Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-08

most perpleX1ng business were Slfted. Tie was
seated near the fire with Royson and Stump.
she heard Dicks tragic story.
Has Mrs. Haxton thrown any light on
events" Fenshawe asked. You say she was
completely broken down Did you gather
from her words that Won kerber brought her
here. knowing that this oasis was the place de-
,crbed by the Creek
She did not even mention the treasure.
Perhaps | could have induced her to speak,
but
You forbore | am glad of it. Has any of
the loot been diScovered1'
1t was dark when | visited the trench Won
kerber was cutting. Aliieri sent volley at
him, and stopped the work before much was
done; but the Arabs tell me that some leather
wallets are visible. The men who were here
this morning know that the contents are valtia-
bic; SO have stationed an armed guard there
wish | could destroy every vestlge OF the
wretched stuff There is curse on it. Fen
shawe's tone revealed how deeply he was
moved. Where is Abdullahe" he cried sud-
denly If he will tell us the truth, we may
reach firm ground in the midst of all this
moraSs of lies and treachery. Send tor him.
He is an Arab, and if he thinks his interests
are bound up with ours he Will peak.
Abdullah, surveying the Col.~-..ve from afar,
had arrived at opinion that justified this
estimate. His first words shed hght on dark
place in the records of the two men who were
lying side by side in the safe keeping OF the
desert. His command of French rendered con-
versation easy except to Stump, and he was
quite explicit.
Madam is beautiful, is it not?" he said,
indicating Mrs. Haxton's tent by graceful
gesture. Seven years ago she was the most
beautiful woman in Egypt. Her husband
should not have brought her here. BY Moham-
med Egypt is no place for the good looking
wife of a poor man. That is the cause of all
the trouble, messieurs Elegant birds require
gilded cages. and Monsieur Haxton had not
money enough. | met them first in Massawa.
where she lived in the hotel, while her husband
went up and down the Red Sea in ship.
Alfieri was there and he also poor; but he
ruined himself in trying to win her away from
Monsieur HaXton. He failed. and. like many
another man. that only made him worse
When Monsieur Haxton was sent ~ ASSuan
by a new company, Aleri went there too. 1t
was at that time found the papers which tell
about the treasure
How do you know they tell about the treas
ure?" broke in Fenshawe.
Because | stole them from Monsieur Hax-
ton" was the cool reply. " | had sold them to
Monsieur Alfier. and he gave them to madams
husband Monsieur lie Baron was his doctor
and friend; but when he found out how
valuable those papers were he hired me to Sc
cure them from Monsieur Haxtons bureau
while he slept. Unfortunately. there was an
accident Monsieur Haxton in fever,
and the doctor gave him a sleeping draft.
Monsieur Haxton took too much. and he never
woke again
Fenshawes face grew dark with anger.
You scoundrell' he cried. Between you.
you poisoned the man | recollect the incident
now. | saw it IN the paper at the time.
You are wrong. monsieur, SAID Abdullah
calmly. There an inquiry. and 1t was
proved that the draft was only strong one
quite harmless if the doctors written orders
were obeyed. True. none but and the Baron
knew why the Engshman should sleep SO
soundly that night but it was not meant to
kill him Monsieur Alfieri charged the doctor
with having committed crime so Monsieur
Haxton's friends had the affair fully examined
into. 1t was really accident. Monsieur lie
Baron was exceedingly grieved.'
II But he kept the papers!' was Fenshawes
grim comment.
BY the kaaba, and why not Here was
Monsieur Alfieri trying to hang him, and all
because madam would not have anything to do
with him. You see there was every reason why
the Hakm Effendi should get the papers.
Monsieur Haxton was fool enough to tell Alherl
something about them.
Probably Monsieur Haxton meant to play
the part of an honest man.
1t may be Who knows, Yet it is certain
that Altier would never have shared the treas
ure with Monsieur Haxton if he had known