The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-17

II meant the postponement of despair
nay, of care, for another twentv-fou hours:
and when q man stands on the brink.
respite of twenty-four hours seems a new
lease Of life
Yet the gift was well considered, for il
left the man as destitute and desperate as
ever when 9o'clock the next evening came.
He had spent the day in walking aimlesSly
10 and fro on the Gizeh road, looking with
hungry eyes into every dog cart or car
rage which passed, hoping against hope
that something might happen, some friend,
though he could NOT name 10 himself anv
possible friend, might turn up 10 avert the
necessity OF the evening. But, of course,
he met with no second miracle, and at 9 he
was at the fountain-a haif-ruined monu-
ment marking the junction Of several
alleys IN 8 crowded part of the Barku-
kia quarter. He had slouched his shabby
hat over his eyes. though nothing was
less likely here, and al this hour, than
g meeting with an European. A couple
Of lanterns suspended in doorways feebly
lit up the squalid place. the reeking gut
ter. the skuiking forms of one or two
parlah dogs. Ii was not a locality a man
with money in his pocket would have cared
10 visit late at night, bat tombstone had
no money, and something in the resoluts
carriage of his broad shoulders and the
swing of his arms as he strobe along would
have made the hardest thief think twice
before attacking him.
he had not long to wait. The man he
expected slid presently out of the gloom
and tapped him on the shoulder in the
siealthy fashion of the 0rientals Are
you readyf" be muttered IN g low tone
He now wore turbsn ana seemed more
finely dressed than on the previous day.
Quite ready" the Englishmsn re-
marked drily. "But half the money first.
my friend"
How do / know that you will afterwards
do what / w&nt9" the native said. hesi-
tating, his cleaning eyes peering into the
Others face.
"How do know that you will paw me
afterwardsf" vas the quick retort.
The hesitation Notwithstanding, il was
clear that the demand was expected, for
the Egyptian. without further dernur
pulled out q packet neatly tied up in paper
and handed il 10 the Englishman. john
stone opened the tiny parcel and counted
the coins-even tried one with ais teeth.
Il have heard, " he muitered rather 10 him.
sell Than 10 his companion. that some
times they turn into dry leaves. l do not
think these will. but il is best 10 be sure. 4"
Yes, best 10 be sure" his companion
answered naively. lyon are ready now ?"
YES; lead on, Macbeth"
MY name Ahmed-Ahmed Mosasseh. ="
'Well. lead on, Ahmed the Assassin"
The man obeyed. and gliding silently be-
fore him. soon brought him into = lane
rather wider than the alleys Of the bazaar
but fenced on either side by blank walls
Here, At . small, Enpretending door in the
wall the Egyptian presently stopped and
Knocked twice IN = peculiar manner.
tombstone looked MP and down the lane
Then be looked SO the high wall and the
small door. and he remembered tales he
had hesrd CT Egyptian life, tales o. dead
men found in the Nile, and OF strange
things done even in these DAYS behind the
walls Of pssha's palaces. For the first
time L occurred 10 him that the adventure
IN which he was engaged might have its
serious side. lie wished that necessity
had not forced him few days before 70
part with his revolver.
Suu. ne did not hesitate. He was not
unAcCuStoneG to taking risks. When the
door opened and his companion passed in
| he followed him closely, and found him
self IN a walled space which seemed 10 Re
garden; on one side he made out the
graceful ironds 81 palm trees and rracery
IS OF naked treilis-Work Across this
whsteyer 4 was. he followed his guide
looking out sharply IS he went for win
dows, bat seeing noae. OF at least none
with lights u them; though the dark
bulk 81 house seemed 20 loom Up and 10
redoUble the gloom IN one direction.
How much furthersn he muttered At
last, laying his hand on the fellows
shoulder
Patience. We are here" the native an
swered. standing sJlu IS he spoke. and
sEs.n knocking.
rs before. the door opened silently. but
this time II Ess oct stream O. llShs. Half
blinded. bias ooe4lsns - = touch On his