Evening Star Newspaper, August 9, 1890, Page 7

Pee casks. ea 43 a mo THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON: D; C2 SATURDAY: AUGUST 9; 1990-SIXTEEN PAGES { AT THE END OF THE PASSAGE. BY RUDYARD KIPLING. OUR men, theoretically entitled to RP life, liberty and the pursuit of bappi- ness,” sat ata table playing whist, The thermometer marked—for them — 101 degrees of heat. The room was dark- ened till it was only jast possible to distinguish the pips of the cards and the very white faces of the players. A tattered, rotten punkah of whitewashed calico was puddling the hot air and whining dolefully at each stroke. Outside lay gloom of a November day in London. There was neither sky, sun nor horizon— nothing but a brown purple haze of heat. It was as though theearth were dying of spo- plexy. From time to time clouds of tawny dust rose from the ground without wind or waraing, flung themselves tableclothwise among the tops of the arched trees and came down again. Then « whirling dust-devil would scutter across the plains for a couple of miles, break and fall outward, though there was nothing to check its flight save a long low line of piled railway ers white with the dust, a cluster of hute ade of mud, condemmned rails and canvas, «i the one squat four-roomed bungalow that onged to the assistant engineer m charge of & section of the Gandhari state line then un- der construction, . The tour men, stripped tothe thinnest of sleeping suit, played whist crossly, with wrang- lings as to leads and returns. it was not the best kind of whist, but they had taken some trouble to arrive at it. Mottram of the In- dian survey had ridden thirty and railed ono handred miles from his lonely post in the desert since the previous night; Lowndes of the civil service, on special duty im the polit- ical department. had come as far to escape for an instant the miserable intrigues of au im- poverished native state, whose king alternately fawned and blnstered for more money from the fal revenues contributed by hard-wrang peasants and despairing camel breeders, Spur- stow, the doctor of the line, had left a cholera- stricken camp of coolies to look after itself for forty-eight hours while he associated with white men once more. Hummil, the assistant engineer, was the host. He stood fast and re- ceived his friends thus every Sunday if they could come in. When one of them failed to appear he would send a telegram to his last ad- dri in order thathe might know whether the defaalter was dead or alive. There be very many places in the east where it is not good or kind to let your acquaintances drop out of sight even for one short week. DRY PLAY AND 'BYPLAY. The players wore not conscious of any special regard for each other. They squabbled when- ever they met, but they ardently desired to meet, a3 men without water desire to drink. They were louety tolk who understood the dread meaning of loneliness. They were all or thirty years of age -which ny man to possess that knowledge. “Pilsener,” said Spurstow, after the second rubber, mopping his forehead. “Beer's out, 'm sorry to say, and there’s hardly enough soda water for tonight,” said Hummil. “What filthy bad management!” snarled irstow. ant help it. I've written and wired, but the trains don’t come through regularly ‘yet. Last week the ice ran out, as Lowndes knows.” “Glad T didn't come. I could ha’ sent you some if had known, though. Phew! it's too hot te goon playing bumbiepuppy.” This with a savage scowl at Lowndes, who only laughed. die was a hardened offender. Mottram rose from th ‘The company yawned unanimously and be- took themselves to an aimless investigation of all Hummil's possessions—guns, tattered novela, saddlery, spurs and the ike. They had fingered them a score of times before, but there was really nothing else to do. ot anything fresh?’ said Lowndes. 's Gazette of India and a entting from a home paper. My father sent it out. It's rather amusing.” “One of those vestrymen that call ‘emselves again, is it? Spurstow, who read ewspapers when he could get them. ies. Listen to this. It’sto your address, Lowndes. The mau was making a speech to his constituents and he piled it on. Here's a sample: ‘And I assert unhesitatingly that the civil service in India is the preserve—the pet preserve —of the aristocracy of England. Wha does the democracy—what do the from that country which we have step by fraudulently annexed? I answer, nothing what- ever. Itis farmed with a single eye to their own interests by the scions of the aristocracy Ihey take good care to maintain their lavish scale of incomes, to avoid or stifle any inquiries into the nature and conduct of their adminis- tration, while they themselves force the un- happy peasant to pay with the sweat of his, brow for all the iuxuries in which they are lapped." ” mmil waved the cutting above his head. Ear, ‘ear,” said his audience. FACTS VERSUS FANCY. Then Lowndes, meditatively “I'd give—T'd give three months’ pay to have that gentleman spend one month with me and see how the free and independent native prince works things. Olid Timbersides”—this was his flippant titie tor an honored and decorated prince—“‘has been wearing my life out this week past for money. By Jove, bis latest performance was to send me one of his women as a bribe “Good for you! Did you uccept it?” said | Mottram. “No. I rather wish Ihad now. She wasa| pretty little person, and she yarned away to me about the horrible destitution among the king’s women folk. ‘The darlings haven't had any new clothes for nearly 4 month and the old man wants to buy a new drag from Cal- eutta—solid silver raihngsand silver lamps and trifles of that kind. I've tried to make him understand that he has played the deuce with the revenues for the last twenty years and must goslow. He can’t see it.” “But he has the ancestral treasure vaults to draw on. There must be three millions at least | iu jewels and coin under his palace,” said | Hammil. “Catch a native king disturbing the family treasure! The priests forbid it except as the lest resort. Old Timbersides has added some- ing hike a quarter of @ million to the deposit 1p his reign.” «Where the mischief does it all come from?” said Mottram. “The country. The state of the people is | enough to make you sick. I've known the tax- | men wait by a milch camel till the foal was | born and then hurry off the mother for arrears. | And what can I do? I can’t get the court clerks | to give me any accounts. I can't raise an thing more thana fat smile from the cor mander-in-chief when I find out the troops are three months in arrears, and old Timbersides | begins to weep when [#veak to bim. He has taken to the king’s peg heavily—liqueur brandy for whisky and Heidsieck for soda water. “That's what the Rao of Jubela took to. Fren a native can't last long at that.” said Spurstow. ‘He'll go out.” “And a good thing, too. Then I suppose we'll have a council of regency and tutor for the young prince, and hand him back his kingdom with ten years’ accumulations.” “Whereupon that young prince, having been taugat all the vices of the English, will play ducks and drakes with the money and undo ten years’ work in