The Neshoba Democrat., 1912-12-12

not plaster. not plaster! Can't you
understand, had to do it?"
"1s he going to sell it?"
Sell it? Not he! He's a 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?"
Ryanne began to believe that the
game was going along fRmously; 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 it, Ma
homed was singularly depressed by
this news. If this man Jones had
money, Of what use was his little pack
ct of notes?
Il must have that rug, effendi.
There are two reasons; it is holy, and
the loss Of it means my head"
Good riddance!" thought Ryanne a
sympathetic look upon his face.
What have you to suggest in the
way of a plan?" asked Mahomed.
Ryanne felt tingle of jubilation.
He saw nothing but plain-sailing into
port. But Mahomed had arranged to
guide his craft into the whirlpool. I'm
to himself he kept up a ceaseless re-
iteration of-"Patience, patience, pa
tience!"
Said Ryanne: You do not care how
you get the rug, so long as you do get
it?"
No, eftendi." Mahomed smiled.
"A little rough work wouldn't dis
turb you?"
No, it would not"
Well then, listen to me. Suppose
you arrange to take my friend Jones
into the desert for little trip. Be
his dragoman for a while. In fact,
kidnap him, abduct him. steal him.
You can hold him. in ransom for the
rug and a nice little sum Of money
besides"
Can they do such things these days
in Cairo?"
"Why not?"
Iiuly, why llOI! SdL
thoughtfully, studying the outrageous
prints on the cracked walls. Had he
dared he would have laughed. And
he had thought this dog cunning be-
yond all his kind! II agree. But the
arrangements must leave to you.
Bring him here at nine o'clock to-
night" he continued. leaning across
the table impressively, "and l will
give you one hundred pounds Eng
lish."
Ryanne quickly assumed the expires.
sion needed to meet such splendid
news. 81 say, Mahomed, that is pretty
square, after what has passed between
u.s."
1T is nothing" gallantly.
If Ryanne laughed in his sleeve, Ma
homed certainly found ample room in
his for such silent and figurative each
innations. He knew very we'll that
Ryanne had received a goodly sum for
his adventure. No man took his life
in his hand to cancel an obligation
which was not based upon disinterest.
ed friendship; and already the man
had disavowed any such quality. Also
he had not been seller Of rugs him
self. or guardian of the Yhiordes all
these years, without having had some
contact with collectors. Why, if there
was one person dear at this moment
TO Mahomc' El-Gebel's heart, it was
this man sitting opposite. And he
wanted him far more eagerly than the
rug; only, the rug must be regained
for its loss was passport into para
disc; and he wasn't quite prepared to
be received by the houris.
"Mr. Jones, then, shall be here
promptly at nine," declared Ryanne,
beckoning the barmaid. What will
you have?"
Mahomed shook his head. His two
companions, gathering the significance
of the gesture, likewise declined.
"A smoke, then?"
A smiling negative.
Beware of the Greek bearing gifts, 4"
laughed Ryanne. "All right. You
won't mind if have beer to the sue
cess of the venture?"
"No effendi"
Ryanne drank the lukewarm bev-
erage, while Mahomed toyed with his
turquoise ring, that sacred badge of an
honorable pilgrimage to Holy Mecca.
"The young lady, effendi; she was
very pretty. Your sister?" casually in
quired Mahomed.
"Oh, no. She is a young lady I met
at the hotel the other day"
The liar! thought the Moslem, as he
recalled the light In Ryanne's eyes
and the tenderness of his smiles. Ap-
parently. however, Mahomed lost in
terest directly. "At nine o'clock to-
night, then, this collector will arrive
to become my guest?"
"By hook or crook" was the an.
swer. "I'll have him here. Cash upon
delivery, as they say"
Cash upon delivery" Mahomed re-
peated, the phrase being familiar to