The Mena weekly star., 1913-05-29

evening, at the southeast corner of the Shari'a Mahomoud-El-Fala a step from the British Consulate's :? And she mustn't come in carriage nor tell any one where she was go- ing? Why all such childish mystery? |? He could see her far more conven- iently in the lounging-room of the hotel. She tore the note into scraps and flung them upon the air. She was afraid. She was almost certain why he wished to meet her where neither her mothers nor her uncle's eye would be within range. Should she meet him? Deeper than this, dared she? Why had she come to Cairo, when at Mentone she had known peace, such peace as destiny was gen. erous enough to dole out to her? And now, out of this tolerable peace, thousand hands were reaching to rend her heart, to wiring it. She decided quickly. Since she had come this far, to go on to the end would add but little to her burden. Better to know all too soon than too late.
 That the note had not been direct ed to her and that she was totally un- familiar with Ryanne's handwriting. escaped her. She had too many other things upoI her mind to see all things clearly, especially such trifes. She finished her walk, returning by the way she had gone, gave the key to the lift-boy, and in her room dropped down upon the bed, dry-eyed and weary. The most eventful day she had ever known.
 And all the while George sat by the window and watched, and at length fell into frame of mind that was irritable, irascible and self condemnatory. And when he found that his precious Yhiordes was gone, his condition was the es- sence of all disagreeable emo- tions. It was beyond him how any one could have stolen it. He never failed to lock his door and leave the key with the porfer And surely, only a man with wings could have gained entrance by the window. Being a thorough business man among other accomplishments he reported his loss at once to the management; and the management set about the matter with celerity. At half after seven every maid and servant in the hotel had been questioned and exam ined, without the least noticeable re- suit. The rug was nowhere to be Coll AI- l.. He was not so rich that he could af- ford to lose both the rug and the thou sand pounds he had paid for it. His first thought had been of Ryanne; but 1t was proved that Ryanne had not been in the hotel since morning; at least, no one had seen him
 George gloomed about A beastly day, all told everything had gone wrong, and all because he had over slept. At dinner something was wrong with the soup; the fish was greasy; the roast was dry and stringy; the wine, full of pieces of cork. Out into the lounging-room again; and then the porter hurried over to him with note from Ryanne. It stated briefly that 1t was vitally important for Mir. Jones to meet him at nine o'clock at the EnglishBar in the Quar- ter Rosetti. Any driver would show him the way. Mohamed- El-Gebel, the guardian of the Holy Yhiordes, had turned up, and the band was begin ming to play. Would MT Jones like little fun by the wayside?"
 'Im his man." said George. But how the devil did this Mahomed ever get into my room?"
 Had fortune dined downstairs in- stead of alone In her room, events might have turned out differently. By anne had really written to George, but not to Fortune.
 Mahomed. fatalist that he was, had thrown everything upon the whirling scales Of chance, and waited. Later he may have congratulated himself upon his good luck. But 1t wasn't luck; 1t was the will of Allah that he, Mahomed. should contribute his slen- der share in working out the des- tinies of two young people.
 George was in the proper mood for an adventure. He went so far as to admit to himself that he would have liked nothing better than a fisticuff. The one mistake he made fin his cal culations was dress. Men didn't gen orally go a-venturing in such finical attire. They wore bowlers and sack coats and carried heavy walking sticks. The only weapons George had were his two hands, now adorned with snug-fitting opera-gloves.