The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-22

| III liSs HeT Two servants, II mas Deen
possible for her to remain here. But
his voice sank again-"her ornaments
are famed throughout Islam."
I nodded comprehendingly.
ITO me-" Abu Tabah whispered. "has
been entrusted the task Of guarding
them; to you, I entrust that of guard
ing the possessions of the other guests!"
But. my friend" I said, this is a
dreadful responsibility which you i'm
pose upon me-"
"Other precautions are being taken, I"
he replied calmly; but you, observing
great circumspection, can speak to the
guests, and, being forewarned Of his
presence, can even watch for the COM
ing Of Omar of Ispahan."
!
| The effect of my news upon Lady
Coils was truly dramatic.
! oh" she cried, my rope of pearls.
Mr.. Chundermeyer only told me last
week that it was worth at least two
hundred pounds more than 1 gave
for it"
you need not wear it, my dear" said
her husband tactlessly.
Don't be ridiculousi she retorted
You know I have brought my Queen
of Sheba costume for tomorrow night !"
That, Of course. settled the matter,
so that beyond making one pretty
woman extremely nervous, my cam
paign against the dreaded Omar of
Ispahan had overwhelmingly. Later in
the day I circulated my warning right
and left, and everywhere sowed con-
sternation without reaping any ap-
preciable result.
On the whole. think. the best
O.
provided by Mr.. Chundermeyer, whom
found in the American bar, Just be-
fore the dinner hour. His yellow skin
perceptibly blanched at my first men
ton of Omar Ali Khan, and one hand
clutched at a bulging breast pocket of
the dinner-j jacket he>wore.
Good heavens, Mr.. Kernaby," he
said, you alarm me-you alarm me,
sir!"
The reputation Of Omar is not un-
known to you?"
"By no means unknown to me-" he
responded IN the thick, unctuous voice
which betrayed the Semitic strain in
his pedigree. ut was this man who
stole the pair of blue diamonds from
the Rajah Of Bagore."
so I am told"
but have you been told that 1t was
my firm who bought those diamonds for
the Rajah?"
NO. that is news to me-"
at was my firm, Mr.. Kernaby, who
negotiated the sale of the blue dia-
monds to the Rajah: therefore the par
ticulars of their loss, under most ex-
traordinary circumstances, are well
known to me. You have made me very
nervous. Who is your Informant"
whom I am acquainted"
lugubriously.
Il am conveying a parcel Of rough
stones to Amsterdam he confessed,
rims of his spectacles, land feel very
protection than is offered by your
Egyptian friend"
why not lodge the stones in a bank.
or in the managers safe?"
II distrust all safes but my own"
he replied. 'I prefer to carry such
valuables upon my person, foolish
though the plan may seem to you. But
do you observe that squarely built,
military looking person standing at the
bar, in conversation with NJ. Balabas:s
the manager"
Yes; an officer, should Judge"
Precisely; a police officer. That Is
Chief Inspector Carlisle of New Scott
land Yard"
But he is a guest here"
= Certainly. The management sus-
tanned a sever loss last Christmas dur.
ing the progress of a ball at which alt
Cairo was present, and as the Inspector
chanced to be on his way home from
India, where official business had taken
him, Mr. Balabas induced him to break
his journey and remain until after the
carnival"
bring him over"
Crossing to the bar, I greeted Bala-
bas. with whom I was acquainted, and:
"Mr. Chundermeyer and have been
discussing the notorious Omar of Ispa-
han, who is said to be in Cairo" I re-
marked.
Inspector Carlisle. being introduced,
smiled broadly.
-~"Mr. Balabas is very nervous about
this Omar man." he replied, with
slight Scottish accent; 'but, considering
that everybody has been warned, don't
see myself that he can do much dam
age"
But Mr.. Chundermeyer remained pal
pably uneasy.
The gardens Of the hotel on the fol-
lowing night presented a fairy-like
spectacle. Lights concealed among the !
flower beds, the bloom-covered arbors, |
and the feathery LEAKAGE Of the acacias.
suffused a sort of weird glow, suggest
ing the presence of a million fire-flies.
Up beneath the crowns of the lofty
palms little colored electric lamps were
set, producing an illusion of super
natural fruit. whilst the fountain had
been magically converted into a cas-
cade of fire.
In The ballroom, where the orchestra
played, and a hundred mosque lamps
bathed the apartment in soft illumina-
ton, cosmopolitan throng danced
~round a giant Christmas tree. their
costumes clash of color to have filed |
thea friCaI T1rOf7r1rov-