The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-09
THE TALISMAN
By CLARENCE L. LOWER

fell into worse luck than ever, and heaven
knows what I might ultimately have done
gone to the dogs utterly, guess-had
not chance or destiny at the end of a year,
directed my wandering footsteps back
again to India and Calcutta.
Zone day. passing along a street. I
CHANGED to come face to face with an old
Hindoo woman whose husband had been
my servant in Calcutta during the days
of my prosperity Our recognition was
mutual. She fell upon her knees, and
Selling my hand showered tears and
kisses upon 1t.
(" Praised be Vishnu, that I see thee
again. she cried; for now am saved!'
II inquired the cause of her agitation.
My husband lies sick unto death of
fever she replied and there be none
who can cure him but thou, of that am
convinced; SO l pray thee come with me
and attend him. Should he die, I, as his
widow. must be burnt alive beside his
dead body on the ghaut!
II at once accompanied the old woman
to her bungalow / found her husband
few days would have ended him had 1t
been permitted to run its course un-
checked. I gave him some medicine and
visited him from time to time. and in
little while had brought him around all
right.
On the occasion OF idSC WISH was
unutterably astounded at beholding the
silver box of the talsman reposing on the
window ledge l had not seen 1t there
at any time of my former visits, and so
I judged it to have come into the possess
sion Of the old couple since my previous
visit. two days before, tho by what means
I Of course knew not. recognized it at
glance and determined to regain pos
session Of it. But I said nothing, and
suppressing my excitement, soon pro-
nounced the old man out of danger,
whereupon his wife, Selling my hand, in
her gratitude fell upon her knees, ex-
claiming:
Name thy reward, sahib, and it is
thine. Nought shall be refused thee
""Then give me that little silver box
you have there, said I. pointing to it.
But at this both looked blank.
81 would to heaven, sahib, you had
asked for anything but that said the old
woman However. since promised
whatever you asked, you shall have It,
and rising. she brought the box to me.
Tt is yours she said. 1T was left in our
keeping yesternight by strange Hindoo,
who bore every indication of being
wealthy merchant, saying he was about to
go on a journey, but that he would return
for it at the. end of seven days, and
| threatening US with instant death if we
had it not when he came for it. But we
Will trust IN the guardianship or the gods.
and fear not his wrath
II assured the old couple they had moth
ing to fear ON that account, and that
| then and there reinstated them in my
| service. piece Of news which they heard
with great JOY Then, with the talisman
| in my custody, returned to my lodging.
Two days later the three of us set out
| for Madras, for I dreaded the return of
| the Hindoo merchant, and wished to be
| a 70 :. oIxyo1y 49,
| he came back.
In Madras. strange to say, speedily
retrieved my fallen fortunes, and in few
years had risen to the eminence I had
formerly attained in Calcutta
| when I had been there four years, and
while in the zenith of my good fortune,
| I one day made the alarming discovery
! that l was again being haunted by a
! fakir
| This gave me great uneasiness, and
| all my old time caution returned.
| But three months passed with no oc-
currence. and at the end of that period
the fakir disappeared as mysteriously as
/ he came.
1 81 remained at Madras six years at
the end of which time I had amassed a
fortune sufficiently large to enable me
TO retire from my practice and devote the
| remainder of my life to pleasure, which
have done. During the past year I have
travelled extensively, bringing up at last
here in old smoky London, where 1 intend
remaining for little time before going
elsewhere
But there are two things connected
with 1t which confess cause me greater
uneasiness than 1 care to say
one is, that during all my travels
nave been unable to elude that inferno
| fakir, who has turned up at odd intervals
IN whatever cline or country 1 have Wis.
lted He has never offered me violence
but, after sha downing me for a few weeks
mas mysteriously disappeared, only tc
turn up unexpectedly at some other time
or place. The other thing is, that there
IS tradition concerning the casket which
says mat upon the conclusion of sever
years OF unoroken possession of it evil is
certain to befall the owner. Now. whethe,
the fakir Is aware of this legend and !.
waiting until the seven years are nm he
fore striking cannot saw nor whe+be,
or not he Is d paid assassin of the Hindot
merchant, or of the priests of the tenp1e
l nave been In England but three DAYS
ana nave not yet seen him. but as h,
mas followed me wherever I have gone
lt VIII not surprise me to behold him her
as well. One thing Is certain. nothin,
out good fortune has followed me as Ion,
as nave mad the talisman The seye,
years OF my unbroken possession of it will
expire at IL o'clock tonight; and as va,
see, consulting his watch, cit wants bu
nve minutes Of that time now
Five minutes will decide the sinner
: sutton OF the talisman! If evil is to he
1all me. 1t will happen now or not at all.
Ana with harsh laugh Dare filed hi
glass and tossed 1t Off at a swallow