The Washington times., 1919-01-05

b mosque OF HaSaneyn, constance Mas
terson waited and listened in an agony of
incertitude to the conversation in Arabic
Of fDaoud Effendi with the Nazir and Imams
She heard the drons of their prayers, dis
tinguished the sound of Won Hengers voice
and heard the sudden cry Of Alan Jessup
as he called 90 the startled German. The
deafening explosion Of firearms in the
echoing tomb frightened her and she
cravled back toward the entrance to the
room Of the Nazir, her gaze turned back
in alternate fear and hope toward the
pallid glow beyond the arch.
There was fearful cry, the impact Of a
blow. the sound of a falling body, then
silence and a murky silhouette appeared
In the opening and grew rapidly larger as
1t came toward her. Hope revived her
"Alan!" she whispered, joyfully. "Alan!"
She could not believe that he had failed.
, But Won Hengel caught her by the
shoulders and hurried her out into the
room Of the Nazir, where he roughly tore
away the burka over her face, disclosing
her identity.
Herr Gott! You, Fraulein." He paused
In a moment Of indecision midway between
, a frown and a smile, and while she
watched him, aware that there was no pos.
sibility of escape from him IL he chose to
. coerce ber, he glanced for a momene
toward the archway, then smiled. at is
that it will be necessary for you to go
with me at once"
Constance was gaining her courage rap
Idly. She could not forget that shis was
merely the blonde, cherubic, Conrad Won
Hengel, amiable companion OF many a gay
party at the Willard or at Sherry's, her
partner at cotillon or tennis at Chevy
Chase or Piping Rock. The Bedawee
head-dress and stained face no longer
frightened her.
~And II refusef" she said. with some
show Of spirit.
You won't" he said, grimly, his express
sion changing. "Will you come with me?
Or shall leave you to the mercy Of the
Khateeb whose sanctuary you have pro-
famed? He will kill you. With me you
nave a chance
"AAn?" - she whispered. her face
ghastly with fear.
= Dead" he muttered, ~and the other
siso." And she saw for the first time the
blue black barrel of the automatic he still
held In his hand. Come" he ordered,
L
to lose"
{. She followed him, half led, half dragged,
down the other passage way and out into
= the yestibule Of the door Of the Nazir,
where he paused again a moment, releas-
ing her.
This is q desperate venture. You have
no business here. Come with me willingly,
make no outcry and you will be safe.
Otherwise"-
q What will you do?"
Take you to the Khateeb," he said
cooIIy.
= Its a choice of evils" she said, impu-
IDENTIFY. Lead on, I'll follow"
And so, slipping his weapon into his
pocket, he disengaged his right hand, his
left, as she noticed, being hidden beneath
the folds Of his robe. Then he opened the
door Of the vestibule and descended the
steps into the dim alley-way. Ali Afdal
stood in the shadow Of the opposite wall
alone. To him Won Hengel spoke a few
words in Arabic and then led his COM
panion to the right into the darkness.
where they were presently lost in a maze
OF dark alleys ever growing more tangled.
II the thought OF escape had occurred to
her moment before, the opportunity had
now passed for Won Hengel walked close
beside her. uttering a word OF warning as
they emerged into a wider and better
lighted thoroughfare. There was q sound
OF horses hoofs on cobbles at some dis
tance to their right. and she caught
glimpse Of men in blue uniforms on white
horses slowly moving in the general direc-
tion from which she had come.
Make no sound" her companion ordered
shortly. Gross The street to the alley
there"
Frightened now at his tone Constance
obeyed and in a moment they were moving
on again In the obscurity of another mar
row street, where from the ease and COM
fort Of Won Hengel's manner she knew
that her opportunity had passed. Indeed,
her companion, needless to say without
asking permission, had lighted a cigarette
while he walked and gave every appear
ance OF intense satisfaction.
His face in the glow of the match was
disquieting. The blonde mustache miss
ing, there were lines around the corners
Of Won Hengers mouth that she had never
seen before. The cheerful and reassuring
memories Of Sherry's and Piping Rock
seemed suddenly to fade and merge into
others more grim and forbidding-:ales Of
the French border, Of Louvain and Liege.