Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-03-24
DAILY SHORT STORY
THE COLONIES VALET.

Infantry, stationed in the province of
Bombay, had taken native valet be-
cause that was the fashion, and he ex-
pected the fellow TO assassinate him
some day. because that was the custom
of native Wallets. He thought the event
might happen the first year. then the
second, the third and when four years
had gone by and no attempt had been
made on his nfe'he called Nizam TO him
one day and said:
How is it that you have let me live
on 50 long,"
May the sahib colonel live for a
thousand years" was the reply of the
man with the impassive face who stood
before him in cringing attitude.
That's all 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
Tther rebellion and chance to cut our
threats. Do not speak the truth
Great and powerful are the English.
and their rule is mercifuI and full of
Justice"
''All sheer hypocrisy on your part, Nj
Fam. 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. sahib
colonel. and it would break my heart
10 have you send me away"
More rot. There has not been
week in the four years that have not
knocked you about 1 am quick tenn
pered. and l strike first and talk after
ward. l have cuffed and kicked you.
and have had you whipped. and I'm
not fool enough to think you have pass
ed ii all by"
In my heart there is nothing but
love for the sahib colonel" replied the
valet
All right, Nizam. You won't tell the
truth, and l can't make you, and so
we Will let this subject drop. Take a
pointer from me, however. When you
set out TO kill me make u quick job of
it. If you don't Ill have you roasted
over 4 slow fire.
NiZam went away TO his room to
ponder. II was true that he hungered
for the colopeTs 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 sub
tie poisons, and they were always sus-
piciouS. He knew of several Wallets
who had killed their sahibs. and each
and every one had been found out and
punished, no matter how sharp they
were. 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 month.
Then he began to pluck up heart again.
The SIMPLEST and easiest weapon at
hand was one he had never thought of,
and the idea came TO him like Il flash
one day. An hour later he was acting
on il. Two days later one of the beg
gars visiting the compound to ask for
food carried Il basket. When finding
himself alone with NiZam he said:
There in the basket you will find u
cobra fresh from the jungle, and the
Sigh test scratch from his fangs means
death. Let him be turned loose in the
Sahib coloneIs room, and he will do
the rest When serpents are found ev-
erywhere, who can say that you had
to do with this:'
There were guests at the mess that
night, with much drinking and speech
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 sleepily
said:
MAN, you liar and hypocrite. you
know you'd like to murder me, but you
haven't the nerve. You are Il coward.
You haven't the courage of woman.
I'm drunk tonight and shall sleep like !
a log, but ! shall have no fear of YOU"
II shall watch over the sahib colonel |
rs a mother over her child" replied the |
valet as he turned his face aside to |
hide Il smile.
Half an hour later the basket was |
upset in the coloneIs chamber and the /
kissing and angry cobra turned loose.
He would find the sleeper within ten
minutes and bury his fanGs in his flesh. /
Nizam sat down in his own room TO
anjoy the sensation. In the course Of
IN hour he would go out on the veran-
Ia and push one of the screens aside
ma give the cobra II chance to escape /
II might he said he had been care
csS about the screen or they might say Il
hat the Sahib colonel had Numbered Il
around after being left for the night.
There was Il bright moon, and il II
houe full into Nizam's room. There 4
we're neither screens nor glass TO keep II
t out The natives of India care nei-
her for heat nor insects. As the valet \
at crouched on his launches. wonder
uC and listening and smiling. some 1
hing came wriggling over the sill OF
he window and dropped to the floor.
The cobra bad got out through the
Green Of the coloners window. but had !
lot made of TO the jungle. For two
minutes the serpent remained quiet. (
Then il began creeping toward the
-alet- His eyes were fastened upon il
nd dilated in horror. but his muscles