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

through the same phases Sum
mer passed, and winter there
~ after. and came and passed
again. The daily paper continued and
with 1t. and upon the third summer
there fell Il hot night. Il night issue and
strained waiting for something to be
teleGran hed from the other side of the
world. exactly as had happened before
AT 3 o'clock cried. Print off, and
turned to go. when there crept to my
chair what WAS left of u man. He was
bent into circle. his head was sunk
between his shoulders. and he moved
his feet one over the other like u bear.
Can you give me drink he within
pered For the Lords sake. give me a
drink
went back to the office. the man
turned up the limp
| looked at him intently. Once before
had | seen eyebrows that met over the
nose in an inch broad black band. but
for the life of me could not tell where.
II don't know you" said. handing
him the whisky. What can / do for
you?"
He took II gulp of the spirit raw and
shivered III spi.e of the Suffocating heat
i've come back" he repeated. And
was the king of KafiiiStun-me and
Dravot crowned kings we was. In
this office we settled it-you setting
there and giving us the books. | am
Peachev -Peachey Taliaferro Cnrne-
han. and you've been sitting here ever
sinceA-oh. Lord. Poor. poor. Dan. that
would never take advice. not though ]
begged of him.!
Take the whisky" said. and taxi
your own time. Tell me all you can
recollect of everything from beginning
to end. l/u got across the border on
your camelS. Dravot dressed as mad
priest and you his servant. Do you
remember that"
leaned forward and looked into his
face as steadily as could. He dropped
one hand upon the table and ! grasp
a birds claw. and upon the back was
a ragged. red, diamond shaped scar.
mo, don't look there. Look at me-"
said Carnehan.
You went as far as Jagdallak with
that caravan" I said at venture. ITO
Jagdallak. where you turned off to try
to get into kahriStan.
NO, we didn't neither What are you
talking about? We turned off before
Jagdallak, because we heard the roads
was good. But they wasn't good
enough for our two camels-mine and
Dravot's. When we left the caravan
Dravot took of all his clothes and
mine too and said we would be heath
en-, because the Kafirs didn't allow
Mohammedans to talk to them. So we
dressed betwixt and between. and such
a sight as Daniel Dravot I never saw
yet nor expect to see again. That was
in a most mountainous country, and
our camels couldn't go along any more
because of the mountains. They were
tall and black. and coming home I saw
them fight like wild goats-there are
lots of goats in Kafiristan.'
Take some more whisky" I said
very slowly What did you and Dan
Tel Dravot do when the camels could
go no further because of the rough
roads that led into Kafiristan?'
What did which do? There was a
party called Peachey Taliaferro Carne-
han that was with Dravot. Shall l tell
You about him? He died out there in
the cold. Slap from the bridge fell old
Peachey. turning and twisting in the
air like penny whirligig that you can
sell to the ameer.
And then these cameis were no use.
and Peachey said to Dravot. For the
Lords sake let's get out Of this before
our heads are chopped orr And with
that they killed the camels all among
= ho a fv1 g.
particular to eat. but first they took of
the boxes with the guns and the am
munition till two men came along driv-
ing four mules. Dravot up and dances
In front of them. singing. Sell me four
mules Says the first man. If you are
rich enough to buy you are rich enough
to rob- But before ever he could put
his hand to his knife Dravot breaks
his neck over his knee. and the other
party runs away So Carnehan loaded
the mules with the rifles that was
taken of the camels. and together we
starts. forward into those bitter cold
mountainous parts and never a road
broader than the back of your hand"
He paused for a moment while l
asked him If he could remember the
nature of the country through which
he had journeyed
II am telling you as straight as
can. but my head isn't as good as it
might be. They drove nails through 1t
to make me hear better how Dravot
died. We came TO big level valley all
among the mountains. and the mules
were near dead. so we killed them. not
having anything In special for them or
us to eat.
Then ten men with bows and ar