Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-17

fix W lightning trick that will send him
real air trip.
But I'm afraid Sir protested Daulat "that if our
men hear OF il they will go off in a body
Fishers change OF expression showed that he took
this seriously. He felt he was in a quandary. If he
tackled the popular gosan personally mi hit stir up
riot; if he called in the aid of the police, it would
make him, sahb, look ridiculous. Every native
would believe that the gosain had frightened the sahb,
and Fishers position in Chandur would be untenabe
henceforth But clearly crisis coming when
either he the gosain must claim decisive victory.
Immediate action was forced from another quarter.
FISHER had made friends with an English official
family within easy riding distance of Chandur. 1t
had become his custom to trot on two or three
evenings week Probably the chief attraction
daughter of the house. not too long out for the freshness
of her blond complexion to have faded. But both Miss
Beresord and Fisher had been there long enough to
agree that they wished for the bracing atmosphere of
their own north regions She had a brother in the
United States and he sister in England; upon that
basis of mutual interest another agreement seemed
fair way of being reached.
Fisher noticed that his visits she had been
growing somewhat less vvacious He judged that some
thing weighing on her mind, and took the privilege
OF advanced friendship to urge explanation. They were
seated the veranda after dinner watching the twin
king illumination OF rees in the dark background OF
tree foliage.
what is it that is troubling you?" he asked Il
don't recolect that have been guilty Of
"No MOI she put in quickly. ats really my fault
for allowing trivial incident to remain in my mind
@iou will think so foolish.
"Not at all. ! could not possibly think that.
We'll she went on, "a strange native has been seen
at night compound, and curious things have hap
pened Ahmed, Mofammedan butler, found pigs
foot in his turban You understand how that would
drive him nearly frantic
Certainly, agreed Fisher. a touch of pig to him
would mean the limit OF pollution
"And objects have been mysteriously changed she
continued. "But this morning discovered small clay
female figure, painted red. my dressing table.
showed it to my maid. She seemed dreadtully fright
ened She explained that red paint signifed blood and
the figure must have been sent by powerful wicked
enemy who intended to do me harm. OF course it's
absurd
4 don't know about that spoke Fisher thought
fully his mind reverting the threats of the gosan
3Nay see the fgure?
She went into the bungalow, and presently returned
with the object. 1t crudely modelled but
enough to the human form to whatever purpose
was intended. When Fisher examining it in
CLEAN Of light from within he felt growing pressure
on his forearm He glanced up that Miss Beres-
ford's face had paled.
Look! she pointed toward clump of bamboo in the
compound Don't you see something white there-a
mans forrno | think he is watching u.s.
Fisher straghtway sprang from the veranda. AS he
made for the bamboo clump he the white object
struggling, apparently caught among the stems. He
grabbed for it. His hand closed upon the folds OF
sheet Followed a rendng of the material. well oiled
body slipped from beneath. Fisher dropped the sheet
to chase dark form; but advantage all with the
fugitive nature garments He vanished in the
blacker shade of night. When Fisher returned Miss
Beresford was plainly frightened.
what it all mean" she begged of him. Il don't
know Of anything have done to induce that man to
come here send me his horrid figure
ats all right. Don't worry Fisher strove to
her IL take the figure and leave the