The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-29

dark, but with the aid of the
electric torch which 1 carried
was enabled to form fairly good i'm
preston of it's general character, and
having now surveyed the entire house
l had concluded that it might possibly
serve my purpose. The real ownership
Of many native houses in Cairo is diff
ffcult to establish. and the unveracious
Egyptian from whom I had procured
the keys may or may not have been en-
titled to let e.premises. However, he
had the keys; and that in the Near
East is sufficient evidence of owner
ship. My viewing the place at night
was dictated by motives ,of prudence;
for 1 did not propose unduly to impress
my personality upon the inhabitants
of Eiae Darb el-Ahmar.
Curiosity respecting the outlook at
the rear now led me to enter the deep
recess at one end of the room, which
boasted an imperfect but not unpictur-
esque 9'aushra 6iUeh window. Moonlight
slanted down into the narrow lane
which the window overhung and cast a
quaint fretwork shadow upon the dusty
floor at my feet. Idly I opened one Of
the little square lattices and peered
down into the shadowy gully beneath.
The lane was silent and empty, and
next directed my attention to a similar
window which protruded from the ad-
joining house.
A panel corresponding to mine stood
open also in the neighboring window;
and by means OF a soft light in the
room 1 detected the head and shoulders
of a woman who, her arm resting upon
the ledge. surveyed the vacant night.
Her eyes. as is usual with Egyptian
women. were large and fine, and as is
usual with all women. she was aware
Of the fact. casting =glances upward and
TO the right and left calculated to ex-
h:bit their beauty
The coquetry of her movements was
unmistakable; and when lifting g
pretty arm. she brushed aside a lock
of hair which overhung her brow and
uttered tremuIous sigh, 1 perceived
that had found favor in her sight. /,
And indeed the graceful gesture had
Inclined my heart toward her; for il
had served to reveal not only the SYM
T.letry of her shape but the presence
upon her arm, Immediately above the
elbow, Of a magnificent bangle in gold
antl lalis -lazuli which. if 1 might trust
my judgment, was fashioned no later
than the XIX dynasty Clearly the
II itiSe next hODTs Win llS OCCupdl1 NcIC
tie property OF some man of wealth
ands taste.
Across the intervening patch of dark
ness our glances met; the girls dark
lasnes wore lowered demurely, then
raised again, and the boldness of my
Unfaltering gaze was rewarded BY q
smile. Thus encouraged:
20 daughter of the moon," Whis-
pered fancifully in Arabic, "condescend
to speak to one whom the sight of thy
beauty. hath enslaved.'
Il fear to be discovered, Inglisi,
came the soft reply; "or willingly would
I converse with thee. for I am lonely
and wretched."
She sighed again and directed upon
me a glance that was less wretched
than roguish. Evidently the adventure
was much to her liking.
Let me solace your loneliness"
replied; for assuredly We can conceive
some plan of meeting"
She lowered her eyes at that, and
seemed to hesitate; then;
In. the roof Of your house" she
whispered. often glancing over her
shoulder into the room beyond, lis g
trap-wAieh is bolted. -. :"
Footsteps sounded in the lane be
neathA-whereat the vision at the win
dow vanished and the lattice was
closed; but not before the girl had inti-
mated by a gesture ehat 1 was to re-
main.
For fully half an hour I waited, ant
was preparing to depart when a par
of the shadows everything the projecting
window seemed to grow blacker, and
I realized with Joy that at last ths
lattice was reopening, but that tbs
room within was now in darkness
Whilst I watched, remaining scrupu'
lousIy invisible, a small parcel deftlI
thrown dropped upon the floor at M
feet=znd my neighbor's window wa
reclosed.
Closing my own, picked up the par
eel 1t proved to be a small ivory box
which at some time had evidently con
tained kohl, wrapped in a piece Of sill
and containing a note. Returning t.
the lower floor 1 directed the light o
my electric torch upon this charmingl!
Romantic billet. 1t was conceived fl
English and characterized by the rathe
alarming naivete of the Oriental woman
give It in its entirety.
.sTomorrow night, nine o'clock"
Reheeting upon the probable histor.
OF me afTllt6l rOL A&ple-AdEhAf AC6AA AAS'
to shepheard's in time to keep my ap
pofntment with Joseph Malaglcu-
professeds Christian who. claimed to b
OF Greek parentage. II may explai
here that it was necessary to pgovid
for the safe conduct through the Gus
toms and elsewhere of those cases c
"shehiesd cutIeryY which actually con
tatned the scarabs. necklaces. and othe
antiques, the sale Of which formed
part Of the business Of my firm. Josep
MalaGfou had hitherto successfully con
Quoted this matter for me, receiving tn
goods and storing them at his ow
warehouse; but for various reasons
had decided in future to lease an 'es
adjustment of my own for this pur
pose.
He was waiting on the lounge as
entered. and had he been less useful t
me I think I SHOULD have had hir
thrown out: for II ever a swarthy vii
Al =