The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-22

carriage, to the manner of Mr.. Chun-
dermeyer.
The puzzling absence of Chief IN
spector Carlisle now engaged every
body's attention; and, acting upon the
precedent afforded by the finding of
\ Mr. Chundermeyer, we paid visit to
the detectives room. A--f
Inspector Carlisle, fully dressed. and
still wearing a soft felt hat. as though
ne had but just come in, lay ON the
floor, unconscious, with the greater part
of cigar. which examination showed
to be drugged, close beside him.
As 1 entered my room that night and
switched on the light. in through the
open window from the balcony stepped
Abu Tahah. 49,
His frequent and mysterious appear
ances In my private apartments did not
surprise me in the least, and L had
eveil-ceased to wonder how he accom-
plished them; but:
You are too late, my friend,pI said.
Omar of Ispahan has outwitted YOU. !"
Omar of Ispahan has outwitted men
wiser than l." he replied gravely; but
1 covetousness is a treacherous master,
ana am not without hope that we may
yet circumvent the father of thieves"
4
covered excitement to be growing
| within me.
| Accompany me on the balcony" he
said; but first extinguish the light"
| A moment later stood looking down
upon the moon-bathed gardens, and Abu
| Tabah. beside me. stretched out his
hand.
You see the projecting portion Of
the building yonder?"
| YES replied; the Harem Suite. -
Immediately before the window there
is palm tree"
| yes; I see it,
| THE moon is high. and whilst all the
side Of the hotel is in shadow the
acacia is in the moonlight. Its branches
would afford concealment, however;
and one watching there could see what
would be hidden from one on this bal
| cony. 1 request you. Kernaby Pasha,
to approach that Iebbe1eh tree from the
further side of the fountain. in order
to remain invisible from the hotel.
Climb to one Of the lower branches.
and closely watch four windows"
(which are the four windows that I
| am to watch?"
"They are-one, that Immediately be-
low your own; two, that to the right
| or 1t; three, the window above the
Haren1 Suite; and. four, the extreme
east window of this wing, on the first
| floor"
Now, my state of mystification grew
even denser- For the windows specified
were. in the order of mention, that of
Inspector Carlisle, who had not yet re-
| covered consciousness; of Mr.. Chunder-
meyer; of Major Redpath. a retired
Anglo-Indian who had been confined to
for
tack Of malaria; and of Mr.. Balabas
the manager
For what" I inquired. lam I to
watch?"
For a man to descend"
And them"
You will hold you open watch case
where it is clearly visible from this
spot. Instant upon the mans appear
ance you will cover it up, and then un-
cover it. either once. twice, thrice, or
four times"
After which,"
Remain scrupulously concealed Have
the collar OF your dinner jacket turned
up in order to- betray as little white
ness as possible. Do no interfere with
the man who descends: but if he enters
the Harem Suite, see that he does not
come out again! There Is no time for
L
Is Omar of Ispahan with whom|Fve have
to deal!"
Perched up amid the foliage of the |
acacia, I commenced that singular
guard imposed upon me by Abu Tabah. |
Nor was my vigil a long one. |
doubt If I had been at my post ten
minutes ere a vague figure appeared
upon the shadow-veiled balcony of one
Of the. suspected windows-that of !
Major Redpath. above the Harem Suite. |
Scarcely daring to credit my eyes, I
saw the figure throw down on to the |
projecting top OF the nsnshTd biyeh win |
down below slender rope ladder. |
covered the cleaning gold of my watch |
case with my hand. and gave the sig |
nal-thfee.
The spirit Of phantasy embraced me; |
and, unrnoved to further surprise, 1 |
watched the unknown swarm down the /
ladder with the agility of an ape. He
seemed to wear robe. surely that of |
the Yelled Prophet! He silently manipu-
lated one of the side-panels of the win
dow, opened it, and vanished within the
Harem Suite.
Raising my eyes. beheld a second
hgurethat of Abu Tabah-descending
a similar ladder to the balcony of In
spector Carhsle's room. He gained the
balcony and entered the room. Four
seconds elapsed; he reappeared, un-
furled greater length of ladder. and
came down to the flower beds. Lithely
as a cat he came to the projecting
nnnShrGbiych, swung himself aIoft, and
as watched breathlessly, expecting4
him to enter in pursuit of the intruder,
climber to the top and began to mount
the ladder descending from Major Red
paths roorni
He had just reached the Majors bal
cony, and was stepping through the
open window, when a most alarming
din arose in the Harern Suite. evil
IDENTIFY fierce struggle was proceeding
in the apartments of the Mudir's
daughte-i