The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1900-08-03
! HIS FATHERS SON !
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

er's stories of the life at the old college
had fired the boys youthful ardor, ane
away in the plains OF India he hae
vowed to be a doctor, and to win
place in the I. NJ. S.
And now it was as dust in his mouth
for he was alone. In his fathers sta
ton he had been the pride of the Euro
rean staff, for no one could beat him
in any branch of athletics, but at st
Paurs he was an unnoticed unit.
Presently a man whom he saw al
once was a native of India, came anc
stood close by his side. Moved by the
urgent need for companionship, Sher
riff made the first advances.
II wonder if you feel as lonely as ]
do?" he asked.
The native turned abruptly.
I'm from India" he replied, a DARK
flush sweeping over his face as he
heard a muttered "Nigger" spoken by
one student to another.
$50 am | J" exclaimed Sheriff.. I'm
from Amritsar, where my father is sta.
toned. His name is Sheriff., and he is
i colonel in the Indian medical. And
.you?"
I'm a Hindoo, and my European
name is-Pamphlett. But, surely. you
won't talk to nigger!" His tone was
acrid in its bitterness, and Sheriff.
looked up in surprise.
20. come, Pamphlet" he said, eager.
ly, that's not fair. Anyway, let you
and | be friends
well, Sheriff." hesitatingly an.
swered Pamphlet, ~Im queer-tem-
percd man; but let it be So"
Then come and live al my diggings!
There's capital front and back room
above my floor. and we can read to.
gether comfortably"
Now, look here, young man." said
Pamphlet three weeks later. Its time
we began to read at night. Grinning at
the hospital all day won't pass our ex-
ans for us, unless we work at night:
too. We've seen all the plays, we've
visited. most of the halls, and you and
have got to buckle to-"
Both men were sitting in Sheriff.
rooms smoking and discussing the
events of the day.
Very well" lazily replied the lad.
knocking out the ashes from his pipe.
What do you suggest? ~
We'll. we ought to grind up our bones
regularly at night before working at
ST. Pau.'s in the morning. I'm sick OF
going out, aren't yOu?"
I've got capital skeleton in a box
upstairs" said Sheriff, laughing. 81
got it" Then he stopped abruptly. as
he caught sight of his companion's look
of inquiry. I'll so and turn the box
out, it'll save you from buying, for we
shan't want two SETS"
Box in hand, Pamphlet left the room,
and the door closed behind him. Often
now. as he drives the patient bullocks
in his paddy fields in India he sees that
.amp-lit room in his fancy, with the boy
standing by the door.
GIoomily enough he went to his sit
ting-room and lit a candle, while he
opened the box, and turned the
bieached bones out with a rattle on the
table.
The skull rolled toward the edge, and
he hastily placed his hand on it, and,
raising it up, gazed absently at it. Sud-
len'y his face grew green, while his
pupils contracted and expanded as he
watched with horrible fascina ton the
shining bone. There, on the vortex.
were two deep cuts crossing each
other.
by Sivagee!" he murmured in Hin
doostanee. "My father was left for
dead by two such cuts.
My father has badly set left
arm!"
Then, unwillingly, as if dragged by
an unseen power, he crept round the
table, and laid his hand on one of the
arm bones. With low cry of hor-
ror he fell half faiting into chair.
My father left u.s." he moaned. still
in the language of his thoughts, ITO
go on a pilgrimage to give thanks for
his recovery. He never returned, and
row this curse Feringhi makes a by
word and reproach of him. May every
curse light on his head!"
Salaaming almost to the ground be-
fore the table, Pamphlet gathered
the ends of the tablecloth together.
so that they covered the grim relics,
aud then, lifting up the burden rev.
erently. he replaced it in the box.
Then, resting his head on his hands,
he wept silent, awful sobs.
Pamphlet! Pamphlett!" cried
Sheriff from below, ''aren't you COM
ing down? I've ordered in the cot
fee. Come ont"
The man rose, once more salaamed
at the box, now resting on a chair,
and then slowly went downstairs.
by the way, where did you get
your bones. Did you buy them?"
well, it's too bad of me to spin a
yarn against myself, but here goes.
About three years ago, just before NV
father had decided to makelme a doc
tor when I was old enough. I was
walking near the great trunk road
near Amritsar. Lying in the long.
grass, about 20 yards from the track.
found dead pilgrim, dried almost
to mummy. He might have been
there for years, for all 1 knew, as the
underground was thick and tangled
and it was no use making any in
quiries about him. Then, thinking
that later on I should require a skel-
eton-"
Had Sheriff looked up at that mo-
ment he would have died then and
there, for Pamphlet was crouched in
his chair like tiger about to spring
FOR moment the extremity of his
rage made the oriental forget his ma
tive caution; but he recovered him