The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-04-28

AAN ANA Va 81 eAAtaAAAtn AAA1 W. I HtA W
over my shoulder a turbaned face, a
face stern and repellant in its stern
ness. / had always considered myself
a brave man, yet / assure you, Bolitho,
/ was at that moment frozen stiff with
terror. had no thought OF demand
ing how he got there or by what right.
/ simply gazed at him through the mir
ror, waiting for him to speak. At last
he spoke and | turned to face him, |
found confronting me a man of lofty
stature, poorly clad, but Enthusiastically
of the highest caste, had dealt
enough with the natives to know that.
He was, as far as / could see, unarmed,
yet, strong man as ! was, felt entire
ly at his mercy
Where have you placed it. Sahib
Badahur?' he demanded, in sibilant
tones, his face thrust forward, and his
beard bristling, as his baneful eyes
searched mine,
placed it?" | stammered.
Yes, the little god of Girzah that
you cut from the car" He almost
Kissed the words at me, and looked
as If ready to spring, yet / felt pow
erless to ward off any assault.
oh, that" I calculated. 4 haven't
it."
You have destroyed it," A look
of frenzy crossed his face, and | al.
most shrieked: NO, no, ! have left IT,,
with friends; it is safe; ! will re-.
turn It,"
1T is not here in your bungalow ?"
He doubted me and l hastened to
assure him. NO, l swear it isn't. l
left it this afternoon, somewhere, at
the club, l think, but l will return it.
l only did it for fun, didn't mean to
hurt it," l stammered, and tried to
excuse myself like a guilty schoolboy.
He crossed his arms and drew himself
up with dignity that only the high
cast native can assume.
"Sahib Badahur, the God Of Girzah
must be given back Given back be.
fore tomorrow night"
Yes, yes" l cried, eagerly. you
shall have it back. Come here to-mor
row and get it any time you like"
Tomorrow night, not before. | will
be here; you will have the God of Cir.
zah to give, and you shall die"
These words he uttered as solemnly
as if he were pronouncing my doom.
"Die!" l exclaimed. why, | told
you / would give it back, and I'm sorry
about the whole thing. There is nc
reason anyone should die about il"
He tore open his ragged tunic and
disclosed two fearful gashes, freshly
torn, cut diagonally across his muscu
lar chest
1T is sworn, oh, Sahib Badahur by
the high priest, by all the worshipers
Of the God Of Girzah, and by me. l.
Dhulah Singh, have sworn it by the
tearing of flesh, and by the fingers OF
my first born"
Plunging one hand into his bosom,
he drew out two ghastly fingers and
threw them violently at my feet. My
gorge rose, and recoiling from him
with horror | sprang to my dressing
table drawer, where / kept my revol
Vers, calling loudly for my servants.
1t did not take me five seconds to
open the drawer, grab a pistol, cock
it and turn to face him; but he was
gone, The door and window of the
room were both open at equal dis
tance from where he had stood. Bo,
litho, it was the quickest exit l have
ever seeen. | questioned my serV
ants closely, but they swore they had
not seen him, nor knew how he had |
effected an entrance. l could have be-
lieyed the whole thing a phantasy OF
my brain were it not for the grim |
mementos he had left behind him. On
examination | found they were two
index fingers, and it struck me very
forcibly that a religious fanatic who
would emphasize his oath by ruthless
ly mutilating his first born, must mean
business, and would take some pains
to make good his threat. A great fear
seized me. There is something about
India, it may be the air you breathe
there, that is uncanny. | am not a
coward by nature, either physically
or morally, but from that moment by
deserted me. A great loathing
for the whole country came over me,
and | felt | could not leave it quick
enough. finished my dressing hastily
and hurried to the mess. ! sought
the colonel and gave him some
story Of a fathers seri-
Gus illness and telegram; asked
leave to send in my papers and secure
two weeks leave pending their accept
ance. Fearing that somehow the real
cause of my leaving might become
known, l called at the club on my way
home and secured the little god.
packed in haste and next morning
was on my way to Calcutta. A month
ater was in London
The major paused, finished his drink
md rose.
That is all" he said, but it is
he truth" He crossed to the mantel-
piece. Here is the cause of the whole
rouble." He reached for and took
lown little squat shaped image and
placed it on the table. 81 scooped
'ut the top of it's head and use it to
lold matches. 1t is strange that
title thing like that should have cost
ne my commission"
His friend took it up and looked at
( thOugbtf,,lIry