San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-04-26
THE COLONIES MISTAKE.
A DARING INDIAN OFFICER ROBBED
BY TWO 6LACKLEGS.


Room and While There Was Desper-
ately Assaulted the Colonel Got
His Revenge at a Waxworls Show.
An Indian ofIicer-as respectable and sane
a gentleman as ever went out to Hmdostan
to eat curry and rice and get bitten by cent?
pedes and mosquitoes. Now, mark you, he
was not Il man full of fancies. His mind had
not been tainted with the slightest breath,
nor the shade Of a shadow of the oriental
superstition which a long residence in the
East among a half civilized people is sup
posed to engender. No, he could give friend
q hearty grip of the hand or strike down a
foe, and make no mistake about either.
Well, he obtained leave on furlough and
came to England with his daughter pretty,
dark faced girl of lG, whom he had brought
over to complete her education. She had
early given signs of a Partially for music,
especially that Of stringed instruments, and
her father in this, as in other matters, did not
stand in the way of her wishes being graft
fed. So one fine afternoon up and out he
strolled from his hotel in Holborn and walked
down New Oxford street, leisurely smoking
his favorite Irichinopoly cigar
THE GAME THAT'S OLD.
He had come out with the intention of Sc
lectng a suitable violin for his little Hilda,
and as he thought of the pleasure which his
git would give her all the fathers pardona-
BILE pride in his daughter could be read in that
fine old sunburnt face. His erect bearing,
military gait and general well to do appear
anCe gave him distinguished air, and many
a foot passenger turned round and looked at
him from mere curiosity. A massive gold
chain of crafty Indian work sparkled on his
dark cashmere waistcoat and two gold rings
were on his fingers, which had been presented
to him by the Rajah of Gwalior, and in his
hand he carried a stout Malacca cane, ivory
handled.
Presently his eyes caught sight of a shop
window where an assortment of violins, ban
jos, guitars, etc, stood temptingly inviting
the attention of buyers. He halted few
minutes on the pavement with view to in
specting the stock preparatory to walking in
side.
At this moment man who, unnoticed, had
dogged his footsteps on the lookout for
game" approached and also appeared to
gaze at the show of instruments.
POOH" he said, turning up his nose and
addressing Col -, that's publishing stuff
trade this last ten years and | knows good
banjo when | sees one Maybe it's banjo
you are wanting, sir?" he said.
You are mistaken, my man." replied the
colonel; II am looking at the violins."
IF it's violin you be wantiu to buy, sir
you can't do better AN step into my house.
sir. Just two minutes round the corner"
and, persuasively, you can just look at EN-
~, i i
done, sir"
The colonel was persuaded He would not
mind the walk, he said. The larger the
choice the easier it would be to select good
one for his daughter
YES, sir" said the man. That's our
speciality; we have sold hundreds this year
for ladies, sir"
And so they walked down, turned one
street into another of the quiet by streets, of
which there were so many years ago in this
part of London.
They soon came to a house, the exterior of
which presented by no means an appearance
of ever having been used as shop. u
'Our warehouse is on the first floor" ex-
planned the man, land if you don't mind step
ping into the office shall soon bring you our
viOlins, sir"
Saying this, he showed the colonel into
what he termed the oftice-a small room CON
tanning table, few stools and a large easy
chair
Pray be seated, sir, ;" said the man, point
hag to the large chair.
The colonel thanked him, laid his hat and
sick on the table and walked to the chair.
10 sooner had he sat himself down when
the chair yielded and down the colonel went,
his legs and arms struggling ludicrousIy to
regain a more dignihed position. Quick as
thought the man rushed on him and held him
down, while his confederate, who had been
hidden behind the back Of his chair, put lis
arms round the coloncls waist and attemD-
ted. IS i We're, to drag him through the
chair
A desperate fight ensucd, during which the
colonel, though completely taken by surprise,
caught his first foe well directed kick, which
sent him reeliIg to the further end Of the
room against the wall He then tore himself
from the chair, seized his stick and turned on
the second man.
UpueDt tine LLalacca cane, its ivory handle
Shining high next to the low cciliag. A mo-
m-a- iloGe nl.l the r-,w..-. skull would not