Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-08-10
CHAPTER x.
Mahomed Lauahs.

was not possible nor polite that ma
homed- El.Ge meant to take repris-
nj in this congested quarter. It would
have gained him no advantage what.
ever. And Ryanns's perception OF the
exact situation enabled him to smile
with the cool efirontery Of man in.
ured to sudden dangers.
"Well. well! So you have found
your way to Cairo, Mahomed?"
Yes, effendi," returned Mahomed,
with smile that answered Ryanns's
In thought and expression. the only
perceivable difference being in the &C
centuated wilderness Of his hne teeth.
Eyes, I have found you.''
"And you have been looking fol
me-"
Surely"
Ryanne. with an airy gesture. signi.
fed that he wished to enter his car
riage. Mahomed. with = movement
equally light, implied his determine
ton to stand his ground.
I'm q moment, enendi," he said
smoothly.
Mahomed spoke English more or
less huently. His career Of forty-odd
years had been most colorful. Once a
young sheik Of the desert, Of ample
following, series Of tribal wars left
him unattached. . wanderer without
tent. village or onion-patch. He had
first appeared In Cairo. Here he had
Of necessity picked up few words of
English: and from laborer in the cot
ton fields he was eventually graduated
to the envied position Of dragoman or
guide. He tired Of this, being nomadic
by instinct and inclination. He tried
his hand at rugs in Smyrna, failed. and
found himself stranded in Constants
nople. He drifted, became . steve.
dore. hotel porter. burying his pride
Ill that moment when he could. in
Lightly and security, resurrsct It. For
tune, hanging fire, relented upon his
appointment AZ CANVASS or messenger
10 the British Consulate. After z
lime, he became what he considered
prosperous; and like oil fanatic pa
gans Of his faith. proposed to recon
struct his religious life by q pilgrim.
age to Holy Mecca. While there, he
rad performed considerable service
n behalf sof the future Pasha Of Bag
lad. who thereafter gavo him . place
in his retinue.
Mahorned was not only proud but
wise; and series of events, sequences
Of his own shrewdness, pushed him
forward till he became in deed, II not
in fact. the Pasha's riSht-hand man in
Bagdad. That quaint city, removed az
it 10 from the ordinary highways Of
the Orient, 10 still to most Of VI an
echo remote and mysterious; and the
present Pasha enjoys great privileges.
over property, over life and death:
apd 1t is not enlarging upon fact to
say that WREN he deems it necessary
to lop of head, he does SO. without
consulting his, master in Constanti-
nople. 1t IL an In the business Of .
day. Next to his celebrated pearls and
rose-diamonds, the Pasha held as his
most precious treasure. the Holy
Yhiordes. And for its loss Mahomed
knew that his own head rested but in
securely upon his lean neck. That his
star was sti1l In ascsndancy he b.
lieved. The Pasha would not be n
Bagdad for many weeks. The revofa.
ton In Constantinople. the success Of
the Young Turk party, made the
Pasha's future incumbency matter Of
conjecture. While he pulled those
wires familiar to the politician. Ma.
homed set out bravely to recover tho
stolen rug. He was prepared to pro-
coed to any length to regain 1t, even
to the horrible Ito his Oriental mind)
necessity Of buying It. He retained
his travel.worn garments circumspect-
", for none would believe that his
burnouse was well lined with English
bank.notes.
"Well?" said Ryanne. whirling his
cane. He was by no means at ease.
There was going to be trouble some
where along the road.
Il have como for the Yhiordss, ef.
fendi."
Tho rug! That's too bad. haven't
It."
WHO has :" Ono fear beset Mahom-
eds heart; this dog. whom he called
eftendi. might have sold it. since that
must have been tie ultimate purpose
Of the theft. And II he had sold It
to one who had left Egypt Ma,
homed's neck grew cold. who has
It, efIendi? Ii the man still in Cairoi'
Yes. II you and your two friends
will come with me to the English-B Bar.
I'll explain many things to you." az
sured Ryanne, beginning, 40 he b.
1lav,AA ~, 60 Me nov fNrwar ~ ssnonst