Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-09-02

Copyright. 1917. by Mcclure syndicate.)
- WAS not the only passenger aboard
the S. 8. Mandalay who perceived
the disturbance and wondered what
q 1t might portend and whence 1t
had proceeded. A goodly number Of
passengers were joining the ship at
Port Said. was hanging over the
rail, pipe in mouth, lazily wondering.
with a large vagueness.
What was the stir about?
turned to the dark young man who
leaned upon the rail beside me. From
the first 1 had taken to Mr.. Ahmad
Ahmadeen.
There is some kind of undercurrent
of excitement among the natives.
said. "a sort of subdued Greek chorus
is audible. What's 1t all about?'
Mr.. Ahmadeen smiled. He was
handsome man and had a pleasant
smile.
Probably" he replied. some local
celebrity is joining the ship" / stared
at him curiously.
the copy-hunter is a restless soul)
A group Of men dressed in semi
European fashion-that is. in European
fashion save for their turbans. which
the deck.
Ahmadeen appeared not to have heard
the question.
The disturbance. which could only be
defined as a subdued uproar. and could
be traced to no particular individual or
group. grew momentarily louder-then
died away.
incident which. though I knew it not.
heralded the coming of strange things
and the dawn of new power. which
should set up its secret standards in
England. which should flood Europe
and the civilized world with wonder.
shrill scream marked the overture
"a scream of fear and of pain, which
dropped to groan and moaned out into
the silence of which 1t was the cause.
My God, what's that
started forward. There was
general crowding rush. and darkly
tanned and bearded man came on board.
carrying a brown leather case. Behind
him surged those who bore the victim.
IT'S one of the lascars"'
Moan Egyptian"
1T was a porter"
stand away there. il you please"
That was a ships officer and his voice
Of authority served to quell the dis
turbance. Through a lane walled with
craning heads they bore the insensible
man. Ahmadeen was at my elbow.
"A Copt." he said softly. Poor DEVIL
turned to him. There was a queer
expression on his clean-shaven. bronzed
IaCc.
'Good Cod" I said. His hand has
been cut off,
That was the fact of the matter.
And no one knew what had become of
moment in linking up the story. The
pressman within me acted automat-
ically.
THE gentleman Just come abroad.
questions. "is Prof. Deeping. The poor
beggar who was assaulted was carrying
some Of the professors baggage"
With impatience I awaited the time
when the injured man. having received
medical attention. was conveyed ashore
and Prof. Deeping reappeared. To the
celebrated traveller and oriental scholar
I introduced myself.
He was singularly reticent.
Il was unable to see what took place.
Mr.. Cavanagh." he said. The poor
fellow was behind me. pressing through
a knot of people. I had just taken a
ing another heavier one. 1t is a clean
ept, like that of q scimitar. / have seen
vary similar wounds in the cases of
men who have suffered the old Moslem
penalty for theft"
Nothing further had come to light
when the Mandalay left. but / found
Asw matter for curiosity in the be-
havior of the Moslem party who had
come on board at Port Said.
In conversation with Mr.. Bell. the
chief officer. l learned that the sup
posed leader of the party was one
Mr.. AzraeelE"obviously." said Bell. mot
his real name. or not all of it,. / don't
suppose they'll show themselves on
deck: they've got their own servants
with them and seem to be people of
consequence"
who is Mr.. Azraeel?" asked
Ahmadeen.
Il cannot say" replied the Egyptian:
and abruptly changed the subject.
The next happening on board the
Mandalay which ! have to record was
the attempt to break open the door of
Prof Deeping's stateroom. Except when
he was actually within. the professor
left his room door religiously locked.
He made light Of the affair. but later
took me aside and told me q curious
story Of an apparition which had ap-
peared to him.
1T was a crescent of light" he said.
land IL glittered through the darkness
there to the left as lay in my berth"
"A reflection from something on the
decky'
Possibly" he replied; 'but II was