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

very sharply defined. Like the blade
At Tilbury the Mohammedan party
went ashore in q body: Among them
were veiled women. They contrived
30 to surround central figure that l
entirely failed to get glimpse OF the
mysterious Mr.. A.raeel. Ahmadeen
was standing close by the companion
way and had momentary impression
that one Of the women slipped some
thing into his hand. Certainly he start
ed; and his dusky face seemed to pale:
Deepings stateroom. carrying the
brown bag which the professor had
brought aboard at Port Said. Deeping' 8
voice came:
The bag changed hands. Five min
utes later. as i was preparing to go
ashore. there arose horrid scream
above the berthing clamor. Those pas
tion from which the scream had pro-
ceeded.
A steward-the one I have just pre-
viously mentioned-lay writhing at the
foot of the stairs leading to the saloon,
deck. His right hand had been severed
above the wrist!
During the next day or two my mind
constantly reverted to the incidents of
the voyage home I was perfectly con-
WINGED that the curtain had been par
TALLY raised upon some fantasy in
which Prof. Deeping figured.
But I had seen no more Of Deeping
nor had heard from him. when
abruptly I found myself plunged again
into the very vortex of his troubled
affairs. was half way through long
article. 1 remember. upon the mystery
of the outrage at the docks. The poor
steward whose hand had been severed
lay in a precarious condition. but the
police had utterly failed to trace the
culprit.
I had laid down my pen to relight
my pipe (the hour was about ten at
night. when a faint sound from the
direction of the outside door Of my
London apartment attracted my atten.
ton. Something had been thrust
through the letter box.
"a circular" thought. when the bell
rang loudly. imperatively..
went to the door. A square en-
velope lay upon the rug curious
ing it up. found it to bear my name
written simply:
Mr. Cavanash."
Tearing it open, I glanced at the
contents. ! threw open the door. No
one was visible upon the landing: but
when I leaned over the banister a
Whitehead figure was crossing the hall
below.
without hesitation, hatless. I raced
down the stairs. AS crossed the dimly
lighted hall and came out into the
peaceful twilight of the court my elu-
sive visitor glided under the archway
opposite.
Just where the dark and narrow pas
sage opened into Fleet street I over
took her-a girl closely yelled and
wrapped in long coat of white ermine.
Madam" said.
She turned affrightedly.
please do not detain me-" Her ac-
cent was puzzling. but pleasing. She
glanced apprehensively about her.
But you must explain the meaning
Il cannot. cannot. Please do not
ask me.'
She was GREATNESS from her fight
and seemed to be trembling. From
ly. mysteriously.
was sorely puzzled. The whole
incident was bizzarre-indeed it had in
it something of the uncanny. Yet I
could not detain the girl against her
will: and that she was in apprehension
Of something-of some one was evident.
Suddenly she raised her veil. and l
looked fully into the only really violet
eyes ] had ever beheld. Mentally. I
started. For .the face framed in the
snowy fur was the most bewitchingly
lovely one imaginable. One rebellious
lock of wonderful hair swept across
the white brow. 1t was brown hair.
with an incomprehensible sheen in the
high lights that suggested the heart
of a blood red rose.
oh she cried. promise me that
you will never breathe a word to any
one about my visitv
Since could perceive no alternative,
I replied. II will do So
Thank you-oh, thank you- she
said: and dropping her veil again she
walked rapidly away from me. whis-
pering. Il rely upon you. Do not fail
me Good by
Her conspicuous white figure Joined
the hurrying throngs upon the pave
ment beyond. My curiosity would
brook no restraint. ] hurried to the
end Of the courtway. She was crossing
the road. From the shadows. where he
had lurked. man came forward to
meet her. A vehicle obstructed the
view before I could confirm my i'm l.
preston: and when 1t had passed
neither my lovely visitor nor her com
panion was anywhere in sight.
But. unless some accident of light