Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-07

net, an all-potent signet which belonged
to the noble Mentu-'
"Aye, I remember" Rameses broke fn
THAT should help the dreamer out Of his
difficulty"
AYE, it should my prince, but 1t did not.
kenkenes sent it to the Pharaoh. with a
petition for his own freedom. but the cares
of state were so pressing that the Son Of
Ptah gave the letter. unopened, to Har-
hat for attention
Rameses laughed harshly.
''Kenkeres would better content himself.
The Haihors are against him." he, cried.
What more?'
1T is not enough. o Rameses?' Hotep
answered sternly. He hath suffered suffi-
GENTLY. Now Is 1t time for them. who pro-
fess to love him, tc bestfr themselves in his
behalf. Thou knowest how near the fan
bearer Is to the Pharaoh. Persuasion can
not reach the king that worketh against
Har-hat. Thou alone are as potent with the
Son of Ptah. Wilt thou not prove thy love
for kenkenes and aid him?'
Rameses did not answer Immediately.
Thoughtfully he leaned his elbow on his
knee and stroked his forehead with his
hand. His black brows knitted finally.
MY hands are tied. Hotep," he began
lluntIy. II permit the sway of this knave
over my father because 1 am constrained"
Iotep bi oke in earnestly.
Surely so SIN all a matter of cOurtesy|f
such 1t may be called-should not stand be-
tween thee and this most pressing need"
AYE, thou hast said-if it were only a
small matter of courtesy. Thou knowest, o
my Hotep. that am betrothed to the
daughter Of Har-hat."
Hotep was on his feet by this time. his
face turned away Rameses could not guess
what a tempest ragged in his heart.
BE thou assured the prince continued
grimly, that only so long as Masanath Is
not yet mine shall endure Harhat After
that he shall fall as never knave fell or so
deserved to fall before. Aye, but stay.
Hotep- 1 have not done. I lave some
small grain of hope for this unfortunate
friend Of ours. The marriage hath been de-
layed. 1 shall press my suit, and wed Ma
sanath sooner. ii she will. and Kenkenes
Eeed not decay in prison"
Hotep did not stay longer. He bowed and
departed without a word.
Rameses Immediately hurried to the well
CT the stairway.
'.HotepY' he called The scribe half way
down, turned and looked UP.
Return to me in an hour. Give me time
to ponder and I may more profitably help
thee" the prince commanded. Hotep bowed
and went on.
The hour was barely long enough for the
smarting soul OF the scribe to soOthe itself.
Deep, indeed. his love for Kenkenes that he
returned at all. Masanaths name. spoken
Familiarity, SO boastingly. by the prince
was fresh outrage to his already affronted
heart.
At the end of the hour he went once again
"Thou hast said" the prince began i'm
Kenkenes till what time he shall divulge
the hiding place of the Israelite?'
Hotep bowed.
''The fan-bearer charges him with slave
stealing
And sacrilege," the scribe added. The
prince opened his eyes. aye, Kenkenes
carried his beauty-love into blasphemy. He
executed a statue OF Athor In defiance of
the sculptor's ritual. For this also. Har-
hat holds a heavy hand over him.
He deserves his ill-luck. Mark me. now.
He will not go mad with a years imprison-
ment. and he will profit by It. Further
more, he cannot be persuaded into betray-
ing the Israelite; II he knows how long and
how much he will have to endure. Once
sentenced. Har-hat can add nothing more
Rameses clapped his hands. The attend
ant that appeared he ordered to bring the
scribe's writing case and implements. When
the servant returned. Hotep. at q sign from
Rameses. prepared to write. Write thus
to the jailer at Tape: BY order of the
crown prince, Rameses. the prisoner, Ken
kenee, held for slave-stealing and sacrflege.
b sentenced to imprisonment for one
year."
Hotep lifted his pen and looked his re-
bslliou.
Writer the prince exclaimed 81 DO him
q kindness. with lesson added. Were 1t in
my power to free him I would not-tsn he
had learned that the law Ii memorable and
the power OF its ministers supreme. Go on
lat such labor a. thu prisoner may elect
No further punishment may b. added there