The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1916-07-13

Miss Hollis property. At first the
sight of the elephant was a nine-days
wonder. People fiocked from the
neighborhood to see the intractable
brute subdued by Miss Holt with her
pound cake. Proposals were made to
charge an admittance fee, to teach
him to plow; but Miss Holt turned
them down.
Hes going to live out his days in
peace and quiet" she said
Out Of captivity Rajah thrived. His
appetite, which Miss Holt had not TAX
en- into consideration, also thrived. 1t
cost twelve dollars a week in hay to
keep his huge body in working order.
Little Miss Holt, without another
friend in the world, adored her pet.
But times were hard. The payment of
the mortgage interest fell due. There
was the feeding and Graves wage.
And after six months she came to the
conclusion that she had attempted
what was financially impossible.
Added to that, after a brief spell of
quiet. Rajah's temper had become
more uncertain than ever. He had to
be chained, for he threatened to break
down the stall.
He'll have to go, I'm afraid, Miss
Holt" said the keeper sadly. BEST
sell him to somebody. You can get
back five hundred on him"
Miss Holt looked Graves quietly In
the eye.
eff 1 can't keep him I'll-Tll have
him put out of his misery" she
sobbed. poor thing-is it any won
der after all he's gone through in
life?"
Before the decision was made Ra-
jah developed one of his worst at
lacks. Miss Holt and Graves were
outside the stall together; Graves
went in with bundle of hay, and Ra-
jah, watching till he was within range,
swung his trunk like a fail and
knocked him senseless.
In an instant the great beast had
lunged ferociously, the curving tusks
entering the stable wall one on either
side of the unconscious man. And
Rajah, pinned there, squealed and
swung his trunk furiously, striving to
extricate himself.
Forgetful of everything but Graves,
danger, little Miss Holt ran into the
stall.
"Rajah. Rajah!" she cried. Aren't
you ashamed of yourself, you naughty
boy?"
Perhaps above all the surging
memories in Rajah's head, men,
cries of Indian pomp when he
carried his dead master in state, mem
cries of Dublin and Hamburg, there
came into his brain the recollection
of the one person who had loved him
with disinterested kindness. Rajah
freed himself and stood looking at
little, diminutive Miss Holt. Then he
raised his trunk and squealed.
1t was a pitiful squeal, the last ap-
peal of inarticulate beast to its hui
man master. 1t seemed to ask why
this captivity had come upon him,
who had once roamed proudly through
the Indian forests. Then SILVER ran
through the big frame, and, carefully
measuring the distance away from
Miss Holt and the PROSTATE man,
Rajah fell overload.
Ten minutes later Miss Holt re-
covered consciousness, to find Graves
bathing her face with water.
Hes dead!" she cried, struggling
up. "Graves-you're not hurt" she
added.
"No, Miss" said Graves. did you
know he snapped off his tusks In the
wall, Miss Holt?"
Miss Holt looked to see two mon
ster tusks, snapped short at the base,
embedded in the wall.
Inside, crammed from the broad
root to the point, filling the hollow
ivory, was shining, scintillating
mass of precious stones. Rubies,
emeralds, sapphires, diamonds came
tumbling forth.
That had been the hiding place of
the Rajah's treasure. He had filled
the hollow tusks with his hoard when
menaced with captivity; and the ivory
had grown over the orifice.
Raiah had done his part in the
world by dying; more, perhaps, than
the world had deserved Of him.
Why Give It Away?
If is apparent that KipIing was never