eighteen months. I've seen that business before,” said Spurstow. “I tackle the king with ahght haud, if Lwere you, Lowndes. They'll hate you quite enough uader suy circumstances.” BLACK CHOLERA. “That's al very well. The man who looks on can talk about the light hand, but you cun’t clean @ pig: with a pen dipped in rosewater. i know my risks, but nothing has happened yet. My servant's an old pathan and he cooks for me. They are hardly likely to bribe him, and don't accept food from my true fypnds. as they work! I'd There's shoot- sooner be with you, Spurstow. ? I don’t think it. About fifteen deaths a day don't incite 4 man to shoot an: thing but himself. And the worst of it is that the poor devils iook at you as though you ought to save them. Lord knows I've tried every- thing. My last attempt was empirical, but it pulled an old man through. He was brought wo me apparently past hope, and I gave him gin and Worcester sauce with cayenue. It cured him, but I don’t recommend it.” “How do the cases run generally?” said Hummil. “Very simply, indeed. Chlorodrne, opium pill, ehiorodyne, collapse, niter, bricks to the feet and then—the burning ghat. The laste seems to be the only thing that stops the trouble. It’s black cholera, you know. Poor devils! But, 1 will say, little Bunsee Lal, my pothecary, works like a demon. I've recom- ‘ended him for promotion if he comes through all alive.” bide Aud what are your chances, old man?” said Mottram. “Don't know; don't care much; but I've gent the letter im. What are you doing with your- self generally?” “Sitting under a table in the tent and spit- Ung on the sextant to keep it cool,” said the | der, bat Mottram manage: man of the survey. “Washing my fto avoid ophthalmia, which shall certainly get, and trying to make a sub-surveyor understand that an error of five degre in an angle isn’t quite so small as it looks I'm altogether alone, y’ know, and shall be till the end of the hi the ‘an actual roof—torn as to the coiling cloth, but still a roof—over his head. He sees one train daily. Heenan get berr and soda water and ice it when God is good. He has books, pictares”—they wero torn from the Graphic. “and the society of the exccllent sub-con- tractor Jevins, besides the pleasure of receiv- ing us week!; Hummil smiled grimly. ‘Yes, I'm the lucky man, I suppose. Jovins is luckier.” How? Not— es. Went out. Last Monday.” “Ap se?” said Spurstow, . hinting the suspicion that was in everybody's mind. There was no cholera near Hummil’s sc’ er gives a mun at least a weck’s HOW JEVINS “WENT out.” “I judge no man this weather,” said Hummil. “He had a touch of the sun. I fancy, for lust week, after you follows had left, he came into the veranda and told me that he was going home to see his wife in Market street, Liver- pool, that evening. “I got the apothecury in to look at him, and we tried to make him he down. After an hour or two he rubbed his eves and said he believed he had had a fit--hoped he hadn't said Any- thing rude. Jevins had a great iden of better ing himself socially. He was very like Chucks “Then he went to his own bungalow and be- gan cleaning aritle. He told the servant that he was going after buck in the morning. Nat- urally he fumbled with the trigger and shot himself through the head accidentally. The apothecary sent ina report to my chief and Jevins is buried somewiere out there. I'd have wired to you, Spurstow, if you could have done anything.” ou're a queer chap,” said Mottram. “If you'd killed the man yourself you couldn't have been more quiet about the business,” “Good Lord! what does it matter?” said Hummil, calmly. “I've got to doa lot of overseeing work in addition to my own. I'm the only person that suffers, Jevins is out of it—by pure accident, of course, but out of it. ‘The apothecary was going to write a long screed on suicide. Trast a babu to drivel when he gets a chance.” “Why didn’t vou let it go in as suicide?” said Lowndes. ‘No direct proof. A man hasn't many priv- ileges in this country, but he might at least be allowed to mishandle his own rifle. Besides, some day I may needa man to smother up an accident to myself, Live andlet live. Dio and let die.” “You take a pill,” said Spurstow, who had been watching Hummil’s white face narrowly. “Take a pill and don’t be an ass. That sort of talk is skittles. Anyhow, suicide is shirking your work. If I was Job ten times ovor L should be so interested in what was going to happen next that I'd stay on and watch.” “Ab! ['ve lost that curiosity,” said Hummil. “Liver out of order?” said Lowndgs, feel- ing] No. Can't slee; That's worse."” “By Jove, it said Mottram. ‘I’m that Way every now and theu, and tho fit has to r itself out. What do you take for it?” ‘Nothing. What's the use? I haven't had ten minutes’ sleep since Friday morning.” SPECTRAL MELODY. “Poor chap! Spurstow, you ought to attend to this,” said Mottram. ow you mention it, your eyes are rather gummy and swollon.” Spurstow, still watching Hummil, laaghed lightly. “I'll patch him up later oa. Is it too hot, do you think, to go for a ride? “Where tor” ssid Lowndes. wearily. “We shail have to go away at 8 and there'll be rid- ing enough for us then. I hate a horse when [ have to use him asa necessity. Oh, heavens, what 1s there to do?” “Begin whist again at chick points—(a “chick” is supposed to be eight shillings)—and a gold mohur on the rub,” said Spurstow promptly. “Poker. A month’s pay all round for the ool--no limit—and 5 rupee raises. Some- ody would be broken betore we get up,” said Lowndes. say that it wonld give me any ploas- y man in this company.” said There isn't enough ex-itement im 8 fe He crossed over to the worn and battered little camp pigno -wreckage of a married household that bad once held the bungaiow—and opened the case, “It's used up longago,” said Hamil. servants have picked it to pieces, The piano was indeed hopelessly ont of or- to bring the re- bellious notes into a sort of agreement aud there rose from the ragged keyboard some- thing that might once have been the ghost of a popuiar music hall sonz. The men in the loug chairs turned with evident interest as Mottram banged the more lustily. “That's good!” said Lowndes. “By Jove! the last time J heard that song was in 1379 or there- abouts, just before I came out.” “Ab! “suid Spurstow, with pride, “I was home im 1830.” Aud he mentioned a song of the streets popular at that du Mottram executed it indifferently well. Lowndes criticised and volunteered emenda- tions. Mottram dashed into auother ditty, not of the music hall character, and made as if to ris “Sit down,” said Hummil “I didn’t know that you had any music in your composition. Go on playing until you can’t think of anything have that piano tuned up before ns Play something festive.” Very simple indeed were the tunes to which Mottram’s art and the imitations of the piano could give effect, but the men listened with pleasure and in the pauses taiked all together of what they had seen or hear 1 when they were lastat home. Adense dust storm sprung up outside aud swep: roaring over the house, en- ve itin ths choking darkness of muid- ht, bat Mottram continued unheeding. and the crazy tinkle reached