The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-05-07
does, either. Jim thinks good 0ees

uOtS, clIucI. jim SuiAho q 6O~A -
and 50 does Lydia. It's darned-
Mr.. Riggs happened to look Up q
that instant. Ranjab was standing III
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 were the vivid, daz-
zling colors OF Ind. from the bejeWeied
sandals to the turban which crowned
his swarthy brow and cleaned with
rubies and sapphires uncounted. MI.
Riggs mouth remained open as ne
stared blankly at this ghost Of another
day Not since the old days In India
had he seen Ranjab in native g8rb.
and even then he was far from being
the Respondent creature OF tonight,
for Ranjab in his home land was
poor man and without distinction.
Am l awaken" exclaimed Mr.. Riggs
in such an awful voice that Mr.. Dawes
gave over staring at the cabinet ana
favored him with an impatient kick
on the ankle.
Il guess thatTl wake you up IL"
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 back
in the old days when even the faint
est CLEAN of hope apparently had been
blotted out.
Behold" he cried, magnifcently
spreading his arms. 81 am made gfo-
rious! See before you the prince OF
magic! Sect" With swift deft
movement he snatched the half
smoked cigar from the limp fingers OF
Mr. Riggs and, first holding 1t before
their blinking eyes, tossed it into the
air. 1t disappeared!
well, of all 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 it
and then beckoned the old men to his
side. There lay the cigar and beside
1t much-needed match!
81 don't want to smoke II" said Mr..
Riggs, vigorously declining his prop
erty. 1.-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 It
to the amazed old man, who accepted
1t with the sheepish grin Of a be-
added schoolboy.
you haven't lost any Of your old
SKILL" said Mr.. Dawes, Involuntary
glancing at his own cigar to make
sure that he had 1t firmly gripped In
his stubby fingers. "You ought to Be
in q sideshow. Rantab."
Ranjab paused. before responding
to extract a couple Of billiard baili
and a small paper knife from the hps
Of Mr.. Dawes coat.
Il am to perform tonight, sahfb, fo'
a the mistress guests. 1t is to be-whs'
n you call him? A sideshow? Ranjal
=. is to do his tricks for her, as the dol
;" performs for bis master" The smilt
It had disappeared. His face was an I'm
r. penetrable mask once more. Had theil
eyes been young and keen. however
O they might have caught the fash o.
I. anger in his.
d Going to do all the old trcksT
i cried Mr.. Riggs eagerly. by George
!. I'd like to see 'em again. wouldn't yeu
Is Dan! I'm glad we've got our good
clothes on. Now you see what CONES
\. Of always being prepared for"
n Sorry. sahib. but the master hal
3. request me to entertain you before the
4 guests come up. Coffee is To be serve
here"
q. THAT means we'll have to sleal
:. out!" said Riggs, slowly.
n But see!" cried Ran1ab, genuinely
v sorry for them. He became enthusias
3 tic once more. See! l shall do them
v all-and better. too. for you"
n For ten minutes he astonished the
old men with the mysterious feats Of
y the Indian fakir. They waxed enthp
IS -