The Southern herald., 1915-07-02

does. either jim thinks 4 good deal
and SO does Lydia It's a darned
Mr.. Riggs happened to look % q
that instant Ranjab was standing Ia
front Of him, his arms folded across
his breast, In the habitual pose Of the
Hindu who waits. The man vas
dressed in the costume Of high-casto
Brahmln; the commonplace garments
Of the Occident had been laid aside,
and in their place we're the vivid, dan
zling colors Of Ind, from the beieweled
sandals to the turban which crowned
his swarthy brow and cleaned with
rubies and sapphires uncounted. Mr.
Riggs mouth remained open as hD
stared blankly at this ghost Of another
day. Not since the old days IN india
had he seen Ranjab in native garh.
and even then he was far from being
the resplendent creature of tonight,
for Ranjab In his home land was .
POOR man and without distinction,
"Am / awake?" exclaimed Mr.. Rigs
in such an awful voice that Mr.. Dawes
gave over staring at the cabinet and
favored him with an impatient kick
on the ankle.
Il guess that'll wake you up if
and then he saw the Hindu. RAN
jab!" oozed from his lips.
Raniab was smiling, and when ne
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 gleam Of hope apparently had been
blotted out.
Behold" ho cried, magniHcently
spreading his arms. Il am made glO.
rious! See before you the prince Of
magicI Seel" 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!
Well. Of al the began Mr. Riggs,
sitting up very straight. His eyes
were following the rapid actions Of the
Hindu. Unlocking 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 much-needed match!
4 don't want to smoke IT" said Mr..
Riggs, vigorously declining his prop
erty. "The darned things bewitched."
Whereupon Ranjab took 1t out Of the
drawer and again threw 1t into the
air. Then he calmly reached above
his head and plucked fresh cigar
out Of space. obsequiously rendering II
to the amazed old man, who accepted
1t with the sheepish grin Of q bet
added schoolboy.
you haven't lost any Of your old
Skill" said Mr. Dawes, invoIuntarily
glancing at his own cigar to make
sure that he had 1t firmly griDped ID
his stubby fingers. "You ought to ba
in sideshow, Ranjab."
Ranjab paused, before responding.
to extract a couple Of billiard balls
and small paper knife from the lapel
Of Mr.. Dawes coat.
Il am to perform tonight, sahIb, for
the mistress guests. It Is to be-what
you call him? A sideshow? Raniab
is to do his tricks for her, as the dog
performs for his master" The smile
had disappeared His face was an i'm.
penetrable mask once more. Had their
eyes been young and keen, however.
they might have caught the fash oi
anger In his.
Going to do all the old tricks?''
cried Mr.. Riggs eagerly. "By George.
I'd like to see 'em again, wouldn't YOU
Dan? I'm glad we've got our good
clothes on. Now you see what comes
Of always being prepared for"
Sorry, sahib, but the master han
request me to entertain you before the
guests come up. Coffee Is to be serva
here"
THAT means wen have to clear
out7" said Riggs, slowly.
"But see!" cried Ranjab, genuinely
sorry for them. He became enthuslas,
tic once more Sect shall do them
all-and better, too. for yOu."
For ten minutes he astonished the
old men with the mysterious feats Os
the Indian fakir They Narad antl...