The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-04-01

"At the corner there was little shop
tucked under low projecting caves. On
a tray there was exposed for sale a
handful of .filigree bracelets. paused
to examine the wares when from the
shadowy background Of the shop there
emerged the form of very old man.
He had fine aQuiline features, dark
piercing eyes and long white beard
that swept to his knees On bis head
was the green turban.
ITO my amazement the merchant ad-
dressed me In English. Madame will
buy today?' he insinuated softly.
"'Oh, you speak English ! ex-
claimed
~ have lived In New York he said.
with dignity 4 have sell the rugs.
Madame would wish to read the fu-
ture; 1t is written here. he said glib
~, holding out lean. bony palm in
the middle of which lay large crys-
tai sphere about the size of baseball
The sphere reflected the brilliant sun
shine and the gay robes Of the shop
pers In the bazaar
"'You tell fortunesY | inquired
HE bowed his head and bent above
the crystal A relative Of the Amer
lean lady is in great danger. His life
is 4 matter Of moments 1t would be
wise to attend upon the relative he
muttered in low voice
Immediately ! was alarmed. /
thought OF Alfred searching for his
scimitars and how easy 1t might be
for him to be concerned In any danger.
"1Tell my fortune l 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. l saw shad-
ows change and spin in whirring revo-
lutions around the crystal which grad
ually grew darker until 1t glowed as
black as bit of polished ebony. Then
the man thrust it toward me and said
In a queer toneless voice:
"Look!
ST looked down into the ball and saw
nothing but blackness. Then suddenly
It cleared, and seemed to see the IN
terror Of small room rich with orien-
tai furniture man was in the fore
ground. and. even though bis back was
toward me, recognized iny nephew
7 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.
flake ME to him at once. If you
know where be is / pleaded.
1.-THE Turk lifted skinny hand and
pointed toward the corner. 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
II tossed n 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 wall
which might contain blue painted
door
''At last | came to 1t 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
Dictated a lamp lit room. paused for
q moment to take breath and to gain
control Of my scattered senses.
"Across the width Of warm, scent.
ed room. rich in gorgeous colorings
from hangings and heaped up pillows
on floor and divans, saw another
room. In the middle Of this second
room saw enacted the same picture
that had been depicted within the crys-
tai.
II screamed again and again for
help. At the sound of my voice Ar
thur lifted his head and saw me. He
gave a leap forward just as something
dark descended over my head and !
was gently lifted from the floor and
conveyed to 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.
1.-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 relativeY he asked smoothly.
"'Yes,' said.
Madame values the life of her rel.
alive at great pricer he continued.
"'Of course. How much do you
wantY / asked bluntly.