The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-18


the deaths of both Archie ana Jack. Jacl
is dead. Archie is the more guilty maj
of the two. for he killed their priest
, They will certainly not leave stone un
turned to kill him. 'r ~
Yes. my days are numbered" sal,
Forbes: there is no getting over tn,
fact Vivien, our engagement must com,
, to an end, and in any case feel now tina
l have no right to marry you
Eivien's brows contracted in n ncrvou.
frown. as
We will not talk of our marriage a
present" she said. with some Impotence
but why should we not consult DR.
Khan"
DR. Khan" cried. do you mear
the Persian?'
Yes; why should not we all three II
to him at once? He knows much more
about these Arabs and their queer ways
and their sorceries than anyone else il
London
Upon my word, it is a capital idea"
said. Khan does know strange things
and is up to all the lore of the East. He
is in some ways one Of the cleverest fell
lows l know. He does not practice, hui
he has gone in for chemical research and
forensic medicine as a hobby. There is
no one in London whose opinion would be
of more value in a difficult case like the
ligion, he can help us with the side issues
of this most extraordinary affair Archie
you have got to pull yourself together
my boy. If for no other reason, for vi
vien's sake. Come. we will go down to
Professor KhaF's chambers in Gray's Inn
at once. and tell him the whole story"
And DR.. Khan is n special friend of
mine" said Vivien, brightly. 'Oh, now
that we are doing something to help you,
| Archie, / can live
l crossed the room to order the car
riage As l did SO heard Archie say to
her, in a low tone:
| And you love me stil1?"
Il love you still" was her reply.
He drew himself up; the color return
ed to his ashen checks and the light to
his eyes.
In half an hour we were all driving to
Hussien Khan's chambers, in Gray's Inn.
| When we reached them rang the outer
bell. 1t seemed ages before anyone tame.
| At last the door was opened by an old
housekeeper, in his shirt sleeves. He lee
| ognized me, and nodded when spoke to
him.
| rs Dr. Khan in9" I asked
| Yes, sir; you know your way" Sa3 the
| answer
| We hurried UP the uncarpeted stairs TO
the second floor, and pressed the electric
| bell. There was the sound of the latch
being drawn back inside; l pushed the
panel. and we all three entered; the Goor
closed automatically behind us, and
| stretched on the sofa at the fear end of
| a long room, in a loose dressing gown and
| slippers lay the Persian. He was smok
| ing a long opium pipe. The moment his
eyes rested upon Vivien he put down the
| pipe and stood up. He looked us all over
with heavy. lustreless eyes, and nodded
slowly. He was evidently only half
| awake. otr
Il am sorry to disturb you. Professor
l said, alphabetically. You know my
daughter, of course?"
Vivien came forward and offered her
hand. Khan bent over 1t, and then raised
1t respectfully to his lips.
Il have not forgotten Miss Vivien.' he
said.
Il have come here today because am
in great trouble. and because want yt ur
ADVICE she said at once. ut has to DO
with this gentleman. May ! introduce
him? Mr.. Forbes-Dr. Khan"
DR.. Khan slowly turned his heavy eyes
in Archie's direction. He looked him all
over from head to foot, and then, rather
to my establishment, observed light
ming look of intelligence and remarkable
interest to fill his eyes.
Has the trouble anything to do with
Mr. Forhes?" he said, glaneing at Vivien.
at has
Then l believe may help you. Sit
down, sir, pray. and tell me at once what
is the matter"
Archie told his strange tale. While he
spoke / closely watched the effect on my
friend; but, once the narrative had begun,
the expression on the Persian's face never
altered. After that first glance of interest
1t had settled down into a stolid, Oriental
Indifference.
What do you think of it ALP I said,
as Archie ceased 10 speak
LET me examine the parchment,
please" he replied, with deliberate COM
posure.
Archie gave it to him He took It and
read ii over and over again, muttering the
words to himself.
You could find no cause for your
friends DEATH"
None"
You are quite certain. Mr. Forbes. that
the man you saw yesterday outside st.
Georges Hospital was one of the Mued-
dins whom you had already noticed in the
Mosque?'
Quite
well, my dear friend. am sorry to
say it looks very queer business
And do you really believe that Jacks
death was the work of the Mueddin?' l
cried, ,aghast at his words.
NO; only say that it is quite possible.
/ recall similar case; the same thing
may happen again. The Arabians, upon
whose early researches the whole science
of Europe was founded, possess, of course,
secrets unknown to our Western
scientists of the present day. l
have seen some strange things
done by them. The act of sacrilege
you both committed vas one of the gray-
- II; Ii,
the realm of possibility that such crime
might have been looked over; but as you
my friend, killed one of the priests as
we'll the Mohammedans whom you so
deeply insulted would not leave stone
unturned to compass your end. The mar
vel is that you escaped immediate DEATH
but now let us quite clearly sum up the
position as it stands
AS he spoke the Persian stood up. He
remained quiet for a moment thinking
deeply, then he crossed the room and
took down a volume in Arabic from
shelf With pencil and paper he began
working some calculations, referring now |
and then to an almanac, and once to
map of Asia.
We all three watched him in intense ST.
lence. After a moment or two he looked |
up.
Assuming for the sake of argument |
that the Mleddin whom you saw last night |
has undertaen this work of revenge, he |
continued, the position is this. Owing |
TO the Arabs year being lunar one. the |
festival of Eed-AlK 'rban does, not occur |
at the same date each year l, see. how |
ever. that it will commence according to |
our calendar tomorrow, the Sth of June, |
at daybreak, or Subj. At daybreak or i
Subj the first call to prayer is given by |
the Mueddin from the Mosque. Now, |