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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1934-02-15, Page 6PAGE SIX THE SEAFORTH NEWS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 19341 "Nay, be not inhospitable, 0 Ba- oal" returned 'Bala um, "1 inn weary and footsore; it is a long way to the only Mutt, •f know, and it 'is not safe for a than alone to pass the plainat night," 1 tell thee begone," said the Jogi; there is no room here; begone, else we will turn thee out." "Direct 1110, then, to a resting -place, good sirs," replied 'Bulwnnt. "I would give no offence; I pray ye be not ang- ry. "Nay," he continued, observing a gesture tri impatience; "behold, I ani gle. I would not be unwelcome. On- ly say. 0 j'ogi, what this temple is Balled? "This is the temple of Toolja Devi, and dedicated to the goddess at Tool- japoor," replied the man, "If thou hast need to visit it, conte tomorrow and thou wilt see the image. iDepart now, or these worthy men may be angry. Thou has interrupted already a d is - course on the mysteries—" "Which would have benefited me, •Bawa, also. I shall not forget their in- hospitality. Now I depart." A.nd salut- ing the Jogi, who lifted his hand to his head and staring fixedly at the others, whose faces were plainly n'is- ih'.e by the light of the fire, which had blazed up, Bulwunt Rao left them. "Lieten, Meah," whispered ,Batlwunt to Fazil, as he rejoined him. "T.hese are the people, no doubt; there are scene holes in the wall behind them, which I saw when within; come round to them, we shall see and hear 'tetter, a nd can listen to the old Jogi's discourse on the mysteries; no doubt it will he edifying. The old Jogi is someone, I think, in disguise, but it is well done. Come and tread softly." The light tread of their naked feet was not heard amidst the rustling of the trees above; and, as :Bulwumt had said. there were several holes in the eel: which enabled them to see and hear perfectly, except when the con- versation was carried on in the lowest tvhi.pers. They were, however, on the highest =!de of the court wall, "We are right now." whispered Fa- ziit "that have the weapons ready in case of need. I like not the Jogi nor his friends," The instates of the little building were silent for some time, and, one of them. who had kept his face conceal- ed, •at length lay down, and drew his sheet over him. The outer two smok- ed at intervals. Now one, now the oth- er, lighting the rude cocoanut hooka with embers from the 'fire before them "Didst thou know that lad, Pahar 'Singh—that Gosai?" a_ked his com- panion. "Nfethinks .he was more than he seemed. II know most of the old robber Amrut Geer's cheylas, too, but not him; he may be a new one per- haps. Only I wish I had not seen hits; there was an evil eye in his head;" and the speaker's shoulders twitched as though a slight shudder had passed through him. "What dost thou care about evil eyes, MainSingh?" replied the Jogi, laughing. "I know not ,the man, and why s hould he trouble thee, brother? Depend upon it he was no more than he seemed, else why should he have named Amrut 'Geer 0.f Tooljapoor? Why art thou thus suspicious?" And he again applied 'himself to the hooka whose bubbling rattle rang .through the building, "Nay, it does not signify, only one does not like to be intruded ,upon, that's all. I had as well shtit the door of the temple, brother." "Do not bolt it," •cried the Jogi; "they will be here soon," as the man went and closed it; then returned, and with another shrug or shiver, lay down, when 'bath relapsed into sil- ence. "Pahar Singh!" whispered ,Bulwunt to the young. Khan; "the robber, mur- derer, rebel. what you please. The man after whom we wandered so long last year. Ah, 'tis a rare plot, Meah, if 'such he the instruments:' "Hush I" said Fazil; "they are ,speaking' again. Listen!" "'Where did you get those papers, 0 Toolsee Das?" asked Pahar Singh of the man who had been lying down, Iinc\\'hat, hast thou been asleep? Tell again, lest I make a mistake." "Not I, please your Highness,"' a'e- plied the person .addressed, raising himeelf upon his arias; "but if you talk in that gibberish language of your country, what ata I to do? It is dull work waiting whettone's eyes are heavy with sleep, and I ant not rested from that fearful ride," "Ha, ha, hal." laughed Pahar .Singh. "That Tide, Lallal 0 man! it was but a child's ride, alter all only forty coss, Yon will be direly enough by-and-by, Now if you c an speak without lying, tell rite truly, are those papers genu- ine or not?" "My lord," replied the Lalla, sitting up; "they who come will best know that. If they had not been genuine they would not have been worth the stealing, nor these long journeys, to which your servant is slot accustomed nor the risk of being comparedwith original documents. 