Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-07-19


means. Do you suspect-that All
mad Das is perpetrating something ?"
81 suspect nothing. | only want
you to recall a few little points that
will undoubtedly be a great source of
pleasure to you" He spoke with a
grim humor. "You must have heard
stories-every man has-of men
shooting at hyenas in Africa, wound
ing them, tracing them to the huts
of natives, and then finding-not a
hyena-but a black man, dying, with
a bullet in him."
I've heard the stories, and they
don't make good sense"
"And maybe you haven't heard of
the theory Of the transmigration of
souls ?"
Every man of education has
heard it," | replied.
IF you have, just remember these
little points. One of them is that
the TRANSPORTATION of souls-that the
soul of an animal can live again in
the body of a MANS a rather cur
rent belief in India. Ahmad Das is
of Hindu blood. And he was born
1T the same hour that my fathers
tiger was killed"
He laughed grimly, and gave me
a cigarette. Then we walked out into
the hall.
Ernest and l found the elder Hay
wood in the library. He stood SILVER
ing before the faint Goals that had
been the fire. All of us leaped when
he front door opened.
1t was Southley and he carried a
lantern. His clothes we're simply
drenched. He wore no hat, and his
white hair was ~stringing about his
worn face, and the water poured
from him. His wet face glistened in
the candle-light.
whats this ?" he asked.
"Just a little midnight session."
his son answered. "Tell us first why
you went out in the rain with no
coat?"
The old man sat down in a cush-
Toned chair. He gave no heed to the
water pouring from his clothes. He
looked tired and listless.
"The levee is breaking" he ans
wered simply.
Only his son seemed to understand.
| loked up from the work of tying
my shoes, procured in my room on
the way to the library. We made
a silent circle in the dim light.
"What does it meant" Hayward
cried. docs it mean we'll be drown
ed %
He spoke h~oarsely; but the an
nouncement steadied me. Floods
were material, and could be faced.
They couldn't run and hide behind
the curtains.
Nothing as bad as that" South
lay answered. "Of course it means
a flood; but by no conceivable cir
cumstances can the waters reach the
top of the hill where this house
stands. But We'll be cut off from
civilization-for days. The water will
sweep all around the hill, flood the
railroad bed, and fill all the low
olaces-eight feet deep. We won't be
able to reach the heights across the
alley"
Hayward seemed to leap toward
him. He simply appeared to break
before our eyes. His voice rose
hrilly, and he shook his arm in
S~outhley's face.
"Then get me out tonight" he
;creamed. Get me away from this
rouse while there's yet time"
"Im afraid it is too late now"
Southley answered.
"Call a car for me at once-hear
ne? There's still time to make the
road. | won't stay here another
hour. Get on your feet, you fool
and call a car for me. You'll regret
it if you don't"
There's no one to drive-but Ad-
mad" Southley answered YEARLY.
"And what about your SOM"
Damn my son! Damn this wick
ed house! Did you say Ahmad?"
For an instant we saw the battle
of two fears in his great face. "Get
Ahmad, then. I'll be ready as soon as
| find a coat. Villas can tend to our
business, and he'll communicate with
me-"
Southley sighed; then got to his
feet. He touched a bell on the table.
Only a moment he waited. Then
through the door came Ahmad Das
calm, imperturbable, his Oriental
face quiet as a seer's. Never was
there such depth of shadow as we
saw in his eyes.
He came swiftly across the room
with that marvellous, feline grace.
eyes, sahib-"
Get the touring car out at once"