Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-11

the matter stands. I'm not SO much to
blame as you think. Here this man Jones
has me In Q wise. II do not get this
bit Of carpet. OF l. so. into the dark. into
I know. But could help it. 1t was my
throat or yours. You're no chicken. You
and that other chap made things excit-
Ing"
Mahomed accepted this compliment to
his prowess In silence. Indeed. he gazed
fellow wouldn't trouble any one again.
To Mahomed 1t had not been the battle;
man to man; it had been the guile and
trickery leading up to It, He had been
bested at his own game duplicity. and
looked upon with oriental passivity. All.
well! The game was to have q second
inning, and he proposed to play 1t in
strictly oriental ways.
How much did he give you for it?''
The expression upon Ryannes Is. face
homed. "Give for IT." Indignantly. why,
that's the whole trouble. All my trouble,
all the hard work and not q plaster. not
plaster! Can't you understand. had to
do it,"
us he going to sell it?'
''Sen It? Not he! He's a collector and
crazy over the thing"
Mahomed nodded. He knew something
Of the habits Of collectors. rs he still
S6IEO 0uO WUcJe may uC UC AOuius
RyaDne began to believe that the game
was going along famously; Mahomed was
sure Of It.
"He is George p. A. Jones Of Mortimer
Jones. rich rug dealers OF New York.
Money no object"
Though his face did not show 1t. Ma
homed was singularly depressed by this
news. II this man. Jones had money, OF
what use was his little packet Of notes?
II must have. that rug, efendi. There
q txx,n vuh Se hnlv and the
loss Of 1t means nay head"
Good riddauce!" thought Ryanne, a
sympathetic look upon his face.
What have you to suggest In the way
Ryanne felt q tingle OF Jubilation. He
saw nothing but plain calling into port.
But Mahomed had arranged TO guide his
craft into the whirlpool. Unto himself
he kept up e cease. ess reiteration Of
Said Ryanne: You do not care how
you get the rug. so long as You do get
mo. enendi" Mahomed smiled.
"A little rough work wouldn't disturb
mo. It would not
"well. then. listen to me- Suppose you
arrange to take my friead Jones into the
desert for q little trip. Be his dragoman
him. steal him. You can hold him in ran
money besides"
"can they do such things these days in
Cairo?'
'Why not?"
|, Truly. why not?" Mahemed sat
thoughtfully studying the outrageous
prints on the cracked walls. Had he
dared he would have laughed. And he
his kindl IT agree. But the arrangements
l must leave to you. Bring him here at 8
O'Clock tonight" he continued. leaning
| across the table impressively. and l will
give you one hundred pounds English"
Ryanne quickly assumed the expression
needed to meet such splendid news. II
say. Mahomed. that is pretty square. after
what has passed between u.s."
1T IL nothing" calamity.
| homed certainly found ample room in his
for such silent and fsurative cachinna-
tons. He knew very well that Ryanne
had received q goodly SUM for his adven-
70 cancel an obligation which was not
! based upon disinterested friendship: and
already the man had disavowed any such
| quality. Also. he had not been a seller Of
rugs himself. or guardian Of the Yhordes
all these years. without having had some
| contact with collectors. Why, II there
| was one person dear at this moment to
MISUNDERSTANDING heart, It was this
man sitting opposite. And he wanted him
rug must Be resained. Tor its loss was =
passport into paradise: and he wasn't
quite prepared to be received by the
hours.
| MIR. Jones. then. shall be here promptly
| NJ g." declared RyAnne. -beckoning the
barraid. What win you haye?"
( MAiomed shook his head. His two COM
] panions. gathering the Significance Of the
i gesture. likewise declined.
1 "a smoke, them
smiling negative.
Beware. OF the Greek bearing gifts. .
laughed Ryanne. ".All right. You won't
mind Y have . beer to the success Of
the ventureT'
mo. efeendi."
| Ryauue drank the lukeMarm beverage.
while Mahomed toyed With his turquoise
/ ring. that sacred badge Of IN honorable
pilgrimage to holy Mecca
THE young lady. effendi: she was very
pretty. Your sister," casually inquired
i Mahomed.
"Oh, no. She-is q young lady met Al
/, the hotel the other day
! The liar: thought the Moslem. as be re