the ears of the lis- Yeners above the Happing of the tattered ceil- ing cloth, AND A MURDER OF BYMNS. In the silence after the storm he glided from y personal songs of Scotland, { humming them as he played, into the mi. * said he, nodding his head. Don't apologize for it,” said Spur- “The v ni stow. Hummil laughed long and riotously. “Play it by all m You're full of surprises to- t kuow you had such a gift of ». How does that thing go?” ram took up the tune. too slow by hal: You miss the note of tude,” said Hamil. “It caught to go to ‘Grasshoppers’ Polka’—this way.” And be chanted, prestissimo— Giory to Thee, my God, this nicht, For ull the biessings of the light. “That shows we really feel our blewsing. How does it go o1 - If iu tho might I sleepless lie, My sou: with sacred thoughts supply; May no ti dreams disturb iy reat— “Quicker, Mottram!” — Or powers of darkness me molest! “Pah! what an old hypocrite you are! “Don't be an ass.” said Lowndes, ou are at full liberty to make fun of anything elae you | like, but leave that hymnalone. It's associated in my mind with the most sacred recollec- tioi “eg “Summer evenings im the country, stained glass window, light going cut and you aad she jamming your heads together over one hymn book,” said Mottram. the eye when you walked home. and a moon as big as a band box sitting on to) of a haycock; bats, roses, milk and midges, | said Lowndes, iso mothers. I can just recollect my mother singing me to sleep with that when I was a little chap,” said Spurstow, ‘The darkuess had fallen on the room. They could hear Hummil squirming in his chair. “Consequently,” said be, testily, i itwhen you are seven fathom deep iu heli! It's an insult to the intelligence of the Deity to pretend we're anything but tortured rebels.” “Lake two pills,” suid Spurstow; “that's tor- tured liver. “The usually placid Hummil is in a vile bad temper. I'm sorry for his coolies tomorrow,” | said Lowndes, as the servants brought in the lights and prepared the table for dinner. As they were settling into their places about the miserable goat chops, the curried eggs and the smoked tapioca pudding, Spurstow took ——— to whisper to Mottram, “Well done, avid!” “Look after Saul, thon,” was the reply. “What are you two whispering about?” said Hammil, suspiciously. “Only saying that you are a d——— poor host. This fowl can't be cut,” returned Spur- pone with a sweet smile. “Call this @ din- ner?” “L can’t help it, You don’t expect a banquet, do you?" HUMMIL'S HOSPITALITY. Throughout that meal Hummil contrived laboriously to insult directly and pointedly all his guests in succession, and at each insult Spurstow kicked the ved persons under the table; but he dare” perpen a giance of intelligence with either of them. Humumil’s face was white and pinched, while his eyes R | | Then, eh | ject entreaty, Ne dreamed f T'moment of reesatiag his vavagey ioe, butas soonas the meal was over they made haste to get war “Don't go. You're just getting amusing, you fellows, I Thaven’t said anything that annoyed you, You're «uch touchy devils. anging the note into one of almost ab- “I say, you surely aren't going?” “Where I dines I sleeps, in the language of the blessed Jorrocks,” said Spurstow, ‘I want to have a look at your coolies tomorrow, if you don't mind Youcan give mea place to lie | down in, I sup; a8 , and a fat old cockchafer hitting you in | | Smeal of hay | The others pleaded the bel el of their sev- eral guricrs next day, and, saddling up, de- parted together, Hummil begging them to come next Sunday. As they jogged off together Lowndes unbosomei himself to Mottram: “e © © And I never felt so like kicking « man at his own table in ny life. Said I cheated at whist and reminded me I was in debt! Told fon you were as good as a liar to your face, You aren't half iudigaant enough over it.” “NotI,” said Mottram. ‘*Poor devil! Did you ever know old Hummy behave like that fore? Did youever know him go within a hundred miles of it?” “That's no excuse, Spurstow was hacking My shin all the time, so kept ahend on my- self. Else I shouid have— ‘No, you wouldn't. You'd have done as Hummy did about Jevins; judge no man this weather. By Jove! the buckle of my bridle is hotin my hand. Trot outa bitand mind the rat holes.” Ten minutes’ trotting jerked out of Lowndes one very sage remark when he pulled up, sweating from every pore: youd thing Spurstow’s with him tonight.” “Ye-es, Good man, Spurstow. Our road turns here. See you again next Sunday, if the sun doesn’t bowl me ove: “S'pose so, unless old Timbersides’ finance minister manages to dress some of my food. Good-night and—God bieas you! “Whats wrong now?” “Ob, nothing.” Lowndes gathered up his whip, and. as he flicked Mottram’s mare on the flank, added: “You're a good little chap—that’s all.” And the mare bolted half @ mile across the sand on the word. A TORRID NIOuT. In the assistant engineer's bungalow Spurstow and Hummil smoked the pipe of silence to- gether, each narrowly watching the other. ‘The capacity of a bachelor’s establishment is as clastic as ite arr ingements are simple. A ser- vant cleared away the diuing room table, brought in a couple of rade native bedsteaas, made of tape strung on a light wood frame, flumg a square of cool Calcutta matting over each, set them side by side, pinned two towels to the punkah so that their fringes should just sweep clear of each sleeper’s nose and mouth and announced that the couches were ready. The men flung themselves down, adjuring the punkah coolies by ail the powers oi Eblis to pull. Every door and window was slut, for the outside air was that of an oven. The at- mosphere within was only 104 degrees, as the thermometer attested, and heavy with the foul smell of badly trimmed kerosene lamps, and this stench, combined with that of native to- bacco. baked brick and dried earth, sends the heart of many a strong man down to hia boots, for itis the smell ot the great Indian empire when she turns borself for six months into a house of torment. Spurstow packed his pil- lows craftily, 40 that be reclined rather than lay, his head at a safe elevation above his feet. It is not good tosivep ona iow pillow in the hot weather if you happen tobe of thick- necked build, for you may pass with lively snores and gurglings from natural sleep into the deep slumber of heat apoplexy. “Pack your pillows,” said the doctor, sharply, as he saw Humunii preparing to ie down at full length. ‘The night light was trimmed; the shadow of the punkah wavered acroas the room and flick of the punkah towel and the soft whine of the rope through the wall hole followed it. Then the punkal flagged, almost ceased, The sweat | poured from Spurstow’s brow. Should he go out aud harangue the coolie? Itstarted forward again with a savage jerk and a pin came out of the towels. When this was replaced a tomtom in the coolie lines began to beat with the steady throb of a wollen artery inside some brain- fevered skull, — turned on his side aud swore gently, There was no movement on Hommi:!s part, The man had composed him- self as rifidiy as acorpse, his hands clinched at his sides. The respiration was too hurried for auy suspicion of sleep. Spurstow