Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1925-08-05
Vengeance of
Abdul Khan
Bv ARCHIE JOSCELYN
G, 1925. Western Newspaper Union.)

TT WAS not Mecca; but to Abdul
1 Khan it was Mecca, which suftired.
Its streets, crooked and narrow and
reeking with the stencil of accumu-
lated centuries, dark at midday and
avenues of death at midnight for the
unwary, were as they had always been
in the land of the prophet. In the
newer, cleaner portion of the city, with
it's modern business and dominance OF
the sultans favorites, Khan pros
pered. His western training showed
In his air, his speech and manner OF
living. And his wife, woman OF
beauty, went with unveiled face.
There was no doubt that he loved her,
and was well content.
Searim. of all the friends of the sui
tan who lived in khan'S Mecca, was
the most powerful and by the same
token the most INSCRIPTIONS. Also,
with his well-carried figure and mill
tary caste, aided not a little by a
milk white steed of the desert, he was
more handsome even than Abdul Khan.
Unveiled faces are to be seen, ana
what Is seen is apt to be desired
What is desirable, such as Seariln
take. So Abdul Khan's wife became
the favorite of the sultan's favorlte-
and she went willingly
One flash of Abdul Khan's western
spirit showed then-by the modern
post he sent word to Searim that he
would have revenge, and, though 1t
be long in coming, it would be ample.
Searim's reply was characteristic.
Protected by the law and might OF the
land from Abdul Khan, he turned that
same power to bring Khan dead to his
feet. To save his life Khan fled the
country for dead man cannot attain
vengeance
The business that Khan had built
up was a rich haul even for favorite
of the sultan, who might pillage us he
wished. But Searim added nothing TO
his injury of Khan when he took his
wealth, for to Khan, life had held but
one thing-his wife, and business was
but an end to help her. Business was
no aid to vengeance.
Four years, the passage of a slice
out of life, much to some and little
to others, saw an increase in the
power of the sultan's favorite. re-
doubled vigilance against those OF the
rabble of those oppressed who might
do him harm, a slight fading of the
beauty of her who had been the wife
of Abdul Khan, though she was still
Searims favorte; forgetfulness on
their part of Abdul Khan's vow of ven
geance, and, in one of the filthier parts
of the city, the setting up of a humble
shop of a rug weaver.
But treasures came not always from
the brighter palaces. Soon word went
about Mecca, even that city of hidden
treasures, that in the shop OF kadul
the weaver was q treasure such as no
one had found before in the East.
and asked the price, but none there
were who purchased. Some there were
who would have-but fear stood be-
tween. Searim-Searim would hear OF
1t and wish it, and woe to the worm
who took it from him!
1t was Searim himself who rode his
horse through the doorway, and over
the bent form Of Kadul, who hardly
managed to crawl aside. The price
was cut in half and cut again-Searim
the powerful so ordered. That, or
death to the merchant. And kadul
l., ond nj
the rug of fire in the house of Searim.
Ii was an hour past the usual ris-
ing hour that someone screamed in the
house of Searim. In his bedroom the
sight which first caught the eye was
of the marvellous frerug, spread by
Kadul the weaver. The sunlight was
striking upon it, showing it's weave
and texture, myriad of colors, which
seemed to glow as fire, and the effect
was as if smoke arose. Nowhere else
In the East was there anything like
unto it.
was she who had been the wife of
Abdul Khan. She was stretched there
as If in repose but very still. Across
her feet, equally still, was stretched
the body of Abdul Khan himself, no
longer was there resemblance to ka-
dul the weaver of death. On the floor
lying at the feet of both, was Searim
All three were In their bare feet, and
tiny red marks were upon the feet of
each. Woven In the rug, points upper
most, We're countless needles, Infinite
~ small, tipped with poison.
For four years, Abdul Khan had fol
lowed the profession of his fathers,
weaving the rug, and into it he had
woven his vengeance. Searim, the
powerful, the unapproachable, lay at
his feet