Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1897-07-15

| the ear II my wrath. Am to be
| Brought to shame because Of your neg
hgence in cbeyiny my commands? How
am | to make the sentence light for
you, should the sahib return and find
to break into? Hasten before me and
light the lamp, so that all may be
ready on my arrival"
So, Hussain Ali, the khansama, ana
walked slowly, so that tho chowk! dhar
might have time to do his work fully
| before we came. But rs we drew near
| to the gate, behold. he came running
! back to meet us, and l saw that he
| trembled with fear so that he could
hardly stand
"Ai! nj! l am undone!' he cried
| aloud Would that l had died before
| this evil day had dawned"'
Then an unknown fear made my
| heart stand still. Speak you son of Il
dog" I cried. tiercely: speak and lay
| bare all the wickcdness that has grown
out of your negiigen"e"'
Alas! what can | say" he cried:
| "fCr truly this is the work of the evil
! one. How can l tell you how the sd
| hib's belongings have vanished when
| ! know not myself, but l believe of a
| surety that this can't be the work of
no mortal man"
| khansaina, and | reached the house
after this. but when we got there we
| found that everything was as the
| chowkidhar had said. for the house
| lay empty and the sahib's furniture
| had gone, as If the evil spirits OF the
sir had come and blown it Into nothing
| ness with their breath. Truly the dog
OF Il Waterman had spoken the truth
when he said that this was the work of
| no mortal hand.
"Gird up your loins." said. turning
| to the chowkidhar. run with the speed
| OF the wind to the houses that lie on
the four sides OF the compound and ask
OF the servants whether there are any
who knew how this evil thing has come
about; perchance you will find some
one who has stayed at home and not
| gone to the marriage"
| And when the chowkidlar had told
| all who dwelt round about how the
| slhlb's belongings had vanished a
| great crowd came running, 50 that in
| Il minute the house was full. But
| every man had been to tho marriage
| thing had happened.
AT this moment the khansama seized
ME by the arm and pointed to the gate,
! and as he did so my heart sank within
| me, for it was the sahib who had re-
turned, and with him had come the
! magistrate sahib, and we had not pre-
pared a tale. Truly never before had
been 50 unwilling to 60 forth and
meet the master.
Then ran l and he'd on the step of
the sahib's carriage as he aIighted.
"Oh, heaven born" cried. prostrating
myself humbly OH the ground before
! him. II am not fit to lick the dust of
| thy feet: l am like Il worm in thy
| path"
what is the matter. Girl Khan"
| the sahib interrupted. Make short
work Of it and tell me why this crowd
has collected in my house."
Great and wonderful things have
happened in thine absence" l replied
! quickly, SO that he might not be veXed
| with impatience. 1T was thus: had
| sat in the veranda all the evening, in
accordance with thy command. oh, high
born one. when suddenly was seized
| In n most uncomfortable manner with
| a raging thirst that forced ME to go to
| my house in order to drink water But,
! sahib. hardly had I reached mine own
| threshold when heard a mighty rush.
| ing sound behind ME, and, looking
round, saw that thy house was en-
| velOped In great cloud of dust. And
| Immediately my heart stood still with
fear, so that I returned in all haste
| and all the other servants also. And,
| sahib, the house was LETT as thou seest
1t now, for the floor stands as bare rs
the desert of the Punjaub, and the evil
| spirits of the air have left the heaven
| born neither a bed to rest his weary
limbs upon nor plate that the khan
sama may set before him at meal times.
And all these men who live In the com
pound about thine own have seen
these things and can bear testimony"
| And the crowd shouted: 1T Is all as
the bearer has said"
| Then did the magistrate sahib look
| sternly at me, as IL he would look down
iuto my lying soul.
us this tahe true?' he asked.
| Now my heart sank vt his sternness.
| 1T is true" ans weresl, bending
| down before him in order to hide my
| confusion.
But my sahib only walked UP and
| down the yeranda, and said. Damn:
| damn as all English sahihs do when
| they are angry.
Send for the other servants" the
| magistrate sahb said.
SO the chowkidhar ran and fetched
them from their houses. where they
! We're in hiding. for they had all re-
turned to the compound by this time.
''Drive quickly to the Thana.'' the
| magistrate Sahib continued addressing