looked atthe set face. The jaws were clinched, and there was a pucker round the quivering eye- Jids, “He's holding himeelf as tightly as ever he cau,” thought Spurstow. “What asham it is, +iu the world is the matter with him? wd hot? Throat fecling bu.z¢? or how?” “Neither, thanks; I don't sleep snuch, you know.” “Feel pretty bad?” “Pretty bad, thanks. ‘There's a tomtom out- side, isn't there? I thougit it was my head at first. Oh, Spurstow, for pity’s sake give me something that will put me asleep—sound asleep—if it’s only for six hours!” He sprang up. “I haven't been able to sleep naturaliy for days, and I can’t stand it—{ can’t stand “Poor old chap!” THE HORRORS OF INSOMNTA. “That's no use. Give me something tomake me sleep. I tell you I'm nearly mad. I don't know what I say halt my time. For three weeks I've had to think and spell out every word that has come through my lips before [ dared say it, [bad to get my sentences out down to the last word for fear of talkmg dvivel if I didn’t. Isn't that enough to drive a man mad? leant see things correctly now, and I've lost my sense of touch. Make me sleep, ob, Spurstow, for the love of God make me sleep sound. ‘It isn’t enough merely to let me dream, Let me sleep!” “AU right, old man, all right. Go slow. You aren't half bad »@ you think.” The flood gates of reserve once broken Hummil was clinging to him like a frightened ehild. “You're pinching my arm to pieces.” “Pl break your neck if you don’t do some- thing for me. No, I didu’t mean that. Don't be angry, old fellow.” He wiped the sweat off himself as he fought to regain composure. “As a matter of fact, I'm # bit restless and off | my oats, aud perhaps you could recommend of sleeping mixture—bromide of po- tase ut “Bromide of skittles! Why didn’t you tell me this before? Let go of my arm and I'll see if there's anything in my cigarette case to suit your complaint.” He hunted among his day clothes, turucd ap the lamp, opened a little silver cigarette case and advanced on the ex- pectant Hummil with the daintiest of fairy squirts, “the last appeal of civilization,” said he, ndatuing T hate to use. Hold out your Wei pur sleeplessness hasn't ruined and what a thick hide it is! a eta buffalo subcutaneously. Now, in a few minutes, the morphia will begin working. Lie down aud wait.” Asmiie of unalloyed and idiotic delight be- gan to creep over Hummii's face. “I think;” he whispered, “L think I'm going off now. Gad! it's positively heavenly, “'Spurstow, you Must give me that case to keep; you —-.” The voice ceased as the head fell back, “Not for a good deal,” said Spurstow to the unconscious form, “And now, my. friend, sleeplessness of your kind being very apt to relex the moral fiber in little matters of life and death, I'll jast take the liberty of spiking your guns.” He paddied into Hummil’s saddle room in his bare feet and uncased a twelve bore, an ex- press and a revolver. Of the first he unscrewed the nipples and hid them in the bottom of a saddiery case; of the second he abstracted the r, placing it behind » big wardrobe. The third he merely opened and knocked the doll head bolt of the grip up with the heel of a rid- ing boot. That's settled,” he said, as he shook the sweat off his hands. ‘These hitle precautions will at least give you time to turn. You have too much sympathy with gun room accidents,” And as he rose from lis iuees the thick, muf- fled vuice of Hummil cried in the doorway, “You fool!” Such tones they use to speak in the lucid in- tervais of delirium to their friends a little be- mil stood in the doorway rocking with helpless suid very slowiy, feeling bag fed “1 work, Wit shall I do? What wn and give it a chance. Lie down ‘at once.” time. Do you know it was all I could do to was nearly caught.” mean trick to on me. Do you know As a sponge rubs a slate clean so some power man, and he stood at the doorway in the ex- fore they die. Spursiow jumped with sheer fright. Hum- laughter. “That's awf'ly good of you, I'm sure,” he dou’t intend to go out by my own hand at present, I say, Spurstow, that stuff won’ shall I do; And panic terror stood in bis eyes, “Lie do “I daren’t, It will only take me half way again, and Ishan't be abie to get away this come out just now? Genetally I am as quick as lightning. but you had clogged my feet. I “Oh, yes; Lunderstand, Go and lie down.” ‘No, it isn’t delirium, but it was an awf might have diea?” SLEEP AT LAST. unknown to Spurstow had wiped out of Hum- mil’s face all that stamped it for the face of a ression of his lost innocence, had slept ‘ik into terrified childhood, | i} 1 | to die on the thought “all son, tell S| abou it it, what was all the rest of ‘oa down there,” said Hum- mil, with simple sincerity. The drug was act- ing’on him by wavos, and he was flung from the fear of a strong man to the fright of a chiid as his epi ger oha sense or were dulled. “Good ! [vo been afraid of it for months ee Spurstow, Jt has made every might hell to me, and yet I'm not conscions of having done anything wrong.” “Be still and I'll give you another dose. We'll stop your nightmares, you unutterable idiot!” |; but you must give me so much that I can’t get away.. You must make mo quite sleepy—not just a little sleepy. It’s so hard to run then.” “I know it; [know it, I've felt it myself, The symptoms are exactly as you describe.” “Oh, don't laught at me, confound you! Be- fore this awful sleepiessness came to me T’ve tried to rest on my elbow and = a spur in the bed to sting me when I fell back. Look!” ‘By Jove! the man has been roweled like a horee! Ridden by the nightmare with a vengeance! And we all thought him sensible enough, Heaven send us understanding. You like to talk, don’t you, old man?” “Yes, sometimes, Not when I'm frightened. Then I want to rnn, Don’t you?’ “Always. Before I give you your second try and teil me exactly what your trouble is. Hamil spoke in broken whispers for nearly ten minutes, while Spurstow looked into the pupils of his eyes and passed his hands before them once or twice. At the end of the narrative the silver cigarette case was produced, and the last words that Hummil said as he fell back for the second timo were, -‘Put me quite to sleep, for if I'm caught [ die—I die. “Yes, yes; wo all do that sooner or later, thank heaven who husset a term to our mixer- ies,” said Spurstow, settling the cushions uuder the head. “It occurs to me that unless I drink something I shall go out before my time. I'v stopped sweating, and I wear a 17-inch collar, And he brewed himself scalding hot tea, which is an excellentremedy against heat apoplexy if you take three or four cups of it in time, ‘Then he watchad the sleeper. “A blind face that cries and can’t wipe its H'm! Decidedly Hummil ought to go ave as soon us possible, und sane or other- wise he undoubtedly did rovel himself most CL Well, heaven send us understand- IMPROVEMENT. At midday Hummil rose with an evil taste in his mouth, but an unclonded eye and a joy- ful heart. ig “I was pretty bad last night, wasn’t I?” said eC. “I have seen healthier men, You must havo had a touch of the sun. Look here: if I write you a swingeing medical certificate will you apply for leave