The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1906-07-20
THE COLONIES
VALET

Infantry. stationed in the province OF
had taken a native valet be-
cause that was the fashion. and ne ex-
Nected 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 life he called Nizam to him
one day and said:
How 10 It that you have let me live
on 20 long?"
may the sahib colonel live for
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 .. deadly hatred Of the English.
You wish for nothing 90 much 40 an
other rebellion and . chance to cut our |
throats. Do not speak the TRUTH
Great and powerful are the English,
and their rule 10 mercifuI and full OF
justice"
IAN sheer hypocrisy on your part, Nj
sam. You'd like to put your knife into
4 dozen Of 20 today. You have now
been with me four years"
-Four long and happy years. sahib
colonel, and II would break my heart
to have You send me away"
More rot. There has not been
week In the four years that I have not
knocked you about. am quick tenn
pered, and strike first and talk after
ward. 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"
I'm my heart there is nothing but
love for the sahib colonel" replied the
valet.
"All right, Nixam. You won't tell the
truth, and l can't make you, and 80
we will let this subject drop. Take q
pointer from me, however. When you
set out to kiln me make quick job Of
It II you don't III have you roasted
over slow nre."
Nlxam went away to his room to
ponder. 1t was true that he hungered
for the coloners 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 II 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 4 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 a fiash
one day. An hour later be was acting
on II. Two days later one Of the beg
gars visiting the compound to ask for
food carried 1 basket. When finding
himself alone with Nisam he said:
''There In the basket you will and a
cobra fresh from the jungle, and the
slightest scratch from his fangs means
death. Let him be turned loose in the
sahib colonel's room. and he will dc
the rest. When serpents are found ev
erywhere. who can say that you had
anything to do with thisT'
. There were guests at the mess thai
night, with much drinking and speech
making, and the colonel came in lat,
and staggering under his load of wine
He was not SO far gone, however, bu
that he remembered certain things
I and while being put to bed he sleepil!
!. said:
''NisAm. you liar and hypocrite, 70,
i know you'd like to murder me, but yol
4 haven't the nerve. You are a coward
4 You haven't the courage of a woman
I'm drunk tonight and shall sleep lik
9 LOO, but shall have no fear Of you.
II shall watch over the sahib colone
n % mother over her child" replied tn
valet 40 he turned his face aside t
% hide . smile.
ISL Half IN hour later the basket wa
" upset In the colonel's chamber and tn
i, hissing and angry cobra turned loost
He would nnd the sleeper within te
h minutes and bury his fangs in his fesl
Nisam sat down in his own room t
r enjoy the sensation. In the course q
IN hour he would 60 out on the verar
da and push one Of the screens asid
and give the cobra chance to escap,
It might he said he had been care
lees about the screen or they might sa
that the sahib colonel had blundere
around after being left for the night
There was 4 bright moon, and
= shone full into Nizam's room. Their
a. were neither screens nor glass to kee
~ Il out. The natives Of India care ne
Their for heat nor insects. As the vale
sat crouched on his launches, wonde
70 ing and listening andeaemiling. SOM
n thing came wriggling over the sill {
I'd the window and dropped to the foo
The cobra had got out through I'll
!. screen Of the colonel's window, but ha