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

indicating him to be clerk or secretary.
The room, large and lofty one. partially
furnished IN q gauiy French fashion, win
much white and gold about IL. was bril-
llantly lighted ay = tasteless chandelier
tombstone took this all IN 81 glance,
and halted, perp2exed and Ill at ease A
slight touch on the arm recalled him 10
himself, and remembering the part be h2d
to play, and which. If Ne would earn his
money, ne must play. he advanced into
she room, the Turk az his side.
The old man n black cast only mo-
mentzry glance st the latter, and then
looked vita al the keenness Of ais sad.
eloquent eyes fall az the Englishmsn's
face Outwardly impressive, inwarcly
nlnching, tombstone returned the gaze.
The old man stepped forward m. lie
docteQr Bland g'' be said. seemingly ny 3
slight movement Of his hand rather TO
take for granted than 10 request the Turks
permission 20 speak
Il am Bland Bey." was the blunt an
swer given in English.
The Arab stepped forward, his eyes d.
/ latang with excitement You knew my
daughter? be said in French.
Before tombstone could speak the Turk
interposed sith rapid sentence in Ar
aolc- But the old man. GisregSrdlng him,
or perhaps, in his eagerness, deaf to him,
sfu5oornIy repeated his question y on
knew nv daughter?"
The Engllshman remained mute, his
lips tightly closed. his brow dark; and
again the Turk spoke. explaining appar-
entity that the doctor did not know French.
This time the Old man took IN his mean
ing, and IN his terrible disappointment
seemed 70 shrink and shrivel up. His head
appeared 20 sink lower on his shoulders,
the sleeves OF his robe 10 cover his hands.
For moment he stood silent tombstone,
watching him, expected an .outburst OF
grief or passion. Bnt before it came, the
Turk intervened. With shrug of the
shoulders he put into his hand piece OF
paper.
The Arab read what was written, and
his features were convGlsed with emotion.
Very rapidly. but in voice scarcely arti-
culate. he asked q question. He asks"
said the Turk. turning towards the En-
giishman, IF this which Is written is
true"
As he spoke he gave tombstone the
paper. and the latter reading it with hot
eyes saw that il was q certificate in French
and English 70 the effect that the under
signed. Edward Bland Bey. doctor Of
medicine, had attended Ayesha, the
daughter Of Hassan Ali. and that she had
died OF smallpox on certain date. He
asks If this Is true" the Turk repeated
formally.
tombstone nodded at is true" he
said. But the eyes OF the old man haunted
! him and he did not raise his own from the
paper as he spoke. 1t seemed 10 him that
there was silence as Of great expectation
in the room.
He asks also If you will sign it," con-
tinued the Turk indiferently
II viii sign IL, he answered IN low
voice, and looking about him for pen he
stopped over the table 70 do so. One of
the attendants deftly reached him chair,
and he sat down. The clerk put the brass
inkstand before him. and he selected S
pen and began TO write He has got as
far as the last letter OF the Christian name
when impulse led him 10 look up, and he
met the Arabs eyes. He laid down the
pen.
Sign" said the Turk gently.
But tombstone sat motionless, his eyes
on the Arabs face. The Turk glanced
iaTtiyely round and moistened his lips;
| Sign, II You please, he murmUred
smoothly, with s deadly smoothness,
| which the man ne addressed was quick TO
| understand.
But the latter, instead Of complying,
rose and laid something's little parcel Of
money-on the table.
The Turk grew pale with rage. what
does this mean ?" he muttered.
1T means that / cannot do IL, and,
what is more. that / viii not" tombstone
answered brusGuely, and with no further
attempt ar concealmenL See here he
continued rapidly, speaking in French,
your daughter is not dead. Hassan Ali
She Is alive and in this villains house"
The next moment he understood what
he had done. He heard cry Of rage at
his elbow, and saw out OF the corners of
his eyes the men oy the door closing up
around him. There was moment of wild
confusion in the room, during which he
stood with his back 10 the table breathing
hard, and determined 10 sell his life dearly.
AorN ~ ,<--sx
and he found himself alone with the old
Arab, semicircle Of threatening faces be-
tween him and the door.
They were two TO SIX, and he was un-
armed. The case seemed desperate. But,
casting glance at his companion to see
how ne took II, be derived courage from
the sight The Arab was transformed.
His keen ewes glittered with the light of
combat, his lean figure seemed 70 expand
he held long curved knife in his hand.
and his W hole attitude was that OF one ex-
ultant and menacing rather than of one
in danger. Even as tombstone turned 10
him, with cry of "Allah!' he flung him
SELF forward on the Turk.
The latter fell back precipitatelv, and
the old man. swift as lightning, spreng
aside, and snatching candle from side
table. waved II thrice before one OF the
windows. tombstone, watching, con-
fused and half-dazed, understood in
moment that IL was 3 signal So did the
Turks attendants. They sprang forward
10 seize the Arab, but again retreated
before his cleaning eyes and yengeful
blade.
There was moments hasty parley
amongst them, while they hung back
clustering round the door. Then the
man who had guided tombstone 70 the
house went out. his GRAND seemed 10
be understood. My daughtert' cried
the Arab, his beard fairly curling with
rage.
The Turk, the psllor still on his cheek,
eyed him sullenly. You shall have her If
You vii be silent" he said
''Unhurt, dog OF pacha ?"
''Unhurt. They are fetching her now"
4 Ilerce nod seemed 10 express compli-
ance, but srlll some minutes passed min
utes Of hard breathing and stealthy chances.
before the messenger returned, leading
girl closely yelled. She paused on the
threshold OF the room, and looked around
her. shrinking and afraid. Then. catching
sight OF her father. she Sprang across the
floor and seized his arm and hung upon
il with : low, soft cry OF thankfuiness
and relief. Still the Arab did not stir
until he had asked her q question and re-
celyed her answer. That done ne moved
toward the door, signing sGernIy 20
the men 10 make way, tombstone followed
closely, almost touching him in fact, for
bticAN " ac VIA Al tAc L 1EA eve anu N
the furious glances of his followers which
bade him 60 now if he would go at ali.
At the door one Of the men. obeylng his
masters gestures, stepped in his way. The
Enghshman, ordinarily brave and now
desperate, dung himself violently aside.
The Arab heard, and turned. and seemed
10 recollecs himself He grasped John
stones hand, and carrying il 70 his breast
and then 70 MS forehead. kissed IL
solenriy. al must come with YOU" John
stone sad hurrie6lv IL rn, .sava ma