, 1921-08-27

instruction.
Daunerman glanced past her to the
writing on the board. He turned his
face to the audience. without losing
his hold on the girls inger-tips. and
translated aloud. Ills Excellency-"
There were many present entitled to
that prefix. and several who had al
ready recognized 1t as 1t was written
out before them. There was no ques-
ton but that the sentence. SO far.
was In the most correct Arabic.
He has established what he claims
to do already" whispered Hofmeyer
Dey TO Bannerman's ward. The girl
nodded her head. Her lips were
parted. and she was breathing
quickly.
The chalk move again, hesitated.
and stopped. The m~ind-reader read
over to himself what was written.
There was a strange look on his lace
which told nothing. but there was
something deprecatory In his tone as
he said aloud. His Excellency. the
British Minister"
There was a movement in the sur
rounding circle as though they had
each felt that the affair had taken on
a moro Intimate and personal COM
plexion- And though each assured
himself hat what was to follow was
but a compliment from the English
Snowman to the English lord, there
was something so uneasy in the man
ncr OF the mind-reader that the fancy
OF each took alarm, and the interest
OF all became deeply engaged.
The girl still stood trancelike and
with bowed head. while her arm
moved across the black surface of the
board. but in the bearing OF the mind
reader there was the dismay of one
who finds the matter In hand grow
Ing beyond his control. and with this
there was the touch of fear. 1t was
in 4 tone SO low that 1t barely pene-
trated the length of the room that he
read the broken phrase which fol-
iowed-"visits the opera tomorrow
night" he said.
AS he pronounced these words
there was a sudden movement in the
circle about him. coming from no ons
person. and yet SO apparent in its
significance that each looked furtively
at his neighbor. and dropped his eyes,
or turne them nnxiously towards
the blackboard. Zimmerman raised
his body, and Strengthened himself
as though he was about to speak
further. but the scratching and tap
ping of the chalk upon the board In
~terrupted him. and he dropped HIS
head. 1t was as though he did not
wish TO see the completion of his
work.
The voice of the young American
Minister from the back of the room
broke the tense stiffness of the
moment. He gave a long indrawn
sigh of appreciation. Meme, Meme,
Tekei, Upharsin." he quoted mock
ingly.
"%Silence," Hoffmeyer Bey COM
handed, half rising from the diyan.
And the silence he commanded an
swered him. The air of the room
seemed charged with electricity. II
was as though every one present were
part of a huge battery; but no ono
moved. The scratching on the board
ceased. The girls arm dropped 10
her side. and the chalk fell and broke
upon the floor.
Bannerman raised his eyes and
read the completed phrase in a voice
In which fear and certain exultation
were strangely blended.
His Excellency the British Min
%ister." he translated, visits the oper
tomorrow night at the risk of his
life."
His voice died away as though
afraid of its own daring, and there
was complete stiffness.
Then Immen Pasha stepped quickly
into the centre of the room. Bring
back those lights" he commanded.
He strobe hastily to where the mind
reader stood, picking up the scarf
Miss Page had dropped upon the floor
as he did SO, and drawing 1T across
1.-THE surface If the hoard
Miss Page opened her eyes, and
closed them again as though they
were heavy with sleep, She shivered
slightly like n awakening. and ran
her left hand Ut and down her other
arm. Immen Pasha's movements as
he swept the board caused her to
raise her head. and her interest
seemed to awaken.
"Oh. how curious!" she said. Ibid
I write that?"
The sound of her voice seemed to
set free a spell that had been put
upon the room. and there was a sud
den chorus of nervous laughter and
of general exclamation. above which
could be heard the voice OF the Brit
tsh Minister. saying: mo; he was
Maskelyne and Cook at their place
In Piccadilly. and they were most
amusing. They used to-"
The boyish faces of the English
~subalterns had grown masklike and
expressionless. Immen Pasha pushed
his way hurriedly to the side OF the
English Minister'S wife.
There is a supper" he said, bow
Ing gravely. 1T has been awaiting
us some time. VIII you allow me-"
The English oma smiled dis
family. and fiuttered her fan. 'It is
so late" she said. II am afraid we
shall have to ask you to let us 60"
Through the open windows of the
street below could be heard the voices
Of the servants calling for the British
Minister'S carriage. and 1t seemed to
be for all an alarming signal of de-
parture. So hastily did they make
their adieux that 1t seemed as though
each n feared to be left amoug &c
last.
Young Page overlook Prince
Famine as the latter was hurrying on
I \ ~