Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-03
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR AUGUST 8. 1913

for the stronghold of influential community of Syuds
which breeding horses for the Ameers calvary, up
Peshn way. They were travelling light, dozen mules
carrying provisions tents and the rupees that to
be bartered for horses Drivers and sizes all told the
party numbered only fifteen persons.
They toled through frzzng heat by day, and rested
at night in such intense cold that it was impossible to
keep up the natural warmth of the body. Van Buren,
passed through the ordeal unframed, and Sheramad
Khan was merely returning to his native climate The
drivers and servants suffered severely and the tre
mendous variations of temperature began to play
havoc with Doyle. He made brave struggle through
the districts of the Mas,1d Waziris and the Mando
Khes but when they had reached the Kakars country
and the foot of the Khsor hills he grief
The sun burst upon the little camp morning after
freezing night and showed group of scared men lis
tening outside the Sahbs tent. Doyle raving in
the grip of strong deirum, and the drivers
WINGED that he was possessed by devil They were
discussing various drastic methods of exercising the
Evil One when Sheramad Khan out and drove
them away with hard words and harder blows. Van
Buren, tramped from his tent, calling upon Doyle
in his hearty voice. He the tossing heap in the
corner with Sheramad Khan beside it. and turned back
He had horror of illness, and almost childish dread
of the sick.
Five days passed, and still Doyle lowered on the
brink of eternity, delaying to make the plunge that
would set the expedition free to proceed. Van Buren,
openly fretted at the delay also he talked with the
drivers
The illness not of infectious nature; yet
Sheramad Khan soon had the appearance of being at
deaths door The outlines of his skull became pain
fully apparent, and his eyes sunk into his head. The
trouble was that he dared not sleep. He dozed while
standing, while speal1ing yet murmur from the
sick man would wake him as quickly as a rheshot at
his could have done, and until Doyes weary body
and brain sunk again in miserable torpor Sheramad
Khan was his anxious, unwearying, tender nurse and
guardian.
you're blaying der fool mein goot fellow!" said
Van Buren, to him at last. @Der man dies!7
Sheramad Khan's eyes flashed to the shrunken form
barely shaped under the heapedup blankets He him
self had passed the freezing night without blanket
since his master had been stricken down.
If der was chance I'd say gift id the Dutchn,an
went on; "but no-you drag oudt der pain Leaf him
alone. Led him go oudt quedy.'
Sheramad Khan, staring out upon the endless vista
of naked brown hills, scorching in the midday light
a silent image of hopelessness
"Loog here' said Van Buren, earnestly. death
cancels all der contracts and practically der man is
dead ed 60 on Der RI men are all agreed
@No, Sahb.' The refusal was very curt, and the
Duchnan's breath came and went little the faster
for it.
"As you p1ees,' he said @budt if you come id will
bay you'll gif you twice what he promised you"
Sheramad Khan offered remark.
Still you play Ger FOOL Van Buren, declared; "budt
you listen! By der terms of agreement der whole
of der money now belongs to me. Hand id over undt
will bay you up"
Sahib's money Van Buren, came nearer, and would
have put his hand the mans shoulder when he dis
covered that Sheramad Khan's fingers were closed
upon the hlt of ugly looking knife. So he made
pretense of scratching his head with the hand he had
raised.
Al wand no FUSS he said persuasively. aDer cash
is somewhere aboudt If | call der drivers, dey will
roosh you down. You find i'd eh?"
He wondered, he spoke whether the drivers would
get out of hand if he shot Sheramad Khan his tracks.
He decided not to set example of awlessness that
they might think well to follow later on with himself
as the victim.
aLet the Sahib search | know naupht-but that
know naught," said Sheramad Khan sullenly.
So Van Buren, granting angrly, began to search for
Doyes half of their capital Each of the partners had
taken charge of his money, in his tent at
night Van Buren, probed the rocky floor, he turned
the waterproof bags he insisted searching