The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1915-10-01
2es, either. Jim thinks a good deal

uOeS, 6liHpT. JIU luluAS d SOOu NON"t
and so does Lydia. It's darned--"
Mr.. Riggs happened to look up at
that instant Ranjab was standing IN
front Of him, his arms folded across
his breast, in the habituaI pose OF the
Hindu who waits. The man was
dressed in the costume of a high-caste
Brahmin; the commonplace garments
Of the Occident had been laid aside,
and in their place we're the vivid, da2-
cling colorS Of Ind, from the bejeWeied
sandals to the turban which crowned
his swarthy brow and cleaned with
rubies and sapphires uncounted, MIR.
Riggs mouth remained open as he
stared blankIy at this ghost of another
day. Not since the old days in India
had he seen Ranjab in native garb,
and even then he was far from being
| the respondent creature Of tonight,
for Ranjab in his home land was a
poor man and without distinction.
Am | awaken" exclaimed Mr.. Riggs
in such an awful voice that Mr.. Dawes
gave over staring at the cabinet and
favored him with an impatient kick
on the ankle.
"I guess thatll wake you up if"
and then he saw the Hindu. Ran
jab!" oozed from his lips.
Raniab was smiling, and when he
smiled his dark face was Joy to be-
hold. His white teeth CLEANED and
his sometime unfeeling eyes sparkled
with delight. He liked the two old
men. They had stood, with Brood be-
tween him and grave peril far back
in the old days when even the faint
est CLEAN Of hope apparently had been
blotted out.
Behold" he cried, magnificently
spreading his arms. Il am made glo-
rious! See before you the prince Of
magic! Sect" With a swift, deft
movement he snatched the half
smoked cigar from the limp fingers OF
Mr.. Riggs and, first holding it before
their blinking eyes, tossed it into the
air. 1t disappeared:
We'll, of all the" began Mr.. Riggs,
sitting up very straight. His eyes
were following the rapid actions of the
Hindu. Unlocking a drawer in the
big table, the latter peered into II
and then beckoned the old men to his
side. There lay the cigar and beside
it a much-needed match!
81 don't want to smoke IT," said Mr.
Riggs, vigorously declining his prop
erty. "The darned things bewitched.'
Whereupon Raniab took IL out Of the
drawer and again threw it into the
air. Then he calmly reached above
his head and plucked fresh ciga1
out Of space, obseQuiously rendering i
to the amazed old man, who accepted
it with the sheepish grin Of be
added schoolboy.
"You haven't lost any of your oil
SKILL" said Mr.. Dawes, involuntaril.
glancing at his own cigar to MAKE
sure that he had it firmly gripped il
his stubby fingers. you ought to b.
in sideshow, Ranjab."
Ranjab paused, before responding
to extract a couple of billiard ball
and small paper knife from the lape
of Mr.. Dawes coat.
II am to perform tonight, sahib, 70
a the mistress guests. 1t is to be-wha
,r you call him? A sideshow? RAMA
" is to do his tricks for her, as the dc
:" performs for his master" The smll
It had disappeared. His face was an in
r. penetrable mask once more. Had thei
eyes been young and keen, howeve
"a they might have caught the fash {
t. anger in his.
I'd Going to do all the old tricks?
ot cried Mr.. Riggs eagerly. by Georg
Il, I'd like to see EN- again, wouldn't yo'
is Dan? Pm glad we've got our goo
clothes on. Now you see what come
n. of always being prepared for"
IN Sorry, sahib, but the master he
%. request me to entertain you before Il
If guests come up. Coffee is to be serI
here"
20. "That means we'll have to clei
70 out?" said Riggs, slowly.
m But see!" cried Ranjsb, genuine
lv sorry for them. He became enthusia
70 tic once more. "See! | shall do the
bv all-and better, too, for you"
to For ten minutes he astonished Il
old men with the mysterious feats
~ the Indian fakir. They waxed enth