Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1913-10-31

scimitars and how easy It might be
for him to be concerned in any danger.
""Tell my fortune | implored has.
tily. Tell me what has happened to
my nephew
again he bent above the crystal
and muttered some mystic words
above the translucent ball. I saw shad-
ows change and spin in whirring
lutions around the crystal which grad
ually grew darker until 1t glowed as
black as a bit of polished ebony. Then
the man thrust it toward ms and said
in a queer toneless voice;
".Lookr
~ looked down into the ball and saw
nothing but b~lackness. Then suddenly
it cleared, and | seemed to see the in
terror of a small room rich with orien-
tai furniture. A man was In the fore
ground, and, ever though his back was
toward me. | recognized my nephew
| screamed as | also saw that two men
were standing over him with drawn
swords. Then the picture blurred and
faded and the crystal ball reflected
nothing save the brilliant sunshine and
the hard blue sky.
Take me to him at once, If you
know where he is l pleaded.
1.-THE Turk lifted a skinny hand and
pointed toward the orner Follow
the narrow way until you come to a
blue painted door in the wall. Knock
there and If you hasten you may be In
time to deliver your nephew from his
enemies
Il tossed a number of coins on to
the narrow counter and FASTENED around
the corner into the alley | had noticed
Presently | found myself in another
street, overlooking with light and col
or and hurried ON looking for a wall
which might contain a blue painted
door.
Eat last | came to it and knocked
with trembling fingers on the carved
panels. 1t opened inward with star
Ting ~suddenness and | entered. crop
ing my way through semidarkness un
til a -parallelogram of rose color In
dicated u lamp lit room. | paused for
a moment to take breath and to gair
control of my scattered senses.
"Across the width of a warm, scent
ed room. rich in gorgeous colorings
from hangings and heaped up pillows
on floor and divans, l saw another
room. In the middle of this second
room | saw enacted the same picture
that had beer depicted within the crys
tai.
81 screamed again and again for
help. At the sound of my voice Ar
thur lifted his head and saw me-. Fl
gave a leap forward just as something
dark descended e my head n J
was gently lifted from the floor and
conveyed to a softly cushioned divan
where strong hands confined my
wrists and carefully bound them with
soft silken scarfs.
81 heard Arthur's voice calling my
name. telling me to have no fear, that
all would be arranged in a few mo
ments, and then his voice ceased.
"The voice of my benevolent friend
of the Street of the Goldsmiths now
broke upon my strained hearing.
MADAME Is convinced OF the dan
ger of her relative? he asked smoothly
Eyes | said.
MADAME values the life OF her rel
alive Mt a great priceT he continued
"'Of course. How much do y0n
want?' | asked bluntly.
There was a little silence, and then
How much has madame gotT he ask
ed politely.
''In spite of my discomfort l laugh
ed outright at his impudence. Re
lease me at IN and / will give you
everything. provided my nephew is re
stored to me unframed
1.-The relative of madame will be-
awaiting her outside the door, he
promised. And then very gently be
removed the cloth from my head and
unfastened my silken bonds.
Madame values her life too highly
to make mention of this friendly little
visit to the rug merchant. 1t would
be painful indeed for relatives to fin
her body in the Bosporus.'
II nodded In return and hastened
down the passage. My eyes were nov
accustomed to the dim light. and !
saw that the walls were pierced herr
and there with carved lattices.
81 opened the door and found my
self in the crowded. bustling street. J
turned around to look for my nephew
and saw the door fly open once more
to eject him into my arms. When :
compared notes | discovered that AL
fred had been relieved of his valua
bles and money under promise that !
should go unframed He had > been
held behind one Of the ~lattices and had
watched me pass out of the place
Quite penniless. but very happy at be
ing restored unhurt TO each other. We
made u way back to the hotel and
after luncheon went aboard the steam
er. That covered u experiences il,
Constantinople."
Miss Gray leaned back in her chat,