The San Francisco call., 1906-09-23

y NE Of the last customers OF ans
note who came to the Lambeth
pawnshop was a slender. wirs
man with an Oriental face MOI
unlike that Of Hagar herself HI:
countenance was oval his nose aquiIins
in shape and he possessed two dark
sparkling eyes; also a long black
beard. well trimmed and well kept IN
fact. this beard was the nestest thing
about him. as his dress-a European
garb-was miserably poor. and the pur-
PIE hued cloth which he had twisted
round his head Tor turhan was worn
and solod. He was. nevertheless. a
striking figure when he presented him-
self before Hagar. and she examined
him with particular interest There
was gypsy look about the tenth Gus
toner. which seemed to stamp him as
one OF the gentle Romany Even keen
eyed Hagar was deceived.
Are YOU OF our peopie?' she asked
abruptly after looking at him for a
moment or so.
7 do not understand" replied the
man. in very good English. but with
2 foreign accent what people You
speak OFF,
The Romany-the gypsy tribes
No. lady; I no Of dem. know what
they are-oh. yes. they in my own
country as is dis"
Where is your country" demanded
Hagar. vexed at her mistake
Iran; what you cali Persia" replied
the customer. Ny name, lady, is Alec
] come from Ispahan desc two year.
Oh. yes; a long time do stop in dis
town"
"A Persian said Hagar. looking at
lis swarthy face and delicate features.
i don't think ever saw Persian be-
fore You are very like one of the
Romany. not at all like a Gentle"
Lady. I no Gentle, / no Christian: I
am follower OF de Prophet. May his
name be blessed. But dis not what /
do come TO speak" he added with some
impatience. You give money on ring.
chr"
Let me see the ring FIRST said
Hagar diplomaticany.
Alec. as he called himself slipped the
ring in question of one OF his slender
brown fingers ana handed II TO her in
silence. II was a band of dead gold,
rather broad. and set in il was an oval
turquoise OF azure hue. marked with
Arabic letters in gold. The ring had
the look OF tslisman or amulet. as
the queer hieroglyphics on the stone
seemed the words of some ehsrm
stamped thereon TO avert evil Hagar
examined the ring carefully. as she
had never seen one like it before.
1T is a queer stone" she said. after
looking through a magnifying glass at
the turquoise. What do you want on
u2p
one pound" replied Alec promptly;
lust for two-tree days En-. what,
you give me dat?"
@oh, yes; I think the ring is worth
hre times as much. Here is the money;
III make out the ticket in your name
OF Alec. How do you spell itg'
The Persian took the ring from Ha-
gar. and in very fair English letters
wrote down his name and address.
Then with bow he turned to leave the
shop. but before he reached the door
she called him back.
y say. Alec. what do these gold
marks op this stone mean?"
''Dey Arabic letters, lady Dey a
spell against de Jinns. In de name OBJ
Allah de All MercifuL Dat what dem
letters say"
They say 2 good deal with a word or
two" muttered Hagar Arabic must
be something like shorthand When
do you want back the ring?" she asked,
aloud.
In two-tree days" replied the Per-
sian. Say dis week Yes Good
night lady; you keep dat ring all right
Yes So"
Alec took himself out OF the shop
with another bow. and Hagar, after a
further examination of the queer-ring
with its talismanic inscription. put it
away on a tray with other jewels. she
wondered very much IL it had a story
attached 10 it, and having read the
Arabian Nights" OF late, she compared
St IN her own mind to the ring OF Alasd-
din II looked like jewel with a his
tory. did that inscribed turquoise.
IN the afternoon OF the next day an
other Persian arrived Hagar recog-
nized him as such from his resemblance
10 Alec; indeed, but for the difference
IN expression the two men might have
passed for twins. Alec had soft look
in his eyes. a melancholy twist to his
mouth; while this countryman of his
had a hawkli6e and dangerous fierce
ness stamped on his lean face. He was
dressed similarly to Alec. but wore a
yellow turban instead of a purple one,
and gave his name to Hagar as Mohom-
med: also. he took out Of his pocket a
pawn ticket. which he handed TO the
girl
-Alee, nay countryman. he send dis"
said he. in broken but fair English;
ne want de ring which he leave here. .
why doesn't he come for it himself?"
asked Hagar. suspieiouslv.
Alec i'll; him berry bad: he ask me