The Washington times., 1918-12-15
Continued from Preceding PageJ

he wore his Oriental pIacidity like mask
and merely smiled and bowed
And so they went on toward the Khan
el-Khalily, Constance calling his attention
to the cOlorful scene, and after a while
when Jessup looked around again. the two
men who had followed had disappeared.
In the Khan, which they reached pres
emily, they seemed suddenly transported
into the heart of the Orient. The few
Europeans that they had seen in the
Musky, intimidated or wearied, had re-
turned to the Ismanhliyeh Quarter
1t was a fairy-land of light, color and
sound into which they stepped. Gay stripes
OF awning hung overhead, and the shops
we're draped with silks, cashmeres, en-
broideries of the greatest beauty and va
riety, which caught the glow from a hun
dred subdued and varicolored lamps
which lent an air of illusion. The shops
we're filled with the merchants and their
friends in holiday attire, smoking she
0ouks or cigarettes and drinking sweet
drinks Favored with almonds or roses.
Here a teller of romances stood, Telat-
ing some tale Of ancient Arabia-perhaps
that of the Royal Mendicants, or of Es-
Sinibad of the Sea, while his hearers lis
tened spell-bound. Further on, sound OF
drums and pipes, and a band of Durwee-
shes passed, chanting benedictions to
Hoseyn, to the cadence of their swaying
bodies. Further on they stopped and per-
formed a Zikr, a weird sort of dance and
tncantation, swaying, whirling, droning,
crying, while those around them listened in
silence or called out phrases from the
Koran, while they swayed in unison.
Not yet was she least of Suez,' but il
seemed to Constance that here was the
essence of the East, its mystery, its
charm, its immutability. its impervious.
ness to the tooth of time. The years had
passed over its head and left it unchanged
from the day of Calf and Mameluke. 1t
was getting into her blood.
She caught again at Alan's arm and =
looked up into his face. There was fire
of SOME sort burning in him, too, for his
brows were deeply knit and his eyes were
dark. as though with purpose. AS he felt
the touch Of her arm he pressed it against
him, but he did not look down at her.
Here again she seemed to feel his alb
stractions. His touch assured her of his
strength, but his look was afar.
Before them crowds of people were
massing in the direction of the Mosque,
and it was toward them that Jessup's
look was turned. AS they passed a corner
they came to a booth where Karakush.
the Egyptian Punch, was holding forth I'm
strident tones. The sound of the shrill
voice seemed to arouse her companion.
and they stopped a moment to listen,
while Mustapha tried to explain in ex-
purgated English the native sallies Of wit
The people around them laughed, but
as they had neared the Mosque they had
seen the lboks of some of the men in the
crowd turned toward them in frowniag
inquiry if not in actual disfavor. Mus
tapha explained that on this night at least
the Mosque was sacred to the faithful
and that Christians we're not welcome in
its vicinity. But Jessup made no move to
retrace his steps, standing near the
booths. his gaze fixed upon the walls of
the rather unpretentious edifice that con-
tained the other elements of Conrad Won
Hengels great conspiracy
Alan whispered his companion, per
haps we had better be going back"
Wait" he muttered. Its better here
han to try to stem the current"
Dark faces passed them, durweeshes,
sheykhs, Turks, women in their burkas,
Bedawees, Arabs and Effendis in frock
coats and tarbushes All seemed to be
pressing toward the door OF the mosque
Hasaneyn. Jessup watched them curl
1usly. envious of the rights he did not pos
,ess, for it seemed that even TO enter this
Mosque tonight would be a step in the
light direction.
Then suddenly the fingers of Constance
IN his arm tightened.
Alan" she whispered in a tense voice
lookI There! The Bedawin Sheykh,"
Jessup's quick glance followed the direc-
ion she indicated. There moving toward
hem, in the flicker Of light and shadow.
vas the head-dress of a Bedawee, and
nder it. the face stained a deep brown.
we're the high cheek bones and straight
Ose Of Conrad Won Hengel flash OF
ight from a nearby lantern revealed him
uIly,, and at the same moment he caught
light of Jessup's gray hannels. One
lance he gave, and then. pushing VIC.
emily while those around him swore in
Il tongues, he cut across the crowd away
rom the Americans, making for the cor
er of a nearby building, where a small
treet offered refuge.
Without losing sight Of the eddy in the {
urrent where the head-dress Of Won Hen
el bobbed, Jessup whispered quickly to
Iustapha.
Take her back to the hotel at once. +
10. Connie" s
His tone was peremptory and the note Il
T it thrilled her But she clung TO his $
rm and followed him.
go, Connie" he ordered This e. n
erious-a matter Of life and DEATH +
That's why I'm coming, too" she $
asped.
The crowd engulfed them. fought them. l.
Irsed them, while Mustapha. now Shrek y
~ warnings, struggled on behind. hut :
essup's broad shoulders and hard elbows :,
t last won across the street and they !.
ntered the dark alley, down which at a n