on the apot?” “No.” “Why not? You wantit.” “Yes, but Ican hold on till the weather's a little cooler.” “Why should you, if you could get relieved on the spot?” “Burkett 18 the only man who could be sent, and he's a born tool.” “Oh, never mind about the line, You aren't so important as all that, Wire for leave, if necessary.” Hummil looked ver: “I can hold on sively.” : “You can't, Wire to headquarters for Bur- ett.” “Lwon’t. If you want to know why particu- ticularly, Burkett is married and his wite’s just had a kid and she’s up at Simla in the cool and Burkett has a very uice billet that takes him into Simla from Saturday to Monday. That little woman isn’t at all well. It Burkett was transferred she'd try to follow him, If she left the baby betund she'd fret herself to death. If ste came—and Burkett’s one of those selfish little beasts who are always talking about a wite’s place being with her husband—she'd die, It's murder to bring a woman here just now. Burkett bas got the physique of a rat. Ii he came here he'd go out, and I know she hasn't any money and I'm pretty sure she'd go out, too. I'm salted ima sort of way and I'm not married. Wait till the rains and then Burkett can get thin downhere. vii do him heaps of good.” “Do you mean to say that you intend to face what you have faced for the next fifty-six mghts?” “Oh, it won't be so bad, now you have shown mea y out of it, I can always wire to you. Besides, now I've once got into the way of sicoping, it'li be allright. Auyhow, I shan’t put in for leave. ‘That's the joug aud snort of it.” “My great Scott! I thought all that sort of thing was dead and done with,” “Bosh! You'd do the same yourself, new man, thanks to the cigurette case, uncomfortable. the rains,” he said eva- I feel You're | going over to camp now, aren't yous” “Yes, but Pll try to look you up every other day it I can.” “I'm not bad enough for that. I don’t want you to bother, Give the coolics gin and ketchup.” “Then you fool all right?” “Bit to fight for my lite, but not to stand out i king to you, Go aiong, old man, COLLAPSE. Hummil turned on his heel to face the echoing desolation of ms bungalow, and the first thing he saw standing in the verauda was the fisure of himself. He had met a similar apparition once before, when he was suffering trom overwork and the straia of the hot weather, “This is bad—already,” he said. rubbing his eyes. “If the thing slides away from me all in one piece, like 4 ghost, I shall know that it is only my eyes and stomach that are out of order. Lf at walks I shall know that my head is going.” He walked to the figure, which naturaliy kept al an unvarying distance from him, as the use of a!l specters that are born of over- work. It slid through the house and dissulved into swimming specks within the eyeball as soon as itreached the burning garden. Hi evening. When he came into dinner be found himvell sitting at tie table. The thing rose and walked out hastily, No liviag man knows what that week held for Hummil, An increase of the epidemic kept Spurstow in camp among the coolies, and ail he could do was to telegraph to Mottram, bidding him go to the bungalow and sleep there. But Mottram was forty miles away from | the uearest tolegraph and knew nothing of | Pants were anything save the needs of the sarvey till be met cary on Sunday morning Lowndes and Spurstow Leading towards Hummii’s for the weekly gathering. “Hope the poor chap’s in a better temper,” said the form swinging himvei! off his horse at the door. suppose de isn’t up vet. “Dil just have « look at him,” said the doc- tor. “If he’s asicep there’s no peed to wake bun.” And an instant later, by the tone of Spurs- tow’s voice calling upon’ them to enter, the mon knew what had happened, ‘The paukah was still being pulled over the bed, but Hurmil had departed this life at ieast three hours vetore. ‘The body lay on its back, hands clinched by the side, a8 Spursiow had seen it lying seven nights previously. written terror beyond the expression of any en. id Mottram, who had entered behind Lowndes, bent over the dead and touched the forehead ligitiy with his lips: “Ob, you lucky, lucky devi!” he whispered. jut Lowudes ad seen the eyes and had withdrawn suddering to the other side of the room. “Poor chap! Poor old chap! And the last time I met him I was augry. Spurstow, we should have watched him. Has he ig Dettly Spurstow continued his investigations, ending by # search round the room. “No, he hasu’t,” he snapped. ~There’s no trace of anything. Call in servants, They came, eight or ten of them, whispering and peering over vach other's shoulders, “When did your Sahib go to bed?” said Spur- stow. “At eleven or ten, we think,” said Hummil’s personal servaut. “He was well then? But how should you know?” “He was not ill as far as our comprehension extended, but he had slept very little for three nights. This I know, because I saw him alk: ing, much, and specially in the heart of the night.” CHUMA'’S PHILOSOPHY. As Spurstow was arranging the sheet a big, straight-necked hunting spar tumbled on the ground. The doctor groaned. The personal servant d at the body. “W cHgreety think, Chuma?” said Spurstow, catching the look on the dark face. “Heaven born, in my poor was my master has descent places, and there has been caught because he Was not able to escape sufficient light of the | mii Went about his business til | In the staring eyes was | \ \ \ { | pensations of God? I will bid the other servants to holdaloof while are reckoning the tale of the Sahib's property, They are all thieves and would steal. “As fac as I can make out he died from—oh, anything; stoppage of the heart’s action. heat pe agg or some other visitation.” said Spur- stow to his companions. “We must make an inventory of his effects, and so on. “He was scared to death,” insisted Lowndes, “Look at those eyes! For pity sake don't let him be buried with them open!” “Whatever it was he’s out of all the trouble now,” said Mottram softly. - Spurstow was peering into the open eyes, ta — aml he. Can you see anything “I can’t face it!” whimpered Lowndes, “Cover up the face! Is there any ‘ear on earth that can turn a man into that likeness? It's tly. Oh, Spurstow. cover him up!” ‘No fear—on earth,” said Spnrstow, Mot tram leaned over his shoulder and looked in- tently. “Lsee nothing except some gray blurs in the pupil. There can be nothing there, you know.” “Even so, Well, let’s think. It'll take half a day to knock up any sort of coffin and he must have died at midnight. Lowndes, old man, go out and tell the coolies to break ground next to Jevins’ grave. Mottram, go round the house with Chuma and see that the seals are put on thinge, Send acouple of men to me here and Tl arrange.” The strong armed servants when they re- turned to their own kind told a strange story of the doctor Sahib vainly trying to call their mas- ter back to life by magic arts—to wit, the hold- ing of a little green box opposite exch of the dead man’s eyes, of a frequent clicking of the same and a bewildering muttering on the part of the doctor Sahib, who subsequently took the little green box away with him, THE MYSTERY OF THE EYE. The resonant hammering of