'I told my lord this before and.—" "True, Lalla," said Pahar Singh, in- terrupting him; "but one likes to hear a thing over again' \'hen it is pleasant. Ha, hal when it is pleasant, you know—" "When the honour of great houses is at.stake we Mutsuddees have to be proportionately careful," returned the Lalla pompously; _ "and when your poor servant saw what these were, you see—my consideration for the king—for this state—Wray it Flourish a thousand years—was great, and I— I, ahem—brought them away—" "Yon mean you stole ,•them, Lelia? Ont with the truth, good fellow." "Well, sir, if you don't like my words. Yes, I stole them, and it was n blessed chance which has enabled MMC to turn then to such good ac- count." continued the Lata, rubbing hie hands, "hal hal my lord, and I—" "Ha! hal hal" responded Pahar -ingh, interrupting him with a coarse laugh. "We shall see. No blood in that robbery. Matin Singhs. Ours are eel - dem so neatly done, 'I think; 'but the Lalla is a master of his craft. Well, and if they are genuine, you will have a rich reward, 0, much money; gold, perhaps, who knows? and half is mine for not ctitting that lying coward throat of yours or hanging you like a dog, Lallajee." "Noble prince, I have not forgotten the agreement, nor my lord's hospital- ity," returned •the ,Lalla, joining hands, "Ah, that is well," returned Pahar Singh gristly. 'One should not forget obligations, and they are only five days old. By your child's head, Mann Singh, he had a narrow escape, only for the boy and thee. Ah, it was rare fun. A coward a peculiar coward! He did not think he should live, and he told its of the papers; only for that they would have gone into the river with his carcase. Ab, yes; it was well done. What if they are false, 0 Lelia, and we have been brought so far in vain! 0 man, think of that." "Yes, think of that, tLallajee, re- turned )faun Singh, turning himself lazily round to speak. "There eec few like thee who are shade guests ,of and fed instead of becoming food. Ha, ha, hal art thou not afraid?" "My lord, I can say no more: I Shave told you all •I ,can, and the rest is in their hands who come," ,said the 'Lalla, ,humbly Patting- up his hands to his nose. In his heart, however, the than was chuckling secretly. He thought those who were to come would be attended by a retinue, and he purposed to watch his oppoaltunity and denounce the robber, who would. be seized on the bare mention of,ltis 'tame; and when he, Toolsee Das, should not only get the price of the papers, but, he felt sure, ,be rewarded for 'having enticed so wary a robber oto a trap. The Lalla, therefore, en - lured the raillery aad coarse abuse expended upon hiin with a peculiarly "rim satisfaction. "Yes, a"cowardly knave, by your ejieyes, Mann Singh," continued Pahar ng -h, while .both, were langhing hear - "Ah. dhow he begged for lifel And ve have fed hint well since' too though I ata floe sure that I did right in bringing him Here; after all. 'I think I ought to stave sent three after thine an- cestors, Latta!" "I doubt not, valiant sir, that your' worship hath slain many of the King's° enemies," said the 'Lalla, trembling in spite of himself, but inwardly deter- mining to show no mercy, "and you are plcas•ed to be merry,': '"Dog, if ,thou hast deceived me and brought me fifty Goss for nothing, to save thy miserable life," said Pahar Singh, fiercely, "thou shalt not escape twice. Hark! what is that at the door. for it was .now shaken violently; "they are come, Maun Singh. ;Remember, Leila, I ant no Pahar Singh esow, or thou diest on the spot, See what I have for thee here," and he showed the shining naked blade of a sword