Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-01-28
= Continued from yesterday. T. sssii
CHAPTER Nv.
Copyright by Bachelor, johnson & BachelIer !

ed on thoroughbred Arab and fol-
lowed by two camels bearing his lug
gage, passed out of the gate Of the city
| and set his course towards the west 4
good many things had happened since
we saw him last.
Ebal, on hearing the result Of the in
tervicw, had declared that ii meant
| mischief, and begged to be taken along
| to share his masters fate. Meryon had
half-formed scheme to profit by the
| confusion in the harem caused by the
disgrace OF llatipha, to carry off the
| princess; but the only way to effect it
was to have her join him that night be
yond the boundary of the principality,
which was not more than twenty miles
distant. BY the connivance of Senuah
and the help OF Ebal this might be ac-
complished; and the latter eagerly
agreed to attempt it. There had not
been much time to arrange the details
of the plot, but tryating place was
fixed upona tan, isolated rock near
the caravan road, in the encmv's coun-
try. Here Meryop was TO wait six
hours; II Ebai and the princess did not
appear within that time, he was to pre-
| sumo that the plan had miscarried, and
keep on alone.
Meanwhile it transpired that Hat
ipha had escaped; when the princes
guards went to get him, lie had van
ished. 1t was not surprising; the war
scare threw everything into hubbub.
Had the American not been rendered So
conspicuous by his mission. he might
easily have spirited away the princess
himself. Late in the afternoon re
port that the princess mother had been
taken violently i'll added to the confu.
sion. When Meryon went to the prince
for his farewell interview, he was half
minded to proclaim and put himself al
the head of 4 revolution, depose his high
ness, and assume his throne The odds
we're in favor OF such move being sue.
cessful. Meryon finally resolved against
ii, from reluctance to be left with king
dom on his hands so far from New
York and with the home policy still Sd
strong against annexations He after
wards was sorry he had been so fas-
tidiouS.
He found the prince entirely alone
Invested for the moment even Of his
Nubians. lie produced writing done
in minute characters on very thin
tissue, setting forth that the bearer
was the trusted friend Of the under
signed, and going on to describe the
situation and demand help. When
Meryon had finished reading this his
highness drew from the folds OF hi
robe small gold box richly orna.
mentcd, and opened it, There lay o
huge ruby about two inches in length.
and shaped like much elongated egg.
Mcryon could not rcpress an cxclam.
alton Of surprise; such 2 stone was
never before seen; It could not be
bought for a room full Of rupees
The prince twisted it between his
fingers, and it came apart; Il had been
cut in two and followed ont. ana the
parts made to screw together. Tue
letter was now rolled M and inserted
into this precicus box: so there was a
vast fortune and q message Of life and
death all done mp in parcel the size OF
mans little finger. The prince
hand u ii to lIeryon.
"Do You expect me to take the re,
sponsibility Of Juggling bomb-shell
like that about She country" demanded
the latter recoiing.
Death is powcrless against him who
carries IT." replied tho other. 1T IS
talisnan, the greatest treasure Of 1ny
dynasty: till now no unbelicvcr has
ever seen It: judge then Of the conf
dencc rcposo in you! When you arrive
here with the army Of my ally and give
me back the hollow ruby, viii in re,
turn give you my other greatest treas
ure--ny daughter, the princess Tcrah-
to be the bride of your heart and the
queen Of your harcm.'
This old poutcr-pigeon," said Nor,
yon to himself, has been smart enough
to see that by putting me upon honor
he can get the best OF me. He has me
on toast. ! must countcrmand the
orders Cor the clopcncnt, aud play
straight ball, These oricntals arc too
much for Us after all. Kisrnet Hand
it over, then" he added aloud, as II the
precious object were chocolate cara
mel.
"IIow will you carry Up" asked his
highncss.
In my waistcoat pocket, of course"
replied the American. nonchalantly
stating It into that receptacle,
Perhaps it is as well So" said his
highness, 'thoughtfully. "If danger
threatens you can readily swallow it,"
he added. Remember, Mcryon
pacha, it is worth the ransom
kingdom
"What? this thing!" exclaimed Mer-
yon, slapping his pocket with con-
tcmptuous smile. BLESS you, the boys
where l come from use things like this
for sinllers when they go fishing!
Good-by!"
On returning to his apartments he
sent for Ebal to tell him of his changed
purposes. The boy was not to DO
found. The hour for starting came,
and still no Ebal. After waiting till
the last possible moment he was forced
to set out with this important detail left
at loose ends. He was i'll at ease and
rather cross. He cared more for Ebai
than for anyone in the country except
Terah, and feared lest some mishap had