The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-12-08


where the road stretched away in an end
less white spiral to the far line of the great
mountains, the village folk were crowd
ing together before a little open space.
Apart from them or the broad veranda
near by Dinsmore Sahib and his two
guests 1ounged easily in their chairs. A
swarthy, 6 foot Indian servant moved soft
ly about with tray Of cooling drinks.
Before them, naked save for the loin cloth
and looking like shining bronze statue,
was one Of those travelling conjurers whose
art is the despair Of oceidentals. He was
about to conclude a remarkable perform
ance with the time honored basket trick,
which may be as old as India itself.
eyes It's an old trick, but a good
one," Dinsmore was saying. Il can never
help the chill in my bones while the
things going on, though it always turns
out all right.
ssWhy. where's the danger? It's done
with false bottom to the basket. ism it2''
cit is often done in that way, :" Dins-
more admitted, but in this case the wOm-
an is trained to throw herself quickly from
side to side TO avoid the sword thrusts,
which are made in regular order. -
'Whewl Hot work, isn't its' said the
first guest while the other asked curiously,
Chow can you tell2''
ooh, 1 got 1t from my servant, and he
from the woman there, - returned Dins-
more with q significant look
A woman now came forward from be-
meath a clump of fig trees- She was
scarcely moro clothed than the man, and
her plump brown body the arms and an
kles heavy with bangles, her red lips and
the scarlet flowers in her hair, with the
bit of soft blue drapsry about her, made
picture good to look on. AS she moved
quietly to the mans side her eyes caught
a moment warmth and light flashed into
her impassive face, but at the coniufer's
words she turned away.
f'Sahib, he said, addressing Dinsmore
MS he drew the light basket into position,
''you shall see how one Furnishes the wom-
an who gives him cause for anger" He
bent a fierce gaze on his assistant, and her
violent trembling scarcely seemed as
sumed.
This was the conventional patter Of tho
trick, but one of the Englishmen stirred
uneasily in his chair Cad how com
pletely the woman is at his mercy just
by slip OF the memory he might slice her
+ into ribbons before he could stop himself. -
At gesture from the oonjurer, who
stood leaning on his long, keen sword, the
woman removed her many bangles and
stood with downeast eyes before him
Now, thou unhappy one" he said
slowly. The woman WINGED, but stepped
submissively into the basket, the lid Of
which closed on her a moment later.
The oonjurer drew few PAGES away,
then painting, with fierce cries to enhance
the effect of his harmless assault made q
mad rush toward the basket, thrusting
his sword through the sides, up and down,
with great rapidity. Each thrust was
greeted with piteous cries from within,
and the sword appeared to drip with blood
1t was truly a nerve shaking perform
H,r- 1~r 1-aasa bod H.
spite the full faith in the swordslnan' g
dexterity. Even the servant Of Dinsmore
Snhib turned a queer ash color as he stood
in the doorway with the forgotten drinks.
At last the oonjurer stopped for breath,
the sweat streaming down his shining
sides. He caught the eye Of DinslnOre
Sahib's servant as he stood there. and in
the instant the fire which had smoldered
at his heart all day broke into sudden
fame.
Since they had come into the hill coun-
try the woman had been like one possessed
Since she had seen, four days ago, the
sahib's green turbaned, monkey faced
Mohammedan yonder, she had spared but
a look to her rightful lord. One careless
thrust with this keen edged weapon would
end the jealous fortunes he had endured
since they left the plains.
Her discarded bracelets Knocked him,
and he svore no man should feel those soft
brown arms around the neck but he.
She must be lying on the left side. In
stead of moving to the right be would
pierce the basket On the left from cover to
bottom. 1t would be but an accident they
would all agree-all except the Mohamme-
dan. He balanced the sword carefully in
his hands, and blood danced before his
eyes as be took a step forward.
On a sudden he fell 80 trem bling so that
he dared not trust his hand to strike. He
IL.
that slid about his neck, of the soft red
lips that were laid against his, of the eyes
that had followed him even before he
bought her. This hill country bewitehed
one. He would take her back to the
plains again. An accident could happen
there as well as here if necessary.
But to finish the trick.
All, was she on the left, after all? What
had been his last thrust His heated brain
could only turn the moves over confused
". He could arrive at no decision. 1t
was surely the left or the right
He prayed for a miracle to clear his
muddled brain. He swore by all his gods
he had not meant to hurt a hair of the
woman 3 head In thought he already felt
the sword slipping hideously through her
flesh.
The spectators moved impatiently, fore
ing the conjurer to action. Left-right?
1t should rest with fate.
'Sahibs, this shall end 1t, he said in
husky tones, and made a terrible lunge-
A series of heart rendering shrieks, dying
away in grOans, was the Immediate re-
sponse
This was the usual conclusion of the
performance, but the sequence was unex-
pected The cover of the basket was
thrown violently back and the woman
creps out, to throw herself at the conjur-
er's feet.
''Oh, my lord, it was in thy heart to slay
thy miserable servant Yet thou didst
stay thy hand. Ny life is thine once
moro. -
ct was fate. said the cenjurer slowly,
but he did not explain to the woman
r.