Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-23


feast Of sorcery vanished from my mind. 4
1 desired but one thing. to depart. ere
reason utterly deserted me. But, to my
horror. discovered that my muscles
were become rigid bands of iron! The
figure of Abu Tabah was drawing
nearer: his slowly moving arms had
grown serpentine and his eyes had
changed to pools of flame which seemed
to summon me. At the time when this
new phenomenon added itself to the
other horrors 1 seemed to be tmpelled
by an irresistible force to jerk my head
downward; heard my neck muscles
snap metallically: saw q scream Of
agony squirt fourth from my lips .
and 1 saw upon little ledge immedi-
ateiy below the square window q little
mibkharah. or incense burner. which
hitherto had not observed. A thick.
oily brown stream Of vapor was issuing
from it's perforated lid and bathing my
face calmly. Sense Of smell I had none:
but chuckling, Economical voice spoke
from the mibkharah. saying:
Il am Hashish; I drive men mad!
Whilst thou hast lain up there like a
very fool, have sent my vapors to
thy brain and stolen thy senses from
thee. 1t was for this purpose that
was set here beneath the window where
thou couldst not fail to enjoy the full
benefit OF my poisonous perfume. !"
Slipping off the ledge. I fell
and darkness closed about me.
My awakening constitutes one OF tho
nnofv oivnf,
eventful career: for. with aching head
and tortured limbs, sat upright upon
the floor of tiny, stuffy and uncleanly
cell! The only light was that which en-
tered by way Of a little grating In the
door. was prisoner; and, in the
same instant that realized the fact Of
my Incarceration, realized also that
had been duped. The weird happenings
. In the apartment Of Mohammed er-Rah-
man had been Authorizations due to my
having inhaled the fumes Of some prepa-
ration OF hashish or Indian hemp. The
characteristic sickly ordor Of the drug
had been concealed by the pungency or
the other and more odoriferous per-
fumes; and because of the position of
the censor containing the burning hash
sSAs hO ohO CAoC IA LILO EOOxA udu V0cu
affected by its vapor. Could It have
been that Abu Tabah had known Of my
presence from the first?
I rose. unsteadily, and looked out
through the grating into q narrow
passage. A native constable stood at
one end of 1t, and beyond him I OBJ
tanned glimpse Of the entrance hall.
Instantly recognized that I was
under arrest at the Bah el-Khalk po-
lice station!
A great rage consumed me. Raising
my fists I banged furiously upon the
door. and the Egyptian policeman
: came running along the passage.
What does this mean. shawesh?"
demanded. "Why am detained here?
am an Englishman. Send the SUPER
intendent to me instantly"
You we're brought here last night
most disgustingly and speechlessly
drunk, in a cart" he replied.
II demand to see the superintend-
emit"
Certainly, certainly. effendim!"
cried the man, now thoroughly alarm
ed. I'm an instant, effendim!"
Such is the magical power of the
word 'Tnglisi'' (Englishman).
A painfully perturbed and apollo
getic native official appeared almost
Immediately, to whom I explained
that I had been to a fancy dress ball
at the Gezira Palace Hotel, and, in,
judiciously walking homeward at q
late hour, had been attacked and
struck senseless. He was anxiously
courteous, sending a man to Sheps
herds with my written instructions
to bring back a change of apparel
and offering me every facility for
removing my disguise and making
myself presentable. The fact that he
palpably disbelieved my story did not
render his concern one whit the less.
I discovered the hour to be close
upon noon. and, once more my out
ward self, was about to depart from
the Place Bah el-Khalk. when, into
the superintendent's room, came Abu
Tabah! His handsome ascetic face ex-
hibited grave concern as he saluted
me.
How can I express my sorrow.
Kernaby Pasha." he said in his soft
faultless English, that SO unfortu-
nate and unseemiy an accident should
bave befalJen Won? learned of your