The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-14
GALL RIGHTS REsERvEDl

A moment afterwards SGalWarG lelloW
came slouching into the market place.
| The long gun of the Berbers was in his
hand; he had numerous daggers at his
| girdle; his jellab trailed on the ground
and its lower edge was a fringe of .tatters.
| His name was Otba. He was ia Berber
and the father of Asma.
Here again, little master?" he cried,
seeing .Othman under the balcony.
eyes, Otba,'' said Gilman. with a
tragic air, "here again and again, and
always until you give up the jewel have
| won from you.
"Catch your fish by the head. boy.
What will you bait for herp' said Otba.
81 will give you, by Allah, will give
you camel for your daughter" said
Gilman.
"Tut!" said Otba.
~ will give you-remember God, I say
I will give you fat camel
Otba laughed uproariously. "Away to
your frills and ribbons, little master. Or
is it candy and lollypops?'
Eyes, know!' said Gilman. "You
despise me because am town dweller,
brow. It's the way of all idle fellows,
and thieves, and rascals, and vagabonds,
the world over"
Otba lifted his gun threatenihgly.
ssShow US the breadth of your shoulders,
little bro ther," he said.
Othman took the hint, "But you'll re-
pent it yet he said. 'fI'd go away. but
I'll come back-I'll come back -
AS he turned the corner, As ma, unseen
by her father, reappeared on the balcony,
motioned to him significantly and disap-
peared.
eyes, you'll go away donkey, and
come back a jackass,' said Otba, laugh
ing in derision.
Three mon came walking through the
| Ono of tho1,,
Fee merchant, an elderly man, held in
respect.
Berber.
"Peacel Peacei welcome to Fezl well
co mel" said the old gentleman.
''Welcone to the strangers, Sid" said
Otba indicating Boobker's companions.
''Who are they?"
MERCHANTS from Tadla," said Boob
land YOUR friend, Boobker?'' said one
of the two indicating Otba.
"Otba, the Berber," said Booker.
"Fresh from the mountain Otbas" eaid
the stranger. His name was Asad.
within the hour, Sidi," said the
other.
ssDid you see the Mahdi there?''
| Otba sneered at the name. "Moham-
med A bder. Rahman? did. He will be
down before long and a fine welcome
awaits him. 1.sa
The old gentleman looked at the Berber
"That's not the voice of friend, Otba.
You do not love the Mahdi."
"Why should I?'' said Otba.
"He is the brother of the poor" said
Booker.
sOtba Laughed derisively. "Call your
enemy so when he gives scalding water to
your thirsty camel.
HE is not a man to laugh at, brother +"
L.
today may bless him tomorrow. Not for
nothing was he called 'Mohammed the
trusty. -
"Ihat was long ago Sidi." said the
Berber. ''No longer 'Mohammed the
trusty,' but 'Mohammed the mailman.
He.spends his days alone on the noun
tains. and his nights preaching to jeering
clowns in the streets of Fez.'
"He has his mission. Otha," said the
merchant, "and more than that the CLOWNS
Fee will yet hear it. -
"Mission!'' laughed the Berber. ''What
is it? To SOW discord where there was
peace, to set brother against brother,
father against son, wife against husband?
Missionl Bah'
There as another peal of laughter.
Otbaflifted up his head, and went off in
the direction Of the sound.
The merchants drew closer together.
"We must get the Mahdi away" whis-
pered Booker. "His life is not safe.
Depend upon it. that man has be, sent
for Then, looking across the arket
pla ce, he added, ''And here come his
masters.
sWho are they?" said the other Tadla
merchant. His name was Ell Arby.
"The new Basha of Fez," said BOOKER.
ga wolff" said Asad.
s'And Jonas Maliki, his secretary"
continued Booker. se
"An old fox" said Asad-
To be continued.