The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-05-01

does. either. jim thinks & good deal
and so does Lydia It's a darned-"
Mr.. Riggs happened TO look up at
that instant Ran1ab 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 q high-caste
Brahmin; the commonplace garments
OF the Oeeident had been laid aside,
and in their place were the vivid, daz-
cling colors Of Ind, from the bejeweled
sandals to the turban which crowned
his sTarthy brow and cleaned with
rubies and sapphires uncounted- Mr..
Riggs mouth remained open as he
stared blankly 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 resplendent creature Of tonight,
for Raniab in his home land was a
poor man and without distinction.
Am aWake?" 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.
81 guess thatu wake you up if"
and then he saw the Hindu Ran
jab!" oozed from his lips.
Ranjab was smiling, and when he
smiled his dark face was & Joy to be-
hold. His white teeth cleaned and
his sometime unfeeing 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, magnihcently
spreading his arms. 81 am made glo-
rious! See before you the prince Of
magic! See!" 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 1t
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 MI.
Riggs, vigorously declining his prop
erty. THE darned things bewitched.' -
Whereupon Ranjab took it out Of the
drawer and again threw it into the
air. Then he calmly reached above
his head and plucked a fresh cigar
out Of space, obsequiously rendering it
to the amazed old man, who accepted
it with the sheepish grin Of a be-
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 it firmly gripped in
his stubby fingers. You ought to be
in a sideshow, Ranjab."
Ranjab paused, before responding,
to extract a couple Of billiard balls
and a small paper knife from the lapel
Of Mr.. Dawes coat
81 am to perform tonight, sahib. for
the mistress guests. 1t is to be-what
you call him? A sideshow? Ranjab
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 OF
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 has
request me to entertain you before the
guests come up. Coffee is to be serve
here"
THAT means Wen have to clear
out?" said Riggs, slowly.
But see!" cried Ranjab, genuinely
sorry for them He became enthusiast
tic once more. "SeeI I shall do them
aII-and better, too. for you
For ten minutes he astonished the
old men with the mysterious feats Of
the Indian fakir. They Waxed enthu-
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