Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-04-12
cuApTI,n NIX

In the quiet house of MIR. Jake Slmuon
the unfortunate woman who had fol-
,wod her worthless husband across the
seas lay on n snowy bed attended by one
of the kindcst creatures i'll the world.
Mrs. Simon. The farmers wife found
her heart going out To the poor creature
who had been so cruelty deserted and dis
cardcd by the man she loved.
1t was Mt the close of Il dismal day in
the early part of February that the fam
lily were gathered about the great, broad
fireplace. in which the flames from the
hickory logs We're cracking and roaring.
Two of the younger boys We're watch
ing Il pair OF apples simmcring and blub-
hering on the hearth. The farmer sat in
his armchair smoking his pipe and list
enins to the pleasant chatter of the ur-
chins. Mrs. Simon sat in another corner
by her spinning wheel. busy as usual.
and the oldest daughter was knitting
stockings. The visitor sat in an easy
chair. her great dark brown eyes on the
bright. sparkling flames.
The farmer suddenly looked up and
asked:
"Where is Tom
Don't KNOW answered the woman at
! the spinning wheel. ''.Ain't seen him since
supper"
Just then there came the sonnd of rap
id. footsteps from without, the door was
flung open. and Tom. II red-hcaded youth
| of fourteen. suddenly burst into the room,
out of breath, and eyes wide open with
excitement.
Hello, Tom. what's the matter!'
.Oh! ~daddy-run everybody-thc evil
one is comin'..' the lad painted.
"Silence! We untruthful lad! How dare
We make use O. such language" cried his
pious sire.
"'Cause it's so, ~daddy-cvcry word on
it is so! l saw him." painted the youth.
brceches an a windin' sheet wrapped
about his head"
Here the door was opened and an OBJ
ject appeared on the threshold which
Mt once threw the whole household into
n panic. confirming the assertion of Tom
that his satanic majesty was coming. The
boys shricked and chung to their parents.
The father was frozen with terror. the
mother on her knees. and the daughter
dropped her knittinti and fled to the attic.
The object was IL black man fully six
feet high. with baggy trousers and a
white turban. He had great. white rings
in his ears, made of ivory. and his whole
appearance was so strange, so mystcri-
Gus, so unlike anything these simple pco-
ple had ever seen, that one cannot Won
der that they were thrown into a panic.
"In the name o. tho powers, who are
We, and what do We want?" cried the
father.
..Obejah Sahib. juggler. be too hun
ery and too cold for comfort" was the
answer.
At mention of the name and sound of
the voice Ruth Sanford leaped from the
chair in which she had been lost in pain
full revcrie over her desertion and reject
ed love. and halting cried:
~"Away-away. murderer"
"Do You know him!' asked MIR. 81
mon. his teeth chattcring.
"Yes-oh. heaven. l know him, though
wears have passed since l gazed on that
hateful face. He murdered my master
and mistress"
The Hindoo closed the door and stood
with his back to it, apparently not in the
least disconnected at the terrible accusa'
ton. AS soon as the farmer was fully
satisfied that he was not "Old Nick
ne became ulOIG COlhpOSSo Nhu NhSP"S@s
to treat in some way with his visitor
The Hindoo was really suffering from
hunger.
Ruth Sanford, after she had overcome
her first shock, sank back in her chair
and gazed at the black face before her
The farmers wife brought some bread
, and warmed owe some Of the pork ant
beans, which she placed before him. H'
declined the offer Of a table, but squat
ted cross-leggcd in a corner, while HI
ate. Mr.. Simon turned to the woma
: in whose mind the appearance Of thu
3 Hindoo had revived some bitter recollec
tions. and asked:
! Where did ye ever see this strang'
. critterY"
I'm Calcutta. India" she answered
HE wat a conjurer, a snake charmer ant
4 "Did We say he murdered some one?"