The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-01-17

IT should take him to be native, sir
from his color and the costume" said Jen-
kins "Quite crowd to see him come In,
sir With little boy, too"
The strange description rather aroused
my curiosity.
Show them in, I said.
A moment later there entered the most
ciignifed figure / have ever seen. A Hindu
IN the prime of life, tall and strikingly hand
some in his picturesque Eastern dress, with
lu5trous, dark eyes that appeared to be
soft and dreamy till he fixed them on you,
and then seemed to read your innermost
thoughts Chanler Rao was certainly
man to make an immediate impression.
He was followed by small slip of a boy
bearing fower-pot, and one had not to
look twice to recognize father and son.
The two advanced with succession of
low sdIddntS as Jenkins closed the door
leElind them.
/ motioned my visitors to be seated. But
the Hindu, ignoring the invitation, silently
directed the boy to set down the fower-pot.
Then he unrolled a square Of carpet which
he carried under his arm, and spread it upon
the floor; aud there, in my Harley Street
consulting-room at FIVE O'Clock on that dull
November evening, he proceeded without
trick-the whole real thing, from the plant
ing of the little seed in the pot to the pro-
duction by successive stages of the growing
tree!
The unusual nature of the interview for
moment left me speeches.. As:so as /
recovered from my first astonishment L
endeavored to interrupt, and to explain
that | did not desire conjuTing entertain
ment.~ But the Hindu waved on one side
my protests, and, without uttenng word,
proceeded with his performance. It was
only when at last he could produce for my
Inspection a little green tree some eighteen
inches high apparently growing healthily in
the pot, that he broke the silence.
''Genuine?" he said inquiringly. "The
poDle physician is convinced that Chanler
IS what he claims to be-real, true, genuine
indian magic-worker? Only in England
ne fortnight-not well known yet-but
senuine?"
thought It best to acquiesce at once. Of
course, / had my own ideas about the mango
rick. had read the explanations furnished
~ Eastern travelers-only, unfortunately,
such explanations did not quite fit the thing
IS done by Cbanler Rao. So nodded my
abstraction.
And you will be secretive?" he asked
suppose I looked puzzled, for he ex-
blamed:
'sAbout my case-you will not tell any
cne?''
assured him that medical man may be
absolutely trusted to observe a professional
rcticence about any patients who consult
him.
'Then, said Chanler, "you may look"
And opening his mouth wide, he pointed
18th his long finger down his throat.
[ drew him to the light and made an
examination The throat was cut in several
places and greatly inf1amed; low down
..sougtt ! could perceive some bright OBJ
ssacIe across the gullet.
What is it?" / asked.
THE great knife-swallowing mystery"
ray strange patient answered GA slight
SELECTION in mechanical construction-the
little blade lost itself at the inopportune
moment; it is there since three this after
s4oon."
The matter looked serious.
1T will be an awkward operation, said,
and there ought to be no delay. should
advise your going to the hospital at once.
j will call cab"
But at the mention of the hospital my
visitor threw up his hands in protest.
"Ah, no, mol" he exclaimed vehemently.
The pubicity-the talk-the explainir 81
1t will be my ruin! People viii say: Chan
Ter Rao is an altogether humbug.' would
rather die than that
"Well, at any rate, II said, "you must not
try to talk. Come to my surgery, and I viii
see what can be done"
It was rather a ticklish business. But my
patient helped me by his absolute immobil-
ity and apparent indifference to the pain;
he never hinched or moved muscle. In
ten minutes the tiny blade of penknife lay
upon the table, and Chanler Rao was weep
ing tears of gratitude. do not know which
turprised me most - the mans extraor-
Ainary fortitude, which enabled him to go
through the elaborate mango trick with that
diabolical little blade sticking in his throat,
and then to bear without finch the painful
operation of its removal, or the feeble col
lapse at the end, and his childish weeping
as he chung to my hand and poured out his
thanks.
For four days thereafter 1 heard nothing
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