Evening star., 1917-10-21
BY
SAX
ROHlER
LEST OF MOHAlNDlEDS SACRED SLIPPER $

DO AZ he asks" I saiA .Psssoua01s
1 am resigned to mutilation. sinse
have touched the bag containing ~
slipper. but II Dexter has . pian@
Il believe there's some coal in T.
coal box. but shall have 70 break -
q packing case for arewood-of - 90
into the yard"'
Lot 1t be the packing cass~ rspdna
Hilton hastily.
Accordingly. a fire was kindisd, wAiass
we all stood about the room In q sus1
of fearful uncertainty. and bsfoee Ioae
big blaze was roaring up the oh1mAa6.
Dexter turned to me.
Mr.. Cavanagh." said he. Il vsa3 yva
to go right upstairs. open Q nrst.doo0
window would suggest that you g
to the window and call to HaSsan u
Aleppo to come and discuss tsrmsi"
Very well. l have no idea what yvs
have In mind. but I am prepared te
adopt any plan, since l have non0 q
my own. What shall 7 say?"
Say that we are prepared 10 1oesBw
the slipper-on conditions"
He viii probably try to shooe un>-es
/ stand at the window"
Dexter shrugged his shouldor2
Got to try It," he drawled.
And what are the conditioner
He must come right In hsfs 0o6
duct and I don't think he'll hesitate.
Anyway. IL he does just tell him thai
the slipper Will be destroyed inms-
diately,"
Without a word turned on my hssi
and assembled the stairs.
/ entered my room. crossed to ths
window and threw it wide open. How
ering over the distant hills I could see
the ominous thunder cloud, but the
storm seemed to have passed from
Cplands. and only a distant mutter-
ing. with the faint dripping OF water
from the pipes. broke the silence Of the
night. \ great darkness reigned. how
ever. and I was entirely unable to see
II any one was in the orchard.
'Hassan"' I cried. 'fHassan Of
Aleppow
Instantly as any magician sunamoo-
ing an efreet I was answered.
Out from the trees strode a tan nsu.A.
a figure I could not mistake II Was
that OF Hassan OF Aleppo!
Il hear, effendi. and obey" he sod
Il am ready. open the door,
I'VE are prepared TO discuss termp.
You may come and go safely--stili
my voice sounded unfamiliar IN my
ears
Il know. effendi. it is so written.
Open the door
closed the window and mechanically
descended the stairs.
Mind it isn't a trap cried Hilton.
who. with the others. had overheard
every word OF this strange intervisv
They may try to rush the door dirsss.
ly we open it"
''rll stand the chest behind it, saaA
Soar, between the door and the van.
so that only one can enter At q tims.s
This was done, and the door opened
Alone. majestic, entered Hassan Of
Aleppo.
Deigning no glance to Soar nor tk,
Hilton. he paced into the room. passing
me and ignoring Carneta, where Earl
Dexter awaited him.
''Hassan." said Dexter auietiy--Mr.
Cavanagh has had TO promise you safe
conduct, or as sure as God made me. rd
put bullet in your
The sheikh of the hashishtn giassA
fxedly at him.
Companion of the evil one he ssaa
lit is not written that I shall die ~
your hand-or by the hand OF any hefe
But IT has been revealed to me that 70.
night the gates Of paradise may be closed
in my face"
II shouldn't be at all surprissAS
drawled Dexter. But it's up to yvu.
You've got to swear. by Mohammed@
"Salla-'llahu 'aleyhi waseilum!"
That you or any of your followers
will not lay a hand upon any living
soul who has touched the slipper or had
anything to do with 1t. but that you win
go in peace
You are doomed 70 die"
You don't agree. them?
Those who have offended must suffer
the penalty'''
Right" said DeNter-and prepared 70
toss the slipper into the heart OF the
fire.
stop. Infdel. Stop
There was real aeony in HaseaaAo
voice. To my inexpressible surprise he
dronred unon his knees extending Ms
lean hands toward the slipper.
Dexter hesitated. You agree thear
Hassap raised his eyes TO the ceiling
II agree" he said. Dark are tho
ways. 1t is the will OF God"
Dimiv the booming Of thunder cau,A
eChoing back to us from the hills Above
its roll sounded a barbaric chanting to
which the drums of angry heaven formed
a fitting accompaniment
heard Soar shooting the boltD
again upon the going of our strange
visitor.
Faint and more faint grew the chant.
ing until 1t merged into the reuuste NUT
tering of the storm-and was lost The
quest of the Sacred Slipper was ended.
THE END