concealed beneath the mslhes, "Enough don't be frightened, only discreet, Go, Marts Singh, brother, open the wicket quickly," for those without shook it impatiently. "Two are to come, only the two; there might be treachery \vial) more. But ho, rho, 'hot Pahar Singh is a match for :ten, is he not? ,Now, see that thou speakest the truth, 0 Leila." be contin•uecl; "and by sty vows for the feniple, and the well, they ace not to be forgotten—nor the feeding—flee titousasad Brahmans, s, lrorgct not this on your life, I ant thy Gooroo, teaching thee 'the mysteries. These words came front hon. jerked • et as it were, by morsels, during the brief interval that elapsed before those he expected arrive; and which he em- ployed in rubbing additional handfuls of ashes from the edges of the fire upon his face, body and limbs so as to render ,his disguise more complete and in heaping up ashes on his sword the .hilt of whioh lay towards him: ready for action. As Ile finished he tools a string of wooden beads from his hair and settl- ed himeslf 10 an attitude of aua'tere de- votion; for, after a brief parley at the gate, steps were heard advancing and the Lalla, though his heart sank with- in hint at seeing only two persons ac- companying Mann Singh, rose as they esceuded the steps of the basement, end were clearly visible by the light of the fire which ,Pahar !Singh had caused to born brightly. ,Fazil Khan's heart beat fast as he ,aw that one of the persons who as- cended first was the King's secretary, his most trustworthy and confidential ;creast. His handsome face, grave, Persian, and long beard, with the lameness the was known by which re- sulted from a wound, were unmistak- able. The other, who had his face tartly concealed. and who night be taken for an ordinary attendant to the Secretary, seemed nowise remarkable; but. as the pair sat down before hint, ind this person removed one fold of the scarf aborta his face—.thou lie kept his mouth and 11050 still covered es if to exclude the night air --the large sad eyes of the young King. \sere plainly visible. Fazil beheld him with an intensity of wondering interest, which 11 is 101' possible to describe, and fairly panted with excitement. "If he had known ,ohms 'he was to meet here," he thought, ''he would not have exposed himself to this risk: Alla and the Pro - Whet have sent us," And as this es- caped him," partly interjectionallly incl partly in devout prayer, the young Khan seemed to .'\vell with the consciousness .that his King might ewe his safety, nay, even life,' to them. The Secretary was a veteran soldier, but he was unarmed, except a small knife -dagger in his girdle. Fazil, therefore, loosened his sword in its .'heath, "Be ready," he whispered to his companion, who pressed his hand silently, in acknowledgment of the caution. Bulwunt had evidently not recognized the King; indeed, it was well perhaps that he :could not see the face, ar'have -his suspicions awakened: he might not have preserved the same composure as his young master. t0H1AIPT'EIR XXI. The silence was becoming oppres- sive, though only of a few moments' duration, when :Fazil observed the Jogi twitch the sleeve .of the ,Laila's garment as a sign to begin. Though it had cost ta!m a pang to think lie had no present hope of securing the rob- ber, Toolsee Das," in truth, was pretty match at ,his ease, The position and rank of the Xing's secretary were un- equivocal; who the 'ot'her person might be, he •could not conjecture— perhaps an assistant, perhaps a son— he might 'be either, There was some- thing,. certainly, in the look of these great black eyes which was uncoin mon; bat they gave .no response to. the Lalla's rapid but curious investig- ation of them: they could not be fa- thomed et a glance. There was nothing in the demeanor of either of the persons before hiin to excite personal apprehension; and she Lalla was quite sure that Pahar Singh would not give him tip, or the. capers either, without'an equivalent in money; and as he could not have Pa bar 'Singh taken, it was assuring to think that he need not he apprehended himself, for it was quite certain that 'he robber would get more.: for the secret here than if he and the papers had been .conveyed to t'he Imperial