Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-25

down your old town straight away. Give
up the mate, Rad, and let US get back
peacefully to my steamboat, or, by James,
III let loose a wild earthquake here. If
you want battle, murder and sudden
death. Mr.. Rad ell Moussa, Just you play
monkey tricks with me and you'll get 'em
cheap. Kady, are you? Then, by James,
you start in without further talk and give
me the justice that I've bought and paid
for"
Though this TRADE was in an alfsn
tongue, Rad ell Moussa caught the drift
from Capt. Kettles accompanying gesticu-
lations, which supplied a running transia-
ton as he went on. Rad saw that his WIS.,
itor meant business, and signed that he
would go out and fetch the imprisoned
, mate forwith.
No, You don't" said Kettle. promptly.
III your worship once left here l might
nave trouble in finding you again. know
how easy 1t Is to hide in warren like
this town of yours. Send one of your hands
with a message"
Now, TO convey this sentence the more
clearly Kettle had put his fingers on the
pearls, which came unfastened The pearls
rolled like peas about the floor, and the
Arab, with gritting teeth, whipped out
KNIFE. Promptly Kettle drew also and COW
cred him with revolver
See here" he said; I'm not a thief.
though perhaps you think 1 pulled out that
JeWelry purse on purpose. 1t was an acct
cent, Rad, SO I'll forgive your hastiness.
Dut youI Worship mustn't pull out cutlery
on me. I'll not stand that from any man
living. That's right; put it up. Back goes
the pistol into its pocket and now we're
friends again. Pick up the pearls yourself,
ana then you'll be certain l haven't grab
ped any, and then send one of your men
to fetch my mate and do as 1 want. You
are wasting great deal of my time, Rad
Ell Moussa, over very simple job
Inc Arab gathered the pearls again into
the pouch and put it back to its place
among his clothes. His face had grown
savage and lowering, but it was clear that
inns little spltfire of a sailor with his handy
pistol, daunted him. Kettle who read these
signs, was not inSenSible to the commitment
they implied, but at the same time he grew
III anything) additionally cautious. He
watched his man with a cat-lille caution,
ana When Rad called a slave and gave
MIN orders in fluent Arabic he made him
translate his commands forthwith
Rad ell Moussa protested that he had Or
dered nothing more than the carrying out
OF ms visitors wishes. But it seemed to
Kettle that he protested Just a trifIe too
vehementiy, and his suspicious deepened,
He tapped his pistol in its resting place.
ana nodded his head meaningly you've
friends IN this town. he said, land 1 dare
say you'll have a goodish bit of power In
your small way. I've neither. and T don't
deny that If you bring UP all your local
army to interfere 1 may have a toughish
hight of it, but whatever happens to me in
the long run, you make take it as straight
own funeral If trouble starts. So put that
in your hookah and smoke it, tintacks.
and give me the other tube"
capt. Kettle was used to the diatory
ways OF the east, and he was prepared to
wait, though never doubling that Murray
would be surrendered to him in due time
ana he would get his own way in the end.
so he picked up one of the snaky tubes of
the great pipe, and put the amber mouth
piece between his lips, and there for an
hour the pair of them suuatted on the
o1Van, with the hookah gurgling and reek-
ing between them. From time to time a
save sirl came and replenished the pipe
with tobacco or fire as was required. But
these were the only Interruptions, and be-
silence.
At the end of that hour the man slave
VINO had been sent out with the message
re-entered the room and delivered his It'd
ings. Rad el Moussa, in his turn, passed
lt on. Murray was even then waiting in
tme Justlee chamber so he said, at the
further side of the house. and could be
taken away at cnce. Kettle rose to his
feet, and the Arab stood before him with
bowed head and folded arms.
captain Kettle began to feel ashamed for
having pressed this man too hard. II
seemed that he had intended to act hon
estly all along, and the suspiciousness of
ms behavior doubtless arose from some
ditncuity of custom or language So the
sailor took RAIDS limp hand in his own
and shook 1t cordially, and at the same
time mace handsome apology for his own
share of the misunderstanding. Your
Morshr1p must excuse me-" he said, but
m always apt to be bit suspicious
about lawyers. What dealings I'VE had
with them have nearly always turned out
Tor me unfortunately. And now, if YOU
don't mind We'll go into your court house.
and you can hand me over my mate. and
I'll take him back to the ship Enough
times been wasted already by both of
u.s.
The Arab, still bowed and submissive.
signed toward the doorway, and Kettle
marched briskly out along the narrow dark
passage beyond, with RAIDS sandals shut
hing in escort close at his rear The house
seemed large one, and rambling. Three
times RAIDS respectful fingers On his visi-
tors sleeve signed him a change Of route.
me corridors. too, is the custom in
Arabia, where GOODNESS is the first consid-
GRAFTON, We're dimly lit, and with the eau
uon which had grown to be his second
nature, Kettle instinctively kept all his
senses on the alert for inconvenient sur
prises. He had no desire that Rad 81
Moussa should forget his submissiveness
and stab him suddenly from behind,
neither did he especially wish to be noosed
or knitted from round any of the dusky,
sudden corners.
In fact he was much on the uui
Nye as he ever had been in all his long,
wild, adventurous life, and yet Rad Ell
Moussa, who meant treachery all along.
took him captive by the most vulgar of
tfme-worn stratagems. OF a sudden the
boarding of the floor sank beneath Kettles
feet He turned, and with a desperate eff
fort tried to throw himself backwards
whence he had come. But the boarding
behind reared up and hit him a violent
blow on the hands and head and he fell
into a pit below.
For an instant he saw through the gloom
the face of Rad ell Moussa suddenly turned
virulent, splitting at him in hate and then
the swlng-foor slammed up into place
again, and all view Of anything but inky
blackness was completely shut away
Q'Qncluded neXt 1yeel