The San Francisco call., 1906-09-23


rascal the Persian was unable to give
any naws.
He haf took my ring and Jewels"
sighed Alec. mournfu@y. and in some
Ian far away he live on my moneys.
But the justice of Allah. who sees the
black beetle in the black rock. will
snlite him. He win fall in his splendor
and evil doing. as the people OF Cd
went down TO the dust II is written"
I'm the meantime CaTthew who had
genuine liking for Alec. made all in
uuiries about the absent Mohommed
and the missing ring. For many weeks
he learned nothing but finally chance
set him on the track OF the thief and
in tho end he learned ALL lie discov-
cred what had become Of Mohommed
and Of the ring. and the discovery as
tonisbed him not "A little. II was an
sttache OF the Persian Embassy who
revealed the truth. and Carthew judged
il best that the lips OF this same man
should relate the story to Alec
My friend" said he one day to ths
Persian. 'do you know a countryman
Of yours called Mira Baba?'
j have heard of him." replied Alec
slowly. but he has not seen my face.
nor have 1 beheld him. Why do you
ask?"
Because he knows what has become
OF your ring"
And OF. .Mohommeds on. my friends.
tell me of these things" cried the Per-
sian.
Nay. Alec: it Is better that the truth
should come from the lips OF Mira
Bsba himself. / viii ask him here to
tell YOU
But he may learn who ann NUT
tered Alec. in dismay.
Il think not. as he has never seen
your face" replied Carthew. smiling,
besides" He broke off with nod.
Well. you'll hear the story as he tells
it. but call all your self-command and
Oriental impassiveness TO your aid.
You'll need courage"
Let 1t be as you say" rejOined Alec,
folding his hands. To-day and tomor
row are in the hands of the All Wise"
True to his promise. Carthew next
day received Mira Baba in his house
and introduced him TO Alec. who gave
his countryman feigned name. The
Persian Of the embassy. who was
very great man. indeed. paid little at
tention to Alec whom he regarded SIM
ply as the secretary OF Carthew. and as
one quite beneath his notice. This neg
lect suited Alec. who sat meekly on one
side and listened to his own story and
10 the story of Mohommed and the
missing ring Mira Baba, in response
10 the request of Carthew. told it over
pipes and coffee and greatly aston
ished Alec in the telling.
You know. said the Mira. ad-
dressing himself particularly to Car
thew and quite ignoring his own coun-
trynaTi. that this dog OF an Alec, on
whose head be curses. had the folly to
conspire against the peace of the shah
-on whom be blessings. He escaped
from the Land of the Sun and came to
this island of thine. Hither he was
traced. and. to assert the majesty OF the
asylum of the universe, it was resolved
that this son OF a burnt father should
SDc brought back to Persia for punish
ment The Banou Ayesha- who is the
Pearl of the East. was bent upon seeing
the head of this traitor. to whom afore-
time she had been wife ere the King OF
Kings had deigned TO cast his eyes upon
her. Also Achmet. the most Jealous OF
governors, who had discovered the con-
spiracy of the evil-minded Alec, wished
10 punish him. Orders were sent to
our embassy that Alec should be taken.
even in the streets or London. and sent
back in chains to the court OF Teheran;
but this it was difficult to do"
HIM ! think sOr' replied Carthew,
dryly. The Chinese embassy tried on
that game with Sun Yat. and had to-
give him up The English Government
does not recognize the embassies as so
many neutral territories in London."
1T is trues I know it" answered
Baba. coolly. We'll, as there was no
chance. of capturing Alec in that way
1T was resolved to employ stratagem-
A letter. purporting to be written by
Feshnavat of Shiraz. was sent to this
traitor in which 1t was set forth that a
box of jewels. saved from the wreck
OF his property. was being sent to Eng
land. and that IL would be given up at
Southampton to the bearer OF the
Shah's ring. You know OF the ring, my
friend? p added the Mira.
Yes; the ring given by the Shah TO
in. n Ura for d -
That is So The dog surrendered his
spouse, who is now the Pearl of Persia.
for the meanest ring worn by the Shah
1T was known that he bore ii to this
land, so it was arranged by the Pearl
and Achmet that such ring should be
the means TO lure this traitor to his
death. Well. my friend" continued
Baba. with q chuckle, the plot con-
trived by the wit of Banou Ayesha was
successful. Alec went to Southampton,
and. finding the supposed servant OF
Feshnavat produced the ring and de-
manded the jewels. This was at night.
so at once the traitor was seized and
placed on board the waiting vessel to
be taken TO Persia.
That was very clever" said Car
thew. stealing a glance at Alec. who
was painfully white. -"And what hap
pened then?1
Lies and misfortune" replied Baba
1AlEa. ltito Alccs NnCu ne icdIncu llo
truth. swore that he was not the man
we sought. but one Mohommed. and
that he had stolen the ring to get the
Jewels. OF course, no one believed this
story, which, without doubt. was. a
mere trick to save his life He was
carefully watched and was told that on
arriving in Persia he would be behead-l
ed at once. In fear OF this death the
wretch escaped one night from the
cabin in which he was confined and
threw himself into the sea. He left
behind him the ring. and this. seeing
that the man was dead. was taken to I
Persia in proof that Alec had been
seized. The ring is now worn by the
Pearl of Persia. but never has she ceased
regretting that Alec escaped her ven-
geance."
After telling this story. which was
listened to with outward composure
but inward fear by Alec, the Mira took
his leave When alone with the Per-
sian, Carthew turned to address him.
Well. Alec said he. kindly, you
see fortune has not forsaken. you yet.
She has saved you and punished Mo-
homfned for his theft