The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-08


prayer, had just sounded from
the minarets of the Mosques of
Kalaun and En-Nasir, and 1 was Idly
noting the negligible erect of the
adam upon the occupants of tine
neighboring shops-coppersmi for
the most part-when suddenly my
errant attention became arrested
A mendicant of unwhoIesonne aspect
crouched in the shadow of the narrow
gateway at the entrance to the gold
and silver bazaar. having his one
servtceable eye fixed in a malevo1ent
stare upon someone Immediately be-
hind me.
1t is part and parcel of my difficult
profession to subdue all impulses and
to think before acting. I slipped my
coffee and selected a fresh cigarette
from the silver box upon the rug be-
side me. In this interval I had decided
that the one-eyed mendicant cherished
murderous hatred for my genial friend
Ali Mohammed, the dealer in antiques.
Turning casually to Ali Mohammed
l was startled to observe the expression
upon his usually immobile face; Ae
was positively gray, and I thought /
detected a faint rafting sound. ap-
parently produced by his teeth; his
eyes were set as if by hypnosis upon
shadow of the low gate.
For some reason" said distinctly,
you are in deadly fear of the wall
eyed mendicant who is sitting by the
gate of the Suk-es- -Saigh, o Ali No
hammed. my friend"
I turned with assured carelessness
The begger of murderous appearance
had vanished, and Ali Mohammed was
slowly recovering his composure.
knew that I must act quickly, or ne
would deny with the urbane mendacity
of the Egyptian all knowledge of the
one-eyed one; therefore,
"Acquaint me with the reason Of
your apprehension" 1 said, at the same
time offering him one of his own Gig
arettes; lit may be that 1 can assist
you"
TT is one of the people of Tir." he
whispered. bending close to my ear;
of the evil ginn who are the creatures
of Abu Tabah."
was puzzled and expressed my
doubt in words
Alas" replied Ali Mohammed. the
Imam Abu Tabah is neither a man nor
an ofieial; he is a magician"
Indeed! Then you speak of one
bearing the curious name of Abu
Tabah, who is at once the holder of
a holy office and also one who has
dealings with the ginn and the Efreets.
This is strange, Ali Mohammed, my
friend"
1T is strange and terrible" he
whispered, and l fear that my path
is beset with pitfalls and slopeth down
to desolation."
Sorely puzzled as I was bY this
most mysterious happening. yet knew.
that the incident was closed so far as
confidence were concerned; and I pre-
sently took my departure, my mind
filed with all sorts of odd conjectures
by which 1 sought to explain the
matter. 1 was used to the superstitions
of that quarter where almost every
gate and every second street has its
guardian ginnee, but who and what
was Abu Tabah? An Imam appar-
emily, though to what mosque attach
ed Ali Mohammed had not mentioned.
And why did Ali Mohammed fear Abu
Tabah?
So my thoughts ran more or less un-
governed, whilst I made my way
through streets, narrow and tortuous
in the direction of the Rondpoint du
Muski. I saw no more of the wall
eyed rnendicant; but in a court hard
by the Mosque OF el-Ashraf I found
myself in the midst OF a squabbIing
crowd of natives surrounding some
one whom gathered, from the direc-
ton of their downward glances. to be
prone upon the ground. Since the
byways of the Sul1- -eI-Attarin are little
frequented by Europeans, at midday,
1 thrust my way into the heart of
the throng, thinking that some stray
patron OF Messrs. Cook and Son
egypt Ltd.) might possibly have got
into trouble or have been overcome
by the heat.
Who or what lay at the heart of
that gathering I never learned.
was still some distance from the CEN
ter of the disturbance when an evil
smelling sack was whipped over my
head and shoulders from behind, a
hand clapped upon my mouth and
jaws; ana, lifted in muscular arms,
found myself being borne inarticulate
down stone steps. as I gathered from
the sound, into some cool cellar-liKe
place.
was deposfteG upon stone-paved
floor and my wrists were neatly pin
ioned behind me by one of my captors,
while another hung on to my ankles.
The sack was raised from my body
but not from my face; and while q
hand was kept firmly pressed over the
region of my mouth, nimble fingers
my NNNSeS 4ISANS SOe eS
sumed at first that 1 had fallen into
the clutches of some modern brethren
of the famous Forty. but when my
purse, note-case, pocketbook, and other
belongings were returned to me real-
lied that something more underlay
this attempt than the mere activity of
a gang OF footpads-
At this conclusion had just arrived
when the sinking sack was pulled off
entirely and / found myself sitting on
the floor OF small and very dark
cellar. Beside me. holding the sack in
his huge hands, stood pock-marked
negro OF most repulsive appearance,
and before me. his slim, ivory colored
hands crossed and resting upon the
head Of an ebony cane, was q man,
apparently an Egyptian. I could not
doubt that the outrage had been die