Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-13

which he crept Flattening himself on
tho floor, he applied his ear to hole
so small it scarcely widened the crack
between two boards. He could not
see but he could hear the creak OF
the punkah as, after a violent tug
by the man on the divan, 1t continued
swinging to and fro.
Hardly had the Hindoo left the
room when the Swami, like a num-
mer throwing off a mask, arose brisk
ly from the divan and cast aside the
silk robe that enveloped him. The
silken turban remained on his head,
but in all other respects he was
dressed like Wall Street man. His
/ feet, drawn beneath his robe as he sat
on the broad couch, had not shown
the patCnt leather shoes In which they
were cncased. He lighted a European
| cigarette and puffed as II he enjoyed
The change from the pungent Eastern
tobacco.
Up and down the room he walked
springily, pausing from time to time
with pucSered forehead and thumbs
resting on the edges Of his coat peck
cts. Then he walked softly to a door
at ore side of the room, and opening
it little way. called softly:
'Kananda."
A man Of mature years came in
quietly and looked inquiringly at the
Swami. He was Of portly build, but
his vigOr still showed traces OF the ath-
letc training he had followed IN Eng
lish schools and colleges. His West
ern manner and excellent English
ware not in surprising contrast to his
Indian swarthiness among those who
remembered the vogue a British edu-
cation had among India's petty princes
in the reign of Victoria, Queen and
Empress. Prince Kananda had been
one of the best batsmen on the Cam
bridge eleven. His popularity among
the democratic young aristocrats OF
the period had sprung from the day
when he remarked 1t was not his fault
his father was a Maharajah, and that
It shouldn't be treasured against him.
even though he couldn't live it down.
Mandy. as they called him on the
banks Of the Cam, was voted a good
sort The classification had stuck
to him wherever men foregathered
from the Strangers Club of the Straits
Settlement to Whites and the Union
League.
Whats the row, your reverence"
he asked. On the surface, he took
the faith of his fathers lightly, Orr.
entail though he was in the marrow.
The Maharanee has disappeared, =
sa.d the Swami.
"Whee-ee!" returned Kananda. I'll
that blessed stone isn't the Wander
ing Jew of jewels! How long has II
been missing this time?"
Nobody knows, unless 1t be its
present possessor. Moreover, prince
you are, ruler you may be, but | can
not overlook your levity In connection
with so sacred a gem. Besides. my
friend, remember the brethren"
Nandy's face became serious imme
diately.
81 wasn't exactly poking fun at the
Maharanee," he apologized, "and they
who suffer are never long absent from
my thoughts. It's Western habit
this fippancy-comes from trying tC
graft a Hindoo sprig on British
oak, you know"
1--WE are OF the Orient" said the
Swami. still rebukingly. I'VE should
not copy the barbarisms of the Occi
dent"
Nandy's eyes twinkled as the humol
of such an observation In the hear
OF Manhattan flashed upon him. In
moment, he was grave again, how
ever lie swung himself to table
lightly for one of his bulk. and sa
Kicking his heels as he awaited the
!iindoo priests narrative.
There's little to tell" the Swan
went on. himself drowning into th'