camp. There, a s'hor't questioning, and the executioner wou!el be sure; and. the 'Leila shuddered .for an instant at the thought of what would shave foie lowed. IHere, as one who could give info'rtn.sition of the enemy, and who could ,disclose state counsels, to what might he not aspire? '11 the people and' their language were barbarous in northern 'estimation, yet he had seen enough of the city ,to be satisfied of its beauty and were not many of the northern people already settling am- ong the D'elhanies ? Such thoughts were flashing rapidly through the La'tla's mind -far more rapidly it'han , we can ,write them— when hem-\hen he bit the sudden' twitch we Have referred to: he joined this hands together, curl began, hi a mincing ac c•eart, some of those courtly Persian phrases of complimentary \: ,e1 common to the 'Mahoneedaus of the North and which we need not repeat, The Secretary, )however, was not in a mood to endure them, "Peace, La'llejeel" he said;"we are rougher people there than those from whom you have brought these idle compliments, and you •ca'tt Ieeep them till you get back. Now to bushress— do not detain 'ns," "Alt, yes, My lord desired to 'see some letters of which I spoke to him," he replied; "some that I mentioned yesterday." It is therefore that I have come, and it will be well if they can be pro - (laced, You have higgled dor t'hent ov- ermuch, good fellow," rep_ lied the .secretary curtly. "Nay, !t my lord regrets," said the Lalla, "there is no need to press the matter further. Baba!" he continued to the pretended .Jogi, "than censer burn them in the fire there, only per- haps the King—" Not so fart, good sir," said the lfeerza, speaking more blandly, "I re- member all that has passed between us and that valiant gentleman yonder," he replied pointing to Maun Singh, "and I ata willing to perform my part of the bargain.And is this the Gooroo of whom you 'spoke " "Sir, it is," replied the (Lelia, "A holyman—one unused to the ways of the world and who travels .from shrine to shrine in the performance of sacred vows, Such were the Rishis; such are those from whom holy actions eman- ate; and such are the ,virtuous jogis of the present day, of whoin my .Geo roa is a noble example. IIe, desiring the welfare .of the Shah—may his splendour increase, and live [preveri— eent 011 to inform you, 0 fountain of eloquence and discretion) that they were its existence--" Here the Jogi gave another twitch of interruption, and a look, with a lots growl, which the :Lalla well under- stood,. and continated— "You see, noble sirs; he hath alrea- dy suffered the interruption of his de- votional abstraction, and is uneasy; for he never speaks unless to his blessed disciples, or removes his eyes frau the end of his nose: in continu- ing which, and repeating to, himself holy texts and spells of wonderful power, he is pre-eminent in absorption of his faculties. So my lord will ex- cuse hini and will remember the con- dition attached to the perusal o'f the (papers." 'j "The gold, the got money first!" growled the Jogi. "My son, my vow-, my vow!" "Noble sirs," continued the 'Latta in a deprecatory whine to both, which appeared perfectly natural as he look- ed from one to the other with his hands joined, "you .must pardon him; he is not a man of courts or of the world, but of temples and holy Shrines and escetic exercises; and ,some time ago he made a vow to build a temple at a spot where he had an ecstatic vi- sion of heaven, and to dig a well, :anal feed five (thousand Brahmuns, and to pass the remainder of his days in as- sisting poor travellers in holy con- templation. A holy man, therefore, noble gentlemen, and he is anxious about the gold, not for filthy lucre but, for the sake of the teinple and the well.." "Peace!" interrupted the 'lIeerza, What in the name of the IShytan are the well and ,the temple to us? Let •us ge,t up and depart, Sahib," he said to his conipa'nion, "they have no papers; this is but a sdheme to raise 'motley.. I like them not my lonclai he added in a whisper, "and bitterly do I regret having brought you here unarmed and unattended. May God and the P'rop'h- et take ns safe hence!" The Lalla was not watching their faces in vat;; ho felt that he had gone Far en'oug'h; and a fresh scowl from Pahar'Singh, which was not to be mi- staken; and his action as the turned top 1 corner of the deerskin on which lie sat, exthibi,ting_a small red satin bag which aright contain papers, assured the Latta that he need not delay long- "1rtiY, my lords; benot impatient," he said blanclly. "Whets was=he,he! —business of importance ever well done in a hurry? 