Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-10
Continued from Fourth Pase.)

torture and bloodshed had expected
to ind. But there was nothing-noth-
ing!
Mascasenhas was sitting as had left
him. calmly smoking a cigarette. The
giant Tartar had taken the Manchus
chair, and was talking affably to my
servant. who was perfectly at his ease.
AS soon as he saw me, he rose. He
came to me with outstretched hands.
manner. palm to palm. and greeted me
after the custom Of al-Islam.
"Alhamdulillah; yah Ahaykh-you
have been long"
For moment I was speeches.. I
knew that only a few minutes before I
had heard his voice raised in an agony
of entreaty and despair. knew that he
had called for help, that he had cried
out my name. / was positive Of 1t.
VISA sane. I heard 1t. There could not
have been q mistake.
Then q curious thing happened.
All his life Mascasenhas had worn a
small gold amulet around his neck. 1t
contained. SO he told me. splinter Of
the real cross on which our Savior mad
been crucined,. and had been given to
Bishop Of Goa. Despite my entreaties.
he insisted on wearing IT. even after
he had assumed Arab garb and speech.
IT must wear 1t, master" he told me.
1T has saved me in the past: 1t will
save me again. Somehow, I know that
Il will stand between me and danger.
It il a most precious and sacred relic"
And then he had crossed himself.
And now I saw this little locket, the
chain torn and twisted. directly at the
feet fthe big Tartar. while at the
Same moment I saw exactly the same
iocket around the neck of Mascasenhas
es he bent forward. greeting me. I
shook the haircaste's hands again and
same instant I covered the locket on
the floor with my right foot, and a sec
ond later. under , pretext of arranging
my leather sandals. stopped and picked
Ap the little glittering thing
Tho touch of IL convinced me that it
sort. Again / looked at Mascasenhas
and saw the identical locket around
his neck. Then I acted.
said to myself that two could play
at the same game. For ! was convinced
at once that the man in front Of me
was an inpostor. an impersonator. who
was like the real Mascasenhas in every
respect, and who had been trained for
weeks in his role with wealth of de-
tail and thorough patience, which was
truly Chinese. He would have de-
ceived me- But here was the locket.
I did not jump to conclusions. saw
II all as clearly as in a vision Of faith.
1t was also clear to me that. for
some reason or other, the ManCnu ha0
decided not to kill me Just yet. as he
easily could have done. ! could still
save my life. AS to the real Mascasen-
has-I was convinced that he had been
killed-that his body had been dragged
away!
It would do no good. either to him
who was dead or to myself who was
alive, to revenge his death then and
there with a thrust of the dagger I
must save myself. Here was the main
consideration For on my life, my
energies, my strength and cunning, de-
pended the destiny Of the west, the
destiny OF Christianity.
So l acted. / looked at the impostor,
and there was deep love and friendship
in my look.
"But"-my voice was low and broken
Il heard you cry for help I thought
The other smiled gently.
Il cry for help? l do not understand
you You must be mistaken"
smiled to myself. All right, I
thought, you didn't cry, but you're 60
ing TO cry presently.
Thinking rapidly. I pulled myself to-
gether and turned to the Manchu
Forgive my rude manners" touched
forehead and mouth with the tips Of
my fingers. Peace on you"
The Aanchu bowed. There was q
strange smile on his face.
We thank you for the august honor