Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-16
TALES OF SECRET EGYPT
HEAR that harem suite 70
occupied" said Sir Bertram
Coils. bustling up to me as
Aot ounnEln0 rAaru

OF certain Cairo hotel, which ] shall
not name because Of the matters that
befell there. Daphne Is full Of curl
osity respecting the romantic occu-
pant"
Don't let Lady Coils be too sure"
put in Chundermeyer, that there Is
anything romantic about the occu-
pant"
Your definition of romance. Chvn-
dermeyer," interrupted, would
probably be a diamond the size of
Spanish onion"
Chundermeyer smiled, but 1t was
smile in which his dark eyes, twink
ling through the pebbles Of horn
trimmed spectacles. played no part.
"As a matter of fact" continued,
"the occupant of the harem suite Is
no less romantic a parsonage than
the daughter of the Mudir (governor)
of the Fayum."
Really" said Chundermeyer, with
that sudden interest which mention
OF q title always aroused in him.
surely it is most unusual for so
highly placed a Moslem lady to reside
at an hotel?"
Most unusual" I replied. "Of
course such a thing would be incon-
ceivable in India; but the manage
ment Of this establishment, who cater
almost exclusively to tourists. find.
am told, that a 'harem suite Is quite
a good advertisement The reason Of
the presence Of this lady IN the hotel
is a diplomatic one. She is visiting
Cairo in order to witness the process
sion Of Ashura, peculiarly sacred to
Egyptian women, and 1t appears that,
having no blood relations here. she
could not accept the hospitality OF any
one Of the big families without alien
ating the Others"
by Jovew said Sir Bertram, II must
tell Daphne this yarn. She'll be de-
lighted! Come along. Kernaby; II
we're to have tea at Mena House it Is
high time we were off,"
OF course, Daphne Coils was not
ready; and, Sir Bertram going up to
their apartments to induce her to
hurry, strolled out again into the
gardens for a quiet cigarette and
cocktail As approached a suitable
festooned with purple blossom, man
who had been waiting there rose to
greet me.
With a certain quickening Of the
pulse, I recognized Abu Tabah, ar
rayed. as was his custom, in black,
only relieved by a small snowy tur-
ban. which served to enhance the
NJ 10 20 onA the
mystery of the wonderful liquid
eyes.
II have been awaiting an oppor-
tunity of speech with you, Kernaby
Pasha," he said, in his fiawless, musi-
cal English, "upon q matter in which
/ hope you will consent to aid me-"
II should welcome an opportunity
of serving you, my friend" as
sured him, "since your service to me
can never be repaid"
There Is to be a carnival and mas
Querade ball here tomorrow. You
shall be PRESENT."
~ hope So" replied in surprise.
'To what does all this tend"
MANY of your friends and ac-
Quaintances possess valuable jewels?
"rhey do"
"Then warn them-individually, in
order to occasion no general alarm
to guard these with the utmost care"
My surprise increased. You alarm
me-" I said. Are there rogues in our
midst%?
mo" answered the imam, fixing his
melancholy gaze upon my face; 80
far as my knowledge bears me, there
is but one, yet that one is worse than
a host Of others.
DO you mean that he is herein
the hotel?'
III knew his exact whereabouts"
he replied, there would be no occa-
sion to fear him. All that know is
that he is In Cairo, and since many
richly attirod women of Europe and
America will be here tomorrow night,
Of surety Omar Ali Khan will be
here also!"
"Omar Ali Khan?"-I began.
"Ah," continued Abu Tabah, ITO you
that name conveys nothing, but to me
1t -signihes Omar Of Ispahan, 1.-THE
father Of thieves Do you remem-
her," fixing his strange eyes hypnoti-
cally upon me, ''the theft Of the sa-
cred burke Of Nehsehr"
quite WELL" I replied. hastily.
TT was Omar of Ispahan who stole
1t from the shrine. It was Omar of