Evening star., 1900-11-17

for 1000 rupees, which I do not owe. The
officer sent has unfortunately become in
tOxicated in the hotel. and l must go alone.
l owe you thousand which I have brought
here it is. If you will kindly come with
me to the court and stand security until to-
morrow for this debt | will show the fol-
lower of Mahomet that it will not do to
bear false witness against a European. I
will contest this suit, and have him put in
Jail. This thousand rupees which l give
you as evidence Of my good faith, you can
then keep for your debt
1t seemed a candidly honest transaction,
and the Parsee stood bondsman tor Lang
don's appearance. 1t wasn't productive
transaction, for that night the broker
quietly took the train and hied him over the
border into King Theebaw's territory at
Mandalay There was no extraditon treaty,
and the wailing in Rangoon affected very
little the gay Sidney; in fact, 1t was rather
good sport to him. In Mandalay Langdon
again fourished like green bay tree. He
even carried on business with his former
friends in Rangoon-supplied the city with
stone for the roads. Many devices were
worked to entiCe him over the border so
that twelve good men might be allowed to
place on record their opinion of his past
methods of finance; but Sidney quite
content in his new abode.
He would probably have remained there
until such times it became necessary to
behead him, but the year following his ad-
vent was the one Of the war between Eng
land and Upper Burma. Again Langdon
had TO prepare for move, for with the
tend up to Mandaay. Rich native mer-
chants became panic-stricken at the pros
peCt of lOoting soldiers Overrunning their
premises That was Langdon's chance; he
had big safe, and persuaded some of the
terroriZed Burmese to place their jewels
with him for safekeeping.
THE soldiers will not steal from a Eu-
ropean." he said. They believed him; and
the soldiers never got chance to disprove
his words. for, as the troops entered Man
dalay, Sidney went down the river in the
big fiat steamer disguised as Burmese
servant to one of the passengers. Right
through the watchers at Rangoon he trip
ped.
At Calcutta Langdon had little sport
ing play In the swlndling line None of the
racing men knew of his RangOon record,
and his generally prosperous appearance
backed up by his habit Of 'aving a bot
tie of the most expensive, gave him a
standing as man of means. The Calcut-
Ia races Were on, and Sidney knew the
uSual course among gentlemen bettors was
TO book transactions and settle the follow
Ing Monday. So the first day of the meet
ing he plunged heavily with a bookmaker,
who Was kind enough to book his bets
Sidney won quite a sum. That night he
said to the bookmaker:
Il should like to settle accounts, If you
don't mind. as l am going away tomor
row"
The other paid with sorrowful feeling
at losing this man who bet with reckless
freedom. for he looked upon him In the
light of profitable customer. But next
day, at the course, his heart was made
glad by sight of the buoyant Langdon
Thought you were going away" the
bookie said.
Got telegram changing my arrange
ments Going to have another crack at
you"
That's good; glad Of it."
All that afternoon Sidney had his crack
at the layer of odds. and in the end stood
a heaVy loser on the bookS-ten times the
amount of the previous days winnings.
Then the bookmaker had a protracted
season OF sadness. for he never saw Sidney
again. not that day nor any day after.
But though Langdon dropped out of the
Calcutta life with the same meteoric rapid
| ity he had come into 1t, yet our friend was
| not quite finished with India. for he tarried
lew days at Madras. Here ne passed as
| captain Kane. son of an American miilion-
| are His father was an owner of great
! SILVER mines and other gigantic affairs in
| the western states. Nobody ever quite
knew now 1t was managed, but he had iet-
! ters of Introduction to one or two prominent
| people, and after few days was taking
! tlfln and hobnobb!ng generally with the
/ governor OF the Madras presidency Goyen-
| Dunen. At that time the silver question
| embodied In the skeleton form of the de.
| preciated rupee, was of vital moment ana
| King OF the discussion board. Captain Kane
| enlightened the governor Of Madras as to
now this currency problem was affected by
| America. His experience as the son of
| great silver king was Of much value, and
MS opinions were quoted, printed and gen.
| orally accepted as standard utterances
| He played whist at the Madras club lived
| on the fat Of the land savored with honey,
| and. strange to say, left days before the
entry OF the usual grim aftermath. There