The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-09-05
ABDULLAH
By SADIE OLCOTT

ropean races have Tor 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 1t is doubtful If Ital-
ians in the days of the Borgias knew
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 50 much bet
ter than the dusky natives of India
that be considered they had no rights
he was bound to respect. He had
servant, Abdullah, a sad faced, unob-
tPusive creature, whom he treated as a
shave. In India white persons usually
have many servants. each menial for a
different purpose.
One day Captain Oldershaw missed
some money that he kept in a 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,
10 Ho 1a hi
wrath upon him. Having accused his
servant and the servant having denied
the charge, the next step was to take
the law in his hands by trying, CON
Ncting 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 it 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 a brother officer dined with
Captain Ohershaw and saw Abdullah.
What are you doing with that fellow
in your employT' asked the guest OF
Oldershaw.
HE is my bootbiack," replied Older
shaw.
"He has been a snake charmer.
saw him perform one day ON the street
and was so struck with what he had
taught his snakes that l have not for
gotten him."
"What did he teach themT
ITO charm a bird, then crush it by
coiling about it."
Upon my word! You don't mee'
it' =
"Yes. 1 do. wouldn't have g.,
low about me for duhedor' e'% re
Oldershaw seemed
the information and put out o.
AbdulIah had W. ~.Fh1vsS that whe
he had confer 4<Sad out the none
shonld he -,ssa TO having stolen h
wames eeHA AWAY. But Abdullah'
was @ere very small, and the sur
Wv" - 9azable, so a good deal of tim
ssAs required in the matter.
n One evening a very pretty India
giI5 came to tbe captains quarters an,
asked to see him. he received her an
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 50 and would have repeated tn
act, but the girl did not seem to car
for another kiss and left him. She wa
scarcely gone when he began to fee
strange and in a few minutes sank un
conscious on the floor
1t happened that the surgeon of tn
regiment came in at the time ant
found Oldershaw being picked up b,
his servants. When he asked then
what the captain had been doing t,
bring ON an attack they Informed hin
Of the visit Of the Indian girl and tn,
kiss.
"Great heavensw exclaimed the doc
tor. "He has been kissed by a poisol
girlr'
taking little Of certain poison ev
cry day, increasing the dose, at Iengtl
becomes immune to its effects, but Il
herself deadly. The surgeon, having
served in India many years, knew tn
antidote and, having arrived In th'
nick Of time, saved the captains life.
Oldershaw was in quandary. H.
suspected that some one having
grudge against him had sent the poi
son girl to him. Possibly some one o
his own servants might have done 50
He thought of AbduIlah and what h,
had heard of him, remembering having
tortured him. But AbduIlah had nev
er seemed so devoted 10 him as re
Gently. Still, the captain had begun b
distrust him, and, since the money los
by the theft was almost paid, he re
solved that as soon as he received tn,
last rupee he would part with Abdul
lah.
Finally Abdullah worked of tn,
amount ana Oldershaw told him to ge
IA Tw.5 y