Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-09-13
VICTIM OF HIS OWN PLOT.
Police Officer Who Expected to Profit By
Murder of a Shylock Is Himself Slain.

ents in the surrounding villages, was
riding homeward, well satisfied with
his days work. The proceeds OF his
collection were contained in a number
of small bags cunningly concealed
within the folds Of his voluminous gar
ments; and the melodious chink, chink
Of the silver rupees, as they jostled
each other with every movement Of his
pony, sounded gratefully in the ears
Of the rider. Plump and bulky was
the equestrian, as became a man OF
substance; lean and scraggy was his
steed, as befitted the drudge Of the
most notorious skinfiint in the district
Vishnudass prided himself on his
honesty and rectitude-he owed not
to any man; on the contrary, many
men owed to him. He posed as pub
lie benefactor, as a friend Of the wild
ow and orphan, always ready to re-
lieve the poor in time Of necessity. Re-
lieve the poor he certainly did-of all
their cash, spare or otherwise. Woe to
the luckless wight whose name should
once become inscribed in the books OF
the usurer. There 1t was likely to re-
main till his dying day. Far better
would 1t have been for him to have
hanged or drowned himself than to
have signed a bond condemning him
self and his dependents to lifelong
misery. Every man has his own In
terest at heart, which, in the case OF
Vishnudass, figured out a trifie over
200 per cent. Too much? Not q bit OF
It. He would have his bond to the
last farthing, or the Sarkar govern
ment) would know the reason why.
Long live the Sarkar! Might the
shadow OF its omnipotence never grow
less. Why had law and justice been
instituted in India If not to enable
Vishnudass and others of. his kidney
to drain the life blood from the hearts
Of the Indian ryots (cultivators) Let
the human scarecrows toll and MOL
ali day and every day, till the sweat
streamed down their emaciated
frames! What else were they made
for? According to the philosophy OF
Vishnudass, the peasant was made TO
work, and the usurer was created to
enjoy the fruits Of the peasants labor.
Thus pleasantly. mused the man OF
metal, over whose obese countenance
there stole a smile Of SNUG complacen-
CIV, as he made a rapid mental calcu-
lation of the interest that would ac-
crue to him on unpaid loans at the end
of the year, and decided on the terms
of renewal he would exact in each case
Next spring, on the occasion or MS
sons marriage, he would astonish the
town by his munificence; the feast to
the Brahmans should be for quantity
and quality on a scale hitherto un-
paralleled; the name OF Vishnudass
should become great in the land. And
who ws?-perhaps some day he
might be elected a municipal council
lor.
Absorbed in these reflections, and
forgetful of his surroundings, he was
proceeding leisurely with slackened
rein, when his pony stumbled and
nearly precipitated him over its head.
Then he became aware that the hour
was late, that darkness was rapidly
setting in, and that Talagaum was
still a good six miles distant. The
district, he knew, was infested by da-
colts, always we'll informed by the VII
layers Of the movements Of wealthy
travellers. Money lenders were their
natural prey. 1t was more than likely,
therefore, that some Of these marau-
ders were even then lying in wait to
rob and murder him. His wretched
pony was ready to drop from exhaus-
ton; there was no possibility of reach
ing home before nightfall How ne
cursed his stupidity for not starting
betimes and accomplishing his jour-
ney in broad daylight!
Skinfint though he was, Vishnudass
nursed his own hide with tender So
licitude, and would rather have given
two annas (now 2d) in charity than
have parted with single shred Of his
precious cuticle Although, after the
fashion of the country, he carried a
tulwar (sword) incased in a wooden
sheath covered with gaudy velvet, ne
felt little inclination to test the tenn
per of his fiimsy weapon against the
broad blades Of the gentlemen OF the
road. In this perplexity he suddenly
bethought him that there was a small
chauki (police guardhouse) on the
roadside close at hand, where he might
perchance obtain a nights shelter.
Whipping up his steed into slow,
shutting amble, he gained the chauki
without mishap, and found the two
constables in charge. Faiz Ahmad and
Sheik Hoosen, cooking their evening
meal under a clump of mango trees.
Faint and hungry, having tasted since
morning, he would fain have asked for
food; but, prohibited by the rules OF
his caste from breaking bread with
Mohammedans, he merely asked per-
mission to sleep in the chauki, explain
ing that he dared not continue his
journey through fear Of the dacoits.
you are welcome to such accommo-
ton as our humble dwelling affords
said Faiz .Ahmad, rising and saluting
the newcomer. The sacred laws of
hospitality shall be respected. You
may rest with an easy mind. for not
hair Of your head shall be touched. My
comrade and / will give good ac-
count of the dacoits should they dare
to molest you. Say. Sheik Hoosein,
have not I spoken well?"
Yes, brother" replied the other con-
stable; ION our heads be it to answer
for the safety of our guest" adding
'the illustrious one. who is the mir
ror of kindness and the soul OF gen.
erosity. will not forget that we are
poor men,"
Vishnudass, accepting the hint, FUN
bled in his clothes until he had found
the smallest of his money bags. ex-
tracted therefrom two rupees, and gave
one rupee to each of his hosts.
Make it five, master OF millions
said Faiz Ahmad, extending his palm
with the solitary coin lying on It,