The Washington times., 1910-11-12
The Shadow of the Sphinx

God is all powerful There is but one
Godr'
] repeated the words after him with
conviction. He seemed all at once in
hnltely relieved. But with a shade Of
do~bt he passed on at once 10 the
Mohammedan creed's second "decIara-
ton"
Our Lord NIohammed is the prophet
OF GOdi'
u Go not believe that I answered.
''MOhammed may indeed have been a
prophet OF he may not. But he preached
the gospel Of blood and the senses Not
love and forgiveness I cannot accept
him as divine"
The enir's face darkered
You blaspheme," he said
T intend no Offense to YOU OF your
creed 7 assured hun gently: you
asked my beliefs I gave them to you -
To tell the truth" ." I replied frankly
I have given the matter less thought
than I should I have my own creed
and II Is part W me. Yet, I'm
ashamed to say, have never dweIt
1eeply uDOn f. Z
In that case" said he. with some
elatiOn, II viii be easier for YOU 20 be
come converted Nv own priest shall
instruct you: You viii soon rejoice in
the true faith"
CAS- you willt' 7 returned with slight
interest I suppose. after all. there IS
little difference IN the two religions"
You are wise he approved. and
you justify my trust in YOU. YOu have
made me very happy. And now" be
went on, tracing something with his
Scabbard-pOint on the sand in the door
way, give me a sign of your willing
ness and ] win make il known 10 your
people. Stamp on thatI'
He pointed to what he had marked IN
the sand II was rude design OF a
crOssi
For some reason I could not define.
even to myself, I le2ped to my feet
white and Speechless with anger
''Soi' he urged, misinterpreting my
motion, set your foot upon the en-
blemi Then VIII make Il known TO all
that
Mo- 7 shouted, finding nv voice in
a gUst Of reckless passion moi And
a thousand times, no. 1 did not under
stand before 1 did not think. Now I
know
He stared at me. sstOunded at my
You mean?'' he began, you mean
you refuse the true faith?"g
No!' l retOrted, I mean that 7 hold
10 it. life or death. That" pointing TO
@ the slSn OF me Ine cross, is the symbG Of
my faith. The true faith. The only
For such plasphemy men have died 0"
he warned me in chagrined horror.
Ihey died as martyrs, them"
flashed back; If am to become one
checked myself. little ashamed Of
my oUtburSt
''YoU have spirit he commented sad
ly. I had hoped TO make you a be-
lever"
Did my father become a Moha nnae-
dan while he was the adopted son OF
your peOple2' I asked.
No., said the emIr. with a slight
hesitation, ''he-like-you-''
The faith Of my father and Of his
father is minei" I finished. II stand or
fall by that Is there more you would
say to me2''
There was much more, ." he answered,
but l half doubt if now il NAV be said.
Yet he went on. more TO himself than
TO me, why nOt2 Your father. too,
was 2 Christian, and my people accept
ed him and sorrOwed at his departure.
They would have followed him to death
Why should they not follow you2''
Principally because they won't have
the chance" was on the tip of my
tongue. But held back the words and
waited for what he next should say
= grow Old he continued. presently,
"and I have no son TO bear my name
when 1 am gone My nephew, the Sheik
Hafiz, would have ruled in the days 70
come had you not been sent by Allah to