Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-11-27


with-a-beard are often almost photo
graphically descriptive. He rose to his
feet to look. Asblihd man can talk. but
1t takes trained eyes to gather informa-
ton.
The din had increased, and 1t was
safe to stand up and stare, because all
eyes were on the madness in the mid
die. There were plenty besides him
self who stooI to get better view
and he had to dodge from side to side
to see between them.
'I'm not to doctor hS men. There
fore it's a fair guess that he and | are
to be kept apart. Therefore he'll be as
far away from me now as possible
supposing he's here"
Reasoning along that line he tried
to see the faces on the far side but the
problem was to see over the dancers
heads. He succeeded presently, for
the Orakzai Pathan saw what he want
cd and in his anxiety to be agreeable,
reached forward to pull back a box
from between the ranks in front. Its
owners offered instant fight, but made
no further objection when they saw
who wanted 1t and why. King Won
dered at their sudden change of mind.
He found man soon who was not
interested In the dancing, but who had
eyes and ears apparently for every
thing and everybody else. He watched
him for ten minutes. until at last their
eyes met. Then he sat down and
kicked the box back to its owners. He
| touched the Pathan's broad shoulder.
The man smiled and bent his turbaned
head to listen.
opposite said King, "nearly ex-
front, counting the front row as one
there sits man with a black beard,
whose shoulders are like bulls. AS
he sits he hangs his head between
them. Look See! Tell me truly
what his name is !"
The Pathan got up and strobe for
ward to stand on the box, kicking aside
| the elbows that leaned ON it and laugh
| ing when the owners cursed him. He
stood on it and stared for five minutes,
counting deliberately three times over
striking a finger on the palm Of his
hand to check himself.
with-a-beard :" he announced
at last, dropping back into place beside
King. "Muhammad Amin. The mullah
Muhammad Amin"
IAN Afghan King asked.
"He says he is an Afghan. But.un-
less he lies he is from lshtamboul
! (Constantinople)."
Itching to ask more questions. King
the hakim Kurram Khan--blinked
mildly behind his spectacIes and looked
like one to whom savage might safe
~ ease his mind.
"He babe me go to Skaram where
my village is and bring him hundred
men for his lashkar. He says he has
her special favor. Wait and watch,
sayw
"Has he money!" asked King, appar-
emily drawing bow at Il venture for
Conversations sake. But there is an
art in asking artless questions.
Aye! The liar says the Germans
gave it to him. He swears they will
send more Who are the Germans?
Who il man who talks OF a jihad that
Is to be, that he should have gold coin
given him by unbelievers? | saw a
German once, at Nuklao. He ate pig
meat and washed It down with wine.
Are such men sons Of the Prohphet
Wait and watch, say II"
Money!" said King. "And should
no more money Gomez"
This was courteous conversation and
received MS such--many long league
removed from curiosity.
"Who am I to foretell mans kis.
met? know what know. and think
what I think know thee, hakim, for
gentle fellow. who hurt me alrost
not at all In the drawing Of a bullet
out Of my flesh. What knowest thou
about me?"
"That will dress the wound for
thee again"
Artless statements are as useful In
their way as artless questions. Let
the guile lie deep. that Is all.
"Nay. nay' For she said nay Shall
fall foul Of her. for the sake of n new
bandage?'
The temptation was terrific to ask
why she had given that order, but King
resisted 1t; and presently 1t occurred
to the Pathan that his own theories OH
the subject might be Of Interest,
"She will Use thee for reward" he