The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1908-11-05


cigar II you like"
Then the doctor, with the courtly
manners Of Virginian. and the frank,
pleasant smile of a downright good
fellow, withdrew to prepare gold cap
for the broken tooth. When / had
finished my cigar / felt too lazy to
read, and as | sat glancing about, a
CLEAN OF prismatic coloring caught my
eye. II was reflected from ring upon
my finger. A shot OF sunlight had
come down from an opening in the
shutter just above my head. and the
large diamond in the setting was dane
ing with fantastic coloring.
This ring was unique It was
serpentine coil Of gold; the head was
a large Golconda diamond Of unusual
purity; this was hooded round with
a slender gold band: the eyes were
two pigeon-blood rubies.
Two years before had been in her
majesty's service in India and for a
period Of ten months was stationed in
the dependent state OF Vizianagram.
The states business. which consisted
chiefly in grinding more money out
OF the ryots (small-farmers). was car
ried on by the Dewan. and a grand
revenue collector he was. too.
Jugganath Raj was wealthy. From
being clerk in the Dewans Office, he
mad risen to be Dewan himself And
when the ryots brought their families
and begged him in the name of all
their gods to be merciful. he spat at
them and reviled them. and stripped
the women OF their jewels to pay the
tithes To the Europeans he was "Old
Jug but 10 the poor natives of the
lower class he was "Sir p. Jugganath
Sahib Gam. Dewan."
II was OF this man | had the ring;
not that we were friends-no man was
A friend OF Jugganath Raj-and that
was the strangest part of ii. When /
was leaving went to pay the fare.
well visit which native etiquette de-
mands. he presented me with this ring.
saying: The Sahib is great. | am the
Rajah's servant. but perhaps some
time this will make you think OF me.
Do not lose It, Sahib. and" with a
laugh like a hyena: do not admire it
too much"
The snakes eyes fascinated me this
afternoon as sat in the comfortable
leathern operating chair and gazed
fXedly at them.
1t was as though had been touched
by the wand of a Hindu magician. The
old life at Vizianagram opened up be-
fore me as one unfolds a Japanese
screen.
| was glad when | heard footsteps
behind me- The newcomer was tall,
pale young man with decided stoop,
hair worn rather long and parted in
the middle. blue serious eyes with
droop In the left eyelid, and | caught
the CLEAN Of heavy gold filling promin-
entity displayed in his front upper
teeth when he smiled.
All at once the young man clutched
my hand with a viselike grip and be-
gan tearing the ring from my finger.
/ struggled desperately and tried 10
shout, but | was powerless and voice
less. Then | awoke with a start, and,
staggering to my feet, was confronted
by-Dr. Balasco,
We'll. by Jove," he said. with his
pleasant laugh. You have had a great
sleep. must have startled you when
| put my hand on your arm"
| stared stupidity at him moment,
then things began to take shape in
my mind and assume their natural Sc
luence | glanced at my hand No,
aad not been dreaming; the ring was
gone,
Where is he?" | gasped. The thief
did you see him go out?'
What thief?" asked the doctor,
cooking at me quizzically.
Il have been robbed" blurted out
Doctor. a man came in during your
absence and stole valuable ring from
my finger
| gave the doctor a hurried account
Of lie sudden appearance OF the young
man. He listened with increasing as
tonishment Can you describe him."
he asked.
| did 50 minutely. 1T is very pecu-
liar" he answered. You have accu-
rately described my assistant Mr.. Va
lloyd, but | can bear witness that he
has not been here since left you. He
has been al work in an inner room.
the only exit from which is through
my Office, where have been constant
ly engaged for the past hour"
Or. sBalascos manner was perfectly
judicial, and he appeared 10 be weigh.
ing the matter carefully. Come with
me-" he added we will investigate
this affair at once"
We proceeded to the inner room,
where his assistant and the artisan
who made and set up the teeth were
at work. and as Naloyd turned toward
us, | recognized with a thrill OF recol-
lection the long. lank hair, the sinister
droop OF the left eyelid, the STOPPING
shoulders-in short the man who had
given me the chloroform | could have
sworn 10 him among a thousand.
f.u- atg. xrn-l- ha ,,t.s,-