The Raymer enterprise., 1913-03-06
CHAPTER K.
Mahomed Laughs.

Tho drawing back OF Ryanne'a pow
erful arm was produced by the stimu.
lus OF self.preservation; but almost
Instantly thought dominated impulse,
and all indications of belligerency dis
appeared. The arm sank. relaxed. It
was not possible nor politio that Ma
homed-El-Gebel meant to take repris-
al In this congested quarter. 1t would
have gained him no advantage what
ever. And Ryannes perception Of the
exact situation enabled him to smile
with the cool eflrontery OF man In
ured to sudden dangers.
We'll. well! So you have found
your way to Cairo. Mahomed?"
Yes, effendl." returned Mahomed.
with smile that answered Ryanne's
In thought and expression. the only
perceivable difference being In the ac.
centuated whiteness Of his fine teeth.
Yes. have found you"
And you have been looking for
me?"
Surely"
Ryanne. with an airy gesture, signi.
fed that he wished to enter his car.
riagc. Mahomed. with movement
equally light, implied his determine.
ton to stand his ground.
IN moment. effendi." he said
smoothly.
Mahomed spoke English more or
less fuently. His career OF forty-odd
years had been most colortul. Once n
young she!k OF the desert, OF ample
following, series OF tribal wars left
him unattached, 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 cot.
ton fields he was eventually graduated
to the envied position Of dragoman or
guide. He tired Of this, being nomadic
by instinct and inclination. He tried
his hand at rugs In Smyrna. failed. and
found himself stranded In CONSTANT.
nople. He driited. became a steve.
dore, a hotel porter burylng his pride
all that moment when he could, In
dignity and security. resurrect It. For.
tune, hanging fire, relented upon his
appointment as cavass or messenger
10 the British Consulate. After q
time, he became what he considered
prosperous; and like all fanatic pa.
gans OF his faith. proposed to recon.
struct his religious lie by n pilgrim.
age to Holy Mecca. While there. he
had performed 4 considerable service
In behalf OF the future Pasha OF Bag.
dad. who thereafter gave him q place
In his retinue.
Mahomed was not only proud but
wise: and series Of events. sequences
OF his own shrewdness. pushed him
forward TIL he became In deed. II not
In fact. the Pasha's righthand man In
Bagdad. That quaint city, removed as
It Is from the ordinary highways OF
tho Orient. Is still TO most OF us an
echo remote and mysterious; and the
present Pasha enjoys great privileges.
over property. over lifo and death |;
and II is not enlarging upon fact to
say that when he deems It necessary
TO lop of head. he does so. without
consulting his master In CONSTANT.
nople. II Is all In the business OF a
day. Next to his celebrated pearls and
rose.diamonds. the Pasha held as his
most precious treasure. the Holy
Yhiordes. And for Its loss Mahomed
knew that his own head rested but In.
securely upon his lean neck. That his
star was still In ascendancy he be.
lieved. Tho Pasha would not be In
Bngdnd Tor many weeks. The revolu'
tion In Constantinople. the success OF
the Young Turk party. made tho
Pasha's future incumbency a matter OF
conjecture. While he pulled those