Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-02
\ He orchestra has Just ceased
playing. and. taking advan-
tage of the lull in the music.

my companion leaned conf
dentially forward. shooting suspicious
glxnces all around him. although there
was nothing about the -.n dressed
after-dinner throng filing SssqHteards
that night to have aroused misgiving
In the mind of cinema anarcnE&
Il have a very big thing In view"
he said. speaking In a husky whisper
Il shall be 1 up on you. Kernaby.
II I pull 1t off,
indeed" l commented. and rang
the bell with the purpose in view Of
ordering another cooling beverage.
True. / might be the Egyptian rep
resentative of Birmingham COM
mercial enterprise. but did not glad
ly suffer the society of this indi-
vidual. whose only claim to my ac-
quaintance lay in the fact that he
was in the employ of q rival house.
My lack of interest palpably disap-
pointed him: but l thought little of
the mans qualities as a connoisseur
and less of his company. His name
was Theo Bishop.
Perhaps unconsciously l had al
lowed my boredom to become rudely
apparent. for Bishop slightly turned
his head aside, and
"Right-o, Kernaby." he said; II
know you think l am an ass. so We
will say no more about it. Another
coektail?"
And now I become conscience
stricken; for mingled with the dis
appointment in Bishops tone and
manner was another note. Vaguely
1t occurred to me that the man was
yearning for sympathy of some kind.
that he was bursting to unbosom
himself and that the vanity of a sue
cessful rival was by no means wholly
responsible. l have since placed that
ambiguous note and recognized it for
u hote Of tragedy. But at the time
/ was deaf to it's pleading.
We chatted for some while longer
On Indifferent topics. Bishop being. as
I have indicated, a man difficult to
offend when, having correspondence
to deal with, I retired to my own
room. suppose I had been writing
for about an hour when a servant
came to announce a caller. Taking
an ordinary visiting card from the
brass salver. l read-Abu Tabah.
No title preceded the name. no ad-
dress followed, but became aware of
something very like a nervous thrill
as stared at the name Of my visitor
Personality II one Of the profoundest
mysteries Of our being. OF the person
whose card held In my hand knew
little, practically nothing. Therefore
! cannot explain why. sitting there in
my room in Shepheard's Hotel, knew
and recognised. At the name Of Abu
Tabah, the touch Of fear.
Il will see him." I said; show him
up here 10 my room"
A few moments later the man re-
turned, carrying the brasa salver,
upon which lay q sealed envelope. 1
took 1t Up in surprise. noting that it
was one belonging to the hotel. and,
ere opening IT.
where In my visitorr' / said in
Arabic.
''He regrets that he cannot stay"
replied the man, but he sends you
this letter"
Greatly mystihed. I dismissed the
servant and tore open the envelope.
Inside, upon sheet of hotel note
paper. l found this remarkable mes.
sage:
"Kernxby Pasha:
There are reasons why 1 cannot
stay to see you personally. but
would have you believe that this
warning IL dictated by nothing but
friendship. Grave peril threatens. 1t
IL asYocia ted with the hieroelynhic: