next moment
there was a rush and a loud crash. The
jemadar had sprung on to one of the Afghans
and hurled him to the ground with stunning
force. At the same moment Captain Eaton
sprang TO the window, and swinging his
sword and holding his revolver ready to fire,
shouted: Drop your weapOns?
The next instant the captain was lying on
his back. The other Afghan had rushed at
him, and in stepping back to strike at him
with his sword. Eaton had tI'ipped and fallen,
his revolver exploding harmlessly as he fell.
The Afghan threw himself on him, and for
some moments there was a furious struggle
on the ground. Suddenly the Afghan gasp.
ed and fell back, almost clOven in two. The
jemadar having disabled and disarmed his
man, had come to MS masters assistance,
had struck the life out of the Afghan. Mean
while, the raScally Bcngaee mahOuts thor
Oughly scared by the suddcnneSs of the at
tack and the report of the revolver, were
grOyelling on their faces, bowling for mercy.
Lights were soon procured, and also ropes,
and the five rutlianS, four alive and one dead,
removed. When the news spread the eX-
element in the kheddah was tremendous,
e., no t,fI i,rbt in Ent
bungalow was crowded with his people, all
anxious to hear the particulars of what had
taken place, and TO congratulate their mas
ter on his escape.
Next morning, after having sent his four
prisoners off to the Jail and handed over the
body of the Afghan to the coroner, Captain
Eaton called together all the people employ
ed in the kheddah, and publicly thanked the
jemadar for his fidelity, skill and courage.
BuX Khan acknowledged the honor with
salaam, but without remark. and without
smile.
The same morning the jemadar came to
his master and asked for leave of absence.
Certainly" said Captain Eaton. For
how long do you want leayeP'
A strange sort of expression passed over
the jemadaT's face as he said after mo-
ment's hesitation: 1.-TWO days, Sahib."
1t was granted at once; and the jemadar
left the kheddah short time afterward.
As Eaton was at dinner that evening his
butler spoke to him about some business con-
nected with the kheddah, whereupon his
master ordered that nothing should be done
In the matter till the return of the jemadar.
The butler lidgeted about for some mo
ments, and then said "Sahib, the jemadar
will never return"
Never return! Why, he only asked for
two days leave
''Yes, Sahib, | know. But the jemadar
will never return"
"What do you mean? Do you think he
had gone back to his own cOuntry"'
mo, Sahib."
Then what makes you think he will not
return?" demanded Eaton impatiently.
"Sahib, he took his gun with him." said
the butler with nod full of meaning.
Took his gun with himr' repeated Eaton
in surprise. Then light broke in on him.
"Why you don't mean to say he intends to
destroy himselfY'
"That is what everybody says, Sahib"
''But why should he? don't understand"
"Sahb," replied the butler earnestly, lever
since the death of his child, the jemadar has
been mad if he was not so before. lie would
have killed himself before this, but for one
thing"
"What was that?'
ale owed you debt of gratitude, Sahib,
for saving his child from Shaitan, and until
that was paid off, he did not feel at liberty to
do as he wished. But that debt was settled
last night, when he saved your life from
those numbering dogs, and now he is free.
You will never see the jemadar again,
Sahib."
Captain Eaton Immediately sent for several
respectable elderly men connected with the
kheddah, and having told them of his but
lel's suspicious, asked their opinion. They
unanimously agreed that the jemadar would
shoot himself. They also gave it as their
opinion that he would first visit his chid's
grave at Jehanabad.
1t was sleepless night that the English
man passed. lie had taken a fancy to the
wild, lawless, strange-natured man, and 1t
was a shock TO him to realize what was about
to happen. He lay awake for hours, trying
to think how he could avert the catastrophe,
which he now felt would surely take place.
lie decided at length to start next morning
and follow the iemadar to Jehanabad, and if
he found him, To try and induce him to re-
turn to the kheddah at once. But he felt
very little hope of succeeding.
About four O'Clock in the morning he got
up, and having reused his servants, ordered
them 30 get everything ready for five days
journey TO Jehanabad. An hour before day
break. he started. riding. ACCOMPANIED by a