The Elbert County tribune., 1903-12-31

EhVN'h Aiflll lllt lttE eittlullN Tt-
served for the ''sahibs,' and even the
soldiers saluted them. Although they
were but two penniless tramps. their
progress was that of the conqueror
through conquered laud.
The men. whose names were Spen.
Ger and Mitchell. were conjuror
aud his advance agent. They had been
engaged in an up-country tour when
the hot weather came on. audiences
were not to b. found. funds were ex-
hausted. and finally they were obliged
to take TO the road.
With the homing instinct of Eng
lishmen they were making for Cal
cutia and the sea. They levied their
living from the country through which
they passed. The fields of wheat and
| grain by the roadside furnished them
with grain, which they ground between
two stones and baked into chupattles.
The mango tops yielded their luscious
fruit 10 add a SAVIOR to the frugal meal.
As 1t grew toward midday and the
heat of the sun became overpower-
ing the two travellers took refuge in
shady grove. while the villagers re
tired to their houses for their midday
sleep. Spencer remarked rs they sank
down under a tree:
I'm deuced hungry. A vegetarian
diet doesn't satisfy me at all. l wish
| had something more substantial to
eat
Have chew of OPIUM said Mitch
ell. producing block of the drug about
two inches square from his pocket.
"1'he natives say it's very staying"
NO. thanks" said Spencer. "A beef
steaks more in my line. Where did
you get ii? I didn't know you were a
drug eater
Il am not. l picked this up in the
Lucknow serai the other day, and
never thought of 1t again until this
minutc.-
| Presently only single figure was
left in the landscape. advancing slowly
toward them along the centre of the
roadway As the man approached
nearer. Spencer turned 10 his compan-
ion and said:
Have you noticed that that man has
been tracking us for the last three
days. ever since we left Lucknow
No: I've never seen him before"
well I've not been an entertainer
all these years without learning TO use
my eyes. and I've seen him watching
us. And what's more. he's tried to dis
guse himself in three or four different
ways. which looks suspicious"
But" said Spencer, briefly. ITS only
your Imagination. AS we haven't got
pice In the world, what can he get
out of us?''
That's Just what I intend TO find
out" said Spencer, quietly; ''it may be
worth knowing"
"Salaam, sahib.r said the man as he
came up to them. and he produced
pack of cards and some coins from n
calico bag. squatted down in front of
them on his hams and arranged his
voluminous draperies over his knees.
"A travelling juggler, by all that's
holy said Spencer, with grin. Il
wonder If he's any good. In spite of
the Travellers yarns about the mango
! trick and the vanishing rope trick.
never met n native conjurer yet that
couldn't give points to myself"
Il don't think this chaps any good,
! anyway" said Mitchell. critically
watching the exhibition. I'm no ex-
pert. but l can see the coins dropping
into those skirts of his and the cards
disappearing up his sleeves in the most
obvious manner"
"The worst fraud ever struck" re-
Piled Spencer 1T looks as If he'd
Just started in this line for our bene-
fit Here. sonny. give he hold of that
bag of tricks OF yours, and I'll show
you how it ought TO be done"
The Englishman stood up in front
of the astonished native. barred his
arms to the elbow. and went through
the same tricks one by one. But this
time there was no bungling. the coins
disappeared into the air, and the cards
reappeared from the trunks of the sur
rounding trees.
As he watched the astonishing ex
hibitlon the natives eyes got gradu-
ally larger Cnd larger till at last he
fell on his knees in the dust at Spen-
GERS feet. beat frantically on the
ground with the palms OF his hands,
and literally howled I'm Hindustani:
"oh, sahib. protector Of the poor,
spare me. l see that you are a great
guru. and know everything. Only
curse me not with the evil eye, and |
will confess ALL"
"This chaps got something on his
mind evidently" said Spencer. what
did tell you about those DISCUSSES?
Say on. Macduff- -Bolouthna," and he
gave the native kick to emphasize
this last command.
"Oh. holy one" whined the native.
81 am poor man and the servant OF
others. Blame me not for what am