Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-14
feeling puffs of warm breath upon his face. he lost consciouaness

of the monsoon had been succeeded by an interval of calm. But the imme diate suggestion that he had suffered from nightmare was contradicted { by the footprints upon the floor In his perturbed state of mind three courses presented themselves tc avoid any more such visits The first was to petition the deputy commis sioner to destroy the beast. But against this plan he found his religious scru. pies oyercame his advanced ideas, for who could tell but that the panther might be the incarnate spirit of his grandfather. Hence to encompass it's death would be grievous crime. Then he thought of flying from his post; but that would terminate his career in the government service; and. lastly, there was the village astrologer and magician, whose local reputation as to the possession of occult pow. CTS over animate and inanimate ob. jects was undisputed. To seek such assistance did not quite coincide with the advanced ideas of Bheem Das; but the occasion was not one for abstract reasoning.
 The learned magician listened grave. ly to Bheem Das' unfolding of the situation. and replied that he felt con fident he would not only be able to offer an explanation of the partners 8 visits, but could cast a spell over the beast which would prevent repeti- tion of such unwelcome intrusions- provided, of course, suitable re- muneration was made, of which pre- liminary fee of one rupee was re- euired.
 Bheem Das regretfully laid the coin in the magicians palm; whereupon the magician rose and retired behind curtain. There he muttered to him. self over burning powder, the smoke from which filled the room and the throat of his client
 Presently he returned with the in- formation that, as he suspected. he found that the spirit of the late Dhondo Visram had entered into the body of the panther, and as a conse- quence the animal was naturally at tracted to the spot where 1t had previ. ously been in control. To induce the beast to cease its visits would requiIe the performance of certain rites by a person of great wisdom, like himself, and such would be expensive. Other. wise-and he took note of Bheem Das uneasy expression-the panther would assuredly haunt the place, and might, If famished-
 Consideration for the sensitive feel ings of one in such position here in- tervened, and, merely by inference, he let it be understood he would not be at all surprised to hear his client had been bodily, if not spiritually, incor- porated in the panther.
 Very nervously then Bheem Das de. sired to be informed upon what terms the magician would agree to prevent such a calamity.
 That" said he, ''is not so easy to compute, because the spells are difi- cult to perform. But for 50 rupees, paid in advance, can protect you against further molestation.
 The exorbitance of this demand first stunned and then sharpened the wits of Bheem Das.
 You are sure 1t is the soul of Dhondo visram in the panther? he asked, "and not one of my relations%
 May my mouth be filled with dust, and the souls of all my uncles turned into swine, if I do not speak the truth" answered the magician.
 Learned sir,' then said Bheem Das, q will go and return with the amount presently"
 But instead he made all speed to the bungalow of the deputy commissioner. muttering as he went along: Since it's only old Dhondo visram in the beast, what concern is 1t of mine if the panther is shot?"
 And as a result of the visit of Bheem Das to the deputy commissioner, late that evening four bearers carried the body of black panther slung upon bamboo poles into the village.
 But. after all, Bheem Das was not quite happy, as the astrologer declared he had sent the soul of Dhondo visram into a cobra, that had taken up its abode in the thatch of the telegraph bungalow-a disquieting circumstance. even though Rheem Das was . man of advanced ideas.