Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-06
CHAPTER vi.
MOONLIGHT and Poetry.


A ball followed dinner that night. We'd
nesday. The ample lounging room filled
up rapidly after coffee-officers in smart
uniforms and spurs, whose principal func-
ton in times of peace is to get in every
body's way, rowel-exposed ankles and de-
molish lace ruffles; Egyptians and Turks
and sleek Armenians in sombcr western
frock and scarlet eastern fez or tarboosn,
women OF all colors (meaninS. of course,
as appiied) and shapes and tastes, the
lean and fat, the tall and short, such as
BILLY Taylor is said to have kissed In
all the ports, and tailcoats OF as many
STYLES as Josephs had patches. George
could distinguish his compatriots by the
fit Of the trousers round the instep: the
Englishman had his fitted at the waist
and trusted in Providence for the hans
Of the rest. This trifling detective WORK
rather pleased George. The women, how
ever were all Ewes to his eye; liberal ex-
panses of beautiful white skin. the bare
effect being modified by string or pears
or diamonds or emeralds, and halr WMcn
might or might not have been wholly
their own. He waited restlessly for the
reappearance of Mrs. Chedsoye and her
daughter. All was right with the Worio'
except that he was to sail altogether too
soon. His loan had been returned. ana
he knew that his former suspicious had
mover received his note.
some one was sitting down beside him.
1t was Ryanne, in evening CLONES, I'M
maculate, blase pink checked Ihere arc
some men so happily framed 'that they
can don readymade suits without calling
your attention to the fact George saw at
once that the adventurer was one or these
fortunate individuals.
"Makes a rather good picture to look
at, eh?" began Ryanne, rolling fake
- --S@ TlSatn
mo Wish l could. You've done quick
work." with admiring inspection. Not
flaw anywhere. How do you do it,
Thanks. Thanks to you. / might say
! did some tall hustling, though. Strange
how we love these funeral toggeries. We
follow the dance and we follow the dead.
with never variation in color. The man
who invented the modern evening clothes
must have done good business during the
day as chief mourner."
.'why don't you send for your lug
gage?'
Ryanne caressed his chin. MY lug
gage is, l believe, in the hands OF the
enemy. 1t is of no great Importance.
never carry anything Of value. save my
skin I'm not like the villain in the melo-
drama; no discriminating documents nc
lost Wills. no directions for digging VI
pirates gold"
Il suppose you'll soon be Off for Amer
ica?" George asked. indifferently.
Il suppose so. BY the way, saw you
at the game today"
mo! Where were your"
TOP row. l am going to ask a favor
Of you. II may sound rather odd to your
ears, but I know those two ladies rather
we'll | kept out OF the way till l could
find some clothes. The favor / ask is
that you will not tell them anything re-
garding the circumstances of our meet
ing. / am known to them as globe
trotter and a collector"
That's too bad" said George, contrite-
ly. "But | have already told them"
1.-The devil you have!' Ryanne dropped
his cigarette into the ash tray. IF I re-
member rightly, you asked me to say
nothing
'I know" said George, visibly en-
barrassed II forgot
well, the fat is in the fire. / dare say
that ! can get round it 1t was risky.
Women like to talk. ! expect every hour
to hear Of some one arriving from Bag
dad
There's no boat from that direction till
next week." informed George. who was
q stickIer on time tables.
There are other ways Of getting into
Egypt. Know anything about racing
camels?"
You don't believe . ?"
MY friend, 1 believe in all things that
haven't been proved impossible. You've
| been knocking about here long enough to
know something OF the tenacity OF the
| Arab and the East Indian. Given q just
cause. IN idols eye or holy CARPET and