Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-01-14

LuSE MIRA s !: s.' ssss; e :;

upon . hsfnber d 16ors. Black M
bian slaves. on guard. sprang to their
feet and stared at rs In CONSERVATION.
rolling their expressive eyes. Their
terror was not less than that OF the
flunkies behind US. And all through
the palace there resounded that bus
sing murmar. az though my every act
had already become known every
where.
we're the khedive's apartments. The
look upon each slave told me. flung
the little secretary from me and strobe
to the high doors bearing the khedive's
monogram in Arabic upon each panel
And In my eagerness to complete my
task. lost all fear.
"Open!" shouted. hammering with
my sword hilt.
/ hammered and shouted; snd sud-
denly the door was flung open. and
two figures stood before me. One was
that of young man Of military bear
ing. but now looking anything but mar
tial az he stood humbly before the
other. q tall figure with q turban
round his head and attired In the loose.
flowing garments which his highness
affects at home. Instantly every slave
was on his face.
knew his highness at once. thrust
past the other figure. and. pulling the
document from its silken case. pushed
1t beneath the khedive's nose.
You have put an insult upon Great
Britains representative In Egypt"
cried, in French. You shall put your
signature to this pledge Of neutrality
Immediately. or protectorate will be
proclaimed in Cairo!"
The khedive looked at me. and
seemed to wilt away
"Come in. your excellency!" he NUT.
tered. in apologize tones. you will
not humiliate me before my servantsf'
followed him inside the room. q
spacious library with desk at which
he had evidently been seated with the
general. for two half-consumed cigars
still smoked upon their trays. At q
door at the farther end saw the spec.
tacIed face of q pale young Egyptian
secretary.
Col" shouted the khedive. in
Arabic and the man disappeared noise.
lessly. The khedive motioned to me
| to be seated. But I stood up before
him ! laid the document upon his
desk.
Il must have your highness' sigma
ture Immediately" said.
"Your excellency-"
Il will not discuss the matter with
your highness. The sirdar has instruc
lions to take possession of the palace
within half an hour unless ! appear
with the proclamation signed"
But. your excellency. have already
informed Gen. Essad Pasha that l."
Your highness must rescind you
promise"
THAT Egypt remains NEUTRAL" re
piled the khedive. And. looking me
full In the face, he smiled.
He touched the black mustache. and
It turned brown. He pulled the turbar
from his head. He Strengthened him
SELF His being seemed transformed
Suddenly I realized that I was looking
into the face of viscount Kitchener
himself. of whom the Arabs say thai
he can assume as many DISCUSSES al
the devil himself.
All the courage went out Of me.
trembled before him. did not know
what to do; II the door had been open
believe should have run. This mar
had come to Cairo secretly. as was hi
wont; he had deceived not only thu
palace slaves. who had probably nevel
dared look their lord in the face, bu
the khedive's personal attendants
How had he managed It?
He put his hand-on my shoulder ant
smiled at me.
"You have done the right thing. x.
he said quietly. And that il the high
est praise Kitchener knows.
But what had he done with the khe
dive?
| He solved that problem at last b,
clapping his hands. The pale-face'
secretary appeared.
Tell his highness that there is n
reason why he should deny himself Il
his friends any longer" he said.