The Irish standard., 1912-12-21

as II examining the patterns in the
huge carpets. She entered the recep-
tion-room, came back, wandered of
into the ballroom. stopped to inspect
the announcement hanging upon the
bulletin-board, returned to the win.
dows and watched the feluccas sail
past as the great bridge opened; and
during al these aimless occupations
but a single thought busted her mind:
what could q man like Horace see in
chit like Fortune?
It was an hour and a half before
the Major put in an appearance. He
was out Of breath and temper.
Come up to the ROOM" Once there,
he sat down and babe her do likewise.
There's the devil to pay. You heard
Hoddy speak of the niger who guard
ed the Holy Yhiordes, and that he
wanted to get out Of Cairo before he
turned up? Well, he turned up. He
fooled Hoddy to the top of his bent.
30 far as l could learn. Fortune and
Hoddy and Jones are all in the same
boat, kidnapped by the Mahomed, and
carried out into the desert, headed,
God knows where! Now. don't get ex.
cited. Take it easy. Luck is with
US. for Hoddy left all the diagrams
with me. We need him, but not so
much that we can't go on without him.
You see. these Arabs are like the Hin
dus; touch anything that concerns
their religion, and they'll have your
hair off. How Fortune got into 1t
can't imagine. unless Mahomed saw
her with Hoddy and jumped to the
conclusion that they were lovers. All
this Mahomed wants is the rug; and
be Is going to hold them TIL he gets
1t. No use notifying the police. No
one would know where to find him.
None OF them will come to actual
harm. Anyhow, the coast ia clear.
Kate. there's big thing in front No
nerves. We've got to go to-day. Time
Is everything. Our butler and first
man cabled this morning that they
had just started in, and that every
thing was running like clock-work.
Well get into New York in time for
the coup. Remember. ! was against
the whole business at the start, but
now I'm going to see It off,
Feverishly Mrs. Chedsoye prepared
for the Journey. She was irritable to
Celeste, she was unbearable to her
brother, who took seat in forward
compartment to be rid OF her. It was
only when they went aboard the
steamer that night that she became
reconciled to the Inevitable. At any
rate, the presence Of Jones would
counterfeit any influence Horace
might have gained over Fortune. That
the three of them might suffer I'M
beard.of miseries never formed
thought in her mind. 1t appealed to
her In the sense Of comedy which
annoyed rather than amused her.
They were greeted effusively by
Wallace, he Of the dubious nose; and
his first inquiry was of Ryanne. Brief.
" the Major told him what had han.
pened and added his fears. Wallace
was greatly cast down. Hoddy had
SO set his heart upon this venture that
1t was a shame to proceed without
him. He had warned him at the be-
ginning about that internal rug; but
Hoddy was always set in his dare
devil schemes. So long as the Major
had the plans. he supposed that they
could turn the trick without Hoddy's
assistance; Only, 1t seemed rather
hard for him not to be in the sport.
He told me that nothing would give
him greater pleasure than to stick his
fist In the first bag Of yellow-boys.
There was something mysterious in
the way he used to chuckle over tho
thing when first sprung it on him.
He saw joke somewhere. Let's go
into the smoke-room for q peg. 1t
won't hurt either Of us. And that
poor little girl! It's a hell OF world.
eh?"
The Major admitted that 1t was;
but he did not add that Fortunes vel.
fare or ill-fare was Of little or no con-
Germ Of his. The little spitfre had
always openly despised him.
They were drinking silently and mo-
rosely, when Mrs. Chedsoye, pale and
anxious, appeared in the companion
way. She beckoned them to follow
her down to her cabin. Had Fortune
arrived? Had Ryanne? She did not
answer. Arriving at her cabin she
pushed the two wondering men inside,
and pointed at the floor. A large
steamer-roll lay unstrapped. spread
out.
81 only Just opened it," she said.
II never thought of looking into It
at Cairo. Here, it looked so bulky
tina. ] was curious"
"Why, it's that damned Yhiordes!"
eclaimed the Major wrathfully. what
the devil is 1t doing in Fortunes
steamer-roll?"
"That is what should like to
know. II they have been kidnapped in
order to recover the, rug, whatever
will become Of them?" And Mrs.
Chedsoye touched the rug with her
foot. absently. She was repeating in
her mind that childish appeal: you
don't how loyal I should have beeni"