Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-09

to hold aloof while you are reckoning the tale of
the Sshib': property. They are all thieves and
.As far as can make out he died from-oh.
! anything; stoppage of the hearts action. heat
| apoplexy, or some other visitation" said Spur
| stow to his companions. I'VE must make an
inventory OF his effects. and so on"
He Was scared to death" insisted Lowndes.
.'Look at those eyes! For pity sake don't let
| him be buried with them open,'
Whatever it was he's out OF all the trouble
| now" said Mottram softly
Spurstow was peering into the open eyes
| Come here, said he. Can you see anything
~ can't face it,' whimpered Lowndes
| Cover up the face. Is there any lear on earth
that can turn a man into that likeness? It's
CHASTITY oh, Spurstow. cover him upr'
| No fear-on earth," said Spurstow Mot.
| tram leaned over his shoulder aud looked in
| tently.
| Il see nothing except some gray blurs in the
| pupil There can be nothing there YOU know :"
| Even so. Well. let's think. It'll take half
day to knock up any sort OF coffin and he must
have died at midnight. Lowndes. old man. 60
/ out and tell the coolies to break ground next
| to Jevins grave. Mottram. go round the house
with Chuma and see that the seals are put on
things. Send n couple Of men to me here and
| I'll arrange"
The strong armed servants when they re-
| turned TO their own kind told strange story of
the doctor Sahib vainly trying to call their mas
! Ter back to life by magic arts-to wit the hold
ing OF little green box opposite each of the
| DEAD mans eyes, OF frequent clicking of the
same and a bewildering muttering on the part
| OF the doctor Sahib. who subsequently, took the
! little green box away with him.
THE MYSTERY OF THE EYE.
The resonant hsmmering of coffin lid is no
pleasant thing to hear, but those who have ex-
parience maintain that much more terrible is
the soft swish of the bed linen. the reeving and
unrecvng of the bed tapes, when he who has
fallen by the roadside is appareled for burial.
sinking gradually the tapes are tied over till
| the swaddied shape touches the floor and there
Is no protest against the indignity OF hasty dis
posal
At the last moment Lowndes was seized with
scruples OF conscience. Ought you to read
the service-from beginning to end?" said he.
Il intend to. You're my senior as a civil
ian. You can take it if you like
| Il didn't mean that for a moment. / only
thought If we could get chaplain from some
| wherein willing to ride anywhere-and give
poor Hummil a better chance. That's all"
| 'Bosh! said Spurstow, as he framed his lips
| to the tremendous words that stand at the head
| of the burial service.
After breakf they smoked pipe in silence
to the memory of the dead Then said Spur
stow absently:
''Tisn't in medical science"
WHAT"
Things in a dead mans eve"
| II or goodness sake leave that horror alone. "
| said Lowndes. 1--WE seen a native die OF fri gh.
when tiger chivied him. know what killed
| Humml"
The deuce you do! I'm going to try to see' ~
| And the Doctor retreated into the bath room
| with Kodak camera splashing and grunting
| for ten minutes. Then there was the sound o.
something being hammered to pieces. and
| Spurstow emerged, very white indeed.
Have yos got a picture?" said Mottram.
What does the thing look hke?"
Nothing there. 1t was impossible. of course.
| You needn't look, MOttram. I've torn up the
| films. There was nothing there. II was i'm
possible"
That" said Lowndes very distinctly watch
| ing the shaking hand striving to relight the
pipe, lis a damned lie.
There was no further speech for a long time.
The hot wind whistled without, and the dry
| trees sobbed. Presently the daily tram, wink
| ing brass. FURNISHED steel and spOuting steam
pulled up painting in the intense glare Wed
! better go on on that" said Spurstow. Go
back to work. I've written my certificate. We
can't do any more good here Come on"
| No one moved. 1t is not pleasant to face
railway journeys at midday i'll june Spurs
tow gathered up his hat and whip, and, turn
Ing In the doorway, said:
| There may b heaveu-there must be hell
Meantimr there is our life here Me-elIs
| But neither Mottram nor Lowndes had any
| answer to the question