The Irish standard., 1915-05-15
PART 1.
PART l.
~lHE beginning Of everything was
in railway train upon the
rOod fO Mhow Frorv, A3votv

Ia HE beginning Of everything was
in railway train upon the
road to Mhow from Amir.
~ There had been deficit in the
budget, which necessitated travelling
not second class, which is only half as
dear as first class. but by intermediate,
which is very awful indeed.
Ny particular intermediate happened
to be empty till reached Nasirabad,
when huge gentleman in shirt sleeves
entered and. following the custom of
Intermediates. passed the time of day.
He was wanderer and a vagabond
like myself, but with an educated taste
for whisky. He told tales of things he
had seen and done, of out Of the way
corners of the empire into which he
had penetrated and Of adventures in
which he risked his life for few DAYS
food.
My friend wanted to send telegram
back from the next station to Amir,
which Is the turning off place from the
Bombay to the Mhow line as you trav-
ell westward. My friend had no money
beyond 8 annas. which he wanted for
dinner, and had no money at all ow-
ing to the hitch in the budget before
mentioned.
did you say you are travelling back
along this line within any days?" asked
he.
within ten." said.
Cant you make it eight?' said he.
"Mfne is rather urgent business"
II can send your telegram within ten
days If that will serve you" 1 said.
II couldn't trust the wire to fetch
him, now think Of it. It's this way:
He leaves Delhi on the 23d for Bonn
bay. That means he'll be running
through Amir about the night of the
23d."
"But I'm going into the Indian des.
ert," l explained.
"Well and good" he said. you'll be
changing at Marwar Junction to get
into Jodhpore territory-you must do
that-and he'll be coming through Mar
war Junction in the early morning of
the oath by the Bombay mail. Can you
be at Warwar Junction that time? l
would take it more than kind of you If
you was to come out of central India
in time to catch him at Marwar juno
ton and say to him. He has gone
south for the week. He'll know what
that means. He's big man with red
beard. and great swell be is. You'll
find him sleeping like gentleman with
all his luggage round him in a second
class compartment. ask you as a
stranger-going to the west" he said
with emphasis.
"Where have you come from?" said L.
Prom the east" said he. land am
hoping that you will give him the mes
sage on the square-for the sake Of my
mother as we'll as your own"
Englishmen are not usually softened
by appeals to the memory of their
mothers, but for certain reasons. which
will be fully apparent, saw dt to
agree.
"I'll give the message If I catch
him." l said. land for the sake of your
mother as we'll as mine I'll give you a
word of advice. Don't try to run the
Central India states just now as the
correspondent of the Backwoodsman
There's real one knocking about here,
and it might lead to trouble"
''Thank you" said he simply. "And
when will the swine he gone? I can't
starve because he's running my work.
wanted to get hold of the Degumber
Rajah down here about his fathers
widow and give him jump"
What did he do to bis fathers
widow. then?"
'Filled her up with red pepper and
slippered her to death as she hung
from beam. found that out myself.
and I'm the only man that would dare
going into the state to get hush money
for it. But you'll give the man at
Marwar Junction my message?"
He got out at little roadside sta
ton. When left the train l did bust.
ness with divers kings, and in eight
days passed through many changes OF
life.
Then l headed for the great Indian
desert upon the proper date as I had
pAOuASSus anu Tue AuSuL uldu SeI ue
down at Marwar Junction
The Bombay mail from Delhi makes
a short halt at Marwar. She arrived
as I got in. and I had just time to
hurry to her platform and go down the
carriages. There was only one second
class on the train. I slipped the win
dow and looked down upon flaming
red beard. half covered by a railway
rug.
'"Tickets again. said he.
"No." said I. II am to tell you that
he is gone south for the week. He II
gone south for the weekg'
The train had begun to move out.
The red man rubbed his eyes. HE has
gone south for the week!' he repeated.
'Now. that's just like his impotence.
Did he say that was to give you any
thing? Cause I won't"
HE didn't" ! said and dropped
Later on l reflected that two gentle
men like my friends could not do any
good II they fore9athered and person