River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-07-18

ping for an hour or more
Her Jewels were much richer than those she
had worn the previous evening, ana as
studied their barbaric beauty I softly pressed
her childish hands as the only means OF con-
veying something of the impression she mao
made on me- for did not know the extent 10
which the other women were IN our secret VI
could be trusted Her only response was one
quick glance, which I interpreted as mixture
of pleasure surprise and interrogation; the
one distinctly pleasant thing about 1T was that
it contained nothing of indignation or hostility
There was no sign of either Ialla or her two
friends the next evening, though watched for
them closely On the second afternoon | re-
ceived call from my old friend, who undoubt-
edly had vouched for to the people who
had opened up the exceedingly interesting COR
respondence. 1t was apparently casual visit,
but it's purpose was revealed when IN the
course of general conversation regarding the
country and it's ways, along which he had clev-
erly piloted me- he said:
''These Egyptians are a remarkable people.
I have lived among them long enough to know
them and to admire, particularly, their sublime
religious faith and their exalted sense of honor.
With their enemies and with the travellers on
whom they prey, they are tricky and evaslve
to the last degree but in their dealings with
people whom they know and trust they are the
most honorable men in the world. | don't
know whether you expect to have any dealings
with them, but if you do, you can trust them
absolutely
With that opening / was on the point OF
speaking to him about the note had received
and answered but before l could say word
he had started off on another subject, leaving
me to understand that he knew all about the
matter but did not wish to talk of it, and that
he had taken that method learned from the
diplomats of endorsing the people with whom
he had put me in communication. took my
accustomed seat in the garden that evening,
impatient for further unfoldings. l had not
been waiting long when Iaa and her two COM
panions appeared and came straight toward
me, but without any sign of recognition AS
she passed closely beside me, walking slowly
Ialla whispered, almost in my ear:
Follow me at ten oclock!"
A few minutes before ten I descended into
the street to wait for them, so it could not be
seen from the hotel that was following them
Promptly on the hour Ialla and her attendants
came down the steps and set off toward Old
Cairo.
They led me almost the full length of the
Mooshka, turned into one of the narrow side
streets then into another and another until
they stopped at last in front of door at the
side of one of the little shops.
When / was within perhaps fifty feet Of
them Iaila entered the door, after looking back
at me, while her four companions walked rapid
~ on down the street. puSneu opeH the uoor,
which was Immediately closed by a servant
who dropped bar across it. and found Ialla
waiting for me in dimly lighted hallway. She
led me nearly to the end of the long hall,
opened a door and motioned to me to enter,
and closed the door from the outside I found
myself in a large room, which, after my eyes
had become accustomed to the half-light saw
was magni1eently furnished. A fine-looking
old Arab, with gray hair and beard, was seated
on an ottoman, smoking bubbIepipe. His
bearing majestic. and for the purpose Of