The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-04-10


in a railway train upon the
road to Mhow from Amir.
IL There had been a deficit in the
budget, which necessitated travelling
not second class. which is only half as
dear as first class, but by intermediate
which is very awful indeed.
My particular intermediate happened
to be empty till 1 reached Nasirabad.
when huge gentleman in shirt sleeves
entered and. following the custom of
Intermediates, passed the time Of day.
He was wanderer and a vagabond
like myself, but with an educated taste
for whisky. He told tales of things he
had seen and done, of out of the way
corners Of the empire into which he
had penetrated and Of adventures in
which he risked his life for a few days
food.
My friend wanted to send a telegram
back from the next station to Amir,
which is the turning of place from the
Bombay to the Mhow line as you trav-
Ell westward. My friend had no money
beyond annas. which he wanted for
dinner, and 1 had no money at all ow
Ing to the hitch in the budget before
mentioned.
did you say you are travelling back
along this line within any days?" asked
be.
within ten," said.
Cant you make it eighth" said he.
"Mine is rather urgent business"
II can send your telegram within ten
days if that will serve you" said. ..
II couldn't trust the wire to fetch
n kk,a
He leaves Delhi on the 23d for Bonn
bay. That means he'll be running
through Admir- about the night of the
23d.''
But I'm going into the Indian des-
ert." | explained.
well and good" he said. you'll be
changing at Marwar Junction to get
into Jodhpore territory-you must do
that-and he'll be coming through Mar
war junction in the early morning Of
the oath by the Bombay mail. Can you
be at Warwar Junction that time?
would take it more than kind of you if
you was to come out of central India
in time to catch him at Marwar juno
ton and say to him, He has gone
south for the week He'll know what
that means. He's big man with a red
beard. and a great swell he is. You'll
find him sleeping like q gentleman with
all his luggage round him in second
class compartment. l ask you as
stranger-going to the west" be said
with emphasis
where have you come fromT said l.
From the east" said he. land am
hoping that you will give him the mes
h1 Fnr I-n 0P
mother as we'll as your own"
Englishmen are not usually softened
by appeals to the memory of their
mothers. but for certain reasons, which
will be fully apparent, l saw fit to
agree.
"l'll give the message IL catch
him. l said. land for the sake of your
mother as we'll as mine I'll give you a
word of advice. Don't try to run the
Central India states just now as the
correspondent of the Backwoodsman
There's real one knocking about here.
and it might lead to trouble"
'sThank you." said he simply. "And
when will the swine be gone? / can't
starve because he's running my work.
1 wanted to get hold of the Degumber
Rajah down here about his fathers
Nidow and give him a jump"
What did he do to his fathers
widow. them"
FILLED her up with red pepper and
slippered her to death as she hung
from a beam. found that ont myself.
and I'm the only man that would dare
going into the state TO get hush money
for 1t. But youll give the man at
Marwar Junction my message?"
He got out at Il little roadside sta
ton. When left the train l did busi
ness with divers kings. and In eight
days passed through many changes OF
life.
Then | headed for the great Indian
desert upon the proper date as l had
promised. and the night mail set me
down at Marwnr Junction.
The Bombay mail from Delhi makes
a short halt at Marwar. She arrived
as got in. and I had just time to
hurry to heV platform and go down the
carriages There was only one second
class on the train. slipped the win
dow and looked down upon a flaming
red beard. half covered by railway
rug
.Tickets again." said he
NO said l. 81 am TO tell you that
he is gone south for the week. He In
gone -,uth for the weekr'