The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1939-07-13
Q TALBOT MUNDY-WkU SERVICE


appear to be wondering. His black
turban only partly concealed phi
losopher's forehead. His silver
brimmed spectacles enhanced the
mellow mildness of intelligent dark
brown eyes. His nose was f1eshy
and good humored. His black beard
and moustache were well cared for.
They concealed something. His
mouth was not in evidence. He arose
to greet Moses O'Leary and, iudg-
ing by the movement of his beard,
he smiled, but the smile was invisi-
BILE. AT close quarters it was evil
dent that his bulk was mostly fat,
not muscle. He fitted flabbily into a
bazaar-made black alpaca Euro
pean suit.
''How d'you do, Moor Nathan"
''How do you do, sir"
Moses O'Leary Strengthened him.
self slightly and drew his right hand
from his pocket. He had to live up
to being addressed as "sir" by a
man of means from the underworld
district. But it stirred his alert
ness. His suspicion, and more than
that, was already wide awake. His
voice hardened a trife:
''Sit down, Moor Mahlam. Hot,
isn't it? No, I'll stay on my feet.
I've business to attend to. Can't
spare you more than a minute or
two" .sa..-.s -..
''How did you know my name,
sir?" asked Moor Mahlam in silky
accents that suggested there was
something else than silk beneath.
1t was quiet agreeable voice, I'M
less one listened to it too attentively.
Moses O'Leary smiled with the
pride of the expert who needs no
praise to justify his self-esteem:
Its my job to know things. Check
me. You were lawyer. You served
a term in prison in Cawnpore for
cheating a client. You were dis
barred. And now you're cheating
everybody. Am I right?"
"Sir, I'm a public relations coun-
selor. It is a new profession, in
India"
Its a new name for an old
game" said O'Leary. "But you've
come to the right place. I'm the
publicity man O. this surveying par
ty. What do you want?"
Moor Nathan looked bland and
innocent. His eyes were as kind
as the milk of the moon, but his
mouth remained hidden. He wiped
the sweat off his face with hand
kerchief, then removed his specta-
cles and wiped them too, before he
answered: .. -....
Il want nothing, Mr.. O'Leary."
You're lucky bloke!"
II came to enquire if I can be
useful. If could have the ear of
your officer"
I'm it. I'm both ears. I'm his
teacher, his keeper, his nurse, his
confidential secretly, his father con-
fessor and information man"
'Sir, if you are truly in Captain
Norwood's confidence"
'Try me. Him and me are like
the two sides of a rupee. And it's
a two-headed rupee. He'd believe
me even if I was to tell him you're
honest"
II could reciprocate, Mr.. O'Leary.
There are many people to whom it
is highly important to know why
Captain Norwood is in Kadur."
Have you heard about the sur
vey of the Kadur River?"
eyes, Mr.. O'Leary, but nobody
believes that"
well, it's the fact. We're here
to run survey of the Kadur River"
"Ah! But of what else than the
river? I am commissioned to offer
rupees fifty for correct informa-
ton"
"And me a poor man! If I weren't
a good Christian and afraid to take
the name of the Lord in vain, I'd be
critical o. your conscience. D'you
think it's decent to insult my pow
erty with an offer o. fifty rupees?"
"Sir, I might make it a hundred. "
you'll have to make it twice that
before I'll hesitate. Besides, don't
think ! need you"
"Mr. O'Leary, I think you under
estimate my value. There is moth
ing that I don't know about the
politics of Kadur. I am the trusted
informant of people in very high
places"
"High?" said O'Leary. ''In the
magistrates courts they call 'em
low places. You can go look for an
other customer. Captain Norwood S
decent"
"Ah, but how about your"
81 know how to take care o. my
self. What d'you take me for? A
tourist?
"Sahib, I can tell you actual, au-
thentic facts about the palace"
The word "sahib" was a mistake.
It stiffened O'Leary's feeling of SUI
periority. 1t spurred him to con-
temptuous offensive tactics:
81 don't believe you. What's new
at the palace?"