The Mena weekly star., 1913-05-08

To turn Mahomed agamst Percival as being the instigator would be an adroit bit of work; and 1t would rid him of both of them. Gioconda said that she wanted no rough work How like woman! Here was a mans game, a desperate one; and Giocon- da, not forgetting that 1t was her inspiration, wanted 1t handled with gloves! It was bare-hand work, and the sooner she was made to realize this, the better It was no time for tuning fiddles.
 Mahomed out of it, there was a cer- tain English bar in the Quarter Roset- ti, a place of dubious repute. Many derelicts drifted there in search of employment still more dubious. Dregs. scum; the bottom and the top of the kettle; outcasts, whose hand and animus were directed against society; black and brown and white men; not soldiers Of fortune, like Ryanne, but their camp-followers. In short, 1t was there (and Ryanne still felt a dull shame of iD that Wallace, carrying the final instructions of the enterprise, had found him. sleeping off the effects of shabby rout of the night before. It was there also that he had heard of the history and the worth of the Yhiordes rug and the possibility of its theft. He laughed. To have gone upon an adventure like that. with nothing but the fumes of wine In his head
 For a few pieces of gold he might enroll under his shady banner three or four shining lights who would un- dertake the disposal of Percival. Not that he wished the young man any harm-no; but business was business, and in some way or another he must be made to vanish from the sight and presence of men for at least two months.
 As for Major Callahan's unforeseen danger, the devil could look out for that.
 Ryanne consulted his watch, a cheap but trustworthy article, costing a dol
 
 able asset. He would give 1t away later fin the day; for he had decided that while he was in funds there would be wisdom in the purchase of a fine gold Longines. A good watch, as ev- cry one knows, is always as easily converted into cash as a London bank note. providing, of course, one is lucky enough to possess either. Many watches had he left behind. in this place or in that; and often he had exchanged the ticket for small bottle with a green neck. Wherever fortune had gone against him heavily at cards, there he might find his latest watch. Besides getting new tmepiece' ne was strongly inclined to leave the bulk of his little fortune in the hotel safs One never could tell.
 And another good idea. he mused. ss he swung the timspiece into his xe.t.pocket, would be to add the spien- dor of 6 small white stone to his mod .st scarf. There Is only one we'll defned precept among the sporting fraternity: when fush. buy jewelry. Not to the cause of vanity. not at all; but precious stones and gold watches constitute & kind of reserve4uno against the evil day. When one has money in the pocket the hand Is quick and eager to find 1t. But teweiry IS protected by . certain quality or caution: 1t is not too readily passed over bars and gamins-tables. While the pawnbroker stands between the nassion and the grsen-baize. there's food for thought.
 Having settled these questions 10 his satisfaction, there remained put on. other. how to spend his time. It vould be useless to seek the EnSiisn- aar before noon. Might as well ram hls through the native town and the basaars He might pick up some little | c,,,4o 10 give to Fortune. So ne hsokoued to an idle driver. climbed in- to the carriage, and was driven on as if empires hung upon minutes.
 Rvanne never wearisd of the oa' xsars of Cairo. They were to him no less enchanting than the circus-pa' rad.a of his youth. In certain ways ,bav were not to be compared Yitn those in Constantinople and smyrna, hui on. the other hand, there was more light. more charm, more color | ps.hans the magic nearness of the | aa ron,athtnp to do with IL,