The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-31

MAN"
time, they say. but he Is old now. No,
/ do not know where he lives. think
he has no fixed habitation, for he travels
much and visits many far-off cities"
"And Wazir.ud-din. also . gray.
beard7"
II do not know him." said the choki.
dar "Dut there are many men Of the
name, Hazoor."
Which was true enough; and so there
was the end of the business. Esdaile
rcde slowly away, and all along the
dusty shishum-lined road. and through
the old town, with its sleepy oriental
look and its narrow winding bazars
and alleys, his thoughts ran hither and
thither seeking clew. He inquired at
his police "thana" for further infor-
nation. but little was forthcoming.
Valid Ali was peaceful citizen, and,
as his servant had said q man who was
held in much respect In the neighbor-
hood on account of hissupposed lsnowl-
edge of the powers OF magic. which
might be accounted for by the eccen-
tricity of his frequent disappeorances.
When he was in Ramnaga he lived the
life OF an ordinary gentleman. and II
was believed that his absences were
connected with speculations in silver
and In foreign merchandise, nothing
more. Jan Khan was said to be his
agent
For once. then. Esdaile's knowledge
was at fault. His investigations led al
ways TO blind alleys: nor. during the
months he was at Timli did his police
officers forward him. as desired. news Of
the return Of Valid Ali to Ramnaga. |
One thing. which might have been CO.
Incidence, was nevertheless noticeable. |
From that cventful night onward the
sleeplessness left him, never to return. |
There was no more necessity to hood
wink Mrs. Esdailc with forced cheerful |
ness or to wander through the dark
ness for relief. II was as IL those puffs |
at the old mans hookah that had |
brought inconsistencies upon him had
effected permanent cure.
And was ii dream? Impossible; or,
II IL were, the most vivid that ever man
was given. Reality? 1t must be. And
yet where was the proof? There was
nothing to he done but wait and watch
the signs Of the times. And, as the
months went on, the hope of any fur
ther clew grew DINNER and DINNER,
until IL faded altogether. Somewhere,
It might be, Valid All and his immortal
brethren were working secretly. like
moles. for their chimercal empire, with
the secret of tho Gwnlior treasure still
locked securely I'm their bosoms. Per-
haps they would come 10 recognize the
futility OF il, and India would be
startled by the beneficence of somc
philnnthropist, dis
pensing aims with unhearyl-of munifi-
cencc. Perhaps in the next upheaval
they would come TO light and unfurl the
banner OF Islam TO rally men around
them. Whatever might happen, Es-
dale could only picture them now
from obscurity with eyes that
had looked upon so many generations
of men and studying mankind by the
light Of broader experience than ia
The common lot Strange fnte--to be
secured thus from death, and TO watch
The rest Of the world buzz on TO eternity
around you! Strange. and yet most
TO have outgrown all the
Of life. and yet 10 live on,
hugg'ng, for want OF better. an empty.
idea! And yet, was IL so
empty? Well, time would show. One
thing was certain-when next the Mas
crs OF the Art came 10 the surface.
we're II nenr, or fnr in the misty fu-
'urity, II would be. " knowledge and
experience counted for anything, an
powers among men.
THE END.
The Liberty OF the Little Red Man. a
'fory OF old Paris BY Max penberton