Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-01-18

3 done In some foreign language that
sonable view Of the affair. He was
even willing to give him little money.
The three Arabs climbed in beside
him, and the journey to the hostelry
was made without talk. Ryanne pre-
tended to be vastly interested in the
turmoil through which the carriage
rolled, now swiftly, now hesitant. now
at standstill, and again tortuously.
once Mahomed felt beneath his burn
ouse for his money; and once Ryanne.
IN the pretense of seeking q cigar. felt
for his. They were rather upon even
terms in tn adjudication of ach otheroa
characters. an
| The English-Bar was not the most
inviting place. Sober, Ryanne had
never darkened its doors. The odor
or garlic prevailed over the lesser
smells Of bad cooking. It was lighted
only from the street, by two windows
and a door that swung open all the
days In the year The windows were
generally half obscured by bills an.
nouncing boxing matches, wrestling.
bouts and the Autographs OF cheaD
theaters. The walls were decorated
In manner to please the Inherent
Anglo-Saxon taste Of strong men. fast
horses, and pink.tighter Venuses. "A
few iron topped tables Uttered both
room and sidewalk. and here were men
OF dozen nationalities, slipping coffee.
drinking beer, or solemnly watching
the water bubbles in their cheeshas. O.
pipes. aa
A curious phase Of this class of un.
derworid is that no one is curious.
strangers are never questioned except
when they invite attention, which they
seldom do. So, when Ryanne and his
quasi companions entered. there
wasn't the slightest agitation. a
blowsy barmaid stood behind the bar.
polishing the copper spigots. Ryanne
threw her a. greeting, to v'hjrn she
responded with smirk that once
upon time had been smile He,
being master Of ceremonies, selected
table in the corner. The four sat
down, and Ryanne plunged intrepidly
into the business under hand. To make
tool Of Mahomed. II not an ally, to.
ward this he directed his EFFORT Halt
a dozen times, Mahomed dropped 4.
word in Arabic to the other two, VINO
understood little or no English.
| .
way the matter stands. I'm .lot so
much to blame as you think. Here this
man Jones has me in wise. II do
not get this bit of carpet, off 70. into
the dark, into nothing, beaten |
handled you roughly, know. But
could l help it? It was my throat or
yours. You're no chicken. You aud
that other chap made things exciting"
| Mahomed accepted this compliment
to his prowess in silence. Indeed, he
gazed dreamily over Ryanne's head.
The other fellow wouldn't trouble any
one again. To Mahomed it had not
been the battle, man to man; 1t had
been the guile and trickery leading up
to 1t. He had been bested at his own
game, duplicity, and that .irked him.
Death, he, as his kind, looked upon
with Oriental passivity. All, well!
The game was to have second inning
and he proposed to play it in strictly
Oriental ways.
How much did he give you for it,"
| The expression upon Ryanne's face
would have deceived any one but Ma.
homed. Give for it," Indignantly.
why, that's the whole trouble All
my trouble, all the hard work, and not
plaster, not a plaster. Cant you
understand, had to do it?''
SIS he going to sell it?'
''sell it? Not he He's collector,
and crazy over the thing"
| Mahomed nodded. He knew some.
thing Of the habits of collectors. 'Is
he still in Cairo and where may he be
found?" Et
Ryanne began to believe that the
game was going along famously; Ma
homed was sure of it.
HE Is George P. A. Jones, Of Morti.
mer & Jones, rich rug dealers of New
York. Money no object"
! Though his face did not show 1t,
Mahomed was singularly depressed By
this news. II this man Jones had
money, of what use was his little
packet Of notes?
II must have that rug. effendi.
There are two reasons why; 1t is holy,
and the loss of it means my head"
Good riddance!" thought Ryanne, q
systemathetic look upon his face.
what have you to suggest in the
way Of plan?" asked Mahomed.
Ryanne felt a tingle of jubilation.
He saw nothing but plain-sailing into
port. But Mahomed had arranged to
guide his craft into the whirlpool.
Unto himself he kept up ceaseless
reiteration of-"Patience, patience,
patience!"
Said Ryanne: "You do not care how
you get the rug, SO long as you do get
Iit?'
mo, effendi" Mahomed smiled
"a little rough work wouldn't dis
turb you?"
| "No, it would not"
ITO be Continued.)