Evening star., 1919-11-09
BY SAX ROHMER

preaching from the rear.
gave myself for lost. My unseen
assailant. who seemingly possessed
wrists of steel, jerked my right hand
up into the region OF my shoulder
blades and pinioned my left arm 30 as
to render me helpless as an infant.
Then two Of the mufiied Nubians-for
Nubians the moonlight now showed
them to be-raised me to my feet. and
the grip from behind was removed.
That I had unwittingly intruded
upon the amours OF some wealthy
and unscrupulous pasha I no longer
doubted; and knowing somewhat of
the ways OF outraged lovers Of the
east, the mental vision which arose
before me was unpleasing to contem-
plate. Yet even the extravagant pic
ture which my imagination had paint
ed fell short OF the ferocious reality
For even as I was lifted upright. in
the grasp OF my huge guards, q door
In the side of the neighboring mosque
burst open. and there sprang into
view an excessively tall, excessively
lean and hawk faced old man carry
ing a naked scimitar in his hand.
Never whilst memory serves me can
/ forget one detail Of tho appearance
Of that frightful old devil: and never
can / forget my gratitude to that un-
seen captor, the man who had seized
me from behind. and who now, alone,
averted the blade from my neck.
Over my head he lunged-with an
1T Cell I>nt
the pointed ferrule came we'll and
truly into contact with the knuckles
of my would-be executioner. The
weapon fell, jangling. at my feet
and slim, black-robed figure
was suddenly interposed between my
self and the furious old Aram.
1t was Abu Tabah!
ut is written that the wrath of
fools Is the Joy OF Iblees'' (Satan),
he declared.
Abu Tabah turned and confronted
me.
Explain the cause OF your pres
ence here" he demanded, continuing
to speak in Arabic "and unfold to me
the truth respecting your case"
my friend" replied, steadily re-
garding him, IT am eternal1y your
debtor; but decline to utter one word
for explanation until these fellows
unhand me and until I am offered
some suitable excuse for tho out
rageous attack upon my person"
Abu Tabah performed his curious
ly Gallo shrug OF the shoulders
and pointed, with his ebony cane. to
my pinioned arms. In q trioe the Nu-
bians fell back and I was free.
20 persons Of little piety." said, "is
it thus that . true Moslem rewards
the generous impulse and the meri-
torious deed? Tonight q damse7 in
distress, flying from q brutal oaptor.
solicited my aid. was treacherous-
ly assaulted ere I could escort her
to a place of safety, and all but mur-
dered by the man who would appear
to be that damsers natural protec-
may have befallen her as q result Of
such vile and foolish conduct"
"Ah" cried the old man of the
scimitar, adopting an unpleasant.
crouching attitude, "perjured liar that
thou artl Did l not see with mine
own eyes how she embraced thee?
o, son of a mango, that should have
lived to have witnessed so obscene a
spectacle. Not content with despoil-
ing me of this jewel of my harem,
thou dost parade her abandonment
and my shame in the public highways
of Cairoi ="
In vain Abu Tabah strove to check
this TRADE. Step by step the sheikh
approached closer; syllable by sylla-
Bile his voice rose higher.
"What! he shrieked, "is 1t for this
that I have offered 5000 English
pounds to whomsoever shall restore
her to me! Faugh! I spit upon her
memory!-and though I pursue thee
to the Mountains OF the Moon, across
the bridge Es-Sarat, and through the
valley of Gahennam, 10! my hour will
come to slay thee, noisome offAl!"
He ceased from hack OF breath, and
stood Quivering before me. But at
last I had grasped the clue TO this
imbroglio into which fate had
thrust me.
20. misguided man." replied.
grief hath upset thine Intelligence.
Again I tell thee that sought 70 de-