a coffin lid is no Pleasant thing to hear, but those who have ex- Pertence maintain that much more terrible is the soft swish of the bed linen. the reeving and unrecving of the bed tapes, when he who has fallen by the roadside 18 appareled for burial, sinking gradually as the tapes are tied over till the swaddied shape touches the floor and there is oo eae against the indignity of hasty dis- sal Pent the last moment Lowndes was seized with scruples of conscience. “Ought you to read the service—from beginning to end?” said he. “I intend to. You're my senior as a civil- ian. You can take it if you like.” “I didn’t mean that for a moment. I only thought if we could get a chaplain from some: where—I'm willing to ride anywhere—and give | poor Hummil a better chance. That's all.” “Bosh!” said Spurstow, as he framed his lips to the tremendous words that stand at the head of the burial service. After break {ast they smoked a pipe in silence to the memory of the dead. Theu said Spur- stow absently: medical science.” Things in a dead man’s ey “For goodness sake leave that horror alone,” said Lowndes. “I've seen a native die ot fright when a tiger chivied him. I know what killed Hummil. “The deuce you do! I'm going to try to se And the doctor retreated into the bath room with a Kodak camera, splashing and grunting for ten minutes. Then there was the sound of | something being hammered to 8, and Spurstow emerged, very white indeed, “Have you got a picture?” said Mottram, ‘What does the thing look like? othing there. It was impossible, of course. You needn't look, Mottram. I've torn up the films. There was nothing there. It was im- “Tl said Lowndes, very distinctly, watch- | ing the shaking hand striving to relight the | pipe, “is a damned li ‘There was no further speech for a long time. The hot wind whistled without, and the dry trees sobbed. Presently the daily train, wink- ing brass, burnished steel and spouting steam, pulled up panting in the intense glare. better go on on that,” said Spurstow. back to work. I've written my certifi can't do any more good here." Co: Noone moved, It is not ple railway journeys at midday in June, Spurs- tow gathered up his hat and whip, and, turn- ing in the doorway, said: u—there must b ur life here. W But neither Mottr answer tu the questic A HINDOO W »DING FEAST. ony in High Life at Bombay. An interesting description of a Hindoo wed- ding written by Sarah D. Hamlin from Bombay appears in a recent issue of the San Francisco Bulletin, and from it the following extract is taken: As it was growing late we felt that we had waited long enough and prepared to proceed brideward. This seemed to be the signal for a | new departure and a procession was again | formed. At the bride’s house few changes had | been made, but a “chorce” or marriage hall had been formed by placing at each of the four corners of a square earthenware water vessels, one above the other. and held in position by supports of bambvo. In the | center was the sacred fire. Hardly had | we arrived when everybody took seats ax before, though the — cashmere-shawled father did not appear, and the bride aud groom uo longer sat opposite each other, but side by side. The priests performed “fir sacrifice” before them and fastened the bo: searf to the marriage veil of the girl. The | war mala, or marriage garland, composed of , twenty-four strings of red cotton. was hang | around their necks, their bands were again | joined beneath the dirty scarf. the women sung | nuptial hyimus in honor of the gods Krishna and Ram, and then commenced a series of new performances, in which the “bridegroom’s mother-in-law” was the principal actor, MOTHER-IN-LAW TAKES A HAND, First « great platter of food was brought, which the mother presented to her daughter, who first gave of it to her bridegroom, and he then helped her. Red powder was put upon | i | the forehead of both again and agai ouly by the priest, “bridegroom's mother-in- jaw” and the little brother, but by numerous female friends, Again and again was the immense platter resembling a paint shop with its various powders brought forth, Hands | and fect of bride aud groom were rubbed with | red powder. which is an emblem of prosperity, anointed with oil and washed with watel Hands were made to touch each other man: s touch toes, We could sce | that the bride’s little brown feet were heavy with toe rings, whose pendants half covered the foot, and the plaimer | toe rings the mother was constantly removing from one foot to the other. Louder and louder grew the nuptial songs, and one high-voiced woman, the ieader of the singers on our side of the “choree,” seemed to be firing challenges at the officiating priet, and he to be re- plying to her in an expostulatory manner. Then the brass bands would — begin, play a moment and stop, never by any acci- nt in harmon: As the noise subsided for a se brass platter was brought eupon rice had been arranged somew in the form of the letter X, which is a mystic symbol used in religious ceremonies from a very remote period and signifying success and happiness. On the fourth return, bride and groom, now husband aud wife, exchanged their seats, and then came congratulations, Almost ali the female friends came forward and put silver rupees in the bride's hand, and stepping behind her embraced her from behind, We were told that this was the end. SONGS, GESTURES AND POWDER. Into the angles of the cross red powder was sprinkled by the priest, and surrounding friends began to throw copper coins upon it, They seemed to be tossing tor the fortunes of the young couple, one of whom, who seemed so weary and disgusted and half-blinded by the smoke, was repeatedly yawning and looking around asif to ask if relief would ever come, while be was nearly roasted by the fire, so near which he was obliged to sit, A pan was brought in at this part of the proceed- ings, in which were two or three kinds of meal. Ghee, or clarified butter, being put upon the flour, officiating woman, or the “bride- groom’s mother-in-law,” proceeded to stir it with her hand and to make kind of dough, of which bridegroom, bride, mother-in-law and riest each took a little and dropped on the Tce, which was now burning brightiy, HIS ARM AROUND HER NECK, Finally bride and groom arose, and he, with one arm around her neck, embracing her as though she werea porcupine and he were i} afraid of the quills, they proceeded around “ehoree,” guided : by the ‘iest and pausing at each of the four columns of earthen-ware that i where appropriate signs of worship were made. ; | ing im alarmed tones for her mother, RATHER DIE THAN WED. Ten Chinese Maidens Suicide to Save One From Marriage. The Shik Paco contains the following story, translated from the Chinese Times: “There is & prevailing custom in a district called Sheng- teh, in Canton provines, among female so- ciety to form different kinds of sisterhoods, such as ‘All Pure’ sisterhoods, ‘Never-to-ve Married’ sisterhoods, &c. Each sisterhood consists of about tem young maidens who swear vows to heaven never to get something hard, believing that their married lives would be miserable and unholy, and their parents fail to prevail upon them