The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-01-01
Ny N HER JOE
SssSSSsSss3SSSSS
BY ST. GEORGE RATHBoREE.
SsSsSsSSsssSSSsS
Corrnr


! FORTUNATE, until they nnaily proceed
(, to openly rob their victim.
"Stand backy' cries Sandy with I,
coar, as he swings the naaHeau around
I, bis head.
They understand enough English to
| Know what he is sayina-at any rate,
bis actions are douh;S significant
| but, believing they Gag rule the ranch
| oy mere force of numbers, the ragged
beggars continue to push forward,
I thus hemming the two whites in.
Although small in point Of stature.
i Sandy is warrior. every inch of him,
and. as might be expected from his
(, aervous manner, possessed of an in
fammable temper. When the near
! est of the rogues pushes within
i reaching distance and clutches at him
| with bony fingers, the newspaper man
! brings the flaming torch. with re-
! sounding thump, against the top of the
oeggar's head. 1t does not affect the
link. beyond sending forth shower
IF sparks, but ne unfortunate recip
lent of the blow, finding sparks in his
long hair, utters vociferous shouts and
iances with the fervor of deryish
This is deemed a signal for a gen.
eral assault all along the line, and fol
, the space Of sixty sceaaGA there i;
seen spectacle rarely equaled in the
narrow streets Of old Cairo.
At first the two foreigners are averse
to using their firearms, and endeavol
to inspire terror in the breasts of theiI
enemies by generous exhibition OF
muscle.
When Sandy has to dodge fendisE
blow from. wicked dagger he thinks
it about time they proceeded to sternei
measures.
Sandy opens on the rag-tag and
hob-tail crowd as he terms them, seek
ing to inflict wounds and create di
version. He is Immediately backed
up by his companion. His strong,
white teeth hold fast to his cigar, and
even as he let's drive at dark-faced
fellah who seeks to cleave him with
an Algerian yataghan, the silver king
puffs out small cloud of smoke. Talk
about GOODNESS! Here you have it in
human iceberg. Sandy holds his
breath while looking at this strange
companion, and wonders whether he
would show excitement in the heat Of
battle.
This sort of reception is hardly to
the liking of the cowardly ours who
have appeared daring simply because
their numbers gave them confidence.
At the first shot most of them be-
gan to glance over their shoulders.
This is a sure sign of a desire to re-
treat. Then comes hotter work. Sandy
no longer waits for them to come, but
with his revolver in one hand and 'fhe'
flaming torch whirling about his head.
he leaps toward the footpads.
This l.; too much for thenN-they break
and fly with cries of terror, some
springlpg up the street while others
so down in the direction of the river.
+ In marvelously short space of time
the street is empty save for one poor
fellow, who, shot in the leg. is hop
ping off as fast as his good leg will
carry him. calling on Mohammed To
save him from the c.reign tigers.
In any under city under the sun,
such a connection at deal of night
would create an intense excitement.
Not so in Cairo. The white walls shut
them in, pierced by minute windows
that allow little chance of street gaz.
ing. Those who hear the sounds of
war are discreet enough to know that
1t is none of their business, and they
will be better off away.
Look out behind you, sirr' calls
Sandy. and the silver king turns sud
denly to cover creeping figure that
has advanced from darkened arch
way. whereupon the most piteous jar
gon is heard. and behold the suspected
assassin turns out to be their torch
bearer, who, having witnessed the hot
little affair from place Of security.
is now crawling back to resume his
interrupted duties.
They welcome him gladly, and Sandy
relieves himself of the flambeau, glad
to be rid of it. AS there are no more
footpads in view to give them battle,
they again take up their line of march
for the river. fortunately close at hand.
Mr. Grimes has had explicit direc-
lions from Mr.. Tanner how to reach
the boat, and a suspicion has already
entered his head that the ambuscade
into which they ran might have been
arranged by the reis of the sailing
craft TO relieve his rich employer of
superfluous wealth. These Arabs and
natives arc up to all manner of tricks
to gain filthy lucre. and old travellers
become so accustomed to treachery
that they are surprised at nothing, and
learn to depend upon themselves en-
tirely.
He even mentions the feet. as 1t &C.
ours to him, to Sandy, who declares
there is strong element of probable
ity about it. and in the same breath
swears that, IL the occasion offers. lie
will sift the matter to the bottom and
wiring the neck of the willy old refs II
such course is necessary to extract
h.,