The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-15


major; run up to quarters aud give
the alarm Be sure to bring back
Doctor Palgrave with you. too"
For a little over two months now, a
horror of mystery and death had
hung over the garrison
Officer after officer had been mys-
teriously and appallingly stricken
Down by death in rapid succession
As Beckford had declared, Colonel
Valentine made the ninth victim
The symptoms were the same in
each and every case-instantaneous
paralysis, with intense speechless
agony for the heeting moment, then
death as by an apoplectic stroke of I'M
para1leled swiftness.
Medical authorities were equally at
fault
Snake bite was suggested more than
nything else, but then the symptoms
were different in many particulars
from those attendant upon the bite Of
the cobra, which is responsible for
nineteen twentieths Of the fatalities
from this cause in India
Moreover. why should a commits
stoned officer have been the victim in
every instance-never once a private
soldier or any one in comparatively
humble employment about the post?
4
or vengeance seemed to enter into the
mystery.
Doctor Mardyn, who, as the colonel
said, had once been professional de-
tective, took great interest in the
mysterious deaths He found that
there was one man who had been in
the immediate vicinity of each Of the
successive victims, and this man was
the Hindoo. Mahmudi
The man had borne a good reputa~
ton at Madras, but upon making in
quiries, the doctor discovered that
along the coast, where he was en-
ployed before coming to Madras, he
had the reputation of being vindictive
and remorselessly revengeful to the
last degree, although always under
the cloak Of a servile and treacherous
amiability-
Moreover the Hindoo had lived long
in Sumatra. where he was associated
as boy with the terrible thugs.
After the colonel's funeral, Mardyn
was one of group of officers who
were discussing the last mournful
event in the mess room, when NAH
mudi-who had again been taken into
the service-passed with his accus-
toned salaam, and carrying the in
evitable bamboo wand.
An idea suddenly occurred to Mar
dyn.
Here, Mahmudi-A word with you.
my mani" he called out. Let me
look at that staff of yours a moment"
The man looked startled, but speed
lily recovered his self-possession,
though instead of advancing he drew
back.
This, shaib.'' he murmured, hold
ing up the wand. "A simple, inof-
fensive reed-that is all"
''Uive it to me, 1 sayl" cried Mardyn
sternly enough now, and with sig-
nificant vehemence that at once
aroused the interest of his com
panions. "A simple reed. yes; but
why has it always been your com
panion just prior to each Of these
mysterious deaths with which your
presence or proximity has invariably
been associated? That is what I want
to know. Let me examine the star,
1 sayI''
But at this juncture the Hindoo, to
the surprise of rybody, suddenly
took to his heels. with a terrified cry.
The young surgeon, however, was
after him in instant.
The Hindoo was overtaken; there
was briefWstruggle for the possess
sion of the staff, and then to the gem
shrill scream. and fell az if shot
1T is fatev' he gasped, more com
posedly, as they surrounded him
'Accursed sahibsl yes, / was the muir
derer Of one and all of them, and
glory in the record
He then stiffened out, and instantly
expired.
cry of horror then arose, as a lit
tie serpent was perceived darting its
ugly head out of the wand which the
naval surgeon carefully held in his
hand.
Doctor Palgrave, the post surgeon,
assisted Mardyn in the examination
of the reptile that followed, and then
the mystery of the successive fatali-
ties was solved at last.
The serpent was a specimen Of the
echys carinatfl. which is never more
than few inches long, and is so hor-
ribly venomous that it's bite is capa~
BILE of causing death in a few seconds
The murderous Hindoo had only re-
vived an ancient custom among In
dian criminals by conhning 1t in the
hollow of his bamboo wa nd, so that
its head just barely protruded at the
open end
Then the merest touch of his unsus-
pecting enemy or object OF his resent
ment with the tip of the innocent
looking but diabolical weapon would
cause the snake to plunge its fangs
into the defenseless flesh, and death
ensued with the certainty almost the
suddenness of the lightning stroke.
1t was fortunate for the clever sur