Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-21

There was an instant's hesitation,
and then Hafia's voice came soft and
velvety through the semidarkness.
THE camp Of the learned men lies
half mile beyond the pyramid. 1t is
on high slope far above the sand
feas'
Never mind. All, some OF them
must be here now. There is light
within the pyramid
"Afterward l learned that the light
was a small lantern carried up the out
side of the edifice to guide us on the
way.
"'Let US get Off here and see II Pro-
fessor Georges is inside.
THAT is a great idea of the MASTER
assented Hafia eagerly, and he slipped
from his camel and commanded mine
to kneeL In another instant was on
the ground and stumbling down into
an excavation, at the end Of which
was an oblong Of light. It was the
open doorway to a passage leading
into the pyramid.
"As l entered the passageway ! put
my hands to my lips and uttered our
old college yell in order to apprise
Georges of my arrival. What hap
pened afterward seems as dreamlike
as the shadowy caravan 1 saw in the
desert.
Around a corner of the passageway
a long brown arm shot out and extin-
guished the swinging lantern that had
lured me there. Then a score Of lean
fingers attacked me in the darkness.
and l was aware that / was being
robbed of watch and money and what
ever else Of value 1 possessed. But,
quick as lightning, my hand had
snatched at the revolver at my hip,
and 1 managed to free my right arm
and fire 1t among my enemies.
THE fash and the echoing report
threw the robbers into panic. The
wounded one yelled terrible curses
upon me unto the twentieth generation
until distance silenced his voice.
81 CROPPED my way into the open air
and beneath the stars found my camel.
Hafia and his beast had disappeared.
1 wonder If any of you ever tried to
mount camel when he was standing
bumped before you and you didn't
know the password that would make
him drop on his calloused knees. Well,
I tried every way could think Of to
make that camel kneel. I prayed to
him, and 1 swore in seven languages,
but he stood there in the moonlight,
with sulky, protruding lower lip and
obstinate poise. Once / essayed to
climb up by the gorgeous trappings of
leather that served as harness, but he
turned and snapped at me viciously.
st was quite in despair when sudden.
~ out Of the shadow Of the pyramid
there came a single word hoarsely
whispered but quite audible. a word of
command that brought the camel to
his knees in a trice. / scrambled upon
his back. turned him about as he arose
to his height. and away we went over
the track we had come. trusted en-
tirely to the camel to take me back to
| Cairo. and we reached there just as
, day was dawning. My camel chose
his own way. and we entered the city
by way of the citadel, and l inquired
of soldier concerning the pyramid Of
Naua, and told him of my adventure
of the previous night.
"He laughed and assured me that
had never been within twenty miles OF
Naua-that Hafa had deliberately LED
me to a small tomb which was rem
devious for a gang of robbers, and ne
said that the shadowy caravan was
without doubt the villainous band who
had robbed me.
Your guide was Hafia, the albinof
he asked skeptically.
81 nodded assent.
"'Then 1t is a wonder that your
throat was not cut he said dryly and
turned his back. placed the matter In
the hands of the police, and toward
evening they returned my watch. but
the money had disappeared beyond re
call.
IT was preparing for bed when g
servant informed me that dragomaI
awaited my coming in the veranda OF
the hotel. 1 suspected 1t was Hafia ant
went down. There he was. his cloat
drawn closely about his face quite dis
guising his features and complexion
but | caught the CLEAN of his pale
wicked eye.
Master he whined cringingly, my
camel ran away with me. and l re
turned too late to be of assistance Il
you. Shall we start again for the pyra
mid ell Naua in the morningT
"'You may start now ! said rudely
and then 1t was that Mrs. Hanford saw
me administer a well deserved kick Il
Hafa, the albino. That is the end o
the story"
''Oh. James. would have died o.
fright II had known you were in suci
dangerr' cried his wife.
Not much danger in such pack o.
towards" treasured her husband cas-
lily.
The ladies of the party separated
from the group and chatted together
The four men grew closer.
"Is that the reason you had a sud
den attack of rheumatism IN your lee
arm. Hanford?' asked Arthur Clayton
what was TIA knife?"
Yes" grinned Mr.. Hanford rue
fully.
March d IN a nerican