The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1913-04-04
ABDULLAH
By SADIE OLCOTT

u6 pcOplS VI PeASSAA5 S>-
lives without the methods at hand Eu-
ropean races have for development up
ward, are prone to develop downward.
What / mean is that their minds are
forced into unwholesome channels. In
these channels they become very ex-
pert. The Indian fakir will do tricks
that to us are ineXplicable. In the
matter of poisons it is doubtful If 1tal-
ians in the days of the Borgias knew
a 1.-THE that is known in India. Snake
charmers, too, are plentiful, and one
cannot pass along a street without see
ing them seated cross legged doing
tricks with the reptiles. 1t is aston
ishing what vipers may be taught.
Captain Oldershaw Of the Seventy
second regiment of the line was sta
toned with his regiment in India. The
captain considered himself so much bet
ter than the dusky natives Of India
that he considered they had no rights
he was bound to respect. He had a
servant, Abdulah, a sad faced, unob-
trusive creature. whom he treated as
slave. In India white persons usually
have many servants. each mental for
different purpose
One day Captain Oldershaw missed
some money that he kept in drawer
of a desk He was much disgruntled
at his loss, for he had nothing but his
pay and was obliged to make that go
as far as possible The first man he
met after the theft was Abdullah, and,
as was to be expected, he vented his
wrath upon him. Having accused his
servant and the servant having denied
the charge, the next step was to take
the law i'm his hands by trying, con-
victing and Furnishing the culprit him
self. He tied Abdullah up by the
thumbs with his own hand and sat be-
side him, drinking brandy and soda
and smoking till Abdullah finally con-
fessed the theft and was taken down.
But since the Indian hadn't stolen
the money he hadn't 1t to return. So
the captain magnanimously permitted
him to work it out. Abdullah meekly
consented to this and was even more
faithful to his master than before.
One day brother officer dined with
Captain Oldershaw and saw Abdullah.
what are you doing with that fellow
in your employY" asked the guest OF
Oldershaw.
HE is my bootblack." replied Older
shaw.
"He has been a snake charmer. l
saw him perform one day on the street
and was so struck with what he had
taught his snakes that / have not for
gotten him."
"What did he teach them?"
ITO charm bird, then crush 1t by
coiling about it."
upon my word! You don't mean
itw
"Yes, l do l wouldn't have the fell
low about me for dukedom."
Oldershaw seemed bit put out by
the information and resolved that when
Abdullah had worked out the money
he had confessed to having stolen he
should be sent away. But Abdullah's
wages were very small, and the sum
was stable, so a good deal Of time
was required in the matter.
One evening very pretty Indian
girl came to the captains quarters and
asked to see him. He received her and
sat chatting with her for some time.
When she was about to depart she ask
ed if the captain would give her kiss.
He did SO and would have repeated the
act, but the girl did not seem to care
for another kiss and left him. She was
scarcely gone when he began to feel
strange and in a few minutes sank I'M
conscious on the floor.
1t happened that the surgeon of the
regiment came in at the time and
found Oldershaw being picked up by
his servants. When he asked them
what the captain had been doing to
bring on an attack they informed him
of the visit Of the Indian girl and the
kiss.
"Great heavensw exclaimed the doc.
tor. HE has been kissed by a poison
girlv'
An Indian poison girl Is one who,
taking a little of certain poison ev-
cry day, increasing the dose, at length
becomes immune to its effects. but is
herself deadly. The surgeon. having
served in India many years. knew the
antidote and. having arrived in the
nick of time. saved the captains life.
Oldershaw was in Quandary. He
suspected that some one having
grudge against him had sent the poi
son girl to him. Possibly some one of
his own servants might have done 80.
He thought Of Abdullah and what he
had heard of him, remembering having
tortured him. But Abdullah had new
er seemed so devoted to him as re-
Gently. Still. the captain had begun to
distrust him. and, since the money lost
by the theft was almost paid. he re-
solved that as soon as he received the
last rupee he would part with Abdul
lah.
Finally Abdullah worked off the
amount and Oldershaw told him to get
out. The Indian meekly assented. He
would go that night