Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-06-20


yer, and for weeks past had felt out Of
sorts. Altogether he was disgusted and
alisheartened.
Simla club dining room Is built, as
h'l the world knows, in two sections,
with an arch arrangement dividing
them. Come in. turn to your left, take
the table under the window and you
cannot see any one who has come In,
turned to the right, and taken table
OH the right side of the arch. Curiously
enough every word that you say can be
heard, not only by the other diner, but
by the servants beyond the screen
through which they bring dinner. This
is worth knowing. An echoing room is
trap to be forewarned against.
Half in fun and half hoping to be be-
lieved, the man who knew told Churton
the story of the Bisara of Puri at
rather greater length than I have told
it to you in this place, winding up with
a suggestion that Churton might as
we'll throw the little box down the hill
and see whether all his troubles would
go with it. In ordinary ears-English
ears-the tale was only an interesting
bit of folklore Churton laughed, said
that he felt better for his breakfast,
and went out. Pack had been breakfast
ing by himself to the right of the arch.
and had heard everything. He was
nearly mad with his absurd infatuation
for Miss Hollis, that all Simla had been
laughing about
SC fhinu fhof xyhor, a ma
hates or loves beyond reason he is ready
to go beyond reason to crafty his feel
ings-which he would not do for money
or power merely. Depend upon it Solo
mon would never have built altars to
Ashteroth and all those ladies with
queer names if there had not been trou-
BILE of some kind in his zenana and no.
where else. But this is beside the story.
The facts of the case are these: Pack
called Oh Churton next day when Chur-
ton was out, left his card and stole the
Bisara Of Puri from it's place under
the clock on the mantelpiece! Stole it
like the thief he was by nature. Three
days later all Simla was electrified by
the news that Miss Hollis had accepted
Pack-the shriveled rat, Pack! Do you
desire clearer evidence than this? The
Bisara of Puri had been stolen, and it
worked as it had always done when
won by foul means.
There are three or four times in
man S life when he is justified in med
ding with other peoples affairs to play
Providence.
The man who knew felt that he was
justified, but believing and acting on
belief are quite different things. The
insolent satisfaction of Pack as he am
bled by the side of Miss Hollis and
Churton's striking release from liver as
soon as the Bisara of Puri had gone
decided the man. He explained to Chur
ton, and Churton laughed, because he
was not brought up to believe that men
on the government house list steal-at
least little things. But the miraculous
acceptance by Miss Hollis of that tailor,
Pack, decided him to take steps on sus-
picion. He vowed that he only wanted
to find out where his ruby studded sill
yer box had vanished to. You cannot
accuse man of the government house
list Of stealing. And if you rifle his
room you are thief yourself. Churton,
prompted by the man who knew, decid-
ed Oh burglary. If he found nothing in
Pack IS room, but it is not nice to
think of what would have happened in
that case.
Pack went to dance at Kenmore
Kenmore was Kenmore in those days,
and not an office-and danced 10
waltzes out of 90 with Miss Hollis.
Churton and the man took all the keys
that they could lay hands on and went
that his servants would be away. Pack
was cheap soul. He had not purchased
decent cash box to keep his papers in,
but one of those native limitations that
you buy for 10 rupees. 1t opened to any
sort of key, and there at the bottom, un-
der Packs insurance policy, lay the
Bisara of Puri
Churton called Pack names, put the
Bisara of Puri in his pocket, and
went to the dance with the man-at
least he came in time for supper and
saw the beginning of the end in Miss
Hollis eyes. She was hysterical after
supper, and was taken away by her
mamma.
At the dance, with the abominable
Bisara in his pocket, Churton twisted
his foot on one of the steps leading down
to the old rink, and had to be sent home
in rickshaw grumbling. He did not
believe in the Bisara of Puri any the
more for this manifestation, but he
sought out Pack and called him some
ugly names, and "thief" was the mild
est of them. Pack took the names with
the nervous smile of little man who
wants both soul and body to resent an
insult, and went his way. There was
no public scandal.
A week later Pack got his definite
dismissal from Miss Hollis. There had
been mistake in the placing Of her
affections she said. So he went away to
Madras, where he can do no great harm
even if he lives to be colonel.
Churton insisted upon the man who
knew taking the Bisara of Puri as a
gift. The man took it, went down to
the cart road at once, found an ekka
pony with blue bead necklace, fastened
the Bisara of Puri inside the necklace
with piece of shoestring and thanked
heaven that he was rid of danger.
Remember, in case you ever find it. that
you must not destroy the Bisara OF
Puri. 1 have not time to explain why
just now, but the power lies in the lit
tie wooden fish. Mister Gubernatis or