The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-27
and now I've something for you to do"

tYeSP YeSP
"Watch for light on yonder wall.
When you see il tell the Mahdi that the
gates of Fee are open to him and he may
enter the city without striking a blow.
20, the good news! I'll just run and
kiss little Hosein again"
"Pity to trouble him! u He kissed her
again. Besides 1 saw him going off
with his mother as Omar's hostage.
Goodbye Goodbyei"
Chapter ".
AS Gilman returned to Fee he passed
guard of soldiers coming out with Omar.
''His sister and her son, you say?" said
Omar.
"Ais sister and her son." said one of
the soldiers.
GAS my hostageT
GAS your hostages?
''Into that den OF leopards'Y
''Into Fee, Sidi."
Chow he loves me!' said Omar.
"Fatlma and little Hosein-why they
are the apple of his eye. Gods face shine
on him forever r.
When they came within speech of the
Mahdi Omar ran forward and kissed the
hem of his selham. "My dear master!"
he cried.
quick, Sidi," he said.
"MahdiP" cried Omar in establishment
The Mahdi brushed past him to the
soldiers. "Have the hostages gone into
the cityP' he asked.
"They have gone.' said the soldiers.
Did they go willingly"
Willingly"
"And cheerfully?''
"Cheerfully.
"God bless them p muttered the Mahdi
"My Fatimal My little Hoseinl All 1
have Left Then aloud, "Within an
hour, that is the word, Is 1t not'f'
"f'hat is the Word-Within the hour"
said the soldier.
live or dead?'' said the Mahdi with
significant emphasis.
"Alive or Dead repeated the soldier.
"Lsave your prisoner with me and
come back when the time is up" Then
he added with still more significant en-
phasis, lie will be ready"
The soldiers left them together. Omar
looked anxiously at the Mahdi in the
tent mouth. 1.-THE Mahdi is i'll; his eyes
are swollen, his lips are white. Some
thing has happened" a.said anxiously
"You are right, said the Mahdi, cold
1y. Something has happened. Ap-
proaoh Nearer, man. make no more
faces.'
Omar came up with bewildered look
"Mnster r. he cried again.
"That sword-where did you get it?"
said the hahdi. pointing to the weapon
at Omar's side.
"From you, Mahdi,'' said Omar est
is the sword you gave me at Tadla. o,
it is noble blade. as firm as friendship,
and rs true as love-"
"Give it back" said the Mahdi.
"Mahdi!"
"Glve 1t back"
Omar unbuckled his sword and deliv-
cred it to the Mahdi, who flung 1t to the
ground behind him.
''Tha6 pilgrims pirdle--where did it
come fromf" said the Mahdi.
"From you, MASTER" said Omar. Gin
the mosque on the night when I set out
for Fez yon commanded Rachel to grid it
on me. 1t was the mark of your trust
and Of my honor
"Unfasten it, said the Mahdi.
There was a moments hesitation.
Omar unfastened his girdle and gave it to
the Mahdi, who flung it after the sword.
"1hat selham of green-how did you
come by it?''
"You commanded Rachel to clothe me
with this also" said Omar. 'It was the
mantle of the Mahdi when he was pill
grim in the days before God had called
him.
"Take it off" said the Mahdi.
Omar took of the hooded cloak reluo-
family. The Mahdi held it in his hands
a moment and said. "Have you given
back all gave you?'
GAIL"
'tIt is lie, cried the Mahdi.
"Moham mined Adder Rahmanl"
1.-THE trust gave you@Where ~, is that"
ence, the love / squandered upon you
where are they"
stWhat is thisP What have doneP said
Omar with looks OF wonder.
"What have you done? Borrowed fifty
talents from me and brought me back
these rags" said the Mahdi, casting the
selham after the girdie.
Omar braced himself up. "Tell me
what I have donei" he. said. 81 demand
to know it,
hotly. Broken faith and become vii
lain"
whom have been faithless?" he asked.
"Asl1 your own heaTt, "ssaid theaMahdi.
sit beats for your cause. Mohammed."
"Think of your treacheries.
"They are only treachef1es to your enc
miles,
Remember the pit you have fallen
into
Omar hesitated; then he said, cit is
the pit;that was means for you"
The Mahdi laughed scornfulIy. $50
YOU know it'll" he said. "You know who
has been your betrayer-and mine"
Omar's expression changed. "Ah, you
need play the FOOLS face no longer. She
has confessed everything"
Everything?" There was a long
silence. Omar covered his face in his
shams.
40, Omar, Omar" cried the Mahdi,
chow 1 trusted you. But trust and love
are gone. You have been the enemy in
INV hearts heart. You have wrecked nv
homes in the hour of their fulfilment. You
have made ashes of the expectations of
my poor exiled people on the day when
they were returning home. You have
uncovered my nakedness and made me a
thing to point the finger at. You have
turned my heart to stone. ana you shall
1--WE mo Satisfaction to the full
Ito be continued
sys MAGNIFICENT REWARD.
Johnny Hanlon, young boy employed