Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-07-19


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 l
have got to buckle to-"
Both men were sitting in Sherift's
rooms smoking and discussing the
events of the day.
every WELL" la1ly replied the lad,
knocking out the ashes from his pipe
what doyou suggest"
"Well, we ought to grind up our bones
regularly at night before working at
st. Paul's in the morning. I'm sick Of
going out, aren't you"
"I've got a capital skeleton in box
upstairs" said Sheriff, laughing. u
got it" Then he stopped abruptly, as
he caught sight of his companions look
of inquiry. 'Tn go 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
lamp-lit room in his fancy, with the boy
standing by the door.
Gloomily enough he went to his sit
ting-room and lit candle, while he
opened the box, and turned the
bleached 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
denly his face grew green, while his
pupils contracted and expanded as he
watched with a horrible fascination 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 a 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.
"Mv father left u.s." he moaned, still
in the language of his thoughts, ito
go on a pilgrimage to give thanks Tor
his recovery. He never returned, and
now this curse Feringhi makes 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
and 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 On!"
The man rose, once more salaamec
at the box, now resting on a chair
and then slowly went downstairs.
"By the way, where did you gel
your bones. Did you buy them"
"Well, it's too bad of me to spin
warn against myself, but here goes
About three years ago, just before m!
father had decided to make me doc
tor when 1 was old enough, I wa
walking near the great trunk roaC
near Amritsar. Lying in the lon'
graz, about 20 yards from the track
I found a dead pilgrim, dried almos
to a mummy. He might have BEEF
there for years, for all l knew, as tn
underground was thick and tangle'
and it was no use making any In
ouiries about him. Then, thinking
that later on I should require skeI
eton-"
Had Sheriff looked up at that me
ment he would have died then an
there, for Pamphlet was crouched
his chair like tiger about to spring
For a moment the extremity OF hi
rage made the oriental forget his ns
tive caution; but he recovered hin
self and said, in cultural tones:
"But the man was on a holy erran!
and at least should have Deen respec'
ed on that account"
: eyes, you're quite right, and wis
I hadn't done it," cried the boy, diml
conscious that his story had fallen we
fully fat. Tell you what, you won
use the poor old chap at all. ign
You've given me the creeps, Pan
phlett! I think I'll turn in now"
! A month later Noel Sheriff was tosl
ing restlessly on bed of sickness. HI
pinched face and blue lips told elC
ouently enough of the severity OF hi
4 symptoms, and his nurse and his do'
\ tor shook their heads despondingl
over his case.
- But it was Pamphlet who sat up q
night. and who lowered round tn
: sick bed by day, taking his rest ,
snatches when he could. 1t was
= Pamphlet that the sick boy turne
!, for amusement and for solace, and
I. far the native had not failed him.
One afternoon he heard strane
= footsteps ascending the stairs, and
: rose softly and went to the door
y stout. red-faced man was painting Il
= breath on the landing.