The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-11-16
CHAPTER X.
Mahomed lauahs.

4HO OTdWlHS uaCk Oh hyannO8 pow
erful arm was produced by the stimu-
LUIS Of self-preservation; but almost
Instantly thought dominated impulse,
and all indications OF belligerency dis
appeared. The arm sank, relaxed. 1t
was not possible nor polite that Ma
homed-Nl-G ebel meant to take repris-
al in this congested quarter. It would
have gained him no advantage what
ever. And Ryanne's perception Of the
exact situation enabled him to smile
with the cool effrontery of a man In.
ured to sudden dangers.
'Well. we'll! So you have found
your way to Cairo, Mahomed?"
yes, effendi," returned Mahomed,
with smile that answered Ryanns's
In thought and expression, tho only
perceivable difference being in tho &C.
centuated wilderness of his fine teeth.
"Yes, have found you"
"And you have been looking for
met"
Surely"
Ryanne. with an airy gesture, signi.
fled that he wished to enter his car
rage. Mahomed. with a movement
equally light. implied his determine
ton to stand his ground.
"In moment, effendi." he said
smoothly.
Mahomed spoke English moro or
less fiuently. His career Of forty-odd
years had been most colorful Once
young sheik Of the desert, Of ample
following. series Of tribal wars left
him unattached, q wanderer without
tent. village or caion-patch. He had
first appeared in Cairo. Here he had
Of necessity picked up few words Of
English: and from a laborer In tho 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 Constanti-
nople. He drifted. became q steve
dore. hotel porter. burying his pride
till that moment when he could. In
dignity and security, resurrect 1t. For
tune. hanging fire. relented upon his
appointment AZ cavass or messenger
to the British Consulate. After .
time. he became what he considered
prosperous; and like all fanatic pa,
gans Of his faith. proposed to recon-
struct his religious life by q pilgrim
age to Holy Mecca. While there, b.
had performed q considerable service
in behalf of the future Pasha Of Bag
dad. who thereafter gave him . place
In his retinue.
Mahomed was not only proud but
wise; and series Of events, sequences
OF his own shrewdness, pushed him
forward till he became in deed, IL not
in fact, the Pasha's right-hand man in
Bagdad. That quaint city. removed as
1t is from the ordinary highways OF
the Orient, IL still to most Of 10 an
echo remote and mysterious; and the
present Pasha enjoys great privileges,
over property, over life and death;
and 1t Is not enlarging upon fact te
say that when he deems 1t necessary
to 1op off head. he does so, withou,
consulting his master in CONSTANT
nople. 1t is all in the business of q
day. Next to his celebrated pearls an<
rose-diamonds, the Pasha held 40 hi,
most precious treasure, the HolJ
Yhiordes. And for its loss Mahomel
knew that his own head rested but In
securely upon his lean neck. That hi
star was still in ascendancy he be.
lieved. The Pasha would not be in
Bagdad for many weeks. The revolu.
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 the
stolen rug He was prepared to pro-
coed to any length to regain 1t. even
to the horrible Ito his Oriental. mind)
necessity If buying 1t. He retained
his travelworn garments circumspect-
ly, for none would believe that hia
burnouse was well lined with English
bank.notaa-