Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-10-10

sation with Hokar and watch the eff
feet Soon he found the man sitting
cross legged under tree in the yard,
smoking. Evidently his work for the
day was over and he was enjoying
himself. Remembering the descrip-
ton given by Bart, the detective saw
that this was the very man who had
entered the shop of Aaron Norman.
He wore the same dress and looked
dirty and disreputable-quite a waif
and Il stray.
"Hellow said Hurd casually. What
are YOU doing? Talk English, eh?''
Eyes, SIR said Hokar calmly. 81
spike good Englis. Missionary teach
Hokar Englis.''
''I'm' glad of that; we can have a
chat" said Hurd, producing his pipe.
He also produced something else with
which he had provided himself on the
way back from the postoftice. In an
other minute Hokar was staring at
| small parcel of coarse brown sugar.
With all his oriental phlegm the man
could not keep his countenance. His
eyes rolled until they threatened TO
drop out Of his head, and he looked
at Hurd with n certain amount of
| fear. "Goor," said that gentleman,
pointing to the sugar with the stem
of his pipe, "goorr'
Hokar turned green under his dark
skin and half rose to go away, but his
| legs failed him, and he sat still try
| ing to recover himself $50 you wor-
| ship Bhowanee? went on his tor.
mentor.
The Indians face expressed lively
curiosity. "rhe great goddess"
Yes. Kalee, you know. Did you
make Tupounee after you used your
roomal on Aaron Norman?'
Koliar gave cultural cry anG
gasped. Tupounee is the sacrifice
made by the thugs after successful
crime and roomal the handkerchief
with which they strangled their vic
tins. All this was information cullet
from Colonel Meadow Taylor's book by
the accomplished detective. well,
said Hurd, smoking placidly, ''wha
! have you to say, Mr.. Hokar?"
81 know noZzin'," said the man SUI
lenly, but in deadly fear
Yes, you do. Sit stillr' said Hurd
with sudden sternness. IF you try t.
run away I'll have you arrested. Eye:
are on you, and you can't take a steI
without my knowing
Some of this was Greek to the In
dian, owing to his imperfect knowledg,
of English, but ne understood that tn,
law would lay hold of him if he die
not obey this sahib and so sat still. IS
know not anysing," he repeated, hi
teeth chattering.
"Yes, you do. You're thug"
"Zer no thug"
81 agree with you,' said Hurd. "Yo1
are the last of the Mohicans. I wan
to know why you offered Aaron Nor
man TO Bhowanee?"
Hokar made Il strange sign on hi
forehead at the mention of the sacre,
name and muttered Something-per
haps a prayer-in his native tongue
Then he looked up. Il know noZZin'.'
Don't repeat that rubbish" sal
Hurd calmly "You sold boot laces il
the shop in Gwynne street on the da
when its master was killed, and he wa
the husband of the lady who helpe
you-Mrs. Krill.''
"You say dat" said Hokar stolidly.
Eyes, and can prove it. The DO
Tray-and can lay my hands on hir
saw you; also Bart Tawsey, the shoI
man. You left a handful of sugar
; though why you did so instead Of ca
Ing it can't understand"
Hokar's face lighted up, and he shov
ed his teeth disdainfully. ..'Oh, yo
ing out his lean hands. "Ze shops-a
yis. there, Wis, but use no roOmal
Not then, but you did later"
Hokar shook his head. II use I
roomal. Eat sahib one eye-bad, W
bad. Bhowanee no have one eye.
Bhungees, no Bhats, no.
"What are you talking about?" sa
Hurd angrily. His reading had NJ
told him that no MANNED persons cou
be offered to the goddess of the thug
Bhungees meant sweepers, and Bha
. barGs, both of which classes we
spared by the strangers. You killt
that man. Now, who told you to k
himr
81 know nozzin'. no kill. BLOW
, nee no take one eye mans"
For want of an interpreter HUI
> found it difficult to carry on the co
versation. He rose and determin,
, to postpone further examination t
: he would get some one who understo'
the Hindoo tongue. But in the mea
time Hokar might run away, and HUI
: rather regretted that he had been
: precipitate. However, he nodded to t
man and went off, pretty sure he won
not fly at once.
! Then Hurd went to the village poll