Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-24
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
A CURIOUS RELIC.
By MARK TWAIN.

MARX Twain, whose real name was
a.nsu., L.nxncrn. Clemens; lsss ;l.ie.
vas an american numoriss OF Wy.
ircInde 'Ruekl.herrr Finn, "rnnoeents
Aercad.s Yankee in KING Arthur's
Court etc.
septeniber. 1857 a flaming Oriental
DAY. our party had just ridden through
the souaIid hive of human vermin that
afiII bears the ancient Biblical name
Of Endor. I Was bringing up the rear
On nv grave 81 steed. who was about
beginning to compose himself for his
usual noon nap.
was in the rear. as ] was saying.
Our pack mules and Arabs were far
ahead and other whites in the party
were following close after them. As
nv horse nodded to rest heard sort
Of painting behind me and turned and
saw tfraA a tawny youth from the VIII
Iage hsAavertaken me-a true remnant
and representation OF his ancestress.
the Witch of Endor a galvanized
scurvy. wrought into human shape and
rarnished with opthalmia and ieprous
scarx-an airy creature with an invisible
shirt front that reached below the pit
~ mis- stomach and no other clothing
20 speak of. except a tobacco pouch
IN ammunition pocket and venerable
rin. which was long enough To club
any game that came within shooting
distance but far from efficient as an
article of dress.
thought to myself. Now this dis
ease with the human heart In II Is
Eoirg 10 shoot me.
But / found that ne was only q
friendly villain who wanted To beg, and
after begging what he could get In this
way was perfectly willing to trade of
everything he had for more. ! believe
he would have parted with his last
shirt If he had had one.
He was smoking the "humbliest" pipe
ever saw dingv. funnel-shaped red
clay thing, streaked and grimed with
oil and tears Of tobacco and with all
the different kinds of dirt there are.
and 30 per cent Of them peculiar and
indigenous 10 Endor and perdition.
And rank? I never smelt anything
like II. II withered q cactus that stood
lifting It's hands aloft by the side OF
the trail. II even woke up my horse.
said / would take that pipe II
cost me q franc. q Russian kopec a
brass button and q slate pencil Nv
spendfhrift laYishneSs so won upon the
Son Of the desert that he passed over
his pouch Of most Wllainous tobacco
70 me as a free gift What a pipe It
was. 70 be sure! 1t had a rude brass
wire cover to it and a little coarse iron
chain suspended from the bowl. with
an iron splinter attached to loosen M
the tobacco and to pick your teeth with.
The stem looked like half OF a slender
walking stick with the bark on.
] felt that this pipe had belonged to
the original Witch Of EndOr as soon as
] sn1elt II. Moreover I asked the Arab
n good English II this was not 50 and
ne answered. in good Arabic that II
WAS ] wd@ up my horse and went
my way, smoking.
And presently said 10 myself refiee-
lively II there Is anything that co,lid
make a man deliberately assault 2
GIVING cripple ] reckon maybe an un-
exported ~hih n this pipe would DO 1t -
! smoked along until found I va,
beginning ~ lie, and project murder
snd steal things out ri one pocket anC
hide them In another Then put VI
ms treasure TOOK Of my spurs and phi
them under my horses tail and shortly
came tearing through our caravan Ike
D hurricane,
Some weeks later finding myself il
the LEAD one romantic night. With m,
friend Dan by my side liked THE ne9
sensation Il had been in the rear ss
regular thing and ionged 10 keep In,
9jAIS IcFeFFInfcfFs every HtlIE stir IN
the dingy csyslcsde behind me mao.
me nerves.
Dan ano ] were riding side by side
right after the Arab About Al O'Clock !
i1so become really chilly and the dozin,
boys youseo up and began 10 demans
that the Arab hurry along faster
gave II up 10 them and my heart sanl
Within me. because, of course, the
would come up and scold the Ara
leader. ] knew so'ild take the fea
again.
1n my SORROW ! naturally took 70 m
pipe, my only comfort As / toucne,
the match 10 II the whole cOnpau
came numbering tip and cfoYdtng M
horses rump and sAnkk. A whit o
smoke dYifIed back over my shouids
sn0 F.
THE suffering Moses
.Whfg."
"By Gsoree who opened that grave
saydf"
"Eoys thai Arsbs nesn sgsllogtn
senasfking dead
asht sway there ws4 . kse benin