Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-21
A STORY FOR SPARE MOMENTS
The Wrath of the Idol

v
taine tornado of milled-edged discs, clash |
of saber points '"e
an hour later the mate hurried down
stairs and knocked at the cabin door ne
ceiVing no reply he entered The floor NJ
the cabin was strewn with money. 4, law
IN yellow piles beside the open safe and
punk as though iuggler had been at work
only moment before
The mate stared dumbly, rubbea bis
yes ana stopped to the floor Then seiz
i ins me inanimate Hayes, he shook him
lnlo u sitting position, There was blood
marks on IIayes's face and hands d.rL
bruises on his brow and shoulders
Hayes crawled from the bunk unsteadi,v.
uIs eyes wandering from the open safe 10
.'e ooor You'd better go on deck" he
aio s aiter q while. "and clean that carron-
| ade lying for'rd" '''''
score OF coolies were visible in the
."t.ine' shoveling the broken quartz on to
| heap OF tailings at the tunnel mouth
| Hayes halted w.
is the sahb thief who sold us the
| - rahem Singh spoke from the dark
| "ess Oh the tunnel. Let him come"
lie came They watched his big shadow
| leap across the cutting. and. at n sign iron,
| uanefn they withdrew into the dark drive
~ Hui1ed whisper disturbed the hot silence
,nen @ a SLOW heckling laugh as the white
| ma" hesltated near the tunnel mouth
-, feace, Ganem Singh" he said hoarselv.
| nave tasted your magic and I'm willing
| '" "o''i' that 1t has made me feel tired"
another smothered laugh greeted his
words. Not foot stirred within the tun.
| mel e yum
| Inc ouccaneer lit cheroot with painful
deiiperation; the little gasping noises com
ing from from the, dark drive suggested that
we hlhooos were intensely amused at his
| SUDDEN appearance. He smiled forgiyinplv
That coin-spinning, trick was prettiiy
eone, fanem-Singh. Now"-he advanced a
rev PAGES nearer the tunnel his chin thrust
Out want to know if you intend to
make my life nuisance with your explod-
s AZ .,sarS ana your dollar-spinning acts?
| Ne you going to follow me from port TO
port pfacticng your black art on my
'chooher and crew." he demanded
me magic of our people will vet de-
s,roy thee Sahib Hayes" A turbaned
shape loomed from the darkness of the tun
nel 10 thy ways; there is no peace be-
tween us"
m going to return your money. Ganem
singh Hayes bent before the black gun
mllzzle and drove in a heavy pacLare of
CONS with the rammer. 1--WE got a fit of
honesty and | want to stop you and your
trloe exploding things in my face"
cry from the mine. followed by a sud.
deh rushing of feet Sixteen coolies ap.
peared midway down the tunnel each car
igihg long-bladed knife: without a word
slope. 'p ''''
| Hayes laughed jeeringly and signaled th.
mate The responding gunfiash lit up the
p'ack mouth of the tunnel. the charge OF
ooilars swept through the close packed moi
with the force of shrapnel hewing dowr
the stabbing arms and bodies in strug
Cling heap
The gun smoke oozed azy from thu
driVe and foated into the hot sunlight over
mead Ganem Singh appeared at the tun
mel mouth. misty gleam in his eyes az
though the unexpected discharge had af
fected his reason.
The buccaneer measured him foot ant
eye. ~ ou II swear off annoying me in fu
ture, Ganem, You'll call off your agents
, II there are any left, or I'll rip the Brah
min soul out of YOU with your own dollars.
1T was Radizar Singh who brought about
the jadoo, Sahib. He is dead. Let there
be peace now"
Hauling the gun from the cutting. the
schooner party returned slowly to the pier
Hayes was first to gain the shelter of the
fo'csle awning. Here his eye fell upor
! the mate ascending the steep gangway, his
coat pockets bulgng over his hips. He
frowned darkly
Guess there was no need for you tc
stay behind and load yourself with tn,
Hindus' dollars, Mr.. Howe. One thief a
a time, please"
Dollars" The mate wiped his hot brow
and drew handful of smoke -bla ckenet
!, coins from his pocket. pieces of brass
2 with their faces washed in gold Their,
wasn't a real one among the whole 1000 !!
r The buccaneer stroked his chin thought
q fully. Guess | made that sufficiently clea
n to the Hindus" he said after'a while.
|