Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-04-26
CHAPTER K.
Mahomed LAUGHS.

arfuI arm WAS piOuuCtu Dy the Stmu-
Ina of self-preservation; but almost
instantly thought dominated impulse
and all Indications of belligerency dis
appeared. The arm sank, relaxed. II
was rot possible nor polite that Ma
bomed. El-Gebel meant to take repris-
al in this congested quarter 1t would
have gained him no advantage what
ever. And Ryanne's perception of the
exact situation enabled him to smile
with the cool effrontery of a man in
ured to sudden dangers.
We'll, well. So you have found
your way to Cairo. Mahomed?"
"Yes, effendi." returned Mahomed,
with a smile that answered Ryanne's
in thought and expression. the only
perceivable difference being in the &C
centuated Wilderness 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
rage. Mahomed. with a movement
equally light, implied his determine
ton to stand his ground.
In a moment. effendi." he said
smoothly.
Mahomed spoke English more or
less nuently. His career of forty-odd
years had been most colorful Once q
young sheik OF the desert, Of ample
following, series Of tribal wars left
him unattached, a 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 a 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 drifted, became a steve
dore, a hotel porter, burying his pride
till that moment when he could, In
dignity and security, resurrect 1t. For
tune. hanging fire, relented upon hts
appointment as CANVASS or messenger
to the British Consulate. After
time. he became what he considered
prosperous; and like all fanatic pa
gans Of his faith. proposed to recon
struct his religious life by a pilgrim
age to Holy Mecca. While there. he
had performed a considerable service
In behalf Of the future Pasha of Bag
dad. who thereafter gave him a place
in his retinue.
Mahomed was not only proud but
wise; and a series of events, sequences
Of his own shrewdness, pushed him
forward till he became In deed. If 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 mysterious; and the
present Pasha enjoys great privileges,
WI piOpcilg, ONci Iic anu uSo1h,
and 1t is not charging upon fact to
say that when he deems 1t necessary
to lop Of head, he does so, without
his master in CONSTANT
nople. 1t is 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 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-
leved. The Pasha would not be in
Bagdad for many weeks. The revolu-
ION In Constantinople. the success OF
me Young Turk party, made the
Pasha's future incumbency a matter OF
conjecture. While he pulled those
wires familiar to the politician, Ma
lomed set out bravely to recover the
stolen rug. He was prepared to pro-
'eeo TO any length to regain II, even
o the horrible Ito his Oriental mind
necessity Of buying 1t. He retained
us travel-worn garments circumspect.
y for none would believe that his
'urnouse was we'll lined with Englisf
'ank-notes.
Weu?" said Ryanne. whirling MS
,ahe. He was by no means at ease
mere was going to be trouble some
'here along the road.
1 have come for the Yhiordes. ef-
endi."
The rug? That's too bad. haven't
T."
Who has," One fear beset Mahom-
'os heart; this dog. whom he called
'nendi. might have sold it, since that
must have been the ultimate purpose
VI the theft. And If he had sold II
Q one who had left Egypt Ma
lomed's neck grew cold. who has
= enendi? Is the man still In Cairo
Yes. II you and your two friends
VII come with me to the English-Bar'
explain many things to you, as
ureo Ryanne, beginning, as ne De
ieved. to see his way forward. Don't
= AFRAID. I'm not setting any trap TOT
'Ou- Tn s~,,thfu1lv that i