The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-12-30
THE MISSING
 ENGINEER
rCopyrlqht. i903. by c. D. Lewia.l

weeks. UuI more puiuculufly AL Aiu- meme once in every five years tho government of India has a survey of all public land which is tillable and then names a sum for the rant and an- other for the taxes
 It was claimed that on the last sur vey made the civil engineer for that district had shown great plruality, and at Ardmcnc the owner of a plot of ground affirmed that a portion of it had been mken away from him and rented out,
 There are always disput 5 and com plaints after every suryeg and for a long time the commissioner at Gwalior refused to be disturbed. However aft CT two or tbrcc riots in which several people were killed. he felt compelled to do something. and the engineer was sent down to Ardmene to see whether any mistakes had been made, with view to doing justice
 The man was a hard headed, Obsti' nate Scotchmun, and when a resurvey showed him that be had made errors on the previous one he hung out about correcting them
 This was particularly the case where a strip of ground had been taken from the owner Only portion of the pot of twenty acres was tillable. About fif- teen acres were covered with the rains of an old temple. The strip was taken from these ruins and the owner, whose age no one knew. complained.
 "These stones are holy relies. Here was once thc greatest temple in a.l In- dia. It was built a thousand yeaI) he- fore l saw the light. and lt WAS in ruins when my r7catgreat grandfather was a child.
 My ancestors look vow when they bought the land 20 preserve the Ipins, and that VOW has come down Co me and will descend to my children.
 "Can ] keep my VOW if the govern ment takes away portion of it? I has done that and be who rented is preparing his seeds for the few blre spots. ! will have my own or will fight in the courts'
 The obstinate engineer didn't want the matter to go to court, and he didn't want to alter his survey. Here was an old man and a fanatic who had been despoiled anI was making threats. bu; the engineer remembered that hr lad cowed cthrrs, and he said to him.
 "Ceasy to cry out The survey Is right. hut [ will give you am equal strip on the other side Should you make further complaint l will take thc whole uwoy from you. Who are you that you should shout at the Bop of your voice"
 "I am vho ! am." replied tue old man and ! demand justice Here is my Gccd. and ] want my land"
 The engineer made further threats and ,le fanatic stuck to his point and as a result he was arrested as dis ordc-ly person and thrown into jail When luard mp he appeared to be cowod and after few hours Oe sent for tlo engineer and said:
 "Slmb ' denied your survey, and J was WrUlg to do so I spoke to you gs ! slo-ld not, and | am sorry for it. l wiU make you no more trouble"
 "I thought you would come to your scns.s." sncered th" other "lu the mormc you will bo let go. but lgt me hear no more of your prattle. 1 be- lievc Chat | shall recommend io the commissioner that your ruins be taken to build culyerts ant bridges along the line of The new railroad. The blocks of stone are good for ulught else. Yes. think will do so.'
 But before you do that let me tell you a secret It hos been a secro sincF the great mutiny.'
 The engineer suiGad concealed treas uro and cooked up h.s ears.
 "WW the sahih be fair wish me- Will he take only haiff'
 els it treasurer
 "It Is treasure whispered the old man-"a great treasure. It was placed in my hands by a great rajah when he had war l have guarded 1t for forty years l alone have any claim Co it nov. l wus keeping 1t for my children, as lm old and must die soon, but if tho sahib will leave the rest of the ruins alone I will tell him the secret You are lo have half. but only half Do you give me your wordT
 "Of course l do." replied the engl neer. "I will take half and say nothing and the ruins shall remain.'
 Next morning the old man was set at liberty. and ut midnight of that night he accompanied the engineer to the ruins. They carried spade and crow bar. and at a certain spot the dirt was cleared away and fiat stone exposed.
 It took the strength of the two men to pry up this slab and expose a vault beneath, and as the cover stood on end the Hlndoo whispered:
 "Tbe sahib has only to drop down and light his lantern and handle tho treasure. Remember, only half'
 "Only half" replied the engineer as he dropped into the treasure house.
 He had just struck 8 match to lighr his lantern when the heavy slab fell Into place, and ten minutes later it was covered a foot deep with dirt and the Hindoo was treading it down with his feet
 Next day the villagers waited for the engineer. The next day after that the commissioner at Gwalior waited for him. No one had seen him since that evening.
 There were no robbers to waylay tf,- md. tf...,.. t. ,.ev.y hin, off Tbnv