Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-06-27

tuSJ. LOT the ioIS-ttlhcu u puuilIf
expedition was about to thread its way
through the peaks and passes. bearing
the rod which teaches respect, and
perhaps fidelity. On the outermost
skirts of British territory the district
officer sat in front Of his tent writing
a rose-colored report on the progress
of education. 1t was long overdue
owing to the press ure Of martial prep
arations, so he was in a hurry and
superlatives came fast.
"A Belooch from beyond the border
is seeking the Presence with insist
ence," pleaded deferential lnyrmidon,
Let him come in was the prompt
reply: and the pen, laid aside, rolled
over, blotting the last sentence. What
matter? Reports have various values,
and tie Belooch might bring inforna-
tion that would make force more f0rci-
BILE.
An old soldier by the look of iIim,
tail and well set up, with merry brown
eyes and determined face. He
brought himself to the salute grayely.
May the life of The Presence be pro-
longed and may his gracious ears bear
with question. Is it true that he
armies Of the Lord of the Universe
march against the village of one Fai-
Zullah of Birokzai?''
THE armies Of the Kaiser-i- Hind
march against all thieves and muir
dererS, no matter who they are"
The words Of the Presence are just
altogether. Yet may the Protector of
the Poor bear with this dust-like one.
Is it true that he who brings Faizul-
IaIh captive will receive 1900 rupees
reWard?''
1T is true
'Wah illah. The purse of the great
Queen is big of the long tongue Of
the Presence Wags in it SO freely. The
sum is great
The crime is great. He murdered
his wife; besides, he stole 1900 rupees
worth of jewels
The smile of contempt which had
first part of the sentence, gave place
to a frown at the sequel. THE Pres
ence says it; shall it not be true?' he
remarked, with Difference, after a
pause. Nevertheless the sum exceeds
the purchase. Does not the price of
the calf buy the cow also? There is no
wisdom in a bad bargain.
The deputy commissioner looked at
the new conner sharply. Doubtless;
yet none have given the man up,
though all know we will keep our
threat of burning the village next
month
The sudden clenching of the slender,
nervous hands and quick imitation of
the nostrils convinced the EngEShman
that there was an envoy prepared with
concessions, but asking for some in re-
turn.
1.-THE Presence hath said it; shall it
not be true?' came the urbane reply.
Yet we Beloochees do not give up cur
friends readily. Still, Faizullah is no
friend of mine, SO for 1900 rupees
will bring him to the Presence, dead
or alive, If His Honor please"
The deputy commissioner stared.
But the reward is 2,000 why do you
ask less?''
THE price of the calf is the price of
the cow, Huzoor! / lack but one thing.
and the sum lis enough for the pur
chase Am l pig of baniah to fill my
stomach with rupees l can not digest
Nevertheless the task is hard, and
those who go near violence may suffer
violence What good then would the
money be to me if / were dead"
Like many of his race, he had a
curiously round, mellow voice that
seemed to hnger over the slow, stately
periods as he went on deliberately.
Surely God will reward the Presence
for his patience! But a mans son is
as himself And 1 have a son, Huzo II,
q babe in his mothers arns-may the
Lord bring him safe to mans estate!
If the great pulveor Of justice would
cause q writing to be made setting
forth that my son is as myself, and my
earnings as his earnings-nay, surely
the Presence will have the best bliss
Of paradise reserved for it specially!
And if the munifcent keeper Of the
purse of kings would cause the twelve
hundred rupees to be set apart from
this day in the hands of some notable
banker-not that this slave doubts 5ut
the Presence knows the guile of all
women, and that ali men are born of
women and therefore guileful. it
knows also that without the hope of
money naught but the stars in heaven
will move; and if 1 say: 'Lo, I will
give, when l have it, who will listen
But if 1 say: 'Lo! there it is safe, do
my bidding and take it, it's different
matter If, therefore, the Presence
will do this, his slave will bring Fai-
zullah, Belooch Of BirOkzai, to him
alive or dead, and there will be no need
to burn the village"
"And the jewels?"
One more the frOwn came quick. I'll
1 bring Faizullah to the halls OF JUS
tice alive, surely the mighnness of the
Presence will make him speak. Ii
bring him dead, can this slave follow
him and find speech in the silence OF
the grave? Say! is it a bargain? Yes
or mop
The anxious brevity of the last Ques
ton showed the sincerity of the mai
more than all his measured words, ant
after some further parley the condi
lions were arranged. That is to say
to be paid into the hands of a respon
sible third party, and the informer wa:
to bring FaiZullah to the deputy coin
missioner dead or alive, before re
,,riSaIS had been taken on the villa ore