Warren sheaf., 1910-04-07


The gossipiAg groups melted away:
the veiled woman lifted the cooing
baby to her hip and shuffled out Of
sight; a caravan from the south filled
up the gate, and the new interest it
created drove the thought Of the mad
English sahib from the minds of the
loungers in the bazaar. s3S5
But on the cool veranda Of the
Queens Hotel' an angry young Her
cules with flashing blue eyes and close
cropped fair hair, and very small
and tawny policeman with many gilt
buttons and yards Of braid on his
otherwise shabby blue uniform, were
interrupting each other In vain On
deayors to pour q clear and consecu-
tive story into the ears Of 'Paulet
Sahib. 81; Nc .s: '5sss .5sss.
You say that the ring was still on
your finger after the Sboyshad gone?'.
asked the quiet voice, stilling the
confusion. 5ss ssssl s5s
Yes averred Thomassin '.It was
so tight that / could scarcely endure
the pressure. I couldn't be mistaken
about that, you know = 5zsas ss.sss Nsss3s
And the man-the one with the
green turban. Did you see him lean.
ing against the wall. Abdallah q
1t straightway appeared that Thorn.
ASSN alone had paid any attention TO
the man. M = .5yss rs s
Then find the boy, son Of . bat
commanded Paulet. If he is not In
the Jail by sunset, there shall be fines
and cutting OF Of gilded buttons. Give
word to Mira Achmet, for he must
know that willy thief Is in Sur
sajpore.' . # 5.sE E5ss.ss..t
Abdallah, bowling to the earth, hast.
kened out, almost colliding with stout
little man in pith helmet, who was
talking vehemently to Hira Singh.
\ 'Twasn't the value Of the thing, II
tell you It was the association.
Why, it belonged to my great grand
father, Sir Anthony Garth, NVice-Ad-
miral of the Red. I never allowed It
to leave my finger"
What's up, Garth" asked Paulet,
as he and Thomassin looked around
in surprise. &
I've lost my ring. That big yellow
diamond was showing you" Thorn
ASSN caught his breath, but Paulet
laid an imperative hand on his arm.
How did it happen?'' he asked.
,"'Why, it was right outside here. I
stopped to listen to a street musician,
and when I. tossed him shilling /
noticed that my hand had a smear Of
fresh paint on it, went into shop,
and the man gave me a cloth to wipe
It on. And - he paused and gulped
ss----'I don't know where the ring went,
but 60 it did: What's more,'' work.
ing himself up into rubicund pas
sion, ''the lazy beggars around swore
that hadn't gone into any shop.
That there hadn't ever been sign
Of shop near there. And there
wasn't sign Of paint on my hand.
either!' s
1t was year later. Paulet, worn
with work in the famine district, had
been given three months leave There
was nothing to take him to England,
so he left the steamer at Naples and
Travelled slowly northward-.h and
his friend. !5s3
At last the two the wiry, quiet on.
Ger and his tall, dark companion
saw the miracle Of Italian spring on
the banks Of the Arno, and rested
from wandering
One day they were exploring mar.
row street in the oldest quarter Of the
city, Paulet pointing out the quaint
carvings on the dark, overhanging
walls to Hira Singh, when a. strain
of music, oddly familiar, trembled ii.
the air. The face of the hill man
lighted up.
THAT is home sound, Paulet Sahib.
Who in this land can play the chant
Of the snake charmer p
Pau1et, catching his arm, drew him
forward in pursuit. "a moment later
they came out into little lonely
square, with moss-covered fountain
in the center. Here half q dozen chill,
dren were gathered about boy
whose tattered garments were 81 a
fashion that filled them with Wonder
He was playing mournfully, slowly
But Hira Singh drew back. ss-52. So
Look, sahib! The ivory fute!'
Paulet considered silently then
raised his head. ss.
g. Ss See here, Hira Singh. viii you do
exactly as I say? Well bag this pair
of rascals !" #
7 am the sahib's man, was the
firm reply, as a look Of devotion IL
lumined the dark eyes. So
4 "Hark, then. Don't listen to the.
boy. / am going to put On this ring,
he drew q heavily chased gold band
from his pocket. and slipped It on his
finger. Il shall let the boy see IT.
You follow at one side. IN the mo
ment that I give him piece Of money,
note where I am looking e a man.
stands there. grasp and Shold him fast.
I shall take care of the boy. q z