The Mena weekly star., 1913-05-22

rug and nice little sum of money besides"
 Can they do such things these days in Cairo?"
 "Why not?"
 Truly, why not?" Mahomed sat thoughtfully studying the outrageous prints on the cracked walls. Had he uared he would have laughed. And ne had thought this dog cunning be- yond all his kind! q agree. But the arrangements l must leave to you. Bring him here at nine o'clock to- night" he continued, leaning across the table impressively, land I will give you one hundred pounds Eng. fish"
 Ryanne quickly assumed the expres. Sion needed to meet such splendid news. Il say, Mahomed, that Is pretty square, after what has passed between us."
 Tt is nothing" gallantly.
 1T Ryanne laughed in his sleeve, Ma homed certainly found ample room in his for such silent and figurative each. innations. He knew very well that Ryanne had received a goodly sum for ms 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 Mahomed 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.
 MT. 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 .'' laughed Ryanne. "All right. You won't mind if have a beer to the sue. cess of the venture?"
 No effendi"
 Ryanne drank the lukewarm bev. craze, 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 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 Alp. 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. "I1l have him here. Cash upon delivery, as they say"
 Cash upon delivery" Mahomed re. peated, the phrase being familiar to his tongue.
 Frankly, want th'~ man out Of the way for while."
 "Ah!"
 'Yes want little revenge for the way he has treated me"
 80 it is revenge?" softly. Traitor ous to both sides.
 And when l get him here?"
 Leave the rest to me-"
 Good. I'm off, then. Take him to Bagdad. It will be an experience for him. But when you get him there, keep an eye out for the Shah Abbas in the Pasha's work-room."
 The affair had gone so. smoothly that Ryanne's usual keenness fell be- low the mark; fatuity was the word. There had been so many twists to the morning that his abiding distrust of every one became, for the time being, edgeless. The trick of purloining the cable had keyed him high; the subse- quent meeting of Fortune had de- pressed him. And besides, he was too anxious to be rid of Jones to consider the possibilities of Mahomed's state of mind.
 He got up paid his score, turned a jest for the amusement of the bar maid, and went out to his carriage.