The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-15
you alive" he said simply.


.'If life is dear to you," he continued,
answer me this, Kernaby Pasha: have
you found the ring
'1 have not" I replied; my lamp
failed me; but I think the ring is gone.
What do you know of this ring, o my
friend7" I asked.
Abu Tabah shrugged his shoulders.
'I know much that is evil" he re-
piled: land because you doubt the
purity of my motives. all that have
learned you shall learn also for Allah
| the Great the Mercifu1, this night has
protected you from danger and spared
you a frightful death. Follow me,
Kernaby Pashn. in order that these
things may be made manifest to YOU"
A pair Of fleet camels were kneeling
at the foot Of the slope below -ths en-
trance to the pyramid. and having re-
covered somewhat from the fatiguing
climb out from the Kings Chamber
TT might be desirable" I said, that
adopt more suitable raiment for
camel riding?"
ITO delay would be unwise." he re-
Piled. You have mercifuily been
spared a painful and unfortunate end
| TALL praise to Him, who averted the
peril); but the ring, which bears an
| ancient curse, is gone; for me there is
no rest until I have found and de-
stroyed 1t. -
your destructive theory may be
perfectly sound" said; but as one
professionally interested in relics Of
| the past, feel called upon to protest.
Perhaps before we proceed any further
you will enHghten me respecting this
most obscure matter. Can you inform
me, for example. what became Of Has
san es-Sugra?' z* ~ee
HE observed my approach from
distance, and fed. being a man of little
| virtue. Respecting the other matters
you shall be fully enlightened. tonight
| The white camel is for you"
There was gentle finality IN his
manner to which I succumbed. I be-
gan to understand his reputation with
| the natives; beyond doubt his uncanny
wisdom was impressive; his lofty dig
nifty awed.
AS had anticipated. the village Of
Meydum proved to be our destination,
and the gait of tn emagnificent crea-
lures upon which we were mounted was
| exhausting. I entered the house Of the
sheikh with misgivings; for my attire
fell short Of the ideal to which every
representative of protective Britain
looks UP, but often fails to realize.
In Dtandardh. part of it inlaid with
| fine mosaic and boasting a pretty foun-
| tain, was presented to the imposing
| old man who was evidently the host of
Abu Tabah. Ere taking my seat upon
| the ditrdn, shed my canvas shoes, in
accordance with custom, accepted pipe
and a cup OF excellent coffee. and
awaited with much curiosity the next
development. re
| Because although you are not a
Moslem. you are a man of culture and
understanding, said Abu Tabah. "I
have ordered that my sister shall be
brought into your presence"
THAT is exceedingly good Of you" I
said, but indeed I knew it to be an
honor which spoke volumes at once for
Abu Fabah's enlightenment and good
opinion of myself. 4
"She Is virgin of great beauty"
he continued; and the excellence of her
mind exceeds the perfection OF her per-
son. And because your mind il filled
with conjectures respecting the source
Of certain information which you know
me to possess, I desire that the matter
shall be made clear to you
How I should have answered this
singular man I know not; but as he
spoke the words, into the 1ldnddrdh
came a girl robed and veiled entirely
in white, With gait slow and graceful
she approached the di1odn. She wore a
white 1a'ele so closely wrapped about
| her that it concealed the rest of her
attire, and white tdr6dr, or head
veil, decorated with gold embroider.-, al
most entirely concealed her hair, save
| for one jet-black plait in which little
| gold ornaments were entwined and
which hung down on the left of her
forehead. A white yashn,dk reached
nearly to her feet, which were clad in
little red leather clippers
| No form of introduction was OBJ
served: with modestly lowered eyes the
girl saluted me and took her seat upon
a heap of cushions before a small coffee
table set at one end OF the di1cdns The
Sheikh seated himself beside me, and
Abu Tahah. with a reed pen, wrote
something rapidly on a narrow strip Of
paper. The Sheikh clapped his hands,
a man entered bearing a brazier COM
tanning live charcoal. and, having
placed It upon the floor. immediately
withdrew. 49, .se
Amid a tense silence, Abu Tabah took
| from a box upon the table some resin-
| Gus substance. This he sprinkled upon
| the fire in the brazier; anS the girl
extending a small hand and round soft
| arm across the table, he again dipped
| his pen in the ink and drew upon the
| upturned palm rough square which
he divided into nine parts. writing in
each an Arabic figure Finally. in the
centre he poured a small drop Of ink.
upon which, in response to words rap
/ idly spoken. the girl fixed an intent
gaze. t--
! Into the brazier Abu Tabah dropped
one by one fragments of the paper
upon which he had written what pre-
! su,ned to be form of invocation I'm
meciately, standing between the snolS-
ing brazier and the girl. he commenced
4 a subdued muttcring. recognized that
Z I was about TO be treated to an ex-
hfbtrfoI OF ddrb e5-D1ende,. Abu Tabah