Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-02

the cavity In the wall where once III
Hassan es-Sugra was worthy Of ere.
dence) the ring had been concealed.
There Is q freshly made hole In
the stonework," she said. 1.-THE pic
ture has gone; am standing In some
dark place and the same hand again
holds the ring before me-"
"Is 1t the hand of an oriental"
asked Abu Tabah, "or Of European" I
1T is the hand of European. 1t
has Disappeared; I see a funeral pro-
cession winding out from Rikka into
the desert"
FOLLOW the ring" directed Abu
Tabah. a queer. compelling note in
his voice.
Again he sprinkled perfume upon
the fire and
II see a Pharoah upon his throne"
continued the monotonous voice.
upon the first finger. Of his left hand
he wears the ring with the green
scarab. A prisoner stands before him
in chains; a woman pleads with the
king; but he is deaf to her. He draws
the ring from his finger and hands
1t to one standing behind the
throne-one who has a very evil face.
Ali"
The girls voice died away in low
wall Of fear or horror. But
What do you seer" demanded Abu
Tabah.
1.-THE death ring of Pharaoh" whis-
pered the soft voice, TREMENDOUSLY; ut
is the death ring
Return from the past to the pres
ent." ordered Abu Tabah. Where 10
the ring now?'
II see long line of dead men," she
whispered, speaking in a kind OF
chant: they are of all the races OF
the east, and some are swathed in
mummy wrappings; the wrappings
are sealed with the death ring OK
Pharaoh. They are passing me slow
ly, on their way across the desert
from the Pyramid of Meydum to q
narrow ravine, where tent Is erect
ed. They go to summon one whe 10
about to join their company
1.-THE truth is now wholly made
manifest" said Abu Tabah: 1.-The rev.
citation is complete"
Once more was mounted upon the
white camel and the mysterious imam
rode beside me upon its fellow. which
was of less remarkable color.
II hear your words" replied.
1.-THE poor Ahmed Abdulla." he COM
tinued, who was Of little wisdom.
knew, as Hassan es-Sugra knew. OF
the hidden ring; for he was one OF
those who fed from the pyramid. re-
fusing to enter it again. Greed spoke
to him, however, and he revealed the
secret to a certain Englishman called
Bishop, contracting to aid him in re-
covering the ring.
Something I knew Of the peril"
said Abu Tabah. but not. at first. all.
The Englishman I warned. but he
neglected my warning. Already All
med Abdulla was dead, having been
despatched by his employer to the
pyramid; and the people Of Rikka had
sent for me. Now, by means known
to you. l learned that evil powers
threatened your life also-in what
form / knew not at that time save that
tIlc SlSh VI soCk heu OSSH ~
me in conjunction with your DEATH"
shuddered.
THAT the secret Of the pyramid was
a Pharoah's ring l did not learn until
later; but now 1t is made manifest
that the thing Of power is the death
ring of Sneferu."
The huge bulk of the Pyramid Of
Meydum doomed above us as he spoke
the words, for we were nearly come
to our destination and it's proximity
occasioned within me a physical chill.
mile to the west of the pyramid
we found Theo Bishops encampment.
l thought 1t to be deserted-until I
entered the little tent
An oil lamp stood upon a wooden
box. and its rays made yellow the face
Of the man stretched upon the camp
bed. My premonition was realized;
Bishop must have entered the pyramid
less than an hour ahead of me; he 1t
was who had stood upon the mound.
silhouetted against the sky. when
had first approached the slope. He had
met with the fate of Ahmed Abdulla.
He had been dead for at least two
hours. and by the token of certain
hideous glandular swellings I knew