Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-03-22

grandfather. Hence to encompass It,
death would be a 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
ers over animate and inanimate OBJ
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 p%anther's
visits, but could cast a spell over the
beast which would prevent a repeti
ton of such unwelcome intrusions-
| provided, Of course, a suitable re
Enumeration was made, of which a pre-
liminary fee Of n rupee was re
quired.
Bheem Das regretfully laid the coin
in the magician's palm; whereupon
the magician rose and retired behind
a curtain. There he muttered to him.
self over a 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 require
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 fsmished-
Consideration for the sensitive feel
ings of one in such a position here IN
tervened, and, merely by inference, hi
let it be understood he would not be
at all surprised to hear his client hat
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 q
compute, because the spells are din
cult to perform. But for so rupees
paid in advance, 1 can protect yo'
, against further molestation.
5 The exorbitance of this demand frs
, stunned and then sharpened the wit
: of Bheem Das.
: "You are sure it is the soul o
t phondo visram in the panther" h
asked, "and not one of my relations?
MAY my mouth be filled with dus'
and the souls Of all my uncles turne
into swine, II I do not speak tn
truth" answered the magician.
Learned sir" then said Bheem Da'
81 will go and return with the amour
presently"
But instead he made all speed to tn
bungalow Of the deputy commissions
muttering as he went along: "Sinc
it's only old Dhondo Visram in tn
beast, what concern is it OF mine
the panther Is shot?"
And as a result of the visit of Bheel
Das to the deputy commissioner, la'
that evening four bearers carried tt
body Of a black panther slung upo
bamboo poles into the village.
But, after all, Bheem Das was n
quite happy. as the astrologer declare
he had sent the soul of Dhondo Visra
into a cobra, that had taken up
abode in the thatch of the Telegram
R bungalow disquieting circumstanc
even though Bheem Das was a mar
advanced ideas.