Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-08-01

nicely.
A table toppled over with a smash
ing noise. George and his assailants
fell in a heap beside it. Thwack!
Bang! George struggled to his feet
and tugged at the sitting envelope.
Some one jumped upon his back, Old
Man of the Sea style. A savage elbow
jab disposed Of this incubus. And
then the racket began all over again.
George never paused mentally to Won
der what all this rumpus was about;
time enough to make inquiries after
the scrimmage Intrepidly, as Here
ward the Wake, az Busy d'Ambois,
as Porthos in the cave of Loch-Maria,
athlete; he hadn't any science; he
was simply ordinarily tough and ac-
tive and clean-lived; and the injustice
Of an unproyokcd assault added to
physical proves a full measure OF
nervous energy. 1t was quasi-Homer-
ic: a modern young gentleman in eve
ming dress holding eff for several min
utes five sleek, sinewy, unhampered
Arabs. But the days of the gods were
no more; and no quick-witted goddess
cast a veil across the eyes Of the
Arabs. No; George had to shift for
himself. Suddenly there came a gen
erel rush from the center of the room
into one of the right-angular corners.
The subsequent snarl of legs and
arms was not unlike that seen upon
the football field. George was the
man with the ball. And then to
George came merciful darkness. Tho
conjunction, as in astronomy, of two
planets in the same degree Of the 70
diac-meaning Georges head and the
stucco-wall-gave The Arabs complete
mastery of the field of battle.
From the opposite side of the room
came the voice Of the referee:
Curses of Allah upon these white
dogs! How they fight" And Ma
homed peered down into the corner.
One by one the Arabs got up, each
examining his honorable wounds.
George alone remained unmoved, quiet
and disinterested, under the folds Of
the tattered burnouse.
'Is he dcad?" demanded Mahomed.
'No, my father. His head hit tho
wall"
Hasten, then. Bind his feet AMI
hands and cover his eyes and mouth.
We have but little time"
There was long way to go, and
Mahomed was too wise and cautious
to congratulate himself ut this early
stage. George was thercupon trussed
up like a. Christmas fowl ready for
the oven. They wrapped him up IN
the burnouse and carried him out ID
the closed carriage In waiting. No
one in the street seemed curious. No
one in the English.BGr deemed it nee
essary TO be. Whatever happened in
this resort had long been written in
the book OF fate. Had a white man
approached to inquire what was going
on, Mahomed would have gravely
whispered that 1t was case OF
plague they were hurrying away to
prevent interference by the English
authorities.
Once George was snug inside the
carriage, 1t was driven off at a run
toward the tombs Of the caliphs. As
the roads were not the levelest, the
vehicle went most Of the way upon
two wheels. Mahomed sat beside his
victim, watchful and attentive. His
intention was to take him no far
Their than the outskirts Of the city,
force him to send back to the hotel
g. duly credited messenger for tho
rug, after which he would turn George
adrlft, with the reasonable assurance
that the young man would find some
one to guide him back to the hotel.
After while he observed that George
had recovered and was grimly fighting
the imprisoning ropes.
"You will need your strength" in
terposed Mahoned gently. If take
the cloth from your mouth, will you
promise not to cry out?' There was
an affirmative nod, and Mahomed IN
tied the bandage. Listen. mean
you no harm. If you will send 10 tho
hotel for the Holy Yhiordes, you will
be liberated the moment it is put into
my hands"
eco to the deuce!" snapped George,
still dizzy. The fighting mood hadn't
evaporated, by any means You
know where it is better than l." So
this was Mahomed?
''Fool!" cried the other, shaking
George roughly.
Easy there! I had the rug, but
it was stolen this afternoon" He was
very weak and tired. "And if l had
it, 1 shouldn't give it to you," with
renewed turbulence; "and you may
put that in your water-pipe and smoke
it."
Mahomed, no longer pacific, struck
George violently upon the mouth. He,
on his part. was unknightly enough to
attempt to sink his teeth in the Drr