Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-05

word there's nothing to see from now on. And,
besides, you'd get lost at the first turn"
IF you don't mind!"
It was the voice Of the mule. Diplo touched
his cap with a deadly politeness wheeled, struck
out stiff-legged as crane, doubled around the
nearest alley turning and disappeared.
THAT makes me tired, Gore. Do you know"
said Maynard, "what I've a damned good mind
to do? But no. don't want the re.
sponsibility. It's not too safe in here after
dark, and he'd be lost after two twists. Come
on; we've got to find him."
We went on all right, but we didn't find him.
Look here!" he protested at last, pulling me
up. "You brought this fellow along. Tell me
what's the matter with him, so I'll know what
to do. Is he crazy or is he drunk?"
HE never drinks" said ].
Doesn't ehl H'mmm!" He turned his head
sharply. We'll, there's somebody that does"
He pulled me step out of the way Of an ele-
plant shadow that came rocking down one cross
run and rolling away up another Old Perez
with the ape up and gorgeous slant on.
Follow him" said T. making guess, land
bet we find our man."
MY guess was bright one. We hadn't turned
three corners when we were almost in coll
Ision with Diplo himself, standing as straight
and as still as fence post before the wall of
house that had lantern lighted over the
cooked, too, listening We turned his head and
wagged 1t at the wooden man before us.
Hits weddin, hold son. Blighted Harab
weddin'. his there, my oily lad? Come along
hin" And. with that, he crooked the arm Of
invitation, for all the world like an old stager
taking In" the latest bud"
Dtplo didn't hit him. But he surprised me
even more than that. He stuck out one wooden
hand, put 1t on the old mans arm marched
along with him to that open door, and marched
inside.
Maynard got to that door in about three
jumps and I wasn't far behind him. scared
good and witless. But then heard him breathe
again.
well, I guess it's all right Gore. I know
this man-he's courier at the Dutch consulate
and he knows me. In we gol"
We picked our way through a dense odor in
kind of entryway and came out into a square
court rooted with a striped awning and so full
Of light that 1t dazzled after the dark A
dazzle and daze.
Have any Of you ever looked in on an Arabs
wedding carouse? If you have you'll know.
They're all pretty much the same; same sar-
dine pack Of males in coats Of many colors
and red chechias tipping farther and farther
over their ears as the evening grows; same
bridegroom, painted like harlot seated by the
same mysterious door; same plank rostrum In
the court; same gang of hashish-lighted musi-
clans, funny fddles, taboukas, melodeons futess
same fat. white dancing girls, twisting and
clanking and sweating through the same UNI
varying dance: same drugged air full Of stating
perfumes, cigarette smoke, sickly sirups, sirupy
coffee
II thought" Maynard went on, that you said
your friend didn't drink"
"He doesn't. Where is hep"
Maynard pointed him out, plain enough sit
ting chumS with Old Perez in the forepart Of
the benches opposite He had o little tumbler
In his fist.
Lord help him already" was what came to
me. It showed in his eyes. They were taking
on stare kind OF q ground-glass stare, that
picked out one thing and glued on to 1t.