The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-07-14
NH COLONIES
VALET

NOlOlleI
infantry, stationed In the province OF
Bombay, had taken a native valet De-
cause that was the fashion, and he eA-
pected the fellow to as~sassinate MN
some day, because that was the custom
of native Wallets. He thought the event
might happen the first year, her the
second, the third, and when four years
had gone by and no attempt had been
made on his life he called Nizam to him
one day and said:
"uow is it that you have let me live
on so longf"
MAY the sahib colonel live for q
thousand years." was the reply of the
man with the impassive face who stood
before him in cringing attitude.
'sThat's al. CANNON, Nizam, and you
know it. Like all other Hindoos, you
have a deadly hatred Of the English.
You wish for nothing so much as an
other rebellion and a chance to cut our
threats. Do l not spRak the TRUTH
"Great and powerful are the English,
and their rule is merciful and full OF
Justice"
can sheer hypocrisy on your part, Nj
zam. You'd like to put your knife into
a dozen of us today. You have now
been with me four years"
-Four long and happy years, sahtb
colonel, and 1t would break my heart
to have you send me away"
"More rot. There has not been a
week in the four years that I have not
knocked you about. l am quick tenn
| pered, and 1 strike first and Talk after
ward. I have cuffed and kicked you,
and I have had you whipped, and I'm
not fool enough to think you have pass
ed it all by"
"In my heart there is nothing but
love for the sahlb colonel" replied the
valet.
"All right, Nizam. You Won't tell the
truth, and I can't make you, and 50
we will let this subject drop. Take @
pointer from me, however. When you
set out to kill me make q quick job Of
1t. If you don't III have you roasted
over a slow fire"
Nizam went away to his room to
ponder. It was true that he hungered
for the %colonel's death. He would have
given everything but his own life to
bring it about. 1t was true that for
four years he had been ready for any
opportunity and had never been with
out poison, but he feared the white
men. They could trace the most SUBJ
tie poisons, and they were always sus-
picious. He knew Of several Wallets
who had killed their sahibs, and each
and every M had been found out and
punished, no matter how sharp they
We're. He had often wondered If the
sahib colonel suspected his feelings,
and now that he knew he did he might
be taken out and shot any day. The
Hindoo's alarm lasted for q month.
Then he began to pluck up heart again.
The simplest and easiest weapon at
hand was n he had never thought Of,
and the idea came to him like q flash
one day. An hour later he was acting
on 1t. Two days later one Of the beg
gars visiting the compound to ask for
food carried q basket. When finding
himself alone with MAN he said:
There In the basket you will find a
cobra fresh from the jungle, and the
slightest scratch from his fangs means
death. Let him be turned loose in the
sahib coloncl's room, and he will do
the rest When serpents are found ev-
erywhere, who can say that you had
anything to do with this?"
There were guests at the mess that
night, with much drinking and speech
making, and the colonel came In late
and staggering under his load Of wine.
he was not so far gone, however, but
that he remembered certain things.
and while being put to bed he silently
said:
"Nizam, you liar and hypocrite. Won
know you'd like to murder me, but you
haven't the nerve. You are a coward
You haven't the courage of q woman
I'm drunk tonight and shall sleen like
a log, but l shall have no fear of you"
II shall watch over the sahib colona,
as a mother over her child" replied the
valet as he turned his face aside Ia
hide a smile.
Hair an hour later the basket was
upset IN the colonel's chamber and tho
Missing and angry cobra turned loose
He would find the sleeper within ten
minutes inc bury his fangs in his flesh,
Nlzam sat down in his W room "a
ENJOY the sensation. In the course ~
an noun he would go out on the veron.
une bottom. 1t was supposed aside
9 I'M that everybody aboard was pc.
owned, but two months lator 49,. re-