Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-26

you TIE TeWnIu IOT your po11souS SveA~
ney.'
"Your reasoning is sound" replied.
had scored the first point in the
game, for I had learned that the won
dtrful silken yashmak. pearl embroid-
cred, which had found in the sandal
wood box. was no less curiosity than
the face veil of the Seyyideh Nefiseh
and must therefore be of truly astound.
ing antiquity and unique Of its kind.
1.-THE woman Chamarah continued
my midnight visitor, who was once
dancing girl, and who will ruin Yussef
hey as she ruined Ghuri Pasha before
him, must be for ever accursed II she
dare to wear the burke Of Nefisch.''
had scored my second point; I had
learned that the lady to whom Ali Mo-
manned would have had me deliver the
yashmak was named Shahmarah and
was evidently the favorite Of the no
torious Yussef Bey.
"You have performed an immoral
deed" he said swsetly. "and have pam
dered to the base desires of woman
Of poor repute. I offer you an oppor-
tunity of performing good deed-and
Of trebling your profit"
This was as / would have 1t, and l
nodded cncouragingly.
II am Moslem," he said; land al
though Yussef Bey Is dog of dogs, he
Is nevertheless a true believer-and I
may not force my way into his harem."
HE might return the veil If he knew
that Shahmarah had it," suggested
ingenuously.
Abu Tabah shook his head.
'"Therc are difficulties" he replied,
land if the theft is not TO be proclaimed
to the world there is no time 10 DE lost.
This is my proposal: Return to the
woman Shahmarah and acquaint her
with the fact that the sacred veil has
been traced to her aoode and her death
decided upon by the grand mutt If it
be not given up. Force the merchant
Ali Mohammed to return the money re-
ceived by him, using the same threat
which will prove a talisman of power.
Feturn to the infidel woman the full
amount. I will make good your COM
mission, 10 which, if you be successful,
] will add 200 pounds"
you must give me little time to
consider this matter I said.
Abu Tabah graciously inclined his
head.
ION Tuesday next company Of holy
men who have journeyed hither from
Ispahan go to view this relic; you have.
therefore, five days to act"
and il I decline?"
"The loss must be made known--it
would be great scandal; the merchant
Ali Mohammed and the woman Shah
marah must be. arrested-very undesir-
able; You must be arrested-most I'M
Desirable; and" your banking account
will be poorer by 800 pounds"
"Frghtfully miserable" declared.
I waved my hand in the direction of
the door q had reasons for remaining
in bed). "Ma'salama! Good-bye),"
said. Don't stay to restore the room
to order. shall expect you early in the
morning.
Having saluted me with both hands
Abu Tabaf made his stately departure.
First reciosing the window, I unfastened
from around my left ankle the sandal
wood box and the ring which Il had
bound there by piece of tape-a device
TO which l owed their preservation from
the subtle fingers Of Abu TAbah.
Opening the sandalwo'd box, and then
the silver one which 1t inclosed, re-
examined the really wonderful specimen
Of embroidery whereof they formed the
reliquary. The burke was Of Tussur
silk its texture so fine that the whole
veil. which was some four feet long by
two wide, might have been passed
through finger ring and could readily
be concealed in the palm Of the hand.
1t was Of unusual form, having no
forehead band. more nearly resembling
yashmak than true burko. and was
heavily embr oidered with pearls Of
varying sizes and purity. It's intrinsic
value was considerable, but in view Of
its history such valuation must have
fallen far below the true one. When
its loss became known estimated that
Messrs Moses, Murphy & Co. could
readily dispose Of three duplicates
through various channels to wealthy
collectors whose enthusiasms were
greater than their morality. The sale
to a museum, or to the lawful owners,
OF the original (known, technically as
the model') would crow q sound. COM
mercial transaction.
Cock-crov that morning discovered
me at the private residence, in the
Boulevard Clot-Bey. Of one Suieyman
Levi. with when l. had had minor deal
~ 70 in tho past.