Warren sheaf., 1905-12-21


but his vice, who was jailer and scribe
in one, sat in a chair behind the great
table.
When the party entered he sat w,
undid new scroll, Wetted the reed
pen in the pigment, and was ready
Kenkenes asked, Wherefore am
takenY' .-..
"For sacrilege and slave stealing
the scribe replied calmly.
"At the complaint Of Har-hat, bearer
of the kings FAM" kenkenes added.
until such time as stronger proof
of thy misdeeds may be brought
against thee," the scribe continued.
Gwen so. In palmer words, l shall
be held till 1 confess what he would
have me tell or until l decay in this
shall do neither. Unhand me. l shall
not attempt to escape"
At sign from the scribe the four
men released him and took up a posi-.
ton at the doors. Kenkenes opened
his wallet and displayed the signet.
The scribe took 1t and read the inscrip'
ton. There was no doubling the
young mans right to the jewel, for
here was the name Of Mentu, even as
the chief adviser had given it in identi-
flying the prisoner The official frowned
and stroked his chin.
''This petitions the Pharaoh" he said
at last II cannot pass upon it."
"Send me to my cell, then, and do
thou follow" Kenkenes said. II have
somewhat to tell thee"
Take him to his CELL" the official
said to the men as he returned the
signet to the prisoner. II shall attend
him.
81 have but to crave messenger of
thee-a swift and a sure one-one who
can hold his peace and hath pride in
And this further: Keep his going a Sc
cret, for I am besct, and I would not
have my rescue by the Pharaoh thWart-
ed
II can send thee messenger" the
jailcr answered.
Iuc SOllu ScCLlOlI VI wall SN uito Siiut
behind him, and the great bolts shot
into place.
Some time later the bar ratified down
again and the jailer stood without. Il
scribe at his side 1t a sign from the
jaile- the latter made as though to
enter, but Kenkenes stopped him.
II have need Of your materials only"
he said "but the fee shall be yours
nevertheless" The man set his case
on the floor, and Aenkenes put ring
of silver in the outstretched palm.
Fail me not in a faithful messen-
ger" the prisoner repeated to the jail
er. The official nodded, and the door
was closed again.
Kenkenes sat on the floor beside the
case, laid the cover back and, taking
out materials, wrote thus:
To My Friend, the Noble Hotep greet
ing:
This from Kenkenes, whom Ill fortune
cannot wholly possess while he may call
thee his friend.
I speak to thee out Of the prison at
Tape, where I am held for stealing
against the canons of the sculptor's rit-
ual. The accumulated penalty for these
offerses is great. My plight is most Sc
rious.
The plying gods have left me one
chance for escape. If fail shall molder
here, for my counsel is mine, and the
demons Of Anenti shall not rend it from
me
The tale is short and miserable. But
IN tl,1
for it publishes the humiliation of sweet
innocence.
Suflice it to say that the Offended is she
of whom we talked one Gay on the hill
be-2k Of Masaarah: the offender is Har-
hat. WHO ha.'l buried me here in Tape.
One morning he saw her at the cuarries
and, talon with her beauty, asked her at
the hands Of the Pharaoh for the hateful
est bondage pure maidenhood ever knew
She fled from the nlinions he sent to
take her and came to me in that spot on
the hillside where thou and did talk
There the 111inions found us, and by the
evidence they looked upon 1 am further
charged with sacrilege
Thou dOSt remember the all powerful
s1gnet which my father had from the
Incompatible Pharaoh He lost it in the
tomb of the king three years ago. aban- \
doning the search for 1T before I was as
SureQ InaL IL was not TO De IOund.
So strong my faith that the signet
was in the tomb that when this disaster
overlook her I came to Tape at once to
look again for the treasure. I found it.
But by some unknowable mischance
mine enemy discovered my whereabouts,
and a third minion, who escaped my
wrath before the statue that morning,
appeared in the city and caused me to be
delivered up to the authorities on the
charges already named.
She is hidden, and have provided for
her protection as we'll as I may, against
the wishes Of the strongest man In the
land. For her immediate welfare I am
not greatly troubled. But. alas! I would
be with her. Thou knowest, o my Hotep,
the hunger and heartache of such separa-
ton!
II the Pharaoh honor not the signet
herein inclosed, tell my father of my
plight, let me know the decision of the
king, and then I shall trust to the Ha-
thors for liberty.
OF this contingency I would not speak
at length. It may be tempting the caprice
of the Seven Sisters to presuppose such
misfortune.
Let not my father intervene for me. He
shall not endanger himself further than
have already asked Of him.
But remember thou this injunction most
surely. That 1t shall be last and therefore
freshest in thy memory. put this at the