The suburban citizen., 1900-06-09

man of many hobbies, though an ex-
cellent officer, and his habit of wan
dering through the bazaar, kodak in
hand, taught him many things that
the natives considered it was not good
a Sahib should know. The unerring
eye of the lens pounced upon and
penetrated many disguises of men who
were wanted, and who would other
wise have passed uunoticed. 1t mad
been the means, some months before,
of arresting Yusuf Khan, Duffadar of
Police, who haa made away with GER
tain Government moneys. Grahames
kodak had found him out in the bazaar
in the disguise OF an Euzufzia horse
dealer. He had been condemned, un-
dergone his sentence and had then
disappeared, no one knew where,
swearing to be revenged on Grahame
Sahib.
One morning some months later, the
ColonePs daughter and 1 we're riding
through the bazaar. Parade had been
dismissed, and as Rhoda wanted to
get something on her way home, we
left the MADAM and made for Dhurm
Dass's shop. He was occupied for
the moment with another customer,
and his fat deferential voice carried
across the shop:
without doubt, as your honor says,
it is a devil machine, taking pictures
and seeing things with its accursed
eye that a Sahib sees not. This box
costing me much rupees"
strolled across the shop to look at
the kodak and found Rhoda looking
at it eagerly. She clutched my arm
and whispered excitedly: SIT is Ais
tair's! know it by the deep scratch
on the side. Ask the man where he
got it,
"How much for this?" I said.
THAT devil machine costing much
moneys as your honor knows, where
fore forty rupees"
Take twenty, Dhurm Dass, and
be content"
Wherefore, Dhurm Dass having
made a good bargain, took twenty,
and Rhoda and 1 carried home our
prize.
Shortly after our discovery in the
bazaar 1 had an invitation to 60 out
in camp for a weeks shooting.
At the last moment thought oc.
Cured TO me that might as well tax e
Alistair's kodak, 50 slipped a dozen
plates into it and slung it across my
shoulder.
The sun was high when I reached
the river and turned southwark, head
ing for Kotanhulli bungalow. Ar
rived there, 1 bid the old butter pre-
pare me a meal toward evening, and
went out all day after snipe.
Toward sundown L came back with
a fairly good bag, and throwing my
self into long chair in the veranda,
proceeded to enjoy a well.earned
cheroot. Then, and only then, did it
occur to me that this was the bungo.
low where Grahame had last been
heard of.
mir Khan" I said, turning sud
denly to the old butler, who was lay
ing the table, "when did you last see
Grahame Sahib?"
A CLEAN of fear flashed across the
mans face, but he instantly resumed
his impassive mask as he answered,
"Many Sahibs have come hither to
ask that question, but who am I that
should know tue fate of Grahame
| Sahib? He was here before the rains
last year; since then / have not looked
upon his face. L have heard that he
is gone no one knows whittier.
Doubtless he is in the hands of God. 1"
Kotanhulli bungalow was about as
dreary a spot as there was in the
whole presidency. A thatched three
roomed dwelling with a dilapidated
veranda running along one side Two
long chairs and table furnished it.
Inside, the centre room served as sit
ting room with a bed and bathroom
opening of it. 1t also was meagerly
I furnished with q table, two chairs and
a smaller side table, whereon / had
laid Alistair's camera. At the far emo,
the room opened on to the matey's
yeranda and servants premises, and
80 almost to the river bank. As L sat
1 could see through the open door
way across the house the steady flow
Of the yellow water aud the mud
banks on the far side.
Silence? Yes. Andapparent solitude,
and yet as I lay
in my long chair, the feeling began to
grow upon me that / was not alone.
The consciousness that some one was
behind me made me sit up suddenly
and turn round, but there was no
one.
The level rays OF the sun we're
shining directly into the sitting-room
as l went down the steps. Suddenly,
through the stiffness, 1 heard a faint
click behind me, and then a little noise
like that Of plate falling into the
we'll Of q camera. turned sharply,
but there no one in the room, and the
kodak lay where had put it.
Again from the inner room came the
faint click, as Of a released shutter;
again the rattle OF changing plate.
J stared at it for a moment. and shep