to yield. A sad case has just happened; a band of young maidens ended their existence in this world by drowning in the Dragon river, because one of them was forced by her ts to be married. She was engaged in her childhood before she — this sisterhood. When her parents ad made all the necessary arrangements for her marriage she reported the affair to the other members of her sisterhood, who at once agreed to die for her cause if sbe remained constant to her sworn yows to be single and virtuous, Should she violate the laws of the sisterhood and yield to her parents her life was to be made most unpleasant by the other members, and she be taunted as a worth- less bein She consulted with them the best mode of escaping this marriage, and they all agreed to die with ber it she could plan to run away from her parents on the night of the marriage. As there were man: vends to watch her move- ments it was almost impossible for her to es- cape, so she attempted her life by swallowing agold ring, butany serious consequence that might have resulted was prevented by the administration of a powerful emetic. Sh was finally forced and made over to the m. side to her great grief. According to tne usual custom, «he was allowed to return to her parents, During all this time she was plauning @ way to escape to her sis- ters. By bribing the female serv: was taken one night to her sisters un cover of darkness, The sisters at once joi with her to terminate their lives by jumping th into the Dragon river, with swift cur- ats, which rapidly carried them off. This | kind of tragedy is not uncommon in this part of the land) The officials have from time to time endeavored to check the for- mation of such sisterhoods, but all there efforts 1 must have reasons of their blishing such societies, Married life must have been proved by many in that region to have been not altogether too sweet, However, such wholesale suicide must be pre- Vented by law if the parents have no control over their daughters.” soe = SHE WON THE BET. But It Was Unfortunate Work, and She Won’t Do It Again, Columbus, Ohio, Dispatch in New York Sun. Pretty Fauny Beale, a lively Cincinnati so- ciety bud, is visiting her cousin Nellie in Piqua. Young Mr, Filley of St, Louis and his sister Mina ure also visiting at the same house, Bar- num’s circus was in Piqua the other day and Mr. young Villey took the girls to see the show. In discussing the per- formance afterward the young — man expressed his particular wonderment at the feats of a female contortionist. He was es- amazed at the highly accompiisned in which she twisted her foot around the back of her neck and made a cushion rest | for her head out of her heel, | The warmth with which Mr. Filley expressed his admira- tuon of this act of the contortionist seemed to nettle Miss Beale a trifle, and sue tarned up her nose and sai “Pshaw! That isn't anything to brag about. I can do it myself.” Cousin Nellie aud Miss Filley acreamed and assured Miss Fanny that she was awful, and young Mr. Filley laughed at her and pool poohed. Batthe spoiled beauty’s Cincinnati ‘ting blood was up and she turned to Mr. and waid, in decided tones: I'll just bet you the price of a box of kid loves that 1 can!” Young Mr. Filley promptly took the bet. Then the delicate question as to how Misa Beale’s ability to pertorm the acrobatic feat could be proved to the satistacti young gentleman arose, and it settled that Cousin Nellie should be present while the act was on as reteree for Miss Beale, and that young Mr, Filley’s sister should also be there in the interests of her brother. The three girls retired to Miss Beaie's room, and young Mr. Filey waited on the piazza for an official report of the result of the fea Spasmodic bursts of mirth from Miss Beale's room reached his ears for a time, and then thore was # painful silence for a few seconds. This wax finaily broken by screams of laughter, an exclamation of wonder and ioud clapping of hands in the room, “Blinked if I don’t believe the little tartar hee won it!” said young Mr. Filley to him- self. Another period of painful silence followed the outburst of wonder and applause. This was followed by a scream or two not prompted by mirthtulness or wonderment, Suddenly Cousin Nellie burst from the room and ran out shout- Young Mr. Filley arose. “Has she done it, Nellie?” he ask: “Oh, Mr. Filey!” Miss Nellie sobbed, has done it, but she can’t undo it! for a doctor! one!” Fortunately a physician of forty years’ prac- tice in the town lived only two squares away. Young Mr. Filley called him ina hurry. He was a good while in Miss Beale’s room, but when he left it he was smiling. When Miss Beale came out an hour or so later she was a trifle lame, but she announced triumphantly to Young Mr. Filley that she had won the bet, The official report of the referves unanimously sustained the claim and it was promptly paid, “1 used to do it easy when 1 was at school,” id Miss Beale, reflectively. “All the girls My heel never once stuck before. guess I must be growing old,” said the Cincin- uati bud with a sigh, a Where May the Sua Get Its Heat? From Good Words, I pointed out that when » shooting star dashes into our atmosphere its course is at- tended with anevolution of light and heat owing to its friction through the air, We were “She Please run And, oh, Mr. Filley, get au oid thus able to account for the enormous quantity | of heat, or of what was equivalent to heat, which existed in virme of the rapid motion of these little bodies. Of course, we only see these meteors at that supreme moment of their dis- solution when they dash into our atmosphere, It 1s, however. impossible to doubt that there must be uncounted shoals of meteors which never collide with our earth. It must neces- sarily happen that many of the other great globes in our system must, like our globe, ab- sorb multitudes of meteors which they chance to encounter in their roaming: The number of meteors that will be gathered by a giobe will be doubtless greater the larger and more massive be the globe, andthis for a double reason, In the first place the dimen- sions of the net which the globe extends to en- trap the meteors will, of course, increase with its size, but in addition the more massive be the globe the more vehement will be its attrac- tion and the greater will be the number of the meteors that are drawn into its extensive at- mosphere. Of course tiis reasoning will apply in a special dogree to the sun. We shall prob- ably be correct in the assertion that for every meteor tit descends upon this earth at least & million meteors will descend upon the sun, As these objects. plow their way through the sun’s atmosphere light and heat will be, of course, evolved. a It hus been conjectured that the friction of the meteors which are incessantly rushing into the sun may produce light and heat in sufficient quantities to aid in the maintenance of the sun's ordinary expenditure, It has been even supposed that the quantity of energy thus generated may supply all that is wanted to explain the extraordinary circumstance that from age to age no visible decline has taken lace in the intensity of the solar radiation, Tiere again