Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-08-27

IS
WHAT HAVE you IN THE BUNDLEP" I
ASKED.
for his hands twitched as If he had the
| ague, and his head kept turning to
left and right with two bright little
twinkling eyes, like a mouse when he
ventures out from his hole. 1t gave
me the chills to think of killing him.
but thought of the treasure, and nv
heart set as hard as a flint within me.
When he saw my white face he gave a
little chirrup of joy and came running
up towards me.
Your protection, sahib,' he painted
your protection for the unhappy
merchant Achmet. l have travelled
across Rajpootana that might seek
the shelter of the fort at Agra. have
been robbed and beaten and abused
because have been the friend of the
company 1t is blessed night this
when am once more in safety and
my poor POSSESSIONS
what have you in the bundles? |
asked.
IAN iron box he answered. which
contains one or two little family mat
ters which are of no value to others,
but which | should be sorry to lose.
Yet am not a beggar; and | shall re-
ward you, young sahib, and your gov
ernor also, if he will give me the shell
ter ask
Il could not trust myself to speak
longer with the man. The more |
looked at his fat, frightened face, the
harder did it seem that we should slav
him in cold blood 1t was best to get
IL over.
Take him to the main guard said
!. The two Sikhs closed i'm upon him
on each side, and the giant walked be-
hind, while they marched in through
the dark gateway Never was a man
SO comprised round with death re-
manned at the gateway with the ian.
tern. ~--
81 could hear the measured tramp Of
their footsteps sounding through the
lonely corridors. Suddenly it ceased,
and heard voices and a scufile. with
the sound of blows a moment later
there came, to my horror a rush of
footsteps coming in my direction.
with the loud breathing of a run
ing man. turned my lantern down
the long straight passage, and there
was the lat man, running like the wind,
with smear of blood across his face,
ana close at his heels, bounding like
tiger, the great black bearded Sikh,
with knife flashing in his hand I
have never seen man run so fast as
that little merchant. lie was gainins
on the Sikh, and could see that il he
once passed me ard got to the omen air
he would save himself vet. NV heart
softened to him, but again the thoupht
OF his treasure turned me hard and
oitter. L cast my firelock between his
legs as he raced past, and he rolled
twice over like shot rabbit. Ere he
could stagger to his feet the Sikh was
upon HIM, and buried his knife twice
ia MS side. The man never uttered
moan nor moved muscle, but lay where
ne mad fallen. think myself that he
may have broken his neck with the fall.
You see, gentlemen, that I am keeping
my promise. / am telling you every
word of the business just exactly as it |
happened, whether it is in my favor or !
not"
lie stopped and held out his man. |
acled hands for the whisky and water
which Holmes had brewed for him |
For myself, / confess that / had now
conceived the utmost horror of the |
man, not only for this cold-blooded |
business in which he had been con- |
cerned, but even more for the some |
what tlppant and careless wav in |
which he narrated it. Whatever nun.
lshment was in store for him. I felt
That he might expect no sympathy from
me. Sherlock Holmes and Jones sat
with their hands upon their knees.
deeply interested in the story. but with
The same disgust written upon their
faces. He may have observed it. for
there was a touch of defiance in his
voice and manner as he proceeded.
ut was all very bad, no doubt" said
ne. u should like to know how manv
fellows In my shoes would have re-
fused share of this loot when thew
Knew that they would have their
'hroats cut for their pains Besides. it
vas my life or his when once he wasfn
he fort. If he had got out, the wholei
business would have come to light. and
should have been court-martialed
md shot as likely as not; for people
we're not very lenient at time like
hat"
&c on with yonr story, said Holmes
hortlv
ITO BIZ CONTINTrRD