The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-13
The Whispering Mummy z

From a little square window these
compelling eyes regarded me 1Hxedly,
and presently I distinguished thR' out-t
line of a head surmounted by white
turban.
The second watcher was Abu Thbahl.
What business could have bIpught
the mysterious imam to such a place
was a problem beyond my powers of
conjecture, but that he was s6lsntly
directing me to depart with all speed
I presently made out. Having signi-
fed, by gesture that I had ter;lsped
the purport of his message. I turned
again to Breton. who was struggling
to carry ont a conversation with
Shejeret ed-Durr in his native 1French.
experienced some difficulty in in
ducing him to leaye. but nry arguments
finally prevailed. and we passed out
into the dimly lighted street about US
in the darkness pipes walled nd there
was the dim throbbing Of the eternal
ddrGbuIceh. We were in that part of
El-Wasr adjoining the notorious Square
of the Fountain. Discordasat woman
voices filed the night, and strange
figures fitted from the shadows into
| the light streaming from the open door
ways. 1t was the centRe of secret
Cairo, the midnight citys and three
PAGES from the door of the dance hall,
a slim, bIack-robed figure suddenly ap-
peared at my elbow. and the musical
. voice of Abu Tabah spoke close to
my ear:
| BE on the terrace of Shepheard's in
i half an hour"
!, The mysterious figure melted again
/ into the shadows abosIt us.
/
On the deserted hotel balcony. Abu
i Tabah awaited me.
TT was indeed fortunate. Kernaby
Pasha," be said. that 7 observed you
this evening" ..
! II am greatly obliged to you I
1 replied, for watching over me with
such paternal solicitude. May I in
quire what danger I have incurred?'
i 1 was angrily conscious Of feeling
like a schoolboy suffering reproof.
"A very great. danger" Abu Tabah
assured me, his gentle, musical voice
expressing real concern. "Ahmad es-
Kebir is the lover of the dancer called
Shejeret ed-Durr, although she who is
of the oIsdtoGzi. of Keneh does not re-
turn his. affections"
! "Ahmad es-Kabir ?-do you refer to a
mahgnant-looking person in q black
turban?" inquired --e.
Abu Tabah gfavely inclined his head.
He is one of the RifGiyeI, the Black
Darwishes. They practice strange rites
and are by some accredited with super
natural powers. For you the danger
is not so great as for your friend, who
seemed to be speaking words Of love
to the 1hdSiyeh.''
laughed shortly.
you are mistaken, Abu Tahah,"
replied; "his interest. was not of the
! lrt, is
an artist and merely desired the girl
to pose for him"
, Abu Tabah shrugged his shoulders
"She is an unveiled woman" he said
! contemptuous1y, but love in the heart
: of such a one as Ahmad is a terrible
s passion, consuming the vitals and rem
dering whom it aff1icts either par
r taker of Paradise or as one of the evil
sinn.''
3 "In the particular case under con-
sideration," said. at would seem dis
r tinctly to have produced the latter and
= less agreeable symptoms" T-,-
4 Let your friend step warily," ad-
i vised Abu Tabah; ,"for some who have
g aroused the enmity Of the Black OAR
lUishes have met with strange ends
s nor has it been possible to fix. re-
e sponsibility upon any member OF the
/; order f
$ You think my poor friend, Feiiz
e Breton, may be discovered some morn
u ing in an unpleasantly messy condi-
S tion?"
y 1.-The Black DGraoishes DO not employ
e the knife answered Abu Tabah; "they
;. employ strange and more subtls
0 weapons" 5-..
:. 1 stared hard. at him in the dark.
d ness. thought knew my Cairo. but
= this sounded unpleasantly mysterious
However:
k 'I am indebted to you. Aba Tabah,
d I said, for your timely warning. Al
y you know I always personally ayoie
a any possibility of misunderstanding II
d regard to my relations with Egyptian
+ women-folk."
= with some rare exceptions" agreet
o Abu Tabah, particulars OF which es,
d cape my memory at the moment. yor
', have always been model of disere-
o htion,. Kernaby Pasha-"
It "I will warn my friend" / SAX
It hastily, "of the view Of his condue
y mistakenly taken by the gentleman IL
a the black turban." p,
- "It is we'll" replied Abu Tabah; "wt
It shall meet again, ere long"
r. with that and the customary digni
h fed salutations he departed. leaving M
= wondering what hidden significance la,
ID In his words, 1--WE shall meet again err
long"
le Experience had taught me that ABB
lie Tabah's warnings were not to b
1t lightly dismissed. and I knew enough
l. of the fanaticism of those strang
pit Eastern seets whereof the Rifdiveh. o
l. Black DdrlCfshes, was one, to realiz
iS that It would prove an unhealth,
1e amusement to interfere with thei
l. domestic affairs. Felix Breton, wa
le possessed the rare gift Of capturin;
re and transferring to canvas the atmos
phere OF the East with the opulea
ne colorings and vivid contrasts .whic
We constitute it's charm. had nevertheless
i'd but little practical experience of tn
ic manners and customs of the rolde
ed o;;,. n ia la,-o5 /, Ia,-a s+,,s;