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

who had waited was Ahmad Ahmadeen!
The messenger gone. 1t was the pur-
port of her message which assumed
supreme Significance. Written in odd.
Amethyst paper. was this message:
prevail upon Prof. Deeping to place
what he has in the brown case on the
porch Of his house tonight. If he fails
to do SO no power on earth can save
him from the Scimitar Of Hassan.
"a FRIEND"
Prof. Deeping could be reached by
telephone: so returning to my rooms.
where there still fingered the faint per-
fume of my late visitors presence. I
asked for his number. He proved to
be at home.
Cavanagh." he said: for I was about
First" I replied listen to the con-
tents of an anonymous letter which I
ITO me" l added. having read him
the note. sit seems to mean nothing.
! take it that you understand better
than / do"
II understand very well. Cavanagh,"
he replied. "You will recall mS story
of the scimitar which flashed before
me in the darkness of my stateroom
on the Mandalay? Well. ] nave seen it
again! I am not an Imaginative man:
i had always believed myself to possess
the scientific mind: but I can no longer
doubt that am the object Of pursuit
which commenced in Mecca! The hap
penings on the steamer prepared me
for this. in a degree. ] perceived that
the contents of certain brown leather
case were the cause of the crimes"
j listened, in growing wonder.
"It was not necessarily with the OBJ
ject of stealing the bag that the hands
were severed" resumed the professor.
I'm fact. as was rendered evident by
the case of the steward. this was ap-
parent1y a penalty visited upon any
one who touched it! You are thinking
of my own immunity"
II ann
This is attributable to two things.
Those who seek to recover what 1 have
in the case feared that my death en-
route might result in it's being lost to
then forever In the second ,s,t place:
long passed for a true believer in the
east! My death. however. has been de-
termined upon. whether 1 be Moslem or
Christian
'Why?"
Because" came the professors harsh
voice over the telephone. "of the con-
tents Of the brown leather case! will
these contents-to know might en-
danger you. But the case is locked in
my safe here. and the key, together
with full statement of the true facts
first edition copy of my book. Assyrian
Mythology. in the bookcase
why do you tell me all this?" !
interrupted.
He laughed harshly.
THE identity of my pursuer has Just
dawned upon me-. he said. II know
that my life is in real danger. I would
give up what is demanded of me. but I
believe its possession to be my strong
What steps have you taken to pro-
tect yourself?'
Again the short laugh reached my
ears.
I'm afraid long residence in the
east has rendered me something of
fatalist. Cavanagh! Beyond keeping
my door locked. I have taken no steps
whatever. fear ] am quite accessible"
l had scarcely hung up the receiver.
when. acting upon sudden determine
ton, l called up New Scotland Yard.
and asked for Detective inspector
Bristol, whom / knew well. A few
words were sufficient keenly to arouse
his curiosity: and he announced his in
tention of calling upon me Immediately.
He was In charge of the case of the
several hand
1 made no attempt to resume work in
the interval preceding his arrival.
had not long to wait. however, ere
Bristol was ringing my bell; and l hur-
ried to the door. only too glad to con-
fide in one 30 well equipped to analyze
my doubts and fear. As he seated him.
self in the armchair. without preamble
/ plunged into my story.
He listened gravely.
May l use your telephone?" he asked
when ! had finished.
Certainly"
Very quickly Bristol got into COM
munication with the superintendent of
division. brief delay, and to the
telephone came the man whose beat
included the road in Dulwich wherein
Prof: Deeping's house was situated.
Why" said Bristol. hanging up the
receiver after making a number Of in
quiries. "he lives in a sort of rambling
cottage in extensive grounds There's
only one servant-a man-servant-and
he sleeps in a detached lodge If the
professor is really in danger of attack
he could not well have chosen a more
likely residence for the purpose
The telephone bell began to ring.
took up the receiver.
Cavanagh!-is this Cavanagh?"
Yes! Yes, Who is this?"
"Deeping. I have rung up the police,
and they are sending some one. But
L wish-'
His voice trailed Off The sound Of
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