The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-29
Stories of an Inland State.


When Geraniurn Jim had finished his
tale of the tree, Corder astonished the
erorp by volunteering to tell a story.
1t was so unusual for Corder to volun-
teer to reveal anything in regard to himself
or with what he had to do, that the Boss
leaned back in his chair
"You, Corder; you tell story?'
would you like to hear il?
eyes. &C ahead"
Criggle. Geranium Jim and the Boss set
tied back to hear story, incredulous that
Corder would tell anything worth hear
ing.
"Do you know where Chirassa is?"
He directed his question to Geranium
Jim, knowing be would answer In the
negative.
mo" said Geranium jim
Its in Hindoostan."
and where's that?'' asked Jim, not
afraid 10 show his ignorance.
in India
"And that's in Asia?''
"Yes."
The men looked at each other. What
had Asia to do with the story?
This story of mine has to do with q
tree, Just as Alltnums'. This IS mango
tree
Us there an Indian juggler In this story"
asked the Boss.
That doesn't matter now. Let me tell
the story. 1 was stationed there. My
wife HAD died"
"You have been married, Corder?" ask
ed Wayne in establishment.
He paid no attention TO the question.
MY wife had died and 1 was left there
with little daughter-she was three years
Of age. One day / noticed a fakir. squat
on the ground, entertaining lot OF those
savages with some fool tricks. I had
watched them many times before. At first
1 was inclined to investigate into their
sleight-of-hand performances, but 1 could
get nothing out of them-the liars, as
thought-and let them alone. This juggler
was making such a hubbub, however, that
L went over. my baby on my arm, and
watched him. It is easy enough, in my
opinion, to impose on the East Indians
much easier than il is on the American
breed of the same name. 1 watched this
fellow go through his lamentations and then
saw a magnificent tree burst before my
eyes where none had been before. This
was all we'll enough. I had seen this thing
before 1t was a trick which / did not
understand But It struck me then that
1 would put the thing to a test. 1t was
my explanation that the magician had US
hypnot;zed. / knew young American
photographer who told me, on his word
of honor, that he had photographed such
a performance, and while he could see the
tree plainly, but that his plate, when devel-
oped, showed only a gaping crowd. the
fakir with outstretched, blurred arms and
not a sign of the tree. I pushed my way
through the crowd and put my baby in
the trees bushy branches. If the thing
was unreal she would certainly slip to the
ground. She didn't, however. 1 stepped
back to study the thing. The tree and the
baby disappeared like flash.
81 went up to the juggler and demanded
the baby back instantly. I believed that
was still hypnotized, or something's
didn't know just what.
But he shook his head and denied all
knowledge of the baby.
'Then 1 was mad. I threatened him and
the whole town, but he was obdurate. He
had not seen the baby.
"'Produce the tree I demanded. hop
ing she might come back on that.
"This, he said, he could not do.
awhile 1 took the old grzzled juggler by
the arm and led him to my house and
1 locked him in a room and after awhile
came back to him and said:
"'Give me my baby
"He said he could not-he knew nothing Of
the baby.
81 was in a terrible plight of mind"
''This is a terrible lie," said Wayne.
81 was crazy over the baby. / unlocked
that door fifty times that night. demanding
the fakir to produce. I knew he would
some time; that it was a trick, but I didn't
want TO wait. 1t was unpleasant, you
know, although it was trick.
Finally I sat down in chair by
lamp to stay the night out and renew my
effort on the old fool in the morning"
''Baby must have been getting hungry
by this time" sneered Wayne.
sit was o'clock in the morning and
was nodding when this old juggler stood
before me and handed me a little black
box, saying:
"'Sahib, the
whats Sahib?' asked Geranium Jim
Saying 'Sahib the child is there. Find
her.
Then he left. opened this box"
From his inside pocket Corder produced
a small black box, perhaps of hardened
rubber, perhaps of some hard agate.
''She is there now, I suppose" laughed
Corder.
Let me see the box said Geranium
Jim. extending his hand
Corder frightened mis- grasp on the box
Then he continued:
"Tor years I studied Indian necromancy
went north and south, delving and hear
ing and watching. The box contained
twig. that was ell. But / believed the
child was there. I believed the old Jug
gler Sometimes thought I had the Sc
cret and tried, with lamentations. to make
the tree grow
You'd "a found a full-grown woman in
its branches" said Wayne
But / found the secret at last" said
Corder.
And got your baby? Great heavens.
Corder. what lie!'
81 found the secret And the tree grew
the baby there just as l had left her ten
years ago before. played with her awhile
and then the thought came 10 ne: Why
not keep her always thus. This is a hard
world-a hard world on women. Why not
keep her ever thus? The secret is with
me- When l die she remains thus-in the
box-forever. DO not leave her behind to
grapple with a world OF woe and injus-
uce.'
Corder was standing TOW, his eyes had
Frightened. ana his hands were extended.
'ILesvens" yswne6 Wayne, I'm get
ting sleepy
Crigele WIS gazing full upon the sin
lister figure of Corder.
Listen" Corder went on. so / KEEP.
her always Young, always a baby. always
unspottsd, always innocent. here
He tapped the box CriSgle and Wayne
lad their eyes fixed upon the man In
wide staTes.
she IS always So" Cor5er went on. his