The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-01
SANDEN ELECTRIC c.,

temples for the worship OF the Roman
and the Greek gods. and mosques for the
Moslems- Here Christian or the Jew, sun
worshiper or pagan implore their several
gods unmo.ested. and thus is Baaibek pros
porous l confess a liking for this tenn
pie OF life, and come here often. I should.
however. warn You that it IS the general
ba.ief of those who frequent this place
that he who steps upon the marble slab.
facing the god, courts disaster. unless his
heart is as free from trcachsry and guile
az this. stone beneath him is free from
flaw. Perhaps you have heard the rumor,
and therefore hesitate"
II have not heard IL heretofore, but hav-
ing heard i, do not hesitate" Saying
which, tho ambassador stepped upon the
stone. Instantly the marble turned under
him, and failing, he clutched It's polished
surface in vain. dropping helplessly into
the reservoir beneath. The air under his
cloak boEe him up and kept him from
sinking. The reservoir into which he had
fallen proved to be as large as the temp,s
itself. circular in form. as was the e,iiics
above il. Steps rose from the water in
unhroken rings around II. but even il he
could have reached the edge of the huge
tank in which he found himself ascent by
the steps was impossible, for upon the first
three burned vigorously some chemical
substance. which luridly illuminated the
surface Of this subterranean lake. He was
surrounded Immediately by water, and be-
ycnd that by rising rings of hame and ne
rightly surrnised that this substance was
Greek fire, for whore II 1rIpped into the
water IL .sifli burned. floating on the sur
face. A moment later the prince appeared
on the uppsr steps. outside the flaming cir
conference
Ambassador he cried, Il told you that
IL you stepped on the marble slab You,
would be Informed truly Of the fate of
your master now announce TO YOU that
he dies tonight, being a prisoner in my
hands. His army was annihiiated i'm ths
pass Of EI-Zaii, while he was on hts way
TO capture this city through yo.ir treach-
cry. In your las; communication TO him
you said that You would investigate our
water storage, and learn how IL was dis
charged. This secret 1 shall proceed To
put you In possession OF. but before doing
so beg TO tell you that Damascus has
fallen and is in my possession. The reser-
weir. You will observe Is ernptied by pull
ing this lever. which releases trap-door
az the center OF the bottom of the tank
The prince. with both hands on the lever.
exerted his strength and depressed IT,
instantly the ambassador left the result
First. a small whirlpool became lndented
IN the placid surface OF the water. exactly
in the center OF the disc; enlarg!ng lie in
fuencs. it grew and grew until IL cached
tho outer edges Of the reservoir, bringing
lines or fire round with IT, The aHa3as-
sador found himself floating with increased
raridlty. dzziiy round and round. He
cried cut in voice that rang against the
stone ceiling.
An ambassadors life II sacred. prince
OF Baalbek. IL Ia contrary TO the law OF
nations 10 DO me iuiury. much less to en-
compass my death"
AN ambassador is sacred replied the
yyYfDrA .abs,t uof a any Aside from shat
an ambassadors duty is 20 pFecede tg
master and. that you are about 10 do. Tell
him when you meet him the secret OF the
reservoir OF Baalbek''
This reservoir. now whirling mael-
strorn, hurried ia sh-teiQng victim into its
vortex and then drowned shrek and man
together.