Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-05-11
THE FATAL MALAGA CANE.

DOCK stall an antlquated volume treating
of occult matters. 1t interested me be-
cause l had come across variety of
strange beliefs connected with the
megic art in the course of my naval
life, and had witnessed things that gave
my European notions more than one
rude shock.
1t is all very we'll to say that magic and
belief in the supernatural lurking behind
natural objects of a simple nature, such
as crystals, amber, opals and so forth,
were the first ignorant approach to sci
ence, but / should very much like to be
acquainted with the science that would
throw satisfactory light upon certain cur
ious doipgs and extraordinary occurrences
which have made part of my tropical ex-
perienCes. The most interesting to rae,
being the most personal of these, | am
going to relate, and 1t was the only one |
did not go in the least bit out of my way
to meet.
In these days we are told of sympa-
thetic fluid, gas or electric current that
perVades the whole earth from pole to
pole, and includes all that appertains to
earth in its onward flow. Very reliable
people, Miss Nightingale for one. discov-
cred that nervous restlesspess was con-
trolled and sleep induced by the head of
the sufferer being pooled" not as Absa-
lom was pOlled, but with regard to north
and south. This is quoted as q proof of
the course and influence of the current.
This current, then, is believed by the
learned in occult matters to be the sym
pathetic medium between the higher and
lower creatures, all, chemically speaking,
wrought out Of the same identical ele-
ments.
Suppose all this, and then add to it
your knowledge of the mysterious power
of evil working above, below and around;
note how inexplicable many events are;
how impossible, with all our experience,
to forecast the least of them. Observe
the enormous power of pure good, and
tho hideous power of determined evil,
and then if you please, tell me that there
Is really nothing in my story but chain
of condolences.
was stroIling through Plymouth one
day, according to my usual habit, kee ping
an eye open for anything interesting and
curious, when | was attracted by a shop
of that heterogeneous description only to
be seen in seapOrts. Every port in the
known world seemed to have contributed
towards examining the dirty windows with
objects. Parrots in cages hung at the
door, live birds nestled together on the
counter in cage too small for even their
tiny forms, sea shells, beads, weapons,
bits OF uniform-all that Jack fancies,
buys for his mother and sweetheart and
sells for drink as soon as the port cOrmor-
ants seize hlm-waS there.
EmbrOideries on lea gher, linen and silk
tobacco pouches and opium pouches.
black wood carvings, ivory tritles, ele-
Lhant tooth paper weights, clay figures,
brazen idols, slippers, fans, caskets,
chessmen, charms" in bunches. coral
sponges, chip of the great pyramid,
Arab burnouses-all these and a hundred
more nondescript articles were there.
Propped up in one corner l espied a Nal
acce cane in company with a green silk
umbrella which might have belonged to
Thebaw's wife. 1t was not the umbrella,
with its sly, battered, costly, wicked air,
but the cane that arrested my notice.
Firstly, because it WAS not like the others
of it's kind, being a white Malaoca and
nearly three inches longer between the
Joints than any other | hai seen; second
ly, because | was rather on the outlook
for a present for an elderly gentleman.
and fancied that, well mounted, it would
DG bHS NSIE tlluS W Y I'VE IllHl' Hdu
made up my mind to buy it, and had
taken a step toward the dark doorway
crowded with bundles of stuffs, and
Swallowed by handsome tiger skin, when
the owner shutlled out, | suppose, to hook
me in as a likely customer. He was an
odd looking little fellow, grimy and I'M
pleasant enough, whose age and nation
ality no man could guess at. | felt sure
Of +hir,rc nnIv-Ahot oh
was of the shadiest, and that be lived in q
mole-liho fashion, only coming to the
surface TO grind ard cheat his fellow
creatures. Who would have been at
home, moreover, in any quarter of the
globe, along shore, where hlueiackets aud
beach-cOmbers were to be found.
Hello! it's you, is it?.' [ remarked,
for | mus mention that we had met be-
fore, when | happened to haul him out of
a little mob Of Lascars and Cinnamon,
who seemed to mean pUtting an end to
him. He was one against many, and an
old man; knives were out, so brought him
off. for which service, far from appearing
grateful, l fancied he looked as though
he owed me grudge.
The glitter of his eyes, which were the
eyes of q reptile, not a human being-J
don't care to ask how they got into
human sort of head, but there they were
did not take my fancy, as | asked to take
a look at that Malacca cane. The man
ner in which he licked his thin, blue,
flexible lips was not pleasing, either, but
| set down the eye glitter to greed for
gain, and made my offer for the stick,
which liked even better than when |
saw it through his dirty window prnes.
We struck bargain after some chaffering,
ana when | had paid my money and
taken my purchase in hand, the odd be-
ing doubled up into silent fit of laugh
ter which shook the tassel of his fez like
mad. l was still. examining the cane and
had just discovered on it u cloud mark
which presented startling likeness to a
grotesque face-yes-the face, moreover,
before me that instant, contorted by
malicious laughter--why malicious, why
laughter, who could say?
When l say that the elderly gentleman
for whom the cane was bought was my
uncle, the uncle also by marriage of the
girl | wished to marry, and that a long
promised inheritance from him was the
only prospect I had in view beyond my
profession, the conclusion that my little
Offering was prompted purely by self
interest might be natural conclusion to
draw, but it. would not be true one.
had been fond of the good old fellow
from the time when | was half-starved
youngster at a well known boarding
school for would be naval cadets and he
tipped me many a half-crown. 1 am
sometimes inclined II think that half
crowns positively are not what they were
in those days, and when l am told that
silver is too cheap just now am sure that
il Is fact.
had the cane mounted in solid silver
gilt and looked it over proudly when it
came homo.
Ipacked it carefully and sent it off
with q note to my dear old uncle. An
answer would come, was sure, by return
of post, and l WAS fully convinced that
the cane would have given much pleas
ure.
Picture my dismay and sorrow, then,
when on the next day came telegram
from doctor well known to me, annouDc-
ing the sudden death of the apparently
hale old gentleman! He had been, as
knew afterwards, delighted with my pres
emf, had handled it with hearty appreci-
alton, and was actually writing his &C
acknowledgements TO me when he had fall
en- with his head on the desk, dead
man.
l put away the half written letter as a
memento of a valued friend and attend
ed the funeral as chief morner-
His lawyer, who was an old acqusint