Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-10
CHAPTER K.
Nahomed Laughs.

The drawing back OF Ryanne's powerful
arm was produced by the stimulus Of SELF
preservation: but almost instantly thought
dominated impulse and all indications OF
belligerency disappeared. The arm sank.
relaxed. It was not possible nor polite
that Mahomed- El-Gebel meant to take re-
prisal in this congested quarter. It would
have gained him no advantage whatever.
And Ryanne's perception OF the exact sit
uation enabled him to smile with the cool
effrontery Of q man Injured to sudden dan
gers.
"weil. well. So you have found your
way to Cairo Mahomedr'
Yes, erfendi." returned Mahomed. with
q smile that answered Ryannes In
thought and expression. the only per-
ceivabie difference being In the accen-
tuated whiteness OF his fine teeth. Yes,
l have found you"
And you have been looking for me?''
Surely"
Ryanne. with an airy gesture. signified
that he wished TO enter his carriage. Ma
homed. with q movement equally light,
implied his determination to stand his
ground.
"In a moment efrendi." he said.
Mahomed spoke English more or less
fuently. His career OF forty-odd years
had been most colorful. Once q young
L, ~ -
series Of tribal wars left him unattached.
q wanderer without tent, village or onion
patch. He had first appeared In Cairo.
Here he had OF necessity picked up Few
words OF English: and from laborer In
the cotton fields he was eventually grad
uated to the envied position OF dragoman
| or guide. He tired OF this. being nonadic
by instinct and inclination. He tried his
hand at rugs i'm Smyrna, failed. and found
| himself stranded in Constantinople. He
arif tod m n r.
ter. burying his pride till that moment
when he could, In dignity and security.
resurrect It. Fortune. hanging fire. re-
Tented upon his appointment as CANVASS
| or messenger to the British consulate.
| After q time he became what he consid-
cred prosperous: and, like all fanatic
| pagans OF hie faith. proposed to recon-
struct his religious life by q pilgrimage
| to holy Mecca While there he had per-
| formed q considerable service In behalf
Of the future Pasha of Bagdad who there-
after gave him a place In his retinue.
| Mahomed was not only proud but wise:
| and q series Of events. sequences OF hts
own shrewdness. pushed him forward TIN
| he became in deed. II 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, Is still
to most Of us an echo remote and mys-
terious: and the present pasha enjoys
great privileges over property. over life
and death: and It Is not enlarging upon
fact to say that when he deems It neces-
sary to lop of head he does 30. with
out consulting his master in CONSTANT
nople. II il all In the business of day.
Next to his celebrated pearls and rose
| diamonds. the pasha held as his most
precious treasure the holy Yhiordes. And
head rested but insecurity upon his lean
neck. That his star was still In ascend
ancy he believed. The pasha would not
be In Bagda' for many weeks. The revo-
1 l,,<tn in 10 nfi n
| the Young Turk party. made the pashas
| future incumbency q matter OF conjecture.
While he pulled those wires familiar to
the politician. Mahomed set out bravely
| to recover the stolen rug. He was pre-
pared to proceed to any length to regain
/ it, even to the horrible Ito his oriental
mind) necessity OF buying 1t. He retained
| his travel-worn garments circumspectly.
| for none would believe that his burnouse
was well lined with English bank notes.
| "wel?" said Ryanne whirling his cane.
He was by no means at ease. There WAS
going to be trouble somewhere along the
| road.
Il have come for the Yhiordes. effendi.''
1.-THE rug? That's too bad. I haven't
it." 80.
.Who has?" One fear beset Mahomed's
lleart-this dog. whom he called effendi.
might have sold it, since that must have
been the ultimate purpose OF the theft
| And IL he had sold 1t to one who had left
Egypt - MahOmed's neck grew cold.
who has it, effendi' Is the man stu In
Cairo?"
"Yes II you and your two friends Will
come with me to the English bar I'll ex-
plain many things to you assured
Ryanne, beginning. as he believed. to see
! his way forward. Don't be afraid. I'm
not setting any trap for you. I'll tell You
truthfuiiy that didn't expect to see you
so soon. If you'll come along I'll do the
best / can to straighten out the matter.
What do you say?'
Go be continued tomorrow