The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-10

yet T had little doubt of it. I was
trife taken aback at the moment. and in
stinctively placed my hand upon my re- +,
volver and grasped my cane more firmly.
Should occasion require 1t. counted upon
this cane quite as much as upon my re-
volver, for, innocent and 1noffensive as
1t looked, 1t was capable of most deadly
execution. had chosen it in preference
to many other more pretentious weapons
which had suggested themselves to me.
1t consisted of a small, flexible steel wire
hardly bigger than the blade Of foil, sur
mounted by good-sized lead ball, and
the whole covered with q closely woven
fabric By grasping the cane by its lower
end a tremendously heavy blow could be
struck by the ball, and If any attempt
were made to shield the head by throwing
up the arm, 1t was almost certain to fail
Of its object since the f1eAibility Of the
wire permitted it to bend about an OBJ
struction until it's loaded end was brought
home. You will perhaps think that, since
did not make use of this weapon, I need
not have troubled myself to describe it.
Perhaps that Is so, but, let me assure you,
when saw Ragobah, for it was he. glide
behind that tree. and reflected how ca
pable he was Of every kind Of treachery,
wouldn't have parted with that cane for
it's weight in gold. The Indian had pledged
me to come alone and had promised to do
likewise, butt felt any tree might con-
ceal one Of his mintons, hired to assassi-
nate me while he engaged my attention.
All this, Of course, did not in the least
affect my decision. had promised to go
alone, and Miss Darrow's interests re-
quired that I should keep my covenant.
should have done SO, even tho had known
Ragobah meant to betray me. I may as
well, however, tell you at once that my
suspicious wronged the fellow. He had
evidently taken his station behind tree
to satisfy himself, without exposure, that
meant to keep my promise and come
alone.
When I reached the cave found him
awaiting me. How he was able to get there
before me passes my comprehension, but
there he was. He did not waste time, but
addressed me at once, and, as my memory
Is excellent and our interview was short,
I am able to give you an accurate report
of what passed between U.S. I copy 1T
| here just as I entered it in my notebook
Immediately upon my return to the
house.
You naturally wish to KNOW" Rago-
bah began, why I have sought this in
terview. That Is easily explained. You
have done me the honor, sahib, for feel
it Is such, to suspect me OF the murder
Of John barrow. You have come here
from America to fasten the crime upon
me, and, from the bottom Of my heart, I
regret your failure to do so. I would
give everything I possess on earth. and
would gladly suffer a life of torment, to
be able truthfully to say: I. Rama Rag
obah, killed John Darrow. But despite
all my efforts, T. wretch that I am, am
innocent! For more than twenty years
have had but one purpose-one thought
and that was to track down and slay
John Darrow. This desire consumed me.
It led me all over India in vain search fol-
him. For nineteen years labored tnces-
sanity, without discovering so much as
a trace Of him. When he fed Bombay
his belongings went inland. so I was told
I believed the story and felt sure should
one day find him on Indian SOIL Years
passed and I did not find him. 1t was
but few months ago that I discovered
his ruse and learned his whereabouts.
could scarcely contain myself for joy
My life-work was at las to be completed
Nothing now remained but to plan hi
destruction This. however, was not 81
easy q thing to do, since, in order tt
, make my revenge complete, I must dis
T close my identity before killing him. A
t length I decided upon plan. 7 woul
> come upon him at night, when asleep
! gag him and bind him to his bed. The
l he should learn the name of his dooms
Q man, and the horrible nature Of tn
Y death that awaited him.
;. Ragobah paused here as If overcome b.
d his disappointment. and I,said, "And ho'
d did you intend to kill him?" He gave
j. throaty chuckle. as he replied: 1T wa
70 all 30 very pretty! had only to saturat
a the bedclothes with oil and set fire t
e them. I should have lighted them at h
g feet and watched the flames creep ul
~ ward toward his head till safety CON
T. PEELED my retreat. 1t was for this pull
N pose went to New York. You alread
- know the fatal delay I incurred. Whe
:. I landed made all haste to the home
~ =, Darrow sahib in Dorchester. only I
y learn that he had killed himself fe
- days before my arrival. The morsel fc
IT which I had striven and hungered Il
- twenty long years was whipped fro
"a my hand even as I raised It to my mout]
My enemy was dead. beyond the power
- injury, and my hands were uns tanned b
u his blood.
ne 1t was the night OF my enemy's buria
I'd The sahibah was alone in the hous
e. and was intending to leave 1t tn;
ne night. 7 knew she would see tn;
k. everything was securely fastene
I'd before she went away, and SO, whe
ny opened one Of the windows, I was su
w she would come to close it. Crouchtr
he down outside awaited her approach, Il
/ tending to spring up and stab her viii
ny she was pulling the window down. Ever
Oh thing happened as I planned-what a.
et the sahib2 did not kill herl No, at t
last moment something-never mind VIII
". stayed my arml The death Of an inn
W, cent girl did not promise me any lastil
nd satisfaction and I gave up the idea, r
mt turned to New York. and re-embarked
'ss Bombay as innocent in act as when IL
er it. My life had been failure and n
so no desire to prolorg it.. When you a
'er rested me on the charge Of murder, not
at ing would have given me greater plea
go ure than to have been able to plead gull
90 you already know why SO hated Da
lot row. He robbed mo Of the only woman
dis ever loved. Maddened by jealousy, I tt
her had thrown him into the we'll in t
cave here. 1t was a lie but she believ
he it, and fled from me, and in g. few minu
re had thrown herself into that bottomls
en- hole. See, sabib," he said, entering
;er cave and pointing down the dark shat
AS that is the road she took in order tt
RIM her bones might rest with his, and. at
ar all, they are thousands Of miles apart.
ha not the triumph I planned, but It's al
! =. have! And this Is why brought y
80 here; that you may take back to my Ell
. 90 mys family the knowledge that In des
~ I am triumphant. Tell them" he ga
he rising to his full height, that while
IN carcass of the English cur rots in +
er. eign land, Rama Ragobah's bones lie m
ro- gled with those of his beautiful Iona !!
me My blood was up, and rushed f1ercely
an him. With the quiclzness Of cat
IN lodged me, spat in my face as I turn
on and, with horrible laugh. sprang he:
I'M, long into the well. Down deeper and de-
VS.. er sank the laugh-then 1t died ava
than faint MA Sh-an6 all was sle