Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-03-20
HAFIA,
the Albino
A Story Of a Narrow
Escape

BY Clarissa Mackie

Now, Mr.. Hanford, II Is your turn
to spin a yard remarked Professor
Trayle one evening as the steamship
Neptune, with party of tourists, was
skirting the African coast
do, James," urged Mrs. Hanford. as
the seven tourists drew their chairs
into close proximity. II know positive
ly that you had an adventure with that
albino dragoman you hired at Cairo"
"An albino dragomanf" laughed Ar
thur Clayton. "Ye gods, what sight!
Was your man Egyptian. Arabian.
Mussulman or Christian
HE was not exactly an albino; he
was very fair and light haired. was he
not. Jamesf' questioned Mrs. Hanford.
referring 10 her husband, who was
listening with a smile of amusement
Light headed" he corrected. "Hafia
had an Egyptian mother, an Arabian
father The mother was Christian
and the father Mohammedan; Hafia
was an out and out heather and Is now
for all l know"
THAT is not all Of your story" pro-
tested Miss Emeline Gray. THAT saw
ors too much OF tabloid fiction"
ut isn't much Of story" admitted
Mr.. Hanford reluctantly. Indeed, l
don't understand how Harriet got the
idea there was story connected with
Hafla."
II never suspected there was until I
saw you kicking him down the steps o.,
the hotel" retorted Mrs. Hanford quiet
ly. and amid the laugh that followed
Mr.. Hanford began his story.
well. Hafia. the heather. came to
me the first day we arrived In Cairo
and, after assuring me that he was the
most efficient interpreter and guide be-
ocean. he produced innumerable tat
/ tered bits OF paper that he swore were
| recommendations from former patrons.
, and as did not care to examine them
| / was compelled to take him at his
own valuation.
'Of course. was mainly interested
I I'm the excavations around Naua Belaks
and Hafia professed to have been born
In the very shadow of the Mana pyra-
mids, so | was confident that our ex-
petition would be accomplished with
out mishnp. as he was doubtless well
acquainted with the vicinity.
These pyramids are half days
journey to the east of Cairo, and on
the morning of our start my dragoman
appeared with two camels, and soon
we were leaving the city streets be
hind and rocking over the sandy road
past the waterworks and out toward
the Arabian desert.
"'Master.' remarked Hafla to me a
few hours later as we ate luncheon
beside little spring of water. 4 have
been thinking that there is pretty
pyramid much nearer than that OF
Naua, where there are no excavations
being made and where all is peace and
One could.sleep refreshingiy there
"'Hafla.' said sternly, we so to in
! vestigate, to observe, to discover. not
to sleep. We shall sleep when we re-
/ turn to Cairo. Remove the luncheon
/ and let US be on our way
/ with Ill grace my albino dragoman
tossed the remains OF our meal into
the sand and brought my camel to its
knees before me. We rode on In 81
[ lence for several hours. Instead Of the
cheerful conversation which had light
/ ened the burden of the sandy journey
we maintained an unbroken silence,
for Hafia was sulking openly, and
was out of patience with him and be-
ginning to have serious doubts as to
1 his integrity.
"'You said 1t was q half days jour
ney,' l exclaimed at last. 1t is now
5 O'Clock and we are still in the desert
"T came the long way, master
growled Hafia modify.
why did you do thatY I demand
ed, thoroughly angry.
"Hafa shrugged his shoulders. 4
have forgotten the short way. Besides,
1t Is rough and infested with robbers
"'How soon shall We arrive at
Nauar
ain an hour, master. but will ques-
ton this caravan
Approaching us across the sun bath
ed sand was string OF some ten or
dozen ragged looking camels. whose
riders were the dirtiest and most ras-
cally looking lot I'd seen In many a
day.
Don't let them know we are alone,
Hafia.' warned him. They look like
robbers
"Hafia rolled one Of his queer light
colored eyes toward me as he nodded
reassuringly. He held few minutes
low toned conversation with the lead
ers of the caravan. and then, dismiss
ing them with rough spoken word,
he turned and watched them as they
disappeared behind us through the
golden sunset haze.
"'When the first star has risen we
shall see the pyramid of Naua. MASTER
said Hafia good naturally, and from
that moment he chartered on with
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