The Washington herald., 1908-06-05
CHAPTER XXI-Continued.

Don't be damned FOOL Williams.
Don't you know a gentleman when you
see one, even II he is not wearing a top
hat? co and look after the baggage.
Good Lord" he thought to himself. how
long shall we rule native races when the
labor party rules Englandg'
rs that son OF his sister the servant
Of the bey?" asked Daoud.
Lord Ancestor nodded.
Then we will not XIII him-but ne
comes not into the desert. The Graghas
break not bread with the lower sorts"
He can stay in Cairo" answered Lord
Ancestor, apologetically. I'm sure I
don't know why I brought him along
force Of habit ] expect" Then he enter
ed into conversation with Daoud and
Dashin. and learnt how the sheik Of their
tribe had sent them 10 meet him and
guide him through the desert.
For two weeks Lord Ancestor and his
guides voyaged southwest through the
desert after leaving Khartoum. Hoy i'm
possible It would have been 20 reach the
tribe without their help be realized more
and more every day. as the cameis' feet
fell mute on Quivering sand. sOundless as
flame and savage tribesmen came out of
disappear after DaOud and Dashin had
signaled In some mysterious fashion cf
their own. AS they jOurneyed south.
Daoud told him OF the cities which lay
buried beneath their feet; of a civilization
which had reached a climax greater than
his own. and now lay buried In an ocean
Of sand. as another city-nO doubt he
meant Atlantis-lay buried in water.
When II seemed 20 Ancestor that he could
not bear the molten atmosphere another
minute they would guide him 70 some
oasis, where light winds sighed through
palm tops whose roots fed on the bones
Of ancient races, in their long-forgotten
garden of sleep. "Old peoples" Daoud
would boast, but not as old as ours,
who saw them come-those red-haired
peoples-and saw them go, always avoid
ing the cataclysms Of nature because
foreseeing them"
OF Won Tarsenheim and the books they
would not talk though Lord Ancestor
was longing 10 learn what power they
had 10 undo the evil TO which he had
been an accessory. He had accepted his
defeat at the occultist's hands, that day
in the tower. recognizing that his enemy
held the cards; but the sense OF that de-
feat ranked IN a mind already worked
up 10 a pitch OF fanaticism on the sub
ject Of putting an end 10 Won larsen
helm and his inventions.
"All must be said 10 our sheik," said
Daoud, for the words of a man come
forth alive but once, and the second time
are but as the warmed-up loaves, tasting
fiat in the mouth"
But they told him much about the steal
ing OF the books and the evil effect on
the tribe. in whose custody they had been
placed centuries ago, as a sacred charge.
For in those books" said Daoud, lis
the truth written as it was known to the
peoples who sleep far down beneath these
sands. who received it from an older
people far 10 the west, who sleep beneath
the water-a people with minds capable
of receiving the truth"
But what is the truth?" asked Lord
Ancestor. in a matter-of-fact way. as he
opened a tin OF sardines in the shade Of
a tiny oasis.
said I not somewhat about minds
which could understand it?" answered the
gypsy. such mind is not In our tribe.
except the sheik have it-then how should
you understand It, va Sidi?'
How about the accursed one?" asked
Ancestor. He seems to understand"
Only how the master-chord may be
struck
The master-chord! And what is the
asked Ancestor.
said l not how should you understand. |
va Sidi?'' replied DaOud. solemnly. and |
wrapped himself up in Oriental reticence. |
One subject they were willing TO talk |
about was the curse which had come on |
the tribe since they had allowed the books |
to be stolen. and how for the last eigh- |
teen months the evil spirits had been |
abroad in the land and the Lord Of Eblis |
had gained much power.
But a day came when the travellers saw
tents siIhOuetted black against the setting |
sun, and as they approached, a crowd of /
desert gypsies IN holiday attire" of /
many cOlors, came forth to meet them. |
playing wild music on strange instru- |
ments, and chanting IN a weird minor |
monotone. At their head rode the white !
bearded sheik, and when the two parties /
met he saIuted Ancestor with grave dig /
nifty, and made a long speech Of welcome. |
which, when translated. informed him |
that, of all Englishmen. he was the |
greatest; that the desert was his, and |
all the gypsy tribes his servants; that |
any who stole from him or injured him |
would die the death. Then a girl. with /
a wonderfully 1.-THE but exqulsitely de- |
veloped figure, brought forward a gold |
plate. studded with uncut Jewels. on /
which was bread and salt. This she 1
handed to the sheik and 20 Ancestor. who /
both solemnly ate Il; and when the empty /
plate was given to him he felt that he /
had been presented with the key of the /
desert.
Many councils were held during the /
week which followed. Ancestor explained |
10 the old sheik the terrible results OF /
Won Tarsenheim's inventions, the power |
for evil which he had obtained by his |
hypnotic force. and the difficulty of deal /
ing with him, since no law could reach \
him. and he who accused him would be 1
accounted mad. When the sheik heard 4
how he had surrounded himself with pre-