'Behold!" added. the Lelia, taking up .the bag, "here are the papers whic'h the iholy father has rept safely for me beneath his deer's hide. Have'I your pern,ds'sion to open them, Baba?" "Open and 'he quick,'t was •ehe's'hort answer of the Jogi, '"Siiviply then, noble sirs," continued., ithe- oibsogtrious (Calla, taking .some Persian lettteus out of the bag, "here+ they are;; and if .either of ye know the handwriting, the signature, or the seals of Khan M'nhoan6d, Wwzeer 'of IBeejapoor, he will, Inshaliaa be able to recognize ih:ena, I do not know them myself, zut that makes no .d:iffer- ence; they are no •forgeries. Ili ' you, my lore)," glee added to the Meerza, know theta, you will find that your poor servant (has spoken ,the truth. Look at them carefully." 'The Meerza .received the packet with bretidbling hands, but :he said ,firmly, "Thou lca'o vest the penalty thou hast incurred if ;these be forged; and if a slave like thee shouldst have Glared to question falsely the honor of one so exalted as the SVuzcer, be- warel"! "1 know-iI know, 0 most exalted and worthy sir!" replied the Lalla, h'u'mrbly but confidently shutting his eyes, folded his hands upon his breast and bowing ltis•'head over them, "your rovorsrhip told rite before it would be death. But it will not be so. 0 no! In your poor slave's destiny is written favor and .advancement at your hands and his planets are ht a fortunate con- junction," "I would hang (hint to, the 'Highest tree in Bcejapoor, to the topmost branch of the Gamic Imiee, to feed the crows and Icites for a week. What a rascal he is, ieteahl"'whispered But - want. "Hush, and be readyi there is e life. on every word," returned Fazil, bear- ing the Kiang speak in Persian to the Meerza. "There is no escape from death," rite said in a sac) tone, "if these papers are not false." "True!" exclaimed ehe Jogi abrutly, but whether it had reference to the Lalle's speech or the King's could not he certain. The Bing loolced at him suspiciously, but the roan appeared once more to have relapsed into ab- straction. "0, that iI know, worthy sir," re turned the .Latta carelessly, "we ,flus all die in the end: we are all mortal what saith Saadi?" and he quoted verse from the Bostan. "I have n fear of them, noble gentlemen! Ma it please yofi to look at theta rat an their determine about killing me of terward"s. He, he, he!" ".He does -tot tremble under thos eyes," whispered Fazil to his coin panion. "This must be true. God diel them all!" "If there be faith in handwritin and seals," resumed the Latta after pause, "I fear not. If these document had not been so precious, why shoal tite asylum of the world, my master have kept them so carefully in Iii own writing case? The time is no come, 0 Meerzal but you will ye, hear 'of a reward' having been set upp your poor slave's 'head. Be it so; claim the protection of Ali Adil ,S'hal for the service I now do him, Bismil la! 'Open the packet there, and sa whether I have death :and infamy be fore sue, or life and honor in the se vice of ,the Ring, for there ismore a stake in this matter than my lord knows of. 'Bistnillal open it." The Meerza held the packet irres- olutely, as one who almost feared a knowledge of its contents, and looked for 0 moment to his companion--- "Bismillal" said the King, eagerly speaking Persian, "open it; this sus- pense is intolerable. ,Dost thou fear for the Khan Mathomed? art thou his friend'?" "By your head and eyes, by the King's salt, no," answered the other, "For good or for evil, Bismillal I op- en it"—and he tore the cover hastily. The heart of .Fazil Khan. beat so hard in his bosom that its ehro'bbings seemed painfully audible to himselfand be almost fancied they .must be heard by all inside; but he was still, as was also 'hie companion. As the. wax -cloth covers were withdrawn, there appeared several letters in the