The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-07-10

resembles the priest Joe saw in the
mosque, though it cannot be the same.
Mynheer Joe has been careful to
keep back q portion of the truth, be-
csase he fears lest it create new
trouble. At the time of the sudden
disaster Sandy had been just putting
the finishing touches to a picture Of
the ugly old idol Vishnu, and he has
managed to retain his precious note
book through all the disturbance.
The humor of the crowd has changed
as wonderfully as upon many a SINH
lar occasion, for there is nothing more
tickle upon earth than a mob. The
worshipers Of old Vishnu are now
eager to call the Americans their
friends, though it is all done by word
or gesture. Hand-shaking is generally
tabooed in India, for a man fears lest
he lose caste by touching another and
have to inflict punishment on himself
as penalty.
Just at this moment there bursts
into view a detachment of Sepoys.
headed by a British officer, at whose
side runs brave Molly Tanner. They
come from the cantonment, and it is
evident the colonel did not hesitate a
moment when he learned that Myn-
her Joe was in danger.
OF course, all are relieved when
they see the three Americans unin-
jured, and mark the change in the hu-
NOR of the crowd. Molly cannot un-
derstand it, and as she affectionately
greets her father she asks:
"What is this? One time these men
seem eager to murder you, and now
they act as though on the best Of
termsw
Denrosthenes Tanner, still blowing
hard from the effects Of his wild run,
Jerks his thumb over his shoulder and
remarks:
"It's all owing to Mwnheer Joe. he
palavered the heather, and made them
believe we were doing their old god a
real favor when we tumbled into the
temple through the window, after the
beastly platform gave way"
Indeed! He seems a wonderful
man, governor" murmurs the girl,
stealing a look at the object of her
thoughts who, just then, is engaged in
conversation with the British officer,
explaining the cause Of the sensation.
"Yes, my dear child. Such logic as
he possesses would even enthuse the
Illinois Senate. Why, unless you're
on you're guard he can easily bring
you around to his way Of thinking and
make you believe black is white"
The girl turns her head away again,
this time to hide her rosy cheeks; she
bushes without hardly knowing why.
save that there is something in her
fathers manner Of speaking that
seems like q sly allusion and warning
TO herself. Love is very sensitive, es-
pecially at that stage where the mod
est young woman awakens to the con-
dition Of her own heart, and the back
ward young man has not yet gathered
courage enough to storm the citadel
which he hopes to capture.
As the crowd rapidly increases, with
evening coming on apace, it is deemed
best to leave the scene and retire. The
soldiers right about face and head
back toward the cantonment after the
four Americans have entered palkee
gharry and started for their hotel.
Mynheer Joe decides that the baron
can hardly be held accountable for this
affair, since no stretch Of the imagina-
ton could invest him with the power
to weaken the platform and hurl the
two adventurous lookers-on in Venice
through the window Of the temple Of
Vishnu.
AS the incident has really been pro-
ductive Of no more Ill than relieving
Tanners pocket Of so many rupees,
which he can easily afford to offer at
the shrine of the idol, they feel that
they can we'll afford to laugh over the
adventure now.
This is especially the case when, af-
ter Joe has eloquently translated bis
speech, and told how he praised the
beauties of Vishnu, Sandy passes his
notebook to Molly, and her eyes fall
upon the well-executed fac-simile Of
the hldeous idol these benighted peo-
pie worship.
Her laughter breaks forth like rip
ping water, and the deep bass of the
governor joins in the tide.
Passers-by turn and survey the shi-
gram with amazement, as though won.
dering what manner Of passengers It
| contains.
They reach the snug little hotel as
night is casting her mantle over Bonn
bay. A young moon nearing the half
way stage hangs high in the heavens,
proving that it will not be dark at
| least.
ITO be Continued