The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-17
Pearson's Magazine.

Fearsons Magazine
Ii was very odd how the Sirdar Mo-
damned Khan and I became involved in
the love affairs OF Reggie Bingham, the
hGndsomest and hardest-up subaltern of
the Seventeen lancers.
The trouble all arose in the first in
stance through the known fondness OF
leopards for dining off puppy dogs.
A certain Mr.. Septinus Browne, mil
liCnairc ironmaster, had brought his
daughter Edith to India for the cold
weather. Her health had suffered from
the too close prospect OF marriage with
an elderly. but distinguished. member of
the house Of rords. The Doctors orders
were imperative, and Browne had no op-
ton but 10 take the Sirl for a long sea
voyage and change of scene. Though he
Nurshipped the ground she walked on, he
gave her to understand that when they
returned in the spring there must be no
mcle nonsense about the wedding.
Under the conditions Edith Browne did
not enjoy life as a sprighty young lady
OF her normal spirits and handsome eX-
terror might be expected to- Indeed. the
first sign OF animation she gave was dur
ing her visit to Sirnla, where Two squad
Iors OF my regiment supplied guards and
escorts for the viceroy.
Reggie Bingham WIS an extra aide to
the Commander-in-chief. AS the Brownies
were at once taken into the Viceregal set
he made himself agreeable to the fair
Edith. Her father. to prevent mistakes,
took good care to announce her engage
1reilt TO the antiquated earl.
Tincham commenced by being civil he
ended b. catching a mad attack Of q
common form OF heart trouble, and the
miserable part of the business was that
neither honor nor eXpadiency permitted
him 20 declare his affection.
Al Ibis preamble, as the lawyers say
is necessary to a proper understanding OF
that which follows but I can promise
vou that the pace of the story quickens
forthwith.
One day a viceregal picnic took place In
q valley beyond Jutogh. BY natural law
Reggie and the SRI went faster pace
than their elders. and got well ahead OF
them. The lancer was gulping down his
admiration whilst le talked of campaign
ing in the hii!s, and Edith was wondering
how it was that eligible peers were never
good-lOokiug, when suddenly haif-grO"n
LEOPARD sprang from the cOncealment OF
a rock and tried to grab EGiths fox
terrier. The dog finched, both ponies
SHE'D. Miss Browne fell in dead rant,
Bingham cut savagely twice with his nd
ing whip at the astOunded cub, VINO was
lust making a more certain spring at tno
puppy. his pony landed both heels with
yigor and precision in the leopard's ribs,
and the latter plunged into the jungle
hungry. bat more than satisfied
Reggie's kisses and the fox terrier $
licking soon restored EGith's senses. She
was unhurt, she declared, only terribly
frightened Then she and Bingham call
ed each other darling" several times,
and the kissing was not quite such one
sided affair. Indeed, the fox terrier ana
the leopard were quite forgotten until
Browne, his eXcelIency, and others,
alarmed by the appearance Of two rider
less ponies. appeared upon the scene.
When the story was told, everyone SAID
that it was very pIucky of Reggie to
tackle g leopard with a hunting-crop
Even Browne. who had seen more than
he liked, was enthusiastic to degree.
Once safely back at the hotel how
ever, he commenced to think more calm
", and made up his mind to course Of
action. He sent Bingham a cheque for
25OOO with his compliments, and ordered
a carriage at once to convey his daughter
and himself to Umballa. then the nearest
railway station to Simla.
The lancer received the cheque ard
knew what it meant He took it back,
and found the Brownies just starting. the
father and daughter cnsconced i'll q
phaeton. and their luggage and servants
piled into three tOnSaS
Miss Browne was nursing her fox ter
rier and crying: the iron-naster was as
rigid as a pig of his cwn best market
able brand, and Reggie had to bite his
lips hard before he spoke.
Edith's presence made things awkward.
So he simply said: Goodbye, Mr..
Browne. 1 am sorry you are leaving so
Soon. Goodbye, Miss Browne, our little
adventure will cause YOU to remember
Siml3."
Then he turned on his heel, and round
the next corner lit a cheroot with the
cheque The operation took some time,
as he fumbled over striking the match.
The fact Is, there We're tears in his eyes.
AS the Brownies drove off amidst a
crowd Of salaaming natives, the father
said to himself: II somehow thought
that chap would have returned the
cheque I am very glad hc Gid not" And
the girl sobbed quietly, for she knew
that Reggie loved her.
The following afternoon 1 was sitting
in MY room at the club, wondering wheta-
er to Dav some long-deferred calls or go
Ter a ride round Jakko, when Reggie
Bingham, haggard and wild-eyed, burst
the door open with his foot and rushed
in. He was carrying a fox terrier in his
mas. The little animal was whirpcring
with pain, and its white hairs We're soiled
WIN CiGtted DfOO0 ana Gust.
whats the matter?" I cried, astound-
ed at the manner of his entrance no less
than at his appearance. "IIas some Ole
run over your dog?"
at is not my dog" he answered, speak
ing hCarsely and with difficulty. TT is
Edith s-Miss Brownies"
Now in 5imIa people always know ev-
eveTybody's else business; the events al
ready narrated were practically public
property.
bow has he come baclz9'' was my next
question.
q cannot tell. I want you to help me.
You know lot about these internal ma
tives. Look here" He tenderIy turned
the meaning terrier round so that
could see an unmistakabe sword cut
which had tIaversed the dogs lcins and
was evidently meant to cut him in two.
But where did you find him.
q went for a stroll along the Kerr
Chat road Ghe road which commands d
view Of the plains) when l met this lit
tie chap lin1ping along up the hill. I
knew him at once. Something must have
happened, something terrible, or he would
never have been parted from his mistress,
and in this state. Help me- Old chap, or
1 shall go mad"
Before I could frame any reply knock
at the door caused HE to open it and
see who was disturbing us.
The sirdar stood without. He would
have given me some details of duty, but
l dragged him into the loom and hastily
explained to him all that I knew myself
concerning the departure of the Brownies
and the finding of the wounded terrier.
The sirdar, it may be explained, exer-
.cised mysterious influence over the M
tives, and was held in great awe by them.
His eyes grew fierce as he listened
at is an evil thing. Sahib,' he said.
Why DO you think so?''
Because Chundu, the daccit, lost his