ion question which we must sub- mit to caiculation., We have first of all to de- termine the heat which could be generated by a body of, let us say, 4 pound in weight, fali- ing into the sun after being attracted thither from an indefinitely great distance. The re- ult is not a little startling; it shows us that such a body in the course of its friction through the sun's atmosphere it generate as mach heat as could be produced by the combustion ewe re eee A BRAZILIAN DELICACY, Rash Venturing Beyond the Bounds off Civilized Cookery. From the New York Tri cold roast chicken, if you can give said one of a party of three young fellows who feil into the chairs about @ email | table at a down-town restaurant on ope of those [scorching hot days of July that broke the | record at the Signal Service Bureau end put to shame the memory of the oldest “The same hero,” gasped the second, too limp even to read the bill of fare. “One thing to eat seems about as good af another,” growled the third, crossdy, as he mopped the back of bis neck and moved bis chair a little, so as to get directly under the big revolving fans that threw the hot sir in by warm waves all about the room, “Give me ~aat the other fellow ordered, so long as it's col The darkey who waited on thom seemed about to speak, but checked himself and ap> proached the hole in the partition behing | which the cook presided. He gave bis three | orders im a low tone of voice, as if | like blast the oice Was heard saying: “Three more legs of chicken! [told you to say there | were no more legs. What's everybody want j lege for today? Teli'em there's nothing | breast and wings let thave the white mea® “Gemmen say they wo this weather,” replied the darkey, “they say it makes ‘em thirsty, aud they've drunk all can carry straight, already, trying to ool.” I can't help that,” snapped the cook, “Z can't cut more than two jegs off one chicken, Ask them do they want the earth? Do they think fowls is,centipedes/” | The indignant reply of the cook made the | three customers jnugh in spite of the heat, “Talking of centipedes.” said one, “reminds me of a dish I ate n Brazil, [went away up the Amazon one winter among the wretel indians there, buying up raw rnbber, Several of us left the boat one day an: into the dense forest to we any toucans. We got lost in and found the little creek in which our boat lay, and we were only brought back then by some Indians whom we met carrying rubber to the river tosell. We met them just as they were about to camp for the night. and as they proms ined to show us the way out of the forest, we camped with them. “We had some tinned beef left and whisky, but ax Lhad lived on tinued beef fresh tish for some time and was mightily tired of them both L was looking about for a change of dict wn@ was glad to see that the Indiang had some native food with t ‘ sisted of some sort of grayish- looked like a mixture of sue asked them what it was, bat | coald stand what they said and our mterpreter gone tor water. Itcdid not taste at all bad, ant th flavor was unlike ything I bad ever ten, #0 Thad swallowed a bit of isabout | big as your fist before the interpreter pornos | that the dish was made of . pulverized and mixed crushed bod hite ante “I did not eat any n And Recognized a New Star in Chicago. From the Chicago Post. “Say nothing about it, but I think Ihave discovered a new star,” said « fairly well known astronomer to John B, Drake af the Grand Pacitic Hotel, Mr. Drake, who is something of an astronos mer himself, was, of course, all attention and pledged silence until the discoverer could make the presence of the new inhabitant pub lic in the proper wa: “Let us go to the iake front, where the high buildings will not obstruct our gaze,” the ag tronomer said, and thither the pair — discussing with all enthusiasm hobbyists the prob S heweomer, “It is a brilliant ye nitude and » ns to sed star in the sout! west quarter of th as.” was all the tronower could tell. except that he had first seen it Saturday morning as he crossed the lake front from the depot, : “There itis now,” he exclamed, when the park was reached, pointing toward the southe west about 45 degrees elevation, “But, Great > w instead yellow, as I saw it | onderfull W do you think of it Mr. Drake gazed in the direction rubbed his eyes and looked again, and then, secing the astronomer was in the seventh heaven of delight, he brought him to the earth with a thud by remarkin frend, but es @ “Asa star, I think it a Weather-signal lantern over the United weather bureau in the Auditorium tower I it a huge success.” see — Use of Feminine Photographs. From the Ladies’ Home Journal. Women should always know the standing of the photographer to whom they entrust the negatives of their portraits. They should cons sider well bis character and manner of doing business before permitting him to make @ picture of them. The negative once in hig possession (if he is so disposed) be has the means of causing them great mi by using it for base purpo: The bead of some prominent woman fs from her picture and pasted on the figure some notoriots wowen in undesirable costume or position, This cau be done so ery defy detection. A few touches ot Inde int will conceal the places of joining, and it quires © magnifying glass to discover ‘Tbe picture 1s then . aud persons as principled as the operator are ready to and show themas the pictare of Mra, or Miss ———,as the case may be. Thess transactions are carried on apart from the ordinary work, and are not exposed for sale t@ the general public; bat the places where are sold are kuowu to the purchasers of vile frands. One of the worst features of the case is the impossibility of knowing how many of these counterfeits ors afloat im the come munity. The fear of detection has prevented this transaction from being dome to any extent; but it hes been done, and, as they issued without the name or address of the pubs Usher, it is almost impossible to trace them te their sour monies Rash Infere From the Bangor News. A citizen with « fishing pole over his shoulder Was going up State street yesterday, when @ stranger called out: “Have any luck’ Fifty feet further on a second man inguire@y “Are they biting now?” ae next corner a third stopped bim mces. ‘Say, what will you take for a ton of A fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh bad theid say. and the eighth bore down bim with: I tell you, old fellow, you mily laugh at the idea of spitting on your bait, but it brings lucky and 1 eau prove it queried the man with ty “Speaking to me? pol ‘ertainly.” “What do you take me for?” “Why, are you going #-fisaimg?” “Who said 80?” “Haven't you got a fishpole?” “Suppose Ihave. If I saw carrying bar of soap home would argue that you werk going to do the family washing?” ag aren't you going a-fishing?” “No, sir. This pole is to the sparrows nests out of the caves of oy house, funny how many pap there are in this in other folks’ business.” who are intereste oa The Too Fluent Converser. the subject of conversation, so neither will he seek to engross the whole. As every man — others by what he than himself pleased by what words, a8 every man is best sE