Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-08

nebers behind us, Levallois and I walked
toward the maze of alleys and narrow streets
thanking the harbor streets where anything
might happen. In a few minutes we had
slipped by imperceptible degrees from France
into the East-the mysterious, soft-footed, fur
tive EaSt-which here rubs shoulders daily,
hourly, with European civilization and yet re-
mains absorbed In its own impenetrable am
billions and desires
Like the eternal feminine which to man was
incOmprehensible while it wrapped In its
wells and mystery, but which as it abandoned
its age-Old attributes lost much of its aloof-
ness, so the Orient by assimilating the ways
of Southern France in this vast seaport has
laid bare some of its motives, at any rate
those which the white can understand.
Nevertheless the gulf which separates the vel
low and the brown man from the European is
very evident in those .dimly lit and strangely
Odorous taverns and tenements.
Shrill metallic voices jabbered in changing
Malay idoms Monosyllabic coolie dialects,
which sounded to our ears like the unmean-
ing chatter of apes Spurted from the gloom
of stone arches, and now and then akin to
the snarl of beasts about to rend and tear,
came the rush of cultural Arabic We picked
our way carefully over the slippery cobble-
stones The sound of evil refuse falling with
a splash into the stream of gurgling water
which swirls night and day along the edge
of the narrow pavements caused us to choose
the middle way.
Dressed in dirty overalls we were able to
enter some of the eating HOUSES without arous-
ing comment, but We quickly realized that with
no definite cew to guide us we might search
in vain for years
mo wonder the police here have found
nothing" Levaois said to me as We sat sip
ping our China tea and eating dish Of cous-
cous in the public room Of dingy tavern
which bore the grandiloquent name of 1.-The
Pearl Of the Orient
Chance might possibly put us on the right
track" the little fellow grumbled in an under
tone, otherwise in this labyrinth we need the
guiding hand of Ariadne. These people live
two lives The inner, true life they lead can
only be guessed at: what We see is either HARM
less or make-belieye. But yellow and white
have one motive in common Greed! Greed
for gold! If everything else fails shall try
to buy my way into one of the inner sane
tums."
a large ship had evidently berthed that day
after h long voyage, for soon the place began
TO I'll with customers. Lascars and coolies
mostly with here and there a more spick and
span Japanese steward. We sat idly watching
them drinking and playing dice at the coun-
ter when abruptly LevallC.s kicked me under
tha table.
The door had opened few inches, and I
sew bent shape slip through the gap and
glide swiftly between the gamblers and the
bar until it reached the shadows at the far
end. where the proprietor of the tavern sat
smoking a Turkish pipe AS the intruder
Strengthened up. I caught a glimpse of the
sallow face of an Algerian Barely 10 words
were exchanged but they were enough. The
landlord pressed some hidden spring. a sliding
door opened and shut and like swiftly
moving, impalpable shadow the Arab was
gone.
moment later gruf voices sounded from
the street and two burly harbor police kicked
open the door and entered. Shouldering the
startled customers aside, they marched up to
the imperturbable inn keeper while a third
barred the exit hand on his pistol holster
Ali came in here just now" heard one
Of the police say sharply. Where is he?
Quick-we saw him slip in and he's wanted"
The host shrugged his shoulders and waved
6 @'.ja hand toward the bar.
s@2rch-whoever came in is still there"
WITHOUT more ado the two officers lined up
eycy one against the wall, including
ourselves Then, aft:r a quick search for
hidden weapons, they Withdrew, followed by
curses and laughter.
You see," said my friend, that's how it's
done. But those three are no fools They
are waiting outside. They understood at once
that the fellow they want had been hidden
It's lucky our pistols we're not in the hip
pocket or We should have been hauled off to
jail Stay here and I'll get few more men
near the place, then We'll try to find out
what's behind that sliding door"
/ stopped Levallois as he was about to rise.
keep STILL" whispered. THE fellow with
the pipe is watching US. We're the only white
men here. You'll ruin our chances by going
out. Even if We found contraband on the
premises, we should be no nearer to our object
which is to find out where it goes Since
luck has led us here, We'll stay and watch
awhile and come back tomorrow"
After sufficient lapse of time to alIay suspi-
Hinn maid or nllr nnnl nr,dc