Evening star., 1933-06-23
xXXXvII.
A Terrible Threat.

wv No doubt Of it, this time
A cry and then a crash No
clatter. Still sounding in
her ears.
The cup! Some one had sent it rolling
humping and clattering across the stone
floor.
Merciful Heaven, help! There was
man-standing on the coping of the
balcony-clearly silhouetted against the
moonlight and the luminous sky.
He was hanging on rope-or hold
ing to it, as he stood on the balcony
ledge-and he had kicked the tin cup
into the room as he sought foothold.
Had she not gone and drunk water
and left the cup there in the middle OF
the coping he would have got into the
room in perfect silence, and found her
there asleep.
Well-now he had found her awake.
Thank God for the pistol.
But she couldn't shoot the man IN
cold blood without a word. Yet If she
waited much longer, her hand certainly
would begin to shake.
Could he see her now? Why didn't
he move? OF course, he was listening,
peering. Should she fire, or speak?
She would fire.
Heavens, no! It might not be Raisul.
And If it were Raisul-and she killed
him-what would happen to them all as
soon as the Kaid knew? Things un-
thinkable.
The man stopped and stepped down
into the balcony.
"Well?" said Margaret quietly, and
turned up the lamp.
Good evening, my dear. One would
almost have thought that you were ex-
pecting me. Well, you will be cxpect-
ing me, after tonight, though shan't
have to come down rope"
stop! Stand STILL" cried Margaret.
Good Heavens! A real pistol! What
q desperate young woman! Now Won
der where on earth you got that thing.
And I wonder whether its loaded. And
I wonder whether you can use it."
"Stop!" cried Margaret again. Stand
still. If you cross that mat, I'll shoot
you"
Raisul laughed.
well, WELL" he grinned, and sudden
ly sobered.
Love me, Margaret, have me. will
make you happy. I swear it by the
ninety and nine sacred names OF Allah.
Love? What do these Christian dogs
know of love?"
And Raisul deliberately stepped into
the middle Of the mat, just as Margaret
perforce lowered her aching arm.
Shoot, Margaret" he said, and
spread his arms wide, exposing his
breast.
Margaret raised the pistol.
Shoot, Margaret" he repeated,
standing steady as a rock, smiling un-
f1inchingly.
What Should she do? He was edging
nearer. Why didn't she shoot him as
he stood there smiling at her? But
how could she kill him-when only too
well she knew the terrible consequences.
Shoot, Margaret" invited Raisul for
the third time. Let me die here at
your feet. For how can man die bet
And Raism took another step toward
the bed.
please don't make me kill you, Raj
sul," Margaret said. Have you no de-
cency at all? You shan't die on the
praying carpet. But / swear to God
you shall die If you step off it. If you
move another inch shall be justified in
firing in self-defense."
You won't be kind?"
"Go, will you?"
"All right, Margaret, all right, I'll go.
And when come back, it will be with
his blood on my hands-on my hands
and on your head, Margaret"
What do you mean?" whispered Mar
garet, and again, perforce, she lowered
the pistol, that he might not see how
she tfembled
"Ah! What do I mean? Do you
know, hardly like TO tell you exactly
what mean. Anyhow it will be some
thing with boiling oil in it, But tell
you this-either I'll have his lips or
yours. Do you get the point? Either
I have your lips with mine, or I'll have
his lips with q knife. That'll spoil his
beauty, won't it, Margaret. That's what
I tell you, Margaret, and I think you
know whether I am a man who keeps
all his promises they are
Neither Of them had yet mentioned
name.
Margaret had shrunk back in horror.
Eyes, I know. All very horrid. Look
here, Margaret, love me, and he can
60. I'll see him safe out Of the coun-
try, out of the Legion, and back to
England.
Mind you, I've got you, and I'm
going to keep you, and things will be
so much pleasanter-especially for you
If you'll be sensible as we'll as kind
and surely life would be better for you,
Margaret. as my wife than as my. -"
II have one husband already"
That's where you're wrong, Mar
garet. That was another part of my
errand Of mercy-to tell you that Jules
has met with little accident"
Jules? An accident?''
Eyes, and to offer the appropriate
condolences or congratulations. In
fact, might have shouted in the win
dow. Is the Widow Maligni at homer"
Suddenly Margaret sat down.
Eyes, the poor Jules is no longer with
us, and Otho Belleme will be with us
no longer-if go now, Margaret"
Would this devil mutilate, torture and
murder Otho?