bundle, large, and the paper covered with gildin:d, such as are sent to per- sons of the ,nsost exalted rank only. Eagerly, most eagerly, did the prac- tised eye of the Secretary run Owe- nett wereaett superscription, and each was narrowly scrultinized. Oneby one he passed them over' to the King, andFazil could see that,' whatever they were, they caused the deepest expres- sion of interest in both their counteu- inces. -Suddenly' the Meerza came to hue which, haVingexamined even more narrowly than the others, be Kpassedi' 011, with a deep sigh, to tate ng,,, 111 was taken eagerly, and .at once opened and read, while the 'Latta turned from one to the other with an intenseexpression of curiosity, fear and hope blended together, marked on his features, "Does that Jogi ttnderatand. Persiati thinkest thou?" asked the King of the "'Nott a it I will answer for it with my head," returned teh man con- fidently. "How should he?" "And thyself?" "Surely, excellent sir; I have long 0 y l e p g a s d C n T Y r t PROFESSIOINAL CARDS Medical DR. GIL,BERT C. JARROTT — Graduate 'of •Faculty of Medicine, Un 'versity 'of Western Ontario. 'Member of College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. Office 43 Goderich St. West, Phone 37. Hours 2,4.30' p.m, 7,30-9.00 p.m, Other hours by appoint- ment. Successor to Dr, Chas. Mackay. DR.H, HUGIH ROSS, Physician and Surgeon. Late of London Hos- pital, iospital, London, England, Spepial attention to diseases of the eye, ear,, nose and throat. Office and coal dence behind Dominion Bank. 'Office ercial Hotel, Seaforth, 3rd Monday iv Phone No, 5; Residence Phone 109, DDR, F. J. BURROWS, Seaforth, Office and residence, Goderich Street, east of the United Church, Coroner for the County of Huron, Telephone No. 46. DR. F. J, R, I10'RISTIDR Eye, Eos Nose and Throat. Graduate in Medi- cine, University of Toronto 1890. Late Assistant New York Ophthal- mic and Aural Institute, Moorefield's, Eye, and Golden Square throat hospi— tals, London, England, At Comm- ercial Hotel, Seaforth, 3rd 1Wednes- day in each month from 1,30 p.m. to. 5 part, DR, W. C. SPROA'T,—Graduate aP Faculty of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, Members of College of Physicians and Sur- geons of Ontario. Office in rear ok Aberhart's ' drug store, Seaforth. Phone 90, Hours 1.30-4 p.m,, 7,3e -9 p.m, Other hours by appointment. Dental DR. J. A. ML?'NN, Successor to Dr. R. R. Ross, graduate of North- western University, Chicago, Ill; Li- centiate Royal College of Dental Sur- geons, Toronto. Office over Sille hardware, Main St., Seaforth, Phone- 151. DR, F. J. BEOHELY, graduate,• Royal College of Dental Surgeons, Toronto, Office over W. R. S-m.ith't grocery, Main St., Seaforth, Phones, office 185W, residence 1851. Auctioneer. ;OEOIRIGE ELLIOTT, Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huron. Arrangements can be made for Sale Date at The Seaforth News, Charges moderate and satisfaction guranteed. WATSON AND REID%Ba REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE. AGENCY (Succssors to James Watson) MAIiN ST„ SIEAFORTH, ONT, All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed ffected at lowest rates in First -Class Companies. THE McKILLOP Mutual` Fire Insurance Co, HEAD OFFICE---SEAFORTH, Ont OFFICERS Geo. R. McCartney, Seaforth - Pres,_ James Connolly, Goderic'h - Vice -Tres:. Merton A. Reid, Seaforth—Sec.- Treas. AGENTS: W. E. Hinchley, Seaforth; john. Murray, R. R. 3, Seaforth; E. R.. G. Jarniouth, Brod'hagen; James Watt; Blyth; C. F. Hewitt, iKincardine;: Wm. Yeo, Holmesv'ille, DIRECTORS: William Knox, I-'ondes'boro; George' Leon hardt, Brod'hagen; James Con- nolly, Goderic'h; 'Alex, Broadfoot, No. 3, Seaforth; Robert Ferris; . Blyth;. George McCartney, No, 3, Seaforth; John "Pepper, •Braucefield; James Shot - lice, Walton; Thomas Moylan, No. 5,. Seaforth. -- Parties Parties• desirous to effect insurance, or transact other business, will be promptly attended to by applicatior.? to ,any of the above named officers ad dressed to their 'respective pos.' offices. served in the ,royal Duftci, else how should have known witat to take and what to leave?" He spoke now in .Per- sian and the conversation: ,contiltued. in that language, Continued Next_Week