The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-04-15

does. either. Jim thinks a good deal
a~d so does Lydia. It's a darned-"
Mr.. Riggs happened to look up al
that instant. Rantab was standing In
front of him, his arms folded across
his breast, in the habitual pose Of the
Hindu who waits. The man was
dressed in the costume of high-caste
Brahmin; the commonplace garments
of the Occident had been laid aside,
and in their place we're the vivid, daz-
zling colors of Ind, from the bejeweled
sandals to the turban which crowned
his swarthy 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 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.
Il guess that'll 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 unfeeling eyes sparkled
with delight. He liked the two old
men. They had stood, with Brood be
tween him and grave peril far bach
in the old days when even the faint
est CLEAN Of hope apparently had been
blotted out.
Behold" he cried, magnifcently
spreading his arms. 'T am made glo
rious! See before you the prince o.
magic! See!" With a swift, def
movement he snatched the half
smoked cigar from the limp fingers o.
Mr.. Riggs and, first holding it before
their blinking eyes, tossed it into tht
air. 1t disappeared!
well, of all the" began Mr.. Riggs
sitting up very straight. His eyes
we're following the rapid actions of the
Hindu. Unlocking drawer in the
big table, the latter peered into
and then beckoned the old men to MI
side. There lay the cigar and beside
it much-needed match!
81 don't want to smoke it," said Mr.
Riggs, vigorously declining his prop
erty. "The darned things bewitched.
Whereupon Ranjab took 1t out of thu
drawer and again threw 1t into tn
air. Then he calmly reached abov'
his head and plucked a fresh ciga
out Of space, obsequiously rendering
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 max
sure that he had 1t 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 a small paper knife from the lape
of Mr.. Dawes coat.
81 am to perform tonight, sahib, 70
the mistress guests. 1t is to be-wha
you call him? A sideshow? RAMA
is to do his tricks for her, as the do
) performs for his master" The smil
had disappeared. His face was an in
penetrable mask once more. Had thei
eyes been young and keen, however
they might have caught the flash c
anger in his.
Going to do all the old tricks
cried Mr.. Riggs eagerly. "By Georg'
I'd like to see 'em again, wouldn't yol
Dan? I'm glad we've got our goo
clothes on. Now you see what come
of always being prepared for"
Sorry, sahib, but the master ha
request me to entertain you before tn
{ guests come up. Coffee is to be serV
here"
That means we'll have to cles
out?" said Riggs, slowly.
l But see!" cried Ranjab, genuinel
' sorry for them. He became enthusia
: tic once more. See! shall do thel
y all-and better, too, for you"
} For ten minutes he astonished til
old men with the mysterious feats I
+ the Indian fakir. They waxed enth,
81 sr-uuuz==z-==-
| III 70