The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1910-09-30


job Now for Bradshaw"
On the following Monday night
Travers took a second-class ticket at
Charing Cross in order to minimize
the chance of running against friends
From sheer curiosity he chose a COM
partment in which two singular-look-
ing men were already seated The
weather was by no means cold. yet
they were swathed in winter clothing.
Thick mufilers were round their necks.
Their faces were partly hidden by the
wraps, and partly shaded by the
broad brims of silk hats built about
the time of the Crimean war. But
their race was unmistakable-to Trav-
ers at least. They were Hindoos-the
tall one probably man of caste, the
podgy person possibly a Baboo.
In his interest at coming across
these strange people Travers forgot
his ultimate objective. He settled
himself in his corner, prepared either
to join in conversation with, or mere
ly to watch, his quaint fellow-trav-
elers.
On his entrance they had turned
their eyes upon him, but they had
resumed their conversation. AS the
train got on it's way they raised their
voices, and, confident of not being I'M
derstood, they spoke with absolute I'M
restraint. Travers, with knowledge
derived from ten years service in the
Madras and Indian Staff corps, was
easily able to follow their talk
AT last" said the tall man, as the
train moved out of the station.
AT last" repeated the other. Buck
up. Now is the conclusion of your
spacious quest"
Say rather the beginning. So far
it has been easy, despite the horror
of mingling with these barbarians. To
lose caste was foreseen, but now we
enter upon the unknown"
Nevertheless, | take the liberty OF
emphasizing the necessity of buckine
up. Tomorrow you will be thrice
happy man, and / will weave a gar
land of marigolds for your honorable
head. GOSH" This as the train en-
tered a tunnel with a hideous shrek
ut is a taste of the underworld" he
added.
The tall man smiled sadly,
"Ramma Lal," he said, 81 envy
you your merry disposition. 1t was
in a good moment that l met thee il
Bombay, baboo-jee. You have served
me well in guiding me hither, and il
enlivening me on the long journey"
Your honor is pleased to be exces
sively gracious" said the Baboo will
absurd complacency. Indeed, my tip
top spirits have been of much service
to myself and many other honorable
gentlemen, and have been extraor
dinarily admired by English ladies'
He pulled out his watch. I'm the
/ space of half an hour we shall have
arrived at our long-intended destina
ton"
so soon? Show me the plan agar
to refresh my memory"
The Baboo produced piece of pa
per, over which they bent their heads
Here is the railway station al
which we shall dismount. This pinl
streak is the highway-road along
which we shall travel, eventually
reaching the big brass gates belong
ing to ancestral home. A little be
yond is a diminutive wall. which We
ascend and descend Then we steI
across the park and round the lake
Here and here This sepia mark Is
water. Now we are in the pleasure
garden. This is the hinder part Of
the house. Here is the right wing
The fifth window in the second row
That is your bulls eye"
go on" said his companion
| gloomily.
Your honor will divest yourself o.
polished hat and other garments
which you will transfer to my care il
summer house. Here, behold it
painted in vermilion. You will clint
up to the window. Inferior but friend
ly servant has arranged that it shall
open easily. Once in the room tn,
deed is as good as accomplished. You
know the hiding-place of the jewel.
Travers started. The hiding -plac,
of the jewell"
Yes" said the gloomy Hindoo; "
know it, But Krishna Burkut knew
1t 25 years ago, and the Swami Ran
Nath knew it so years ago, and ye
another Swami rs years ago. but non,
of these restored it to the Temple o
Agni. All failed in their quest, an,
never regained their caste. | too shall
fail"
ALLOW me to have the felicity o
indicating at least one point of dit
ference between your honor and gen
tlemen mentioned" replied the Baboo
Your honor has intelligent assistant
while enumerated catalogue had not
Have the kindness to point out fly II
our ointment 1t is distinguished b.
its absence. The jewel is yours
Perish the jewell" cried the othe
Hindoo in a sudden outburst of fury
why couldn't the Huzoor have left |
alone, or have taken another jewel
Why should he have singled out tn
one above all others necessary to tn
happiness of Agni? And why shout
- III ~ - -