The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-02-16


before him at the wall Of rocks, thinking
desperately, while Alan awaited his deci-
sion. And then turned toward Alan with
a smile and bowed his head.
iii do IT, II you WISH" he muttered
But you're taking your life in your hands
It's death wouldn't care for"
HIN, I'll chance it." replied Alan.
"The horses of the Sheykh are at the head
Of the gorge. Mount with Amneh, and ride
hell-for-leather to Hoagland."
Alan seldom used impOlite language.
That he did upon this occasion is the,
measure Of his earnestness Daoud
caught him grip Of the hand, and then
leading the bewildered Amneh disappeared
into the crowd
Alan was alone with his great idea in
the midst Of two thousand fanatics, quiet
enough now in their act of devotion, but
capable, as he knew, of any violence at
the slightest symptom Of apostacy or un-
belief. So Alan bowed his head for a few
moments and stood apart, on a slight hill
Of sand, while he watched Daoud and
Amneh follow the skirt of the crowd and
then suddenly disappear among the acacia
trees just midway between the two guards
upon the rocks, who plainly visible from
below. sat smoking their cigarettes and
gazing afar
Alan waited until he saw a dim figure
emerge above the line of the shrubbery.
when DaOud slowly raised an arm above
his head. Amneh had disappeared. Alan.
standing alone in the moonlight. was plain
ly visible, and, according to arrangement
bent forward once to the ground and then,
strengthening, walked with great delibera-
ton and took his place in the line. Across
the few hundred feet that separated them
he seemed to feel Daoud's gaze upon him
hUrk ,oIr1
again in the dusk above the trees he saw
the arm slowly move.
Alan bent forward again as though to fix
the latchet of~his shoe. and then straight
ened, aware now that there wasn't the
slightest difficulty in identifying him in
the torchlight, even from a distance for
he stood head and shoulders above those
who were nearest him.
AS the procession moved forward rever-
emily, in single file. and his great moment
approached Alan was only conscious of an
intense desire to smoke, and of a feeling
of boredom at the delay But he had al
ready hauled his handkerchief up clear Of
his belt and carried his burden beneath
his robes in the crook of his arm. The line
reminded him of a Broadway ticket office
on the first night of a good show.
Slower though fearfuily slow
there would be a copper in the
lobby of the theatre to make EN- move
faster one kiss for the Kaba every
six seconds at least five hundred
people ahead of him now ten a
minute Siv hundred in ~ hour
fve-SiXths of an hour in line
He took an interest in this menta' exercise.
II PASSED the time.
Carefully he watched the movements of
the pilgrims as they bent over the some.
Some of them leaned forward with both
Fands on the pillow UPON which it was
paced. others merely bent from the Wis.
their arms at their sides Two sO''tors
Ct God leaning on their Mauser rifles
Half an hour passed. The
rUmher Of pilgrims before him was RAP
idly diminishing hundred-fifty-ten
Alan shifted his left arm a little and
opened a tri1e wider the front of his
lamis. He moved forward, glancing just
once toward the acacia trees and then
laced the Stone smiling. There would Re
no mistake. Before him now were but two
,ersOns-a small, crooked man, a woman.
Just as the woman preceding Alan
tTaightened and he stepped quickly into
Ter place the deathly silence of the Wadi
vas shattered by the sounds of two shots
rom the direction of the rocks. The null
itude gave a gasp as every head turned
o look. Then came three more shots in
apid succession and bullets sang above
he Mammal HOarse cries rose above the
hrieks Of women. and one Of the soldiers
~ the Kaba Stone fired blindly in the di-
ection of the flashes