Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1917-11-09

ging himself by the elbows and begin
ming to dance from side to side. "Eee-
yee-yee! What said /! Said l not so? /
Said l not this is a different man? |
Said l not this is a good one-a man
of unexpected things? Said l not there !
was magic in the leather bag? l |
shook it often and the magic grew |
Hee-yee-yee! Look at him! See such |
cunning! Feel him! Smell of him !
He is a good one-good!' ~
Three of the others stood and |
grinned, now that their first shock Of
surprise had died away. The fourth
man poked among the packs. There
was little to see except cleaning
teeth and the white of eyes, set in
hairy faces in the mist. But Ismail
danced all by himself among the stones
of Khyber road and he looked like a
bearded ghoul out for an airing.
"Hee-yee-yee She smelt out good
one! Hee-yee-yee! This is man
after my heart! Hee-yee-yee! God
preserve me to see the end of this
This one will show sport! Oh-yee-yee-
yee!"
King watched the faces of the other
four men. He saw them slowly waken
to understanding Of what Ismail meant
by worker of spells" and magic in
the bag" and knew that he had even
greater hold on them now than Yas-
minis bracelet gave him.
'Ma'uzbillah !' they murmured as Is
nails meaning dawned and they recog-
nized q magician in their midst. May
God protect us!''
MAY God protect me! / have need
of it!" said King. "What shall my
new name be? Give ye me a name!
Khan is a title of respect. Since
wish for respect, l will call myself
Khan. Name me a village the first
name you can think of-quick!"
'Kurram," said Ismail, at a hazard.
"Kurram is good. Kurram 1 ami
Kurram Khan is my name hencefor-
ward Kurram Khan the dakitar"
But where is the sahib who came
| from the fort to talk?' asked the man
whose stomach ached yet from Ismaii
and Darya Khan's attentions to it.
Gone !" announced King. HE went
with the other one"
"Went whittier? Did any see him
go?"
''Is that thy AFFAIR."" asked King, and
the man collapsed. 1t is not considered
wise to the north of Jamrud to argue
with a wizard, or even with man who
only claims to be one. This was a
man who had changed his very nature
almost under their eyes.
''Even his other clothes have gone !"
murmured one man, he who had poked
about among the packs.
"And now, Ismail, Darya Khan, ye
two dunderheads !-ye bellies without
brains when was there ever a daki-
tara hakim, who had not two assist
ants at the least? Have ye never seen,
We der-than-bats-how one man
holds a patient while his boils are
lanced, and yet another makes the hot
iron ready?"
"Aye! Aye!"
They had both seen that often.
"Then, what are ye7"
They gaped at him. Were they to
work wonders too? Were they to be
part and parcel of the miracle? Watch
ing them, King saw understanding
dawn behind Ismail's eyes and knew
he was winning more than a mere ad-
mirer. He knew it might be days yet,
might be weeks before the truth was
out, but it seemed to him that Ismail
was at heart his friend. And there
are no friendships stronger than those
formed in the Khyber and beyond-no
more loyal partnerships. The Hills
are the home Of contrasts, of blood.
feuds that last until the last-but-one
man dies, and of friendships that NO
crime or need or SANDER can efface. II
the feuds are to be avoided like the
devil, the friendships are worth hay.
ing.
"There is another thing ye might
do" he suggested, "if We two grown
men are afraid to see a boil slit open
| Always there are timid patients who
hang back and refuse to- drink the
medicines. There should be one OIL
two among the crowd who will come
| forward and swallow the draughts
eagerly in proof that no harm results
Be ye two they!"
Isnail spat savagely.
: 'Nay! Bis1nillah! Nay, nay. !
will hold them who have boils. sittins
firmly On their bellies-so-or between
their shoulders-thus-when the boil.
are behind! Nay, / will drink M
draughts! I am q man, not a cess
pool :"
"And ! will study how to heat ho
irons!" said Darya Khan, with grin
conviction. "It is likely that, havin,
worked for a blacksmith once, I ma,
learn quickly! Phaughghghl I hav,
tasted medaceen! I have drunk Apsil
saats Epson salts)."
He spat, too. in a very fury of remi
niscence.
"GoOd!' said King. "Henceforward
then, am Kuxram Khan. the dakita,
and We two are my assistants, Ismail +
hold the men with boils, and Dary,
Khan to heat the irons-both of We f
y be my men and support me wit
, words when need be-"
AYE" said Ismail, quick to thin
of details, "and these others shall b
the tasters ~
1--WE will not drink the medicines !
announced the man who had ston
, ach ache. NAY. nay"'
But Ismail hit him with the back G
his hand in the stomach again an
danced away, hugging himself an
shouting "Hee-yee-yee until tn
:. jackals joined him in discontente
:. chorus and the Khyber pass becam
full of weird bowling. Then suddenl
the old Afridi thought of somethin
lie else and came back to thrust his faC
close to Kings.
?" ''Why be q Rangar? Why be a Ra
,e put, sahib? She loves us hillmen be
is teri"
do l look like a hillman of tt
'Hills'? asked King
"Nay, not now. But he who can wol
70 one miracle can work another N4an.