The Washington herald., 1915-12-05

Andry's shoulders.
Understand me-when I give the
word. want you to shove like hell-'
"Ready, sir" said Andry. gathering
Dicks legs in his mighty arms and
filing his lungs. .,
shove ahead" .
Dick felt the heft Of Andry's shouI-
ders through his boots-heard the huge
leg muscles crack. as the six feet five
grew straight. His own hands-neck
-shouiders-hsttened and grew numb
against the door-his own leg muscles
nearly burst-And something began to
give. Both men gasped and strained
again-the still hot blackness shook
tand filled with yellow streaks-they
grunted-there was a din beyond Of
scattering chairs and suddenly rutch-
ed feet-and the door went down in u
blaSe Of light with a crash and the
swapping of split woodwork.
In an instant they were on their
feet-purple-faced with effort-hair
disheveled-tremendo in the door
frame. For an instant more they
stared about them. blinking in the
glare OF light and trying to get focus.
Then Andry leaped forward.
Il see the sword" he yelled.
But Dicks outstretched arm prevent
ed him. and he found himself Jerked
back again. Dick. too. had seen what
Andry had. His eyes were fixed on a
table-end at which sat Filmi Jared.
The crowd of at least a hundred men
had opened down the middle. and
there was a clear gangway down the
center Of the room The sword-out
of its canvas case-lay in front of
Filmi Fared. and he blinked from IL
to Dick. and from Dick to the sword
again.
Give me that sword. commanded
Dick.
No one moved. Then Dick strobe
forward. suddenly. Andry closing up
behind him. covering his masters back
with his own huge bulk. In a second
Dick had the sword and was examin-
ing it to make sure that the beryl
was still safely in the hilt 1t was
there! In his glee he swung it. and
brought it to n whistling. humming
shiver in the air above him.
"Zindabad Anthony Shah" yelled
somebody. And that was Persian. Dick
Understood it-knew what 1t meant.
In twenty tongues the crowd yelled
out the answer. Long live King An
thony,''
Unthinking-but possibly with tn.
vague idea that he was proving own
ership-Dick swung the sword aIoft
| again. The crowd yelled a salvo OF
, applause and a flashhght streamed out
There was no camera visible-only a
| suspicious looking box affair in one
far corner Of the room.
These gentlemen said Filmi Fared
standing up. ARE the sworn repre-
sentatives of sixty-eight thousand arm
ed men who are at present in secre,
rebellion against British rule. The
movement is world-wide-it is named
| Pan-1slam-but our present plans are
| confined to Egypt. We have waited
| only for a leader. You have been
! chosen as that leader. You are re-
| auired to take an oath of allegianc,
to our cause-on the Koran-on the
Bible-and on your sword. You are re-
| quired to swear that when you have
been raised to the throne of Egyp,
you will reign constitutionally. And
you are required to commit yourself
in writing before these witnesses. You
| should sign here"
: Dick threw back his tawny head
and laughed aloud.
| You sign. or you die" smiled Film
Fared
| Filmi Fared was about to speal
again. but he was interrupted by
signal on another door. at the end Of
| the room opposite to that through
which Dick and Andry had burst in.
Tho signal was answered, and an.
other one replied again. Then tn,
door opened. and closed again behint
a woman. veiled to her heels in black
Her slippers happened to be pink anC
! Dick wondered where-and when-ht
had seen just such slippers.
With a walk that was inimita BILE
and vaguely familiar-she walked
down gangway OF through the
crowd. straight up l., Dick. She tap,
ped him with a fan.
You are the uncrowned King o,
Egypt" she asserted-in French alout
for all the room to hear. Then sh,
said it again in italian, and in Eng
lish. and in Arabic.
Decidedly uncrowned" smiled Rich
ard. not knowing what to say.
You must remain a prisoner unit
a story-a legend we have started
reaches its required destination.
went out tonight-like ripples of
pond. when a stone Is thrown into it
II will travel fast In the meanwhile
you had better sign. You are Offered
more than you perhaps realize"
Dick smiled. but did not answer.
She turned to the crowd and swep
it with a majestic look.
Leave me alone to speak to him.
she ordered
The crowd drew back to the farthes
wall But that did not satisfy her
Yet have your choice between
kingdom and death" said the woman
standing close and tapping Richar,
with her fan. She spoke in Englisi
now.
Thanks awfully!" laughed Dick. -
You are said to be Iskander. com,
to life again with Islanders sword
That is the story that has gone ou
tonight in widening rings. II
Il week all Egypt will believe it II
have all Egypt at your feet-you will
acknowledged King of Egypt, CaI
you not see that these fools-theS,
weaklings. none OF whom dares lead
will then be your fools--your tools
you will be king and they your in
You were not afraid to speak you
man, Lead on! You are known fo
I'm quite sober" said Dick. "ant
the wrong man."
she purred. You are thinking of you
honor. nest ce pas? Well-it Is gone
my friend. and you must win 1t bacl
tagain! Yes-gone! You have beer
fiashlight photographed with YOU
sword aloft in the center of thes'
rebels! Whether you consent to leaC
or no, that photograph hangs owe
you, That photograph alone woult
hang you-high as Haman-unless yo,